Deck Stripping – How to Remove an Old Deck Stain 4.8/5 (98)

This post was updated on June 18, 2024

Hi, I am Scott Paul, an exterior wood restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in stripping and removing exterior wood and deck stains. My Deck Stripping tips are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing. See here for more info about me.

How To Remove an Old Deck Stain

When restoring an older wood deck, it’s essential to prep the wood correctly. Not doing so can lead to premature failure of the new deck stain. No matter the brand or cost of a deck stain, it will not last as long as it should if it isn’t applied to a properly cleaned and prepped surface. This article discusses the importance of using a quality deck stain stripper when you have an old coating on your deck that needs to be removed.

I always appreciate your input, so feel free to comment below with pictures of your deck stain projects.

Failing Wood Deck Stain

One of the biggest mistakes DIY homeowners make in cleaning and preparing a wood deck for stain is not removing all remnants of old deck stain. Any failed deck stain left on the wood will prevent the new stain from properly penetrating the surface. The new deck stain will sit on the wood instead of diving into it. Deck stains do not adhere to each other well, so this causes the newer deck stain to begin flaking and peeling off the deck generally in a year or less. Even if you can’t see any old deck stain but know there was some on the wood at one time, it’s vitally important to remove it. Splash some water on the wood and see if it absorbs into the wood or if it beads up and sits on top. Beading up would indicate some old failed stain on the wood that needs to be removed.

Scott’s Steps to Removing a Deck Stain

1. Deck Stripping Materials
2. Choose Proper Deck Stain Stripper
3. Steps to Stripping a Deck
4. Brighten the Wood
5. Ask Me Deck Stripping Questions

1. Materials Needed for Deck Stain Removal

• Proper Deck Stain Stripper
• Gas-powered pressure washer
• Pump sprayer for applying
• Scrub brush to agitate
• Protective Equipment: Gloves and eyewear
• Plastic sheeting to protect plants and home
• Wood Brightener to neutralize when done

2. Choosing a Deck Stain Stripper

To remove old deck stains from the wood, you have to use a deck stripper. A quality deck stripper will break up and soften any old stain allowing it to be washed away. Below, I will break down the 3 most common deck finishes we see when stripping a deck.

Semi-Transparent Oil-Based Stains

Semi-transparent and transparent, oil-based clear coatings are easy deck coatings to strip and remove. They come off better with any high-quality decking stripper.

My Pro Tips: These coatings are penetrating and fully show the wood grain. They do not mask the grain or dry to film on top like a shiny varnish.

Semi-Transparent Acrylic Water Based Stains

For hard-to-remove stains such as water-based acrylic or silicone-based stains, several applications and longer dwell times may be necessary. Take note that many stain brands like Behr, Valspar, and Thompons lie about their opacity for their semi-transparent water-based stains; they, in fact, look and apply like an opaque solid stain. These stains should be treated like solid stains, not what is written on the can. If unsure, ask me below for tips with pictures.

Scott’s Pro Tip: See here if you need to remove a Difficult to Remove Deck or Wood Stain.

Solid Color Stain Stripping

Solid color deck stains are opaque coatings that fully or mostly mask the wood grain. Most deck strippers will not remove solid stains or paints, so if this is the case, you may have to sand the old stain or use a paint stripper to get back down to bare wood again.

Scott’s Pro Tip: How To Remove a Solid Color Stain

Deck Stain Stripping: Deck Stain Stripper Reviews

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3. My Steps to Stripping a Deck

See below for my steps when we are stripping a customer’s deck

1. Protect the house and any surrounding plants with plastic or poly tarps.
2. Remove any patio furniture from the deck and surrounding areas.
3. Prewet deck with water.
4. Mix the stripper, if needed, in a bucket and transfer it to the pump sprayer if applicable.
5. Apply the stripper to all flooring first. If a large deck, break it up into sections.
6. Wait 5-45 minutes for the deck stripper to activate. You will know when it is working by using your scrub brush to agitate it, and the stain becomes loose from the wood. Keep the stripper from drying during this process.
7. Pressure wash all deck flooring using a pendulum motion and about 8-12 inches from the wood. Rinse well when done.
8. Repeat Steps 5-7 with vertical wood.
9. Apply wood brightener when done. Rinse well with water 20 minutes after.

My Pro Tip: The dwell time depends on the type and brand of existing stain. For instance, most semi-transparent oil-based stains will be removed more easily than semi-transparent water-based wood stains.

4. Wood Brightener to Neutralize Stain Stripper

Once the deck has been washed with a stripper and the old deck stain is gone, it is necessary to brighten the wood using a wood brightener. The deck stripper will darken the wood and raise the pH level. Brightening the wood back to a natural state and lowering the pH to a more acidic level will restore the appearance and give the new deck stain the best chance of lasting as long as possible.

A properly cleaned and brightened deck should be allowed to dry for several days before a quality deck stain is applied. Taking these measures and using a deck stripper and deck brightener before staining will give you much better and longer-lasting results.

5. Questions on Stripping a Deck?

Are you still unsure of what deck stain you have on your wood and the proper deck stain stripper to use to remove it? I am here to help and guide you. Ask in the comments below, and you must include some pics so I can offer proper advice.

My How To Strip A Deck Stain Video

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 Owner

As an article and comment contributor to the site, Scott has been around the pressure washing industry since attending college. In 1993 he started his first company called Oakland Pressure Wash specializing in exterior pressure washing and deck staining. That company evolved into OPW L.L.C. shortly thereafter concentrating more on exterior wood and deck restoration. Scott and his Deck Cleaning Michigan company have restored over 10,000 decks in the Metro Detroit area since the early years. He has become an authority in the deck restoration industry and has contributed to numerous wood restoration forums and informative sites. All the products he suggests through this site are sold through online sites and in retail stores, allowing the consumer to choose their own means of purchase. Scott’s eCommerce sites do sell many top brands he endorses and if you appreciate any of the help he has offered then feel free to purchase from one of them.

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