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new decks

Staining A New Deck

Update 2018 for Staining New Decks

DeckStainHelp.com has become the Internet’s go-to site for all things exterior wood surface restoration related. As before, we recommend you wait 3+ months to stain new wood surfaces to allow the wood to weather, creating an ideal porous surface that will hold the stain better. We encourage customer interaction on our site, so feel free to participate in our open discussion.

Over the past year, we have numerous questions asked on the site, but none was asked more than “What stain or prep is needed for my new deck”? There seems to be an opinion among homeowners that is okay to stain new wood right away or even before the deck is installed. This is incorrect for most wood types and stain brands.

In this article, we will cover the required prep and the waiting period needed before applying a stain for the first time.

New Smooth Decking

New smooth decking boards are not porous enough for most stains to be able to penetrate properly. This is mainly due to:

Mill glaze when cut
High moisture content
Chemicals in Pressure Treated Wood

Most wood stains, when applied to new wood will have a very difficult time of penetration into the wood cells. This will result in an uneven application and premature stain failure by quickly fading or peeling. Remember, the deeper the stain soaks into the wood, the longer the life of the stain.

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Staining a New Deck Tips for 2018

See here for a more in-depth article on staining new wood.

It is important to consider the state of your wood surface before staining, especially this Spring 2018 following such a harsh winter with extreme temperatures. Preparing to stain a new deck is considerably different from staining a deck that has already been stained. It is important to follow some guidelines that lay the foundation for an optimal wood surface to stain. Before diving into a wood stain project, we recommend you conduct your own research, read articles, and watch how-to videos to educate yourself on what is best for your wood deck. The plethora of resources that are available in 2018 will help you tackle your wood stain project from the right direction. Feel free to browse deckstainhelp.com or Google the brand of your stain for specific tips about the deck stain of your choice.

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Staining a New Deck 2016

Update 2018 for Staining a New Deck

DeckStainHelp.com is the Internet’s number one go-to site for all things exterior wood surface restoration related. As before, we recommend you wait 3+ months to stain new wood surfaces to allow the wood to weather, creating an ideal weathered surface that will hold the stain better. We encourage customer interaction on our site, so feel free to participate in our open discussion.

Pressure Treated Pine

See here for a more in-depth article on Staining New Decking.

Staining a new deck in 2016 has never been easier. With today’s quality wood cleaners and stains, most anyone can get professional like results. We have come a long way in wood restoration products and in 2016 most of these products are available to do it yourself homeowners everywhere. With the Internet, most of these products can be shipped directly to your home within days, making a deck staining project easier than ever before.

In addition to excellence deck staining products, the Internet also allows homeowners access to countless how-to articles and tips to help them along the way. Doing a search for deck stain help can lead you to a mountain of information that will educate and prepare you for your deck staining project. From prepping the deck, suggested dry times, stain recommendations, and right down to how to apply the stain there has never been a more opportune time.

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How to Season a New Deck

Update for 2018: How to Season a New Deck

We at Deckstainhelp.com strive to provide the most up-to-date information and tips for your deck stain projects. The tip for a beautifully stained new deck is the first step, letting the deck weather before applying the cleaner, wood brightener, and stain. Feel free to also submit a comment below.

New Cedar Wood

When a deck is brand new usually the lumber is still very “green” and has a high moisture content. That is unless the lumber is KDAT lumber meaning, “kiln dried after treatment.” This type of wood is dried before it is sold. But for the average deck being built, regular cedar, redwood, or pine is used in the construction. You may have heard the term “season” and how it is important to let a new deck season prior to staining it.

To season a deck simply means to let it sit, for a season, before you attempt to stain it. This is because the wood still has too much moisture in it and staining it can trap that unwanted moisture. This can lead to many moisture problems like mold, fungi, rot, and decay. This term can be a bit misleading though. Normally a deck does not have to “season” a whole year. Many times, depending on weather and sun exposure, a deck can season much quicker. In most cases, a new deck can be stained within 3-12 months of being built especially if the weather has been warm and the deck gets a lot of sun exposure.

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Best Stain for New Pine Deck

Update for 2018: Best Stain for New Pine Deck

Since we first published this article, some new stains have been introduced. We recommend you browse our site with honest reviews for recommendations for the best stain for a new pine deck. We always appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below with pictures of your pine deck stain projects.

Need Help Finding the Best Stain for New Pine Deck?

The best time to stain a deck is after it is built while the wood is still new and has not been compromised by weather damage. However, it is important to allow a new pine deck to dry out for several months before staining it. A new pine deck contains too much moisture at first and you do not want to trap that moisture in the wood by staining it too soon. Wait for the wood to reach 12% moisture level or less. This can be checked with a moisture meter. As mentioned this usually takes a few months of warm weather depending on the sun exposure the deck receives. Do not wait too long though like a year or more because that is when most of the damage occurs to unprotected pine.

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Pre-staining New Wood Decks Before Install

Update 2018 on Pre-Staining New Wood Decks Before Install

DeckStainHelp.com has become the Internet’s go-to site for professional wood deck staining tips. As before, we recommend you do not stain new wood prior to installation. Instead, wait 3+ months after installation before staining new wood surfaces. This will allow the wood to weather, creating an ideal porous surface that will hold the stain better. We encourage discussion on our site, so feel free to leave a comment.

Should you Pre-stain New Wood Before Install? The simple answer is No.

Wood decks are a great way to add extra outdoor living space to any home. Not only do they provide a place for the family get-togethers, they can add value to your home. Building a new wood deck or replacing some boards on an existing deck obviously requires using new wood. As you probably know the new wood will need to be treated with a wood stain to protect it from the elements. One might tend to think that pre-staining the new wood prior to the install will save some time. Although it would seem that way it is really not a good idea to do so.

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How to Blend New and Old Deck Boards

Update for 2018: How to Blend New and Old Deck Boards

Here at DeckStainHelp.com, we strive to remain the Internet’s number one reference for your deck stain questions, opinions, and reviews. In this updated article, we suggest how to blend new and old deck boards for a beautiful even surface. We would like to hear what you think, so feel free to leave a comment below.

New and Old Deck Boards

There are many reasons why you would have a mix of new and old deck boards but it can be a common situation. The most frequent reason is that some of the boards needed to be replaced due to decay or wood rot while other boards were still in good condition. It is also very common for a deck owner to protect the deck with a stain once all the repairs have been made. The dilemma is that new boards and old boards look very different when they are stained.

To understand why this happens may help you to minimize the problem. Once old deck boards weather the top layer of wood fibers begin to gray and become soft. Newer deck boards are denser and are very hard. The older boards will absorb more deck stain and appear much darker than the new denser deck boards which appear lighter.

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Best Stain for New Cedar Deck

Update for 2018: Best Stain for New Cedar Deck

We appreciate you visiting Deckstainhelp.com, your go-to source for the latest in deck restoration news and trending topics through 2018. If you are looking for honest deck stain ratings, look no further. In this updated article, we offer suggestions for how to best prepare and stain a new cedar deck. Feel free to leave a comment below.

What Stains Work Well a New Cedar Deck

New Cedar Wood

There are many different types of cedar used for exterior surfaces with Red Cedar being the most common. We recommend you wait 3+ months to stain new smooth cedar wood surfaces to allow the wood to weather, creating an ideal porous surface that will hold the stain better. (Always follow the stain brand’s directions, though). After the weathering, all new cedar wood should be cleaned and brightened for the prep. This will remove any oxidation and mill glaze.

Note on Rough Sawn Cedar Wood

Rough sawn wood is not used for horizontal decking surface, but rather verticals such as fencing, wood siding, etc. This side of the wood does not have a mill glaze and is very absorbent. As long as the wood has a low moisture content, it can be stained right away.

Many wood stains have difficulty penetrating new dense woods like cedar. If a stain does not penetrate the wood it will remain on the surface and become susceptible to peeling and flaking. The best wood stains for new cedar are deep penetrating paraffinic oil based stains that are thinner in viscosity. Stains for new cedar wood should dive deep into the wood to condition the wood cells and provide protection from UV fading and moisture damage.

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Paraffin Oil Based Decking Stains

Paraffin Oil-Based Stains

Most deck stain manufacturers today use both synthetic and natural oils in their products. There are several types of oils that are used in oil based deck stains. Paraffin Oil is one of the more common types of oil used today.

Pros of Paraffin Oil-Based Stains

Paraffin is an excellent penetrating oil. Deck stains containing paraffin oil penetrate deep into all wood types. It conditions the wood while preventing UV fading and water damage.

Paraffin oil penetrates so well that it is recommended for newer wood decks. The newer the wood the denser it is. Some deck stains will not penetrate the newer dense wood and will remain on top of the surface. Paraffin deck stains are able to penetrate newer more dense wood for optimal absorption and outstanding protection.

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