Get matched with top deck staining pros in Gwinner, ND

If your biggest concern is making sure your deck doesn’t show dirt, opt for a darker neutral color that blends in well with your surrounding landscape. A rich brown or dark grey are both good options that work with a variety of house colors. A high-quality acrylic paint is easy to clean and maintain, so it might be worth spending the money on.

Yes, it’s best to remove the previous coat of stain from your deck before restaining it, especially if the surface is in bad condition. Restaining on top of an old coat can lead to an uneven surface, as the new stain won’t fully soak into the deck material. That said, if your deck is in excellent condition, you may be able to get away with just cleaning the surface instead of sanding it and removing the old stain. If you choose not to remove the previous coat, it’s best to use the same type of stain for the new layer.

Painted decks typically require a new coat about once every ten years. In between new coats, it's best to maintain your deck by regularly removing debris, washing it down with non-abrasive cleaners, and staying ahead of structural issues, such as loose boards and rotting wood. In some cases, painting a small section of your deck affected by damage or the sun can lower your costs and workload.

Pressure-treated wood can not only be painted and stained, but it should be; doing so will help to prevent surface or deck board cracking. Allow the wood to dry out before painting it, as pressure-treated wood from the hardware store takes longer to dry than kiln-dried lumber. If water beads on the surface, it needs additional time to dry—in fact, it can take weeks or even months to fully dry. As soon as the wood absorbs water on the surface, it is ready to be painted or stained.