Deck Restoration and Staining
In today's market, there is a great deal of misleading information regarding deck stains and finishes. Many manufacturers claim to have a superior product to others and because there are so many products out there, choosing a deck finish can become quite confusing to the consumer.
Nearly all of the of the deck finishing products available today at hardware stores and home centers will perform more like a paint than a stain, drying almost instantly without any penetration into the wood. This forms a film on the surface of the wood, which will provide some protection for a short time, but will inevitably begin to peel off, usually within 1-2 years. This, in turn will leave you with a never ending maintenance headache. We have tested and observed first hand, the performance of a number of different deck finishing products over many years. The stains we prefer are oil based and semi-transparent. That means that the stains penetrate into the wood, as much as the wood will absorb (more so if the wood is older and dryer than if it is newer or in a moist environment). A notable quality of these stains is that they are not one solid color. They allow some of the natural wood grain to show through, a look not achievable with other products and one of the most desirable traits. Other benefits include, u.v. protection, water repellency, and mold/mildew resistance, all of which contribute to a longer lasting better looking deck. The only downfall to these oil based stains, is that they must be applied to bare wood only, so as to penetrate the boards. This means that these stains cannot be applied over any existing coats of finish.
Our oil based finish is guaranteed not to peel. Maintenance is as simple as an adequate washing of the surface followed by a re-coating. This should be done every 1-4 years dependent upon the type of stain used and the amount of wear the area is subject to. No scraping or sanding is required, meaning that it's easy and affordable to keep your deck looking great for years to come!
Color options can be seen here.
Scroll down to view just a sampling of the decks we have cleaned and restored using this process.
Nearly all of the of the deck finishing products available today at hardware stores and home centers will perform more like a paint than a stain, drying almost instantly without any penetration into the wood. This forms a film on the surface of the wood, which will provide some protection for a short time, but will inevitably begin to peel off, usually within 1-2 years. This, in turn will leave you with a never ending maintenance headache. We have tested and observed first hand, the performance of a number of different deck finishing products over many years. The stains we prefer are oil based and semi-transparent. That means that the stains penetrate into the wood, as much as the wood will absorb (more so if the wood is older and dryer than if it is newer or in a moist environment). A notable quality of these stains is that they are not one solid color. They allow some of the natural wood grain to show through, a look not achievable with other products and one of the most desirable traits. Other benefits include, u.v. protection, water repellency, and mold/mildew resistance, all of which contribute to a longer lasting better looking deck. The only downfall to these oil based stains, is that they must be applied to bare wood only, so as to penetrate the boards. This means that these stains cannot be applied over any existing coats of finish.
Our oil based finish is guaranteed not to peel. Maintenance is as simple as an adequate washing of the surface followed by a re-coating. This should be done every 1-4 years dependent upon the type of stain used and the amount of wear the area is subject to. No scraping or sanding is required, meaning that it's easy and affordable to keep your deck looking great for years to come!
Color options can be seen here.
Scroll down to view just a sampling of the decks we have cleaned and restored using this process.
During cleaning.
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Mahogany color stain on cedar decking.
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Before cleaning.
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Mahogany color stain on cedar decking.
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Before cleaning.
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Mahogany color stain on hardwood decking. Note rain water beaded on deck surface.
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Before cleaning.
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Mahogany color stain on hardwood decking.
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After cleaning, prepped for stain.
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Mahogany color stain on hardwood decking.
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During cleaning.
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Semi-Solid Oxford Brown color stain on cedar decking.
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After cleaning, prepped for stain.
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Semi-solid Mountain Cedar color stain on pressure treated decking.
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After cleaning, prepped for stain.
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Semi-Transparent Cedar color stain on pressure treated decking.
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Semi-Solid Mountain Cedar color stain on pressure treated decking.
Semi-Transparent Cedar color stain on pressure treated decking
Semi-Transparent Cedar color stain on pressure treated decking
Semi-Solid Sequoia color stain on pressure treated decking.
Semi-Solid Sequoia color on pressure treated decking.
Semi-Solid Woodland Brown color stain on pressure treated decking.
Semi-Transparent Driftwood color stain on pressure treated decking.
Semi-Transparent Driftwood color stain on pressure treated decking.
Semi-Solid Woodland Brown on siding and Oxford Brown on deck.