Deck Restoration Process

Deck restoration can be an easy project or it can be a more difficult, time consuming project. Considering the shape of your deck, we will tell you what treatment it needs. It might be “weathered” wood, previously stained with solid colors, or primed wood deck.

1. Timing The best time to stain your deck is when temperatures are moderate (above 55°F, but below 95°F), the humidity is low to average, and there is no rain in the immediate forecast. Ideally, you should have two to four consecutive dry days prior to beginning any exterior staining project.
2. Surface Preparation To achieve the best results, we need properly prepare the surface to be stained. As with stain, proper preparation is the key to a successful staining job that will last. See the following categories to find which best describes the condition of your wood.
   • New wood – “mill glaze” is found on new, smooth planed wood, and interferes with the adhesion and penetration of stain. We use Brightener and Neutralizer to remove the mill glaze found on all new wood.
   • Unfinished wood – Needs Multi-Purpose Cleaner to prepare wood for staining. CLEAN removes mold and mildew.
   • Maintained finished wood – Needs Multi-Purpose Cleaner to keep stained surfaces looking crisp as well as to prepare for regular maintenance touch-ups.
   • “Weatherd” – Mildewed/neglected wood – Needs Wood Restorer to remove dead wood fibers and for cleaning. Please note that RESTORE product darkens tannin-rich woods such as cedar and redwood. We would need to use BRIGHTEN Brightener and Neutralizer to reverse the darkening effect and to neutralize Wood Restorer.
   • Tannin-rich woods (cedar, redwood) – needs Benjamin Moore Alkyd Primer to control tannin bleeding when using solid color stains, particularly under lighter colors.
   • Pressure washing – all chemicals used in preparation process needs to be pressure washed.
   • Drying process – All wood needs to dry in warm temperature above 55°F degrees, before staining.
3. Choosing a stain. Natural/translucent – Allows the full beauty of the wood to show through;
4. • Transparent – Tints the wood with color, allowing the grain and texture of the wood to show through;
   • Semi-transparent – Enhances the beauty of the wood with color, while allowing some of the grain and texture to show through;
   • Semi-solid – Colors the wood while allowing some of the grain and texture to show through;
   • Solid – Opaque color masks the grain but allows the texture of the wood to show through;

   Note: If your deck was previously stained in solid stain, you cannot go back to stains with lower degrees of opacity.

5. Deck staining.
   • We will remove planters, hoses, outdoor furniture, light fixtures and such things;
   • We will stain the vertical sections of the deck, such as the rails and posts, so that drips will not land on previously finished areas;
   • JOB COMPLETED WITH THE BEST RESULTS!

   NOTE: Some decks might need replacing rotted deck boards.