Application Steps for Success
Natural wood offers unparalleled beauty for the exterior spaces of your home, so taking care of your wood surfaces is important for lasting attractiveness.
Protecting Wood
Guard from the Elements
Adding stain will enhance and preserve wood’s allure by deepening or changing its color and highlighting or concealing the grain and texture while providing a protective barrier from:
- Rain – water penetrates into wood fibers leading to warping, swelling and cracking
- Sun – Sun can dry and discolor wood, causing it to crack, split and turn gray
- Mildew stains – mold, mildew and algae stains are unsightly and detract from the beauty of wood
Protecting Wood
Different Wood Types
Pittsburgh Paints & Stains® offers a complete line of products formulated to protect any wood type against rain, sun and mildew stain for a beautiful, long-lasting finish at any budget.
New Wood – brand new wood needs to be protected and sealed immediately.
Pressure-treated wood – Even pressure-treated wood needs protection again rot and the harmful effects of weather, such as water absorption, which can cause splitting, cracking, or warping.
Cedar and Redwood – High-quality woods like redwood and cedar are still susceptible to the harmful effects of weather and also require protection from fading, splitting and warping. These types of wood also require a mildew resistant finish to keep them looking beautiful.
Woodcare Planner™
Before you buy a stain, you can see how it will look on your wood surface. View how different stain colors will appear on decks, fences, structures, exterior furniture, siding and shingles. Follow these steps to use Woodcare Planner™.
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Wood Prep Is Key
Before staining you will need to take these steps to make sure the wood is ready to be stained. Make sure to clean the wood. You may also need to do a tape peel test or water absorption test. You will find instructions for wood prep and pre-staining tests here.
Pre-Application Must
CLEAN YOUR WOOD
Proper cleaning, especially on older, weathered wood results in a more beautiful, long-lasting finish. Even new wood needs to be cleaned to remove dirt and contaminants.
Wood should be cleaned thoroughly using ULTRA Advanced Deck Cleaner before applying any finish. ULTRA Advanced Deck Cleaner gets your deck color closer to new.
Tip: Prior to cleaning, lightly water surrounding vegetation and then cover with a tarp or drop cloth.
Pre-Application Test 1
TAPE PEEL TEST
This test is for older, weathered wood previously coated with solid color stain. This easy test will determine if your wood is ready to be stained or needs to be stripped first.
- Using a putty knife or other sharp blade, cut a small “X” in 2 or 3 random spots on the surface. Be careful not to cut into the wood.
- Cover the cuts with duct tape, and press down firmly on the tape.
- Then quickly remove the tape.
If any flakes of old wood stain or wood fibers are stuck on the tape, your wood needs to be stripped before you stain.
Pre-Application Test 2
WATER ABSORPTION TEST
Use this simple test to determine if your wood is ready to be stained:
- Pour a cup of water over a few areas on your deck.
- If the water is absorbed in less than 10 minutes, or if the surface color darkens, then it is time to stain your deck.
- If the water beads on the surface and is not absorbed in 10 minutes, you need to either remove the old finish or wait to apply a new stain or sealant.
- Applying a stain or sealant to improperly prepared wood will result in poor stain penetration and adhesion, which may damage the wood surface.
Wood Staining Steps
Once your wood is cleaned and prepped, follow these steps for applying wood stain. If the wood is older and has some damage, you may need to use Revitalize. You will want to follow the specialized Revitalize application instructions.
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Wood Staining Steps
Staining Tips
Test an area, by applying stain to a small area and allow to dry, to ensure acceptable appearance and preparation.
Intermix containers to ensure color uniformity.
Stir thoroughly and often during use.
Stain railings prior to the deck surface.
Always remember to stain downwards, and to protect your deck surface from drips.
Tip: Cover surrounding areas, especially plants, to protect them from overspray and drips.
Wood Staining Steps
Applying the Stain
Using a high-quality brush, roller, stain pad or spray equipment:
- Apply one coat for clears, toners and semi-transparent stains.
- Apply two coats for solid color stains, Paramount Stains or Revitalize.
- To help avoid lap marks, apply to only a few boards at a time, keeping a wet edge.
- Back brushing is recommended for a more even finish and to ensure proper penetration.
Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.
Allow a minimum of 24 hours of drying time before putting any furniture back on your deck. Check the product label for the appropriate cleanup method.
Stain Calculator
Wondering how much stain you need to complete your DIY project? Our simple-to-use stain calculator helps you determine the right amount of stain for your project before you start staining.
ExploreWoodcare Planner
Before you buy a stain, you can see how it will look on your wood surface. View how different stain colors will appear on decks, fences, structures, exterior furniture, siding and shingles.
Explore.webp)