When it comes to staining exterior wood, it is important to have the right deck staining tools to get the finish you are trying to achieve. Without the proper maintenance, care and tools, you could end up with an uneven finish or excess stain on the wood where it shouldn’t be.

Storm System recommends the following materials:

 

• Stain/finish
• Rubber Gloves
• Paint Brush – Synthetic, Nylon, or Polyester
• Roller – Synthetic Fiber
• Airless Sprayer – .017 to .019 Tip
• Rags and Drop Cloth
• Piece of Cardboard

 

Each exterior finish job is different. From spraying a large deck to brushing stain onto a wooden Adirondack chair, just keep in mind that while you might wonder if using a roller would be more effective and efficient, it is not always the best option. Rollers can push the stain off the wood and into the cracks, which can drip down, onto the ground, wasting the stain that didn’t get absorbed by the wood.

Start by using the sprayer and applying a light coat parallel to the deck board from the corner of the deck. You typically want to work your way from inside to outside. When spraying on the first coat, be mindful of how quickly the wood is absorbing the stain. In order to avoid spreading the stain onto unwanted areas, use a piece of cardboard to act as a spray shield and prevent the stain from appearing on anything but the wood. If an area appears to have more stain than the surrounding area, use the brush to remove the puddles and apply it to not yet exposed grain. Or, use the cloth to wipe away any excess stain that may appear on the wood as well as removing it from unwanted parts of the house.

Keep in mind that you may want to add additional coats to your surface when using CATEGORY 1, 2 or 3 oil finishes. Subsequent coats should be applied while the first coat is still wet or a few entire lengths of boards at a time. Always read the specifications for re-coating instructions for each product. Also consider additional coats to areas of your deck that are exposed to high foot traffic. It is absolutely essential to have the appropriate deck staining tools and products to stain a deck because without it, your deck will not have that grain of finish that you are looking for, and severe weather conditions could potentially ruin the deck altogether.