How often do you need to refinish a wood deck?
Michael Hansen How often should I refinish my deck?
Decks should be refinished every two to three years. Deck maintenance, and when you should do it, depends on variables such as the type of deck material, the current condition of the wood, and more.
Do you have to treat a deck every year?
You should reapply wood sealer at least every three years. In many cases, you need to seal a wood deck once a year. The more foot traffic and sun exposure your deck gets, the more often you need to apply deck sealant.
How often should you sand and stain a deck?
A solid stain or paint commonly lasts for five years and a transparent stain for one to two. If water doesn't bead on the deck, then it is being absorbed. A sure sign it is time to sand and protect it again.
What is the life expectancy of a wood deck?
THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A WOOD DECK: Typically 10 to 15 years. The actual lifespan of your wood deck will depend on the type of wood you've chosen and how well you keep up with wood's rigorous maintenance schedule.
HOW TO SAVE THE LIFE OF YOUR DECK
Does staining a deck make it last longer?
Better, Lasting Coverage
While staining may take less time than painting, painting often does a better job of filling the cracks, covering imperfections, and provides longer lasting protection. Paint also is typically more rot resistance and does a better job of preventing mold and sun damage.
How can I make my wood deck last longer?
How to Maintain a Wood Deck
- Give the deck a good scrub as needed. Two rounds of cleaning and rinsing with ordinary soap and warm water will give your deck a nice facelift. ...
- Every two to three years, hire a professional to clean and reseal it. Treating a deck only lasts a few years. ...
- Restain the deck when necessary.
Is it better to seal or stain a deck?
Sealing a deck is best for cedar, teak, mahogany, or other quality woods as it enhances the wood grain and natural color. What is this? Staining a deck protects the wood from mold, mildew, moisture, and rot, and UV rays and sun damage.
Should you pressure wash a deck before staining?
There is a common misconception that just pressure washing a deck prior to staining is all you need to do in order to prep your deck for stain. Pressure washing can help, but if you want your stain to last, using a good deck cleaner and brightener on the deck prior to pressure washing will provide you the best result.
How much does it cost to Restain a deck?
The cost to stain your deck typically ranges from $540 to $1,050 with an average of just over $700. This equates to an average cost of $2 to $4 per square foot for labor and materials. Higher-quality stains will run up the price, as will washing or sealing the wood prior to staining.
What happens if I don't stain my deck?
The effects that can occur due to a lack of treatment are aesthetic in nature. After 6 months, the wood will start to lose its color and will begin to fade. Ultimately it will fade to grey or silver. This is not a problem in and of itself, and some people prefer this look for their decks.
How much does it cost to reseal a deck?
Sealing a deck costs $906 or typically between $551 and $1,292. You'll pay $0.75 to $4 per square foot for both materials and labor. Labor alone makes up 50% to 75% of the total price. Cost factors include regional worker rates, complexity, size, prep needs and accessibility.
How often should you waterproof deck?
The general rule of thumb is to get your deck waterproofed once a year, especially if you live in areas that see a lot of rainfall. Another thing to consider is whether or not you live in an area that gets a lot of direct sunlight year round.
When should you not stain a deck?
You want to apply the stain when the wood surface and air are in the temperature range of 50° – 90°F. You also want to avoid the direct application of sunlight. Lastly, do not apply a stain if there is a forecast of rain in the following one to two days, or all your hard work could end up being washed away.
How much does it cost to powerwash and stain a deck?
The average cost to power wash and stain a deck is $2.15 to $4.25 per square foot. Deck painting cost is slightly lower. Total cost is $415 to $925 for decks of average size when a contractor is hired to do the work.
What happens if you don't clean deck before staining?
But don't just slap a coat of stain on in a hurry — you'll need to clean your deck before staining it. If you stain a deck without cleaning and prepping it first, the results will look blotchy, uneven, and, well, amateur. Any time you save skipping the cleaning stage, you'll spend twice over repairing the botched job.
Do you have to remove all old stain before restaining a deck?
You do not ALWAYS have to strip off old stains when staining a previously stained deck if you are applying the same stain type, color, and brand as the old one. Since deck stains penetrate deep into the wood, they prevent moisture buildup and protect your deck from mold UV rays and rot.
Is Thompson's water seal better than stain?
The advantage of this, they say, is the sealer provides additional protection against water and weather damage, while the stain helps reduce fading from UV rays. Sealers should last at least a year, with some lasting up to three years.
What happens if you don't seal stained wood?
What happens if you don't seal stained wood? If you leave stained wood without a sealer on top, it will gradually lose its moisture content and dry out. Over time, the wood may look dull and lifeless as the stain wears out due to the lack of wood sealing and protection.
Does sealing a deck make it last longer?
Additionally, a sealer can provide UV protection to slow the rate at which your deck's color fades. So while the pressure treatment process does provide a certain degree of protection, sealing your pressure-treated wood will help it to look better and last longer.
Should you pressure wash a deck?
If you have timber deck boards, a power washer's pressure may cause splintering and damage to the timber fibers. If the timber surface already has some splintering, pressure washing will only exacerbate the issue.
Why does my deck always look dirty?
A thorough yearly clean of your deck is critical to the upkeep of your outdoor space. Letting leaves and dirt sit on your deck for long periods of time can lead to discolouration and encourage mould and rotting of timber decks. As a starting point, sweep your deck to remove obvious debris and dirt from the surface.
How do you build a deck to last a lifetime?
Here are 5 ways you can ensure your next deck project will stay with you for decades.
- Go with Real Natural Wood, Not Composite or Imitations. ...
- Put a Roof on It. ...
- Be Careful with the Shovel. ...
- Keep Calm and Maintain. ...
- Repair, Repair, Repair! ...
- DeckTec is Your One-Stop Source for Outdoor Living Additions.
Should you stain both sides of deck boards?
In summing up, it is not necessary to stain all 4 sides of deck boards. But you definitely want to stain all the exposed wood like the top and sides of each board to reduce weather damage.
How many coats of stain should you put on a deck?
We always recommend two coats of stain for any wood project, but you should only apply as much stain as the wood can absorb. Extremely dense hardwoods may only be able to absorb one coat of wood stain. The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much as the wood can absorb.
