Should You Pressure Wash a Deck Before Staining?

The short answer to this question is – Yes. But that is not all you should do if you want your deck stain to last. Too often we receive estimate requests from a customer whose decks were stained less than 2 years ago. The number one reason we find that a deck stain started failing prematurely is that it was never prepped correctly.

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. A good deck cleaner can remove the gray fibers, dirt, mold, mildew and other impurities deep in the wood.

Also Read: 11 Common Deck Staining Questions

When to use a Deck Stripper

In every case, utilizing a deck stain stripper is also required in the event you’re re-staining your deck – just pressure washing will not get the job done. Most deck stains will not adhere properly and penetrate the wood if the old stain is not removed. When a deck stain is applied over an existing stain, you will find that it begins to peel within a year. Why? Because the old stain prevented the new stain from soaking into the wood the way it was designed to do. A deck stripper will break up the old stain so that when you pressure wash the deck, you’re providing a good and clean surface for the new stain to bond.

Next, you will need to apply a deck brightener. The job of a brightener is to help restore the wood pH levels and open up the grain. The wood grains in an older deck or wood fence dry out and change over the years and a brightener will help to open those grains back up. Utilizing a brightener will really help the new stain soak in and bond with the grain.

What if it is a new deck?

The answer is the same – simply pressure washing alone is not enough. Utilizing a good deck cleaner will also help to break up and remove any remnants of mill-glaze. Mill glaze forms during the milling process of the wood and prevents the stain from soaking into the new wood.

Make Your Deck Stain Last

When you’re looking to restore your deck or stain your new deck, we always recommend taking proper steps in your preparation. Failing to clean your deck prior to any staining will only result in spending more time and money sooner than you anticipated. Following proper recommendations for cleaning and restoring your deck with quality cleaners, strippers, brighteners and pressure washing will result in a beautiful deck staining finish that will last.

Hiring a Deck Staining Contractor

When hiring a quality deck staining company to restore your deck or apply stain to a new deck, ask them about their process. Hopefully, this post will help in your decision-making process, answer some questions and provide information on the best way to prep your deck before staining.

Consider Legacy Painting

At Legacy Painting, we take pride in our work. If you’re looking for a deck staining company in the Indianapolis, IN area that knows how to properly prepare and apply your deck stain, consider Legacy Painting! Will provide you with a free estimate and walk you through our process so you understand what we do and why we do it.

Call (317) 426-7228