Your deck is at that point again and now you’re wondering can you stain over a stained deck or will it make it worse.
It can be tempting to simply put a coat of stain or paint on your stained deck and call it a day, but it could cause more problems that’ll be expensive to fix.
To make sure you get this right, here’s the answers to the most common questions I get about staining or painting on top of a deck that has previously been coated…
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Can you stain over a stained deck?
To answer this question properly, you need to take note of the current condition of the stain on your deck.
If your deck is in good condition and you’re looking to apply a maintenance coat of stain to keep your deck looking new, then yes… you can stain over a stained deck.
If this is the case then make sure you use the exact same product as last time. Don’t try to coat your existing stain with a different brand of deck stain.
Even if it’s a really expensive and high quality deck stain
The different brands aren’t designed to work together.
If it’s not the exact same deck stain as last time, then sand your deck back and start again.
It’s the same if the surface of your boards are starting to look really worn and faded. Applying more stain won’t hide the damage.
I recommend stripping your deck back, then applying the stain.
What about if I want to change the colour of the stain?
Whenever you apply stain on top of a stained deck, it’s best to stick with the exact same product that you used last time and make sure you use the same colour.
When you start applying colours on top of other colours, the results can be risky…
I’ve been called in to fix decks that have had different colour coatings on top of existing stains and it’s resulted in weird dark colours that look like there’s moisture trapped under the surface.
Your deck can come out looking blotchy.
If you make these mistakes, your deck could peel…
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Can you stain over paint on a deck?
The golden rule when it comes to painting or staining a deck is this…
If you have paint on your deck and it’s due for a recoat, then you need to coat it with paint.
Never put stain on a painted deck…
Stain needs to absorb into the surface of your decking boards to make sure your deck is protected properly and also so it looks great.
Any time you put a coat of stain on top of paint, the paint will stop the stain from soaking into the surface.
The stain will peel off.. It won’t provide any protection for your decking boards.
Not only that, the stain won’t mask any blemishes on your deck. It will actually make it look worse.
So, never stain over a painted deck…
Can you paint over deck stain?
Whenever you paint a deck, the most important part is the preparation.
If you want the paint to stick to the surface of your decking boards then you need to make sure all previous coatings are removed and the surface is cleaned then primed before you paint.
That means that you can’t paint over a deck stain.
Primer is designed to adhere to timber, not stain…
If you paint straight on top of a deck stain, it won’t be long until your deck starts to bubble and peel.
Don’t be surprised if your new paint job only lasts 3 months.
The paint you put on top of the stain will only be as strong as the bond your stain has to your deck…
You really need to think about whether you can trust the quality of the stain coating that’s already on your deck…
I don’t recommend it, but I also know that some people just don’t care…
So, if you’ve decided you’re going to paint over your deck stain, here’s what you need to do…
- Make sure your deck is clean and clear…
This could mean sweeping it off or even pressure washing if you have grease and grime from your BBQ…
I always recommend cleaning your deck properly and pressure washing it before painting for one important reason…
You want to get rid of any flaking deck stain…
You might find once you start pressure washing your deck, most of the stain will come off anyway…
To be honest, this is what you want…
If the stain comes off with a pressure washer, it would have been a bad idea to paint straight on top of it, don’t you think?
Anyway, next you need to…
- Wait for your deck to dry…
Before you apply any paint make sure your deck is dry…
Once it’s dry, lightly sand the surface with a 150 grit sandpaper and an orbital sander…
Your aim here is to simply rough up the surface and not sand it back…
This way your paint can get a better bond to the stain…
Before you paint, make sure you sweep off any dust that is sitting on your deck…
Only then can you move onto step 3…
- Apply a coat of paint primer to help it adhere properly…
This really depends on the paint you use. I recommend reading the back of your paint can and using the primer they recommend…
Follow the instructions and make sure your primer is dry, then…
- Apply a thin coat of paint…
To paint over stain on a deck, it’s best to use a paint brush and a paint roller…
You want to apply thin coats of paint instead of thick coats…
Once the paint is dry, usually 4 hours, apply a second and possibly a third coat of paint…
That’s pretty much all there is to painting a stained deck…
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Can you put water based stain over oil based stain?
By now, you should know that when you seal your deck, you need to use the same product as the last time or you need to strip it back and start again.
This is also the case if you want to put a water based deck stain over an oil based deck stain.
These products were never designed to work on top of each other.
Water based products won’t stick to an oil based coating. By trying to cut corners, you’ll end up with a deck that looks ugly and will peel and fade within 3 to 6 months…
Any blemishes in your current oil based coating will not be masked by the water based product.
It will actually highlight the blemishes…
So, if you have an oil based deck stain on your deck now you either strip it back and start again or you give it a coat with the exact same product as last time.
If you don’t know what the product is, strip it back and start again.
Never put a water based deck stain over an oil based deck stain.
If you’ve decided it’s safe, here’s how you do it…
Start by wetting down the whole decking including the surrounding building and gardens.
Use a deck brightener like this… to scrub your deck.
Let the brightener sit on your deck for 10 to 15 minutes but don’t allow it to dry on the surface. If the brightener dries on your decking, it’ll cause a blotchy appearance.
If you notice it starting to dry up, you can wet with a light spray from a garden hose.
After 15 minutes, you can use a pressure cleaner to remove all of the brightener from your decking. Make sure to wet your garden and plants down while you’re removing the brightener.
It’s important to remove all of the brightener.
Now allow your deck to completely dry before you apply any protective coatings. 24 hours would be a safe bet.
Once the boards are dry, make sure you apply the coating with a Deck Brush applicator…
Never use a roller or lambswool applicator.
And don’t forget to use the brush on, Brush off Technique
You should only need one coat of stain for a recoat, or 2 to 3 coats if you had to strip your deck back and start again.
That’s all there is to it.
And with that, I think I’ll leave it there for today…
I wish you all the best with your deck restoration…
Sincerely,
Jason – The Keeper of Deck Knowledge
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FAQ’s
If your deck is in good condition and you’re looking to apply a maintenance coat to keep your deck looking new, then yes… you can stain over a stained deck. It’s the same if the surface of your boards are starting to look really worn and faded. Applying more stain won’t hide the damage.
Never put a decking stain over paint. The stain needs to be absorbed into the timber boards. If there’s paint on the surface, the stain will sit on the top like a film and eventually peel off
I would recommend staining a deck rather than painting a deck. Stain will be absorbed in to decking boards and provide a greater protection. Paint merely sits on the surface and has a tendency to bubble up and peel off.
The only time you can re-stain your deck a different colour is if you strip it back and start again. Don’t try to apply a new colour or different product if your deck is already stained. This is the quickest way to produce an ugly deck.
When it comes to staining your deck, always use a paint brush for the edges and a deck brush applicator for the bigger areas of your deck. Never use a roller to stain your deck. A roller applies a heavy coat of stain which is actually not a good thing. You want thin coats when you stain or oil a deck, not thick coats.
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