You just spent a few bucks to build your deck, there’s two ways to protect your investment:
1. put it in a glass bubble, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a deck
2. protect it with either a sealant, stain or paint
Let’s hope you chose option 2. Now, I’m no wood stain expert but I’ll do my best to explain how I’m finishing my deck. First, I assume that the type of wood used can be a factor on determining which type or protectant you will use. For us, the deck is made with white cedar from the Gatineau Hills. Cedar has natural protectant against rot which makes it a good choice for exterior woodwork such as decks, patios and fences. On to preparation.
If the deck is brand new, wait a couple of weeks to make sure the excess humidity seeps out of the wood, let it dry. Then, especially if you walked on it, you need to clean it. We used Sico Formula 22, which comes in a powder. Mix it with warm water in a plastic bucket, apply liberally on the wood surfaces, wait a few minutes, use a brush with rigid bristles on the dirtier areas and rinse thoroughly. Sico’s Formula 22 will remove the molds and the dirt from the surface. It is biodegradable and will not harm your surrounding vegetation. Leave a good 24 hours to dry fully. Formula 22 will also be used to clean already stained wood prior to a refresher coat. It shouldn’t harm stain if it was properly applied.
Some people might recommend cleaning the surface using a pressure washer. I wouldn’t recommend it on soft wood like cedar. I would believe you’ll be more likely to damage the wood. Sure, doing it by hand is more work but in the end, it’ll pay off.
Once clean and dry, for the best results, you need to sand the wood. This step is only done for wood that hasn’t been stained before. Use 80 grit sandpaper for most surfaces but 60 grit is recommended for walking surfaces. Be careful when sanding, only go along the grain of the wood otherwise streaks might show when you’ll apply the stain. Remove the dust before going to the next step, staining.
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