Deck Prep for re-doing semi-transparent stain
#1
05-20-19, 10:47 AM
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Deck Prep for re-doing semi-transparent stain
The coating on my deck is about 5 years old and is coming up. I moved in 4 years ago, so I don't know who applied it or how. I did find some extra material. It's Behr-brand semi-transparent stain. It's a custom tint so I'll have to see if I can get them (Home Depot) to duplicate it.
My question is how to prep it for re-staining. I power washed it (just water, no chemicals) and it knocked the really loose stuff off, but it doesn't feel like enough. So I need to scrape and/or sand?
I'm guessing with a semi-transparent stain that a color change is out of the question without sanding down the entire deck?
My question is how to prep it for re-staining. I power washed it (just water, no chemicals) and it knocked the really loose stuff off, but it doesn't feel like enough. So I need to scrape and/or sand?
I'm guessing with a semi-transparent stain that a color change is out of the question without sanding down the entire deck?
Last edited by PJmax; 05-27-19 at 02:16 PM. Reason: resized pictures
#2
05-20-19, 11:06 AM
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It's Behr-brand semi-transparent stain. It's a custom tint so I'll have to see if I can get them (Home Depot) to duplicate it
I don't own a pressure washer so my process is to spray the deck wet with the hose, spray on a 50/50 bleach/water mixture, scrub with a stiff brush and then rinse clean with the hose.
How drastic a change in color are you trying to achieve?
#4
05-20-19, 02:30 PM
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Thanks - it does look like solid stain but the can says semi-transparent. They must have put 500 coats on it. I replaced 2 planks and stained it to try to match. I stopped after 5 coats - it was close but still didn't match 100%.
#6
05-20-19, 04:15 PM
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If you're going to go a little darker grey, I wouldn't be worried with removing any more of the current stain.
#7
05-21-19, 02:18 AM
it does look like solid stain but the can says semi-transparent.
IMO your deck is iffy for using a semi-transparent stain unless more of the existing stain is removed. A solid deck stain can be used over your deck as is and there are no color restrictions.
#8
05-21-19, 03:23 AM
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Thanks - I'll have to think about it. I don't really have a preference semi-transparent or solid. I was just going to put whatever was on there previously.
#9
05-21-19, 04:04 AM
I'm afraid that even with the same color stain in a semi-transparent the 'solid' areas of the existing stain will show thru differently.
Baldwin
voted this post useful.
#10
05-27-19, 12:42 PM
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Ok - I rented a sander from Home Depot and took care of the trouble spots and then some.
Home Depot had still carried the same semi-transparent product. I brought the old can in, but the color label had faded so we couldn't read it. The paint person said the colors hadn't changed since my deck was last done. I guessed at the shade of gray based on the drips on the side of the old can. I chose correctly which made me feel like I won the lottery - do you know how many shades of gray there are (more than 50, I'll tell you that).
Anyway, here are the results. The can calls for a minimum of 2 coats. After the first, you could see the old stain. After the second it was uniform.
Home Depot had still carried the same semi-transparent product. I brought the old can in, but the color label had faded so we couldn't read it. The paint person said the colors hadn't changed since my deck was last done. I guessed at the shade of gray based on the drips on the side of the old can. I chose correctly which made me feel like I won the lottery - do you know how many shades of gray there are (more than 50, I'll tell you that).
Anyway, here are the results. The can calls for a minimum of 2 coats. After the first, you could see the old stain. After the second it was uniform.
Last edited by PJmax; 05-27-19 at 02:19 PM. Reason: resize pictures
#12
05-28-19, 06:43 AM
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Thanks!
It definitely appears solid, their definition of "semi-transparent" is off a bit. The first coat is truly semi-transparent - you can see the wood grain through the stain. But they say to do 2 coats. The second coat makes it appear solid.
It definitely appears solid, their definition of "semi-transparent" is off a bit. The first coat is truly semi-transparent - you can see the wood grain through the stain. But they say to do 2 coats. The second coat makes it appear solid.
