Refinishing depends on the condition of the deck and the type of wood. Sanding and cleaning prepare the deck for stain penetration and adhesion to the wood. We refinish all types of woods, from softer woods like Cedar and Redwood to hardwoods like Ipe, Brazilian Redwoods, and Cumaru.
Refinishing and maintaining your wood is our specialty, and it gives us great satisfaction when we take a weathered deck and turn the gray wood into a gorgeous wood deck again!
Exterior wood surfaces are exposed to various harsh elements, including UV rays, moisture, and foot traffic. Therefore, damage to the three main components of wood (Lignin, Cellulose, and Hemicellulose) depends on whether cleaning, sanding, or both will be needed to prepare your deck properly.
The first procedure is to remove the dirt from the wood surface utilizing a cleaning agent, followed by a low-pressure rinse with water resulting in a clean surface. A wood brightener is applied to remove discoloration caused by tannin bleed, nail or screw rust stains, and a neutralizer to restore a rich new wood appearance.
The first procedure is to check the countersinking of the deck screws. Deck screws have a coating to protect from rusting, if the protective coating is removed by sanding the screw will be susceptible to rust. The correct grit of sandpaper is the next decision. When a new deck is to be finished, the removal of a mill glaze is necessary before staining and a lighter grit sandpaper would be used. If the surface of your wood deck is older and is rough, uneven, splintered, or has raised grain a heavier grit would be used first followed by a lighter grit for a smooth surface.
Choosing the correct type of stain will depend on many factors. Stain must be water repellent, provide protection against UV ray deterioration, last against wear and tear, be flexible for expansion and contraction of the wood, are microporous to allow moisture in the wood to escape and contain a fungicide. Depending on moisture, sun exposure and foot traffic the type of stain you decide on will dictate the frequency of finish maintenance. Each of the below listed stain types will meet variables of your needs.
Solid-body stains are heavily pigmented, opaque stains that offer unlimited color selections. They protect from UV rays and moisture and offer the maximum in foot traffic protection. This stain will protect the horizontal surfaces for 3-4 years and the vertical surfaces for 5-6 years.
Many owners who build with hardwood have been using a tropical stain for their deck restoration. However, cleaning and sanding are still needed because hardwoods have a very dense, oily surface. A product that will dry the oily surface must be applied before the stain to ensure that the stain will adhere properly. Once the preparation work is completed, the tropical stain can be used successfully.
If you have an older composite deck that has faded over the years, it can be brought back to life with a Level 3 stain. There are some Level 3 stains that will adhere to the composite decking material. With a vast color selection, you can get the beautiful appearance of your deck back!
1 – This covered Redwood deck has been refinished and stained in a Level 3 stain. The railing posts and drink cap have also been done in the same stain.
2 – When restoring this deck, DBS stained the decking and drink cap in one color of a Level 3 stain, and the railing components and support posts in a different color.
3 – While the decking itself is stained with a Level 1 stain, the pergola, railing components, and fascia have all been stained in Level 3.
4 – These homeowners decided to refinish their Redwood deck using solid-body stains. The railing and benches are done in a contrasting color to the decking.
