Painting
How to Stain a Wood Deck
A properly stained wood deck not only looks stunning — deep, rich color that makes the whole backyard feel finished — but also protects the boards from UV damage, water, and rot, extending the life of a $10,000+ deck by a decade or more. A fresh coat of semi-transparent stain runs $50-150 in materials for a typical 200-square-foot deck, versus $1,500-3,000 for a pro to do it. The project itself takes an afternoon of active work spread across a 2-3 day window for cleaning, drying, and staining. This guide covers prep (which is 80% of the job), choosing the right stain, applying without lap marks, and letting it cure properly.
📋 9 steps🛠 12 tools