How to dye a Patio
Wooden patios and decks need to be cleaned and treated regularly to maintain their optimal appearance and prevent the wood from rotting. Depending on the treatment you use and the level of shelter of your deck, you will need to treat the wood every two or three years.
If your patio is new, provided the wood used is pressure treated, you should not apply any stain for a few months. It is best to give the wood a chance to dry and stabilize before treating it.
Equipment needed to stain decks
You'll need protective clothing and gloves, because no matter how careful you are, you're bound to find a few splatters of dye on you at the end of the job.
You need to decide how you are going to apply the stain. You can use a brush, roller or specially designed pad.
List of equipment and accessories:
- Gloves
- Coveralls or other protective clothing
- Eye protection
- Roller or dye pad
- Brush for stain
- Masking tape
- Sheets, wraps or blankets if necessary to protect non-moving objects
- Sand paper
- Electric sander
- Sodium percarbonate or stripper (if necessary)
If your deck adjoins a patio door or threshold, you will need to mask the adjacent surface to protect it from splashes.
Choosing the Right Stain for Your Deck
Nowadays, there is such a wide choice of wood stains available that it can be quite confusing and easy to get lost in. Any exterior wood stain will work, but there are specialized stains for decks that are more penetrating, and therefore more durable, more durable.
Discover the entire range of exterior stains and varnishes.
If your patio gets a lot of foot traffic, you need to make sure it won't wear out. A translucent dye will age better, just like opaque dyes dark, on the other hand, brightly colored stains can, over time, flake and fade more quickly if your terrace is in direct sunlight.
Preparation before staining your deck
You need to make sure your deck is clean before applying the stain, otherwise it will not adhere or penetrate the wood. The best solution is to use a pressure washer to clean the deck a few days before application.
There are also certain cleaners that you can use to clean your deck. THE exterior wood cleaner from SamaN , is a water-based formula with great power without bleaching agent, is very effective in cleaning and removing old finishes, problems, algae, oil stains, grease as well as the tannin of cedar and redwood.
Excellent for cleaning composite wood decks and easy to use. Simply spray the wood surface, leave for 20 minutes, then rinse and let dry. The wood cleaner can be used to neutralize and enhance surfaces that have been stripped with SamaN Ultimate Stripper. By using this cleaner, you improve the performance of your new stain or sealer. Biodegradable.
If any imperfections or marks remain, the best thing to do is to sand them with sandpaper or a small electric hand sander.
Clear the area before you begin, ensuring that all garden furniture, pots and planters, barbecues etc. are clear. are moved.
Where to start ?
If your deck has a railing, use a brush to stain it first, starting at the top and working your way down so that any drips are brushed off as you go. Any benches or planters that are built into it and cannot be moved must be treated next.
When it comes to staining the floor itself, make sure you leave yourself an escape route. Work backwards from the far edge or wall, so you don't have to step on freshly applied stain to get off your deck.
When to Stain Your Deck
Do not apply stain if it is very cold or there is a risk of freezing, as it will not dry.
It's best to choose a day when rain is not forecast, as even a quick-drying stain will run and wash out if there is a sudden downpour before it has a chance to dry.
Do not apply the stain in direct sunlight or when the deck surface is hot to the touch, since if the stain dries too quickly you will not get even coverage and it will not have a chance to penetrate into wood, which will reduce the protective quality of the stain. Wait until the terrace is in the shade as much as possible before applying.
Do not apply stain to wet wood, as it will not fully penetrate wood that is already wet. Allow the deck to dry completely after washing it before starting work. The main key here is to make sure your deck is as dry as possible before you start work.
Apply the stain to your deck
Use a brush or paintbrush to make sure all corners are covered, then continue with your tool of choice. Always move with the grain of the wood and maintain a wet edge to avoid darker areas where you have overlapped. Maintain a wet edge by brushing into a wet area and brushing back.
Apply deck stain with a brush to railings and other features around your deck
If you use a pad or roller, make sure the stain penetrates all spaces between the deck boards. You may need to use a brush to make sure you get it into the gaps.
Apply generously, making sure there is enough to soak in, fully penetrating into the wood. However, do not leave puddles, brush or wipe away stain puddles with a cloth.
Be sure to completely saturate the end grains. If you have any ends where the wood has been cut, use a brush to completely saturate them. The ends will absorb a lot of dye and should be well coated to be protected from splitting.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to find out if a second coat is necessary and how soon it can be applied, and once finished, allow the decking to dry for 24 hours before using it.
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