This paragraph should be hidden.
Cleaning and applying a protective coat of stain can not only extend the life of your deck, but also give it an updated look.
Inspect the condition
If your deck was built using new wood, allow the wood to cure for at least 4-8 weeks before staining. For pressure treated wood, do not treat for 1 year after installation. If composite wood was used, you should check for moisture repelants or sealers, which can prevent adhesion. For decks with old wood, replace any visibly rotting or decayed pieces.
Clean your deck
Get your deck ready for staining by using a deck cleaner or deck stripper to clean it. For previously stained or sealed surfaces you will need to use a deck stripper to allow for proper adhesion
Choose your coating
A solid colour stain will have a solid finish, hiding any wood grain, and offer the best protection against moisture and UV rays. Semi-transparent stain will show most of the wood grain. These stains provide some protection from the elements, but the lifespan will generally be shorter than solid stains. Clear finishes provide limited UV protection, but allow the natural grain and colour of the wood to show through. These finishes are most widely used when staining high-quality exotic woods.
Start staining
To start, use a brush to stain vertical surfaces and intricate areas. For horizontal surfaces, complete entire length of board before moving on to the next. Be sure to back brush, working the paint into all the wood’s natural crevices and between deck boards, for even application.
Work in sections
If you have to take a break, finish the deck boards you're working on so that you don't leave a line when you start work again. If you are applying a water seal product, you can brush it on or use a sprayer to get the job done quickly.

When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Canadian Tire Privacy Charter
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies, the aggregated data will not include your visit.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.