Deck-orating with wood stains

As an extension of your exterior, decks can tie your home into the landscape and add to your home's street appeal. Wood stains and oils bring out the natural beauty of timber decking to either help blend into the natural environment or create the 'wow factor' on your exterior. Staining your deck will also protect it from wind, rain and UV damage, so your deck not only looks beautiful but is less prone to drying out, splitting and splinters.

Refreshing your deck is one of the most straightforward DIY jobs you can do in a weekend. From decking oils to wood oil stains, the product you choose depends on the type of timber, the condition of the wood and your desired look.

The three steps to protecting your deck:

1. Wash and/or scrub (water blasting at low pressure is an option for some timber types)
2. Stain or oil
3. Enjoy!

What product to choose

Pine, macrocarpa, cedar and other treated softwoods

• Resene Furniture and Decking Oil – This resin and wax blend gives a natural look which brings out the beauty of the timber – like polishing a wooden table or shining your shoes. Resene Furniture and Decking Oil protects the timber from water, fungi and UV damage. It is quick and easy to apply and designed for annual application.

• Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain – This hybrid waterborne alkyd stain is designed for pine, macrocarpa and other treated softwood decks. It has fewer fumes and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) than traditional solventborne stains and is available in a wide range of colours including natural (see colour chart on Resene exterior woodcare range). Many colours are available in Resene CoolColour versions which are ideal for dark coloured decks to keep them cooler over summer.

Kwila and other hardwoods

Hardwood timber is commonly used in decking projects, in particular kwila. While colours vary they are typically darker in hue, with kwila having a red brown hue. Most hardwoods are prone to tannin bleed which can discolour and stain surrounding surfaces such as concrete and paving. It can take several months for this to disappate. To refresh its natural colour, use Resene Kwila Timber Stain. This product can also be used on other exotic hardwoods. To change the colour of kwila apply Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain or Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain (which is solventborne) in the desired colour.

Choosing a colour

There are a few things to consider when choosing a colour for your deck:

Your home’s exterior: Consider if you want to match the colour of the exterior or finish in a contrasting colour to make it a feature of your home.

Indoor-outdoor flow: If your home has timber flooring, you might want to consider matching the deck's colour to the colour of the interior flooring to create seamless flow between the outdoor and indoor living areas.

Wear and tear: Decks are usually high traffic areas and can take quite a beating. Choose a practical colour that can be easily kept clean. Too light or too dark will tend to show up muddy shoe marks.

The natural surroundings: If your deck has a coastal view, you might want to consider a sandy natural tone. If your home is surrounded by bush, try a deep green such as Resene Evergreen or a rich brown such as Resene Dark Oak.

Prep work

Greying and weathered decks: Before staining, treat any moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer before cleaning with Resene Timber and Deck Wash. This will prevent any algae or moss growing through and discolouring the stain and give you a cleaner surface to work with. Remember that stains and marks will show through your stain so the cleaner the timber before you stain the better the finished result.

New decks: There is a difference between pine and hardwood decks when it comes to applying a stain to a new deck. With pine it is recommended that after cleaning a stain is applied as soon as practical – ideally within a week. While for kwila and other hardwoods, allow 10-12 weeks for the surface to weather to allow the stain to penetrate. For both we recommend washing with Resene Timber and Deck Wash before applying stains and oils, and repeat it every couple of years before re-staining.

did you know?  Once your staining is done, apply Resene Deep Clean every 6-12 months to keep it looking good. Simply spray or brush on and leave Resene Deep Clean and the weather to clean off moss, algae and the like. Ideal for use on paths, patios, decks and other exterior timber, concrete and painted surfaces. You can also use it on the canvas of outdoor furniture – try a test area out first on an inconspicuous area.

How to wash and stain a timber deck

1. Treat mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Apply then leave overnight, scrub and rinse off. After the mould is treated, apply Resene Timber and Deck Wash to your deck using a garden sprayer.

2. Scrub the Resene Timber and Deck Wash using a short-bristled, long-handled scrubbing brush to remove any dirt and debris before rinsing with fresh water.
   Top tip: Work in small sections to prevent the product from drying before it is rinsed.

3. Allow the deck to dry before applying your chosen Resene wood stain. We used Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain tinted to Resene Tamarind. First apply the stain by cutting in any edges or hard to reach areas of the deck using a brush.

4. Working in a planned route (so you aren't walking over your stain), apply Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain to the flat surfaces of the deck using a Deckmaster Brush or lambswool applicator pad. Lay off in a uniform direction down the length of the boards.

5. Allow to dry for at least two hours. If a second coat is required, work in the same direction as the first coat.

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