Long Weekend Project: Refinish Your Deck with Sikkens Stains

As the weather heats up, we’re all looking forward to spending long evenings outdoors on the patio. However, if last winter was hard on your deck, it may be time to refinish the wood to get it looking its best.

But staining isn’t just about looks. A good stain protects wood from water damage, and ensures it remains safe from rotting and weak spots. If your deck has areas that can easily be pierced with a screwdriver, chisel, or other tool, be sure to replace those boards before you restain to guard against accidents for your family and your guests.

At Cochrane Benjamin Moore, we recommend using Sikkens stains for their great quality and low environmental impact. We offer Sikkens Cetol® SRD Exterior Wood Finish that works for all types of exterior wood, and offers effective protection with a single coat, or the Sikkens Cetol Dek® Outdoor Finish Stain with high-performance UV protection that prevents your wood deck from turning grey.

Staining is an easy weekend job, but there are a few steps of prep before you bust out the brushes:

1. Cover: Be sure to cover your siding and any surrounding plants with plastic sheets or tarps to prevent damage from dust and errant brush strokes.
2. Clean: Pressure wash or hose down your deck to prepare it for sanding and staining. Deck cleaning solutions help loosen dirt.
3. Sand: A power sanding tool makes this an easy job. This is also a great time to have a close look at your deck boards to make sure they’re not warped or damaged.
4. Sweep: Clear away all dust from your sanding job to make sure your paint applies smoothly.
5. Stain: Apply your Sikkens stain evenly in long, smooth strokes. If you’d like to stain your deck with a roller, speak to one of our Cochrane Benjamin Moore experts on the best type of roller to use for this tricky job. Most stains require two coats, so be sure to wait a few hours in between.
6. Dry: After 48 hours, your stain should be dry enough to replace your patio furniture and enjoy your new-looking deck. Time to plan a BBQ!

If you have questions or are new to outdoor staining projects, our staff at Cochrane Benjamin Moore would love to help. Staining projects like these are a great way to get your feet wet with DIY, and also protect your investment in your deck, ensuring that it will be safe from water damage and look great for years to come.