I had my mother in laws deck refinished with a solid color stain and it has failed. The original finish was a semi transparent stain, oil I think. The contractor power washed the old finish, but did not use any type of detergent. I always felt that he stained it too soon after washing it.
He claims that mildew is the reason for failure, but still refuses to use any detergent on the deck. He is going to re stain it under warranty, but I question his methods. The solid color stain failed in a matter of months, even in areas that recieve little or no traffic.
What is the correct way to prep the deck suface for a new finish?
Is solid color a good idea or should I stip it and go back to an oil semi transparent?
The deck boards have alot of shakes and splits in them. Does this make a difference in what stain to use?
Roon
Replies
Find the brand name of the stain and call the manufacturer and get the real story. Make sure that you tell them the problems that you have had. I use one product that is a three coat process and you need to wait 6 months between coats 2 and 3.
I think I have run accross a poor contractor. No stain was left on site and he does not seem interested in contqacting the manufacturer.
It was supposed to be Cuprinol solid color deck stain. The deck was power washed and the stain was sprayed on and back rolled. Unfortunately no-one witnessed any of these steps.
Roon
What kind of stain did he use?
Cheap stain = Bad results.
I'm guessing if it is under warranty its been less then a year?
How did he apply the stain, what is the source of the mildew? What type of wood? How much sun the deck takes will also determine how long the stain will last. If it is basting in the sun stain will not last long. When you had the deck stained what was on it orginaly, it may play a part in how well the stain penetrates into the wood. How old are the deckboards and when you say a lot of splits, just how bad is it? How old are they, they may need to be replaced.
Thats a lot of questions, but need a little more information. My last piece of advice is wait for pro-dek or someone with a lot experience with decks to happen by this thread.
Good Luck
You might as well plan on staining/painting you deck every year from now on. If you don't use a transparent stain the only way you will get the paint pigment out of your deck is with a floor sander. It sounds like you need to sand your deck anyway now that it has been blasted away by a pressure washer. I think your deck guy re-applied the stain too soon before the wood was dry. He should wait 2-3 days before applying any stain.
I personally don't stain decks anymore because there is such a small window of opportunity to get the job done right. June- Sept. Before that you have to deal with tree pollen and after that the rain here in the NW.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Edited 4/2/2003 7:30:03 PM ET by Pro-Dek
Firstly, this was the fourth job that the contractor had done for me. #1&2 turned out OK. #3 was the Cedar siding on my own home. That failed using Woodscapes (he spec'ed Woodscapes but left no partial can on site. #4 was supposed to be Cuprinol solid color deck stain, once again no partial can left on site.
I think I have been duped.
The stain was sprayed and back rolled,
The mildew may be from ome adjacent trees. I do not recall any signs of midew on the deck with the previous finish which was a conventional semi transparent stain. Oil I would imagine. I did not deal with the previous finish.
The deck faces North. It gets plenty of sun but does not bake in it.
The deck boards are pressure treated with plenty of splits. The deck was built around fall 1986. I have torn off better decks, but I didn't imagine it as too bad to get a finish to take.
I asked the contractor if he thought it was in too bad shape to stain He guaranteed me that if there were any problems he would re-stain it.
I question his methods. I'm trying to find out the best typical way of preping and re-fnishing it.
I would never have put a solids color on it but my trusty contractor said it was the only way to go!
Cuprinol solid color stain was used
Solid colors on decks stink because they wear and need frequent re-application. Maybe he was looking for more work in the future.View ImageGo Jayhawks