How to Stain a Previously Painted Deck

Since stain cannot adhere to an already painted finish, it must removed from all deck surfaces. This process accounts for much of the labor involved in staining a painted deck. The number of coats of paint, how much sun the deck gets (more shade means paint won't remove as easily as in sunny areas), and the type of paint-removal tools at your disposal affect how challenging this process is. However, a painted deck finish can be removed to allow for stain application.

Floor sander or alternative hand sanding tools
Pressure washer
Hammer and nail-set kit or screw gun
Stain of choice
Paint roller, brushes or other stain applicator

Instructions

- 1
  Power wash the deck surface following the manufacturer's instructions to remove any heavy soils or stains on the deck that don't come off with plain water. The powerful spray stream can damage house siding or the deck surface if it gets too close to either surface, so power washers must be used with caution.
- 2
  Sink any nails or screws that are raised on the deck surface until the they are level or just below the deck board surface. This step ensures that sanding materials will not get torn up as they remove the paint.
- 3
  Use a floor sander to sand the deck boards and remove remaining paint flakes, splintered wood and areas damaged or split by the power washer. If there are still raised nails or screws that could not be sunk into the deck boards, sand the areas by hand to avoid damage to the sander or sanding pads.
- 4
  Apply the stain of choice according to the manufacturer's directions with a sprayer, roller or brush. When using a paint sprayer or roller to apply the stain, always use a 4-inch paint brush to work the stain into the boards' surface after the initial application with the other tools. Hand-brush the stain around all edges and railings.

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