Is it better to seal or stain a deck?
Stain lasts longer in the sun.Pigment in stain shields the wood and its mildewcide from sunlight, the USDA Forest Products Laboratory says, and that’s what extends its life. 501 Soft Washing does both.
Deck Staining & Sealing in Fairfield Bay, AR
501 Soft Washing, in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, stains and seals wood decks and fences around Greers Ferry Lake. The finish goes on only after the wood is clean and dry.
Call (501) 550-8465
Free remote estimates
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Why deck stain peels, and why the wood has to be clean and dry first
Decks around Greers Ferry Lake can stay damp under oak, hickory, and pine shade, and leaves and needles sit on the boards. Building Advisor calls too much shade and wet, plus needles left to sit, a “mold and mildew farm.”
Bare wood doesn’t hold up to that for long. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory says unfinished decks develop checks and cracks (splits in the boards), raised grain, and mildew, and that raises the risk of decay and insect attack. Redwood and red cedar also weather to gray, Sherwin-Williams says.
Prep is where a stain job goes bad. Stain won’t bond over a peeling old finish, and staining right after a pressure wash is a common mistake. The wash can do harm too: the Forest Products Laboratory says power washing can take wood off the surface, particularly soft wood like western red cedar. That’s why deck and fence cleaning comes first.
Stain that’s applied to damp surfaces won’t adhere well and can crack or peel.
“Most decks are retired because of cracks and checks that mostly could have been avoided by timely finishing.”
“…the wood kept peeling away in layers and took the solid stain with it.”
Water repellent with no mildewcide “often leads to blotchy staining of the wood.”
What people ask about deck staining
How long should you wait to stain pressure treated wood?
Up to a year, and sources differ.Sherwin-Williams says new pressure-treated wood won’t let coatings adhere well. The Forest Products Laboratory says two months to a year, and Angi says a year. Tell 501 Soft Washing when your deck was built.
What is the best stain for a wooden deck?
A penetrating semi-transparent stain.The USDA Forest Products Laboratory says a semi-transparent oil stain won’t blister or peel even if moisture gets into the wood. Ask 501 Soft Washing which finish suits your boards.
Can you apply stain over stain on a deck?
Yes, if the old finish isn’t peeling.Consumer Reports says solid stain can go over any stain, but semi-transparent can’t go over solid. Tell 501 Soft Washing what’s on your deck now.
What is the best time of year to stain a deck?
A dry stretch between 50 and 90 degrees.Cabot says air and wood should both be 50 to 90 degrees, out of direct sun, with no rain expected for 12 to 24 hours. Call 501 Soft Washing to talk through your deck.
Have a different question?
Call (501) 550-8465 and ask.
Stain, sealer, or paint: what goes on your deck or fence
Pick the color on your own wood. Guides suggest a test patch viewed in daylight, and color disputes come up when the contract doesn’t record the color, so get yours in writing.
Deck stain
Semi-transparent stain shows the grain. Solid stain hides the grain and uneven wear on aged wood, and the texture still shows. Transparent stain shows the full grain but gives little sun protection.
Call about staining your deck
Paint on decks and railings
Paint and solid stain can trap moisture and peel on deck boards, but they can do well on railings, the Forest Products Laboratory says.
See paintingSealer
Sealer is a clear water-repellent preservative: a water repellent with a mildewcide added. It’s the easiest finish to reapply, and the Forest Products Laboratory gives it about a year on exposed surfaces.
Call about sealingFence stain
Fence guides name semi-transparent oil-based stain most for cedar and newer pine, and solid stain for older, weathered boards. They give semi-transparent 2 to 3 years, less in full sun or wet climates.
See deck and fence cleaningHow a deck or fence staining job goes
1. Call (501) 550-8465
Tell us what you need done and where it is.
2. Get your free estimate
Remote estimates are free everywhere. In-person estimates are free in the Fairfield Bay, Clinton, and Shirley area.
3. The owner shows up and does the job
501 Soft Washing’s owner comes to your home or business and does the work.
What a deck customer says
“My deck was damaged by another so called reputable company in the area. They fixed it. What an expensive lesson. At least my deck looks almost new now!”
What’s guaranteed and what an estimate costs
501 Soft Washing is insured. The work is guaranteed.
Some things get talked through before the work starts, so you know what to expect. Oxidized siding needs a restoration process, and that isn’t guaranteed. Removing non-organic stains isn’t guaranteed either, though the success rate is high.
Free remote estimates
Everywhere we work. We need pictures of the job: email them to info@501softwashing.com with the address, what you want cleaned, and a note on any vegetation or surfaces a cleaner could damage. It gets you a faster, more accurate quote.
Free in-person estimates
In the Fairfield Bay, Clinton, and Shirley area.
Farther out
We prefer remote, or you can pay $100 for an in-person estimate, deducted from your quote if you accept the job.
“We needed our office in Heber Springs washed before a meeting on Monday. They were able to quote remotely and come out on a moments notice. Thank you so much for the accommodation. We really should have done this in advance but thank you!”
What else the same call covers
Where 501 Soft Washing works
- ClintonFree remote and in-person estimates
- Fairfield BayFree remote and in-person estimates
- Greers FerryFree remote estimates
- Heber SpringsFree remote estimates
- Mountain ViewFree remote estimates
- ShirleyFree remote and in-person estimates
The work also covers Van Buren, Stone, Searcy, Cleburne, and Faulkner counties.
More deck and fence staining questions
How much does deck staining cost?
You get a price after a free estimate.501 Soft Washing doesn’t publish a price list. Remote estimates are free everywhere, and in-person estimates are free in the Fairfield Bay, Clinton, and Shirley area.
How long does deck stain last?
About two to three years for semi-transparent.That’s Consumer Reports’ estimate for a deck. Deck-stain guides give one to two years for transparent and three to seven for solid. They’re outside figures, not a promise from 501 Soft Washing.
How long should a deck dry before staining?
At least one to three days, longer in damp weather.Sherwin-Williams says one or two days and Cabot says two to three. If a drop of water soaks in, the wood’s ready; if it beads, it needs longer. 501 Soft Washing stains dry wood only.
How many coats of stain does a deck need?
One coat of oil-based stain on a new deck, Cabot says.Cabot also says “more stain is not better,” because extra can peel, crack, or stay sticky. 501 Soft Washing talks through the finish before the work starts.
Do you stain fences too?
Yes, wood fences as well as decks.501 Soft Washing stains and seals fences. Fence-company guides say kiln-dried cedar can take stain in a week or two, and treated pine in 4 to 8 weeks.
Can you repair my deck before staining it?
Yes.501 Soft Washing does deck repairs as part of its home repair and handyman work, so a repair and a stain can go on the same call.
Call (501) 550-8465
Free remote estimates everywhere, and free in-person estimates in the Fairfield Bay, Clinton, and Shirley area.
Call 501 Soft Washing