How to Prepare & Coat a Deck | Behr Paint

Find how to prepare and coat a deck with this guide from Behr Paint.

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Behr Paint's step by step guide will help you with every step of preparing and staining your deck, from cleaning to staining and painting. Let Behr give you all the advice you need for your exterior deck project.

Uncoated wood may have mill glaze that can cause a coating to fail. The PREMIUM PREP Products will prepare the uncoated surface, allow the new coating to fully penetrate the wood surface, and ensure a longer lasting, more durable finish.

Using a roller or nylon/polyester brush, apply PREMIUM WOOD STAIN & FINISH STRIPPER NO. 64 to a section of the uncoated wood deck surface. Reapply the remover as needed to keep the surface wet for at least 15 minutes. Do not allow the product to dry.

TIP: Eliminating mill glaze and dead wood fibers will help open the pores of the wood. This will allow the wood to be properly cleaned and prepared for later staining or waterproofing.

Using a stiff bristle broom, lightly scrub the section.

Thoroughly rinse the surface area with clean water using either a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle or a pressure washer.

Repeat the process of applying, scrubbing, and rinsing in small sections until the project area is complete.

TIP: Some wood species may darken when PREMIUM WOOD STAIN & FINISH STRIPPER NO. 64 is applied. The color of the wood will transform back to the original wood tone when the entire cleaning process is completed.

Using a pump sprayer, apply PREMIUM ALL-IN-ONE WOOD CLEANER NO. 63 to the wood deck surface to clean, brighten and remove mold and mildew stains.

Reapply the cleaning solution as needed to keep the surface wet and foaming for 10–15 minutes. Using a stiff bristle broom, work the cleaning solution onto the surface.

Thoroughly rinse the surface area with clean water using either a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle or a pressure washer.

Continue the process until the project area is complete. Allow the area to dry.

Any existing coating can prevent full penetration of your new finish/coating. The PREMIUM PREP Products will help strip the old finish, allow the new coating to fully penetrate the wood surface, and ensure a longer lasting, more durable finish.

Using a roller or nylon/polyester brush, apply PREMIUM WOOD STAIN & FINISH STRIPPER NO. 64 to a section of the uncoated wood deck surface. Reapply the remover as needed to keep the surface wet for at least 15 minutes. Do not allow the product to dry.

TIP: Most deteriorated finishes will start to lift after 15–30 minutes.

Using a stiff bristle broom or brush, lightly scrub the section after the finish begins to lift.

Thoroughly rinse the surface area with clean water using either a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle or a pressure washer.

Repeat the process of applying product and scrubbing in small sections until the project area is complete. If necessary, repeat the steps until the old surface coating has been completely removed.

Using a pump sprayer, apply PREMIUM ALL-IN-ONE WOOD CLEANER NO. 63 to the wood deck surface to clean, brighten and remove mold and mildew stains.

Reapply the cleaning solution as needed to keep the surface wet and foaming for 10–15 minutes. Using a stiff bristle broom, work the cleaning solution onto the surface.

Thoroughly rinse the surface area with clean water using either a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle or a pressure washer.

Continue the process until the project area is complete. Allow the surface to dry.

Place plastic sheeting or a drop cloth on the deck floor to protect the working area against spills and drips.

TIP: When working outside, it is best to work out of direct sunlight and in temperatures between 40º–90º F with moderate humidity.

Pour thoroughly mixed stain into a bucket and dip a quality 2”–2½” wide nylon/polyester brush into the coating.

TIP: To avoid drips, tap off any excess coating against the inside wall of the bucket.

With your brush, apply the stain on the inside edge of the support post and the spindles. Start at a corner and work from the top of the support and spindle to the bottom.

TIP: Complete the portion of the spindle that is easily accessible. The rest of the spindle will be stained from the outside of the deck.

Complete 2 to 3 spindles at a time. As you go, also apply stain to the portion of the top and bottom rails that attach to the spindle. Continue staining spindles and rails until the section is complete. At the end of the section—post to post—apply stain onto the inside edge of the support post.

TIP: Reload the brush approximately every 4”–6” to maintain a wet edge.

Starting at a corner, apply the stain onto the face of the rail and support posts. Work the entire length of a board or section.

Apply stain to the bottom edge of the lower rail.

Continue the process until the support posts, lower rails, and spindles are complete.

Move to the outside of the deck and apply the stain to the opposite side of the rail, frame and spindles.

Apply stain to the top rail.

TIP: To avoid lap marks, apply the stain to the length of the board.

Remove the covering on the deck floor after the stain has dried.

TIP: Remove spills or drips by lightly sanding the area.

Replace any boards with severe warping/cupping, cracking, and/or splintering.

TIP: When using opaque coating such as paint or solid color stains, you may use a wood filler to fill the areas that need patching prior to staining.

Dip your 2”–2½” wide brush into the thoroughly mixed floor coating and cut in a 2"–3" wide area around the deck floor where the roller cannot reach. Start at a corner and follow the grain of the wood.

TIP: To prevent lap marks, only cut in a small area of 2 to 3 board widths at a time.

Pour floor coating into a paint tray and work a roller into the tray until it is fully loaded with coating. For best results, use a ⅜”–¾” roller cover.

TIP: For larger areas consider using a 5-gallon bucket and a bucket grid.

Working in the same section as the cut in, roll the coating approximately 4' down the boards.

TIP: To avoid lap marks, do not roll stain onto a new section until the previous section has been completed.

With your brush, immediately back brush the section.

TIP: Always brush the wet or puddled coating into drier areas.

Reload the roller with coating and continue to the next 4’ section. As you go, roll back into the section immediately after the coat is applied.

Continue to back brush the newly rolled sections.

Repeat the process of cutting in, rolling, and back brushing until the project is complete.

Product Used: Semi-Transparent Wood Stain (Redwood Naturaltone ST-122)

How to Prepare and Coat a Deck

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WoodSmart

Deck Step 1

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Deck Cleaning Step 1

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Deck Cleaning Step 3

Deck Cleaning Step 4

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Deck Rail Step 1

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Deck Floor Step 1

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BEHR PREMIUM<font face='Superscript'>®</font> Wood Stain & Finish Stripper No. 64

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BEHR PREMIUM<font face='Superscript'>®</font> All-In-One Wood Cleaner No. 63

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Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Wood Stain

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BEHR PREMIUM<font face='Superscript'>®</font> Semi-Transparent Weatherproofing All-In-One Wood Stain & Sealer

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Oil-Latex Redwood Stain No. 9

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