Why Your Deck Stain Keeps Peeling
As the weather warms up and the days get longer, people will begin gathering outdoors on their decks to soak in the great weather. But if you haven’t checked in on your deck in a while, you might find that it’s looking worse for the wear. If your deck stain is peeling, you might wonder what caused it and how to prevent it from happening in the future. Let’s dive into why your deck stain keeps peeling and what you can do about it.
Improper Application
When it comes to painting and staining, the application of the stain is critical to how long the material will stick to the surface. It’s crucial to learn how to stain a deck or hire someone with experience. If applied incorrectly, even the best deck stain will loosen and peel away over time. But improper application can occur in more ways than one. Hiring an expert will also help you get an idea of new and trendy deck stain colors or products.
Too Much Stain and Trapped Moisture
For instance, deck stain can be overapplied to a surface. Wood can only absorb so much stain. If too much stain is applied, the excess material will sit slightly above the surface and prevent moisture from rain and dew from leaving the wood. If this moisture can’t evaporate, it will remain on the surface and begin peeling away the stain.
Lack of Adhesion to the Surface
Even if the proper amount of stain is used, it may still peel away if it’s not sticking to the wood strongly enough. During the stain application, this can occur in a few ways. First, if the deck is not dry or clean, the stain won’t completely adhere to the surface. Instead, parts of it will stick to debris and moist areas, which will eventually loosen the stain.
Poor Maintenance and Lack of Sealer
Fluctuations in temperate, inclement weather, and other unavoidable scenarios will do damage to any deck over time. Still, there’s a lot you can do to protect your deck from harm and extend the lifespan of your deck stain. If you don’t put in the effort to maintain your deck, its stain will peel away much quicker.
The easiest and most effective way to prevent your deck stain from peeling is to go over your deck with a proper sealant. Deck sealers essentially waterproof your deck, keeping moisture from contacting the surface directly. If you don’t bother to seal your deck, you’re leaving it vulnerable to rain, snow, sleet, dew, mold, mildew, rot, and other forms of moisture.
Most people believe that deck staining is a one-time job. It is not. The wood needs to be properly maintained and cared for to keep it looking nice and new.
The first step in maintaining your deck is to make sure you are using the right type of stain, sealant or paint for your different types of wood. You should also make sure that you are applying the stain evenly and in the right amount so that it will soak into the wood properly. Once you have applied the stain, you need to wait until it has dried before putting anything on top of it (like furniture) or walking on it.
Hire a Professional to Stain Your Deck
There’s a lot to learn about the ins and outs of deck maintenance and stain application. If you want to ensure that your deck will look great and hold up for the upcoming spring and summer, hire a deck painting company that offers deck staining and sealing services. NorthCraft contractors specialize in all decks and fences. Our team can make your deck look as good as new and last much longer so that you don’t have to worry about going over it again and again.
Call (630) 489-6970 or schedule a free estimate online and restore the look of your deck today.
