Change that Wrong Deck Stain Color Now

We've all experienced that feeling of regret right after applying deck stain only to realize the color is all wrong. The anticipation of a beautiful, rich-colored deck transformed into disappointment at the sight of a too-light tan or far too cherry red bleeds through the wood. While it may seem hopeless, there are several effective ways to rectify a poorly stained deck and finally achieve your ideal aesthetic.

With some strategic techniques, promptly applied, you can redeem even the most ill-fated staining outcomes. Soon you'll be enjoying weekends relaxing out on your deck rather than stressed over its problematic appearance.

Reasons Behind Staining Your Deck the Wrong Color

Before covering the ways to remedy tinted deck troubles, it helps to understand what typically causes these staining mishaps in the first place. Sometimes there are factors beyond your control that lead to unsatisfying color results.

Wood decking comes in diverse species and grades, with unique characteristics that interact differently with stains. Softwoods like pine more readily accept the pigment while hardwoods like Ipe limit absorption. How the wood was cut and its age also impacts how it takes to staining.

Not Testing Stain First

Many disastrous deck staining outcomes result from the failure to properly test out the stain before fully committing to coat the entire surface. Stain color results depicted on the can may not accurately represent the tone you'll get based on your specific wood type, preparation, and application approach.

Without seeing a sample first, you risk discovering only after completing the intensive staining work that the color is far from what you envisioned.

Inadequate Prep Work

Another prevalent contributor to less-than-ideal staining effects stems from improper prep work. If the wood surface contains debris, mildew, remnants of old stain or sealer, or excess moisture, you'll likely be dissatisfied with how the new stain color turns out.

Proper pressure washing, sanding, scraping, and drying are essential prerequisites before the staining itself. Rushing this stage often yields very lackluster coloring down the line.

Failing to Follow Directions

Be sure to carefully read manufacturers' application instructions related to essential details like proper surface prep, testing on scraps, temperature, humidity, direct sunlight, drying times, and compatibility with your wood type. Failure to adhere to these guidelines can easily sabotage your staining success.

Consequences of a Poorly Stained Deck

Beyond just looking unsightly, a wrongly stained deck afflicts homeowners in other meaningful ways.

Aesthetically displeasing decks detract from curb appeal while more attractive ones can increase a home's value. Contending with peeling, patchy, or quickly fading stain also turns into a recurring, costly headache.

On a functional level, choosing the wrong stain with insufficient UV or water protection leads to faster wood weathering and rot. This translates to much more expensive repairs and replacing deck boards sooner.

Fixing Solutions to Change Deck Stain Color

While re-staining a deck can feel like an agonizing exercise in futility, various proven techniques exist to redeem even the most ill-fated staining mishaps.

Applying Solid Color Opaque Stain

The easiest and quickest route to overturn an undesirable stain color lies with opaque stains. These high-pigmented stains excel at fully obscuring the underlying deck color.

Unlike semi-transparent options, the opaque stain won't blend with the original color. You'll achieve complete, uniform coverage across the entire deck surface with fewer coats required.

Another advantage is that solid color stains better disguise imperfections in old wood, nails holes, gaps, cracks, and more for a more even aesthetic. These stains also deliver richer colors that amplify the beauty of wood grain textures.

Painting the Deck Surface

For homeowners seeking even more radical color transformation, deck restoration painters can supply the solution. Quality exterior paint in gallons enables you to fully hide the existing color and flaws in the wood for a total makeover.

While slightly more labor intensive on the prep work phase, deck painting yields remarkable flexibility. You can choose bright colors unable to be achieved by staining alone for a playful pop of color.

Applying Wood Brightener

Wood brighteners offer another means to rectify dingy deck staining mistakes. Products marketed under names like Restore-A-Deck Brightener harness oxalic acid to react with tannins and extract color pigments lodged within the wood cells.

It generally requires several applications before you'll notice significant lightening and color removal taking effect. Test first on a small area after the first treatment to gauge if additional ones will get you the final look you desire.

Sanding Off Previous Stain

The most aggressive solution involves sanding down through successively finer grits until you strip away every remnant of the despised stain color. While extremely labor and time intensive, this offers a route to completely reset the canvas to flaws.

Since sanding eradicates all traces of previous sealant as well, it best prepares the wood to readily soak in new stain for dramatically richer coloring from the very first brushstroke.

Choosing the New Stain Color

Selecting an ideal stain shade fully aligned with your aesthetic vision and complementary to the rest of your home's exterior can feel daunting. But a few helpful tools and considerations take the guesswork out.

Use a Deck Stain Color Visualizer

Specialized sites like Behr Deckover allow you to upload a photo of your actual deck space and virtually experiment with different stain color options. Being able to preview shades in context of surrounding trees, gardens, siding, view and light exposure provides helpful visualization.

Take Guidance From the Color Wheel

Understand color harmonies and relationships using a color wheel diagram. Contrasting bright and subdued hues visually pop while analogous ones in families seamlessly coordinate.

You can also identify warm, cool or neutral undertones to match the wood grain's natural tendencies whether towards red, yellow or black/white.

Test the New Stain First

There's no substitute for seeing the actual stain color on your specific wood before unleashing it across the entire deck. Test on a single board or rear corner area after proper cleaning and preparation for most accurate preview.

Preparing the Deck Surface for Re-Staining

However you decide to rectify deck staining color remorse, the prep work hugely impacts results. Proper restoration processes ready the porous surface to readily accept new pigment.

Pressure wash away accumulated dirt, mildew, mold and prior sealant remnants interfering with adhesion and color consistency. Address splintered spots, cracks, warped boards, and nails popping up that can cause premature peeling.

Only once the deck is fully clean, smooth and bone dry should stain application commence for ideal penetration. Cooler temperate days are preferable to avoid excess moisture messing with pigment bonding.

Applying New Stain for Best Color Results

Don't repeat past staining mistakes! Carefully follow manufacturer guidelines for ideal outcomes this time. Pour contents into roller trays to prevent contamination. Thin even coats work best, maintaining a wet edge as you work systematically across the deck's grain.

Avoid direct sunlight, spraying stain, or overlapping coats before drying as these compound streaking or blotches marring aesthetics. With an opaque stain, two quality coats diligently applied must suffice for desired color consistency.

Revel in your perfectly hued deck for years by taking measures to safeguard its beauty against deteriorating effects of sun, water and foot traffic. A clear sealant top coat enhances water resistance, UV ray deflection and longevity of underlying color.

Check sealant integrity annually before the harshest winter months. Repair damaged planks promptly before moisture seeps below. Sweep away leaves, berries and other debris prone to stain. Such vigilant care keeps your deck showcasing its flawless stained facade for decades of weekends filled with fun times outdoors.