Second-Story Deck Washed & Stained

A weathered second-story pressure-treated deck and stairs washed, dried and stained with a semi-transparent brown.

Location: Twin Cities, MN
Completed: June 2017
Setting: Occupied home

Before: Deck surface: weathered gray to semi-transparent brown — Deck surface: weathered gray to semi-transparent brown

After: Deck surface: weathered gray to semi-transparent brown — Deck surface: weathered gray to semi-transparent brown

Before: Deck railings and stairs after staining — Deck railings and stairs after staining

After: Deck railings and stairs after staining — Deck railings and stairs after staining

Drag the handle to compare before and after.

About this project

Pressure-treated decks go gray and rough within a few seasons without a finish. On this second-story deck we washed the boards, railings and stairs, let the wood dry fully, and applied a semi-transparent brown stain that lets some grain show through.

Good deck staining is timing: dry wood, a dry forecast and temperatures within the stain’s range. We schedule it for late spring through early fall and wait out rain rather than staining damp boards.