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Learning how to stain your deck or any other wood surface correctly is key in preventing many headaches, such as the next rainstorm washing away all of your fine work. Rather than putting yourself through that and raising your blood pressure, employ a few tips from the experts at Harbour Painting. The New London, CT, house painters provide amazing staining jobs in addition to commercial and residential painting services.

Check out some of their best staining tips, and do the job right the first time:

  • Examine: Take inventory of your deck, and look for rotting wood, peeling wood, dirt, mold, mildew, and anything else disruptive to stain penetration. 
  • Clean: Clean your deck thoroughly. Choose cleaning and restoration products depending on the size and condition of your deck. For example, if you need to remove an old finish, REMOVE by Benjamin Moore is an excellent product. It removes both clear finishes and solid color stains. If you need to restore old, weathered wood, RESTORE from Benjamin Moore is a gentle yet effective formula that also removes mold and mildew. BRIGHTEN and CLEAN products are available as well depending on how much cleaning is necessary.

  • Scrub: Scrub your deck with a hard-bristled brush after you’ve applied the prep product. Use your garden hose or pressure washer to rinse the product off. Keep in mind that none of Benjamin Moore’s prep products are harmful to the environment. Wait at least 48 hours before staining, as the wood has to dry completely.
  • Sand: Lightly sand your deck using 80-grit sandpaper to remove fuzzy wood fibers, then sweep.
  • Stain: Put a drop cloth down on your deck, and stain the railings first using a wide paintbrush and your favorite Benjamin Moore stain. Wipe up drips immediately, and stain one section at a time for best results, starting at one end and working your way to the other. This helps you avoid missing spots. Stain the deck floor with a roller brush, and have someone follow you with a paintbrush as you work to smooth imperfections.

Avoid staining your deck in direct sunlight, as it might cause the product to dry too quickly and leave marks where your brush started and stopped. Your New London painting contractor also stresses protecting yourself from overspray when applying any of the above products by wearing gloves, long sleeves, goggles, and a dust mask.

For more on residential painting, power washing, and house painter services available through this renowned painting contractor, contact Harbour Painting today. Call (860) 444-0705 or visit the website for more information.

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