Decks and Fences

Deck and fence staining by Home Painters London Ontario

When it comes to exterior painting your deck and fence is the area you will notice the most. Quality staining or painting of your will allow you to enjoy your deck for years.  It can be very expensive to repair or replace. This can be easily prevented by routine maintenance and staining. With proper care it will serve you for years to come as a place for friends and family to gather and enjoy the out doors. Decks are exposed to severe weather conditions that can rot or damage the wood. If neglected, decks can develop all sorts of problems.  A quality finish that is applied properly will be your best investment in making it last.

The three types of surface coatings.

Clear.  Allows the natural wood grain to show, which gives the minimum protection.

Semi transparent.  Allows partial wood grain to show. This coating has a better U.V. protection and gives the deck better wear and tear resistance.

Solid.  This stain blocks out most to all grain color and shows a solid finish, giving the best protection with U.V. protection, wear and tear and comes in unlimited colours.

Stain formulations:

Stain is not paint.  It allows the wood to breathe.  Being much thinner, it penetrates deep into the grain, allowing the wood of the deck to expand and contract with weather conditions and creating a longer lasting deck for you and your family to enjoy.

There are four types of stain:

1. Alkyd Oil Based  This is the strongest and longest lasting from 4-8 years before re-coating is required. You will need paint thinner for clean up of brushes and rollers.

2. Latex Based.  This is becoming stronger every year and has been available for only a few years.  This is a good do-it-yourself product and can be used when the wood hasn’t completely dried out.  It has easy clean up also.

3. Emulsions.  These are the mix combination of latex and oil stains. with a retail suggested higher durability.

4. Silicone sealer. This will penetrate the decks wood only lightly;  you will have to apply yearly and on dry wood.

Stain peeling is caused by applying one manufacturer’s deck staining product over another’s.  Most products will bond well to themselves, but not to other products, so using the same manufacturer’s  stain is suggested.

Latex does not adhere to oil stain products.

More is better: a lot of people believe this is true when it comes to coating products.  However, this is particularly a problem for decks. Over applying stain on wood leads to a buildup, creating a film coating which will in the end peel or crack, creating a very waxy, sticky buildup. This can also be very slippery and can prevent ability to dry properly.

Surface Preparation: any wood surfaces going to be stained should be clean, dry, and absent of mildew before stains are applied. Prior to use, mix all cans together to ensure uniform color, (referred to as “boxing”)

With any exterior painting service always make sure the painting company doing the work has years of experience and will stand behind their work peeling chipping and cracking in the first year or two is due to lack of experience prepping and applying products on exterior painting surfaces. Other exterior painting services offered garage floors, garage doors and exterior front doors exterior window painting as well as drive way sealing.

Call a professional.  You maybe surprised how affordable exterior deck staining  work can be.

Home Painters London, London Ontario

Call 226-700-0405