How to Remove Stain from Wood Deck?

Years ago, I painted my deck utterly dark brown, and I always maintain the wood with care. I clean it every day and never want any annoying stains and blemishes in my house for obvious. One day, I was sitting outside and reading a book suddenly, I dumped on a dark stain that horrified me instantly. Quickly I kept thinking How to remove stain from the wood deck? This is a pretty question because wood needs a lot of care during the cleaning, unlike any other kind of material. 

Accidents happen, right? Now it's time to fix the stain on the wood deck.

Here is a detailed article on how to remove deck stain:

1. Power Washing

You would have probably heard about the name power washing, right? If you have stained a deck already, you might always know the beginning of this process. Wood needs to be adequately prepared before the staining process. First, make sure you remove all the dirt, mildew, and dirt with a power wash. Then use a deck cleaner and let it set on wood for some time to remove any residue. Never skip this step because dust and dirt grime on wood will not allow the new coat to properly hold on to the surface.

2. Deck Stain Strippers:

Most of the old decks might have chipped stains, build up dirt and marks can not be removed by washing the deck. You need a deck stain stripper to ensure the stain is completely removed from the deck. Deck strippers are very helpful to soften the existing stain and make it easier to remove. The deck strippers formula contains surfactants and sodium hydroxide that typically work aggressively on any stain deck. 

• Process of Application:

Apply the stripper using rollers and paintbrushes where you would like to paint or use another stain. The stain strippers, when compared with water, can be applied with a pump sprayer. After the application, let it sit on the wood for fifteen minutes and remove it with water. This way ensures the wood gets to soak in the stain and breaks the molecules down. 

If you have used semi-solid or solid stains, the finish might be thick, tough, and stubborn to remove. You need to put an extra layer of coat and let the stripper work for more processing time. When the deck stripper gets soaked totally, it starts to break away stain from wood. Now wash away the residue with a power wash and see the magic.

Pro tip: 

Even then, if the stubborn stain is saying I won't quit the wood, now it's time to use a sander or sandpaper to take away the remaining stain. When the old stain got removed entirely now, it's time to move to the next step. 

3. Wood Deck Brightener:

After removing the old stain, the wood might appear darker than before due to the application of layers of the coat of stain strippers as it raises the pH levels of wood. It's common in most of the removal process, and you can do one thing to bring back the shine. Using a wood deck brighter lightens up the wood quickly. Just apply one layer of deck brightener on the wood, which restores the deck's shine, pH levels, and colors. This step also opens the wood’s pores, making it even better for the new layer of stain to sink in quickly and speed up penetration. 

Now allow the deck strippers and brightener to dry for a minimum 48 hours before applying the new coat of stain. During this time, make sure the deck is spotlessly clean. After this step, the wood will be ready to receive a new stain. 

Pro tips:

• When it comes to removing the stain on the old deck, it is crucial to thoroughly prep up the wood to avoid a new deck stain's premature failure. This is one of the common biggest mistakes made by DIY homeowners. They forget to remove the old stain and start applying a new one that blocks the new stain from adequately penetrating the surface.
• After the process, splash water onto the wood top and see if it gets absorbed. If it sits on the top without getting blended, then it is an indication that the old stain still needs to be removed.
• Remember that a well cleaned and brightened wooden deck needs to get dry for several days before applying a new deck stain. The number of measures you are taking while removing the stain of wood will be reflected in providing long-lasting results. 

Conclusion:

Knowing How to remove stain from the wood deck helps you to maintain your woodwork perfectly. Even the highest quality finish can be damaged during unpredictable weather conditions. Using proper stripping techniques, brightening treatment, and new stain coats applications will keep your deck looks beautiful for decades. You can also use this technique for color correction mistakes.