What is the best paint or stain to use on an old cedar deck?
by
Lisa
+2
I’ve power washed and done some sanding of my old cedar deck, but probably not enough. I’m not sure how much to sand. I want this to last as long as possible. The last redo was in 2014 with Cabot semi transparent stain done in the summer and it was peeling up in the spring after snow melted. So, which brand /product and method holds up the best?
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Cedar is a high resinous wood. Any good brand of deck stain will work. Just make sure it's oil base stain. Water based stain will just create a surface film and float on top. Eventually will flake off.
Hi Lisa. I'm Cindy. Now that you have cleaned and sanded the cedar deck, it's time to apply an acrylic primer to the rails. Use a paintbrush intended for applying latex water-based paints. Apply primer to the bottom of the deck. Lay on your back if the deck is too low to stand under. Apply primer to the surface of the deck. Wait 2 full hours for the primer to dry. Be sure to wash your paintbrush with water. Next apply acrylic deck paint to the primed deck just as you did the primer. Wait 6 hours before using the deck. Good luck Lisa. Wishing you all the best.
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/outdoor/how-to-prep-an-old-deck-for-new-stain-8597197
How to Prep an Old Deck for New Stain
Lisa, Mogie has given you great advice on cleaning your deck before you restain/seal.
For picking the best stain for your deck, first you always want to use a stain because it gets absorbed into the wood. Paint is different because it doesn't get absorbed so it sits on the surface and ultimately chips off so your "peeling" makes me wonder if it was paint?
The other reason why it might have peeled is "semi-transparent" means there was enough pigment in the stain that it didn't all get absorbed so make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions carefully when applying the new stain ... and drying is critical which often means you need to wait for a clear forecast of 2 days.
My recommendation has always been to stick with the same manufacturer. They each use slightly different chemicals and there's no way to determine which ones you can mix together ... and Cabot is a good brand. Make sure the stain you pick is meant for decks so it will hold up to foot traffic better and you waited 5 years where it's recommended that decks be sealed every 2 years.