Wood can look wonderful with a good, solid stain. It can look unprofessional when the stain is blotchy. There are several reasons for the blotchiness and there are ways to repair it.
Why does your deck stain look blotchy? The underlying reason your deck stain is blotchy is that wood grains absorb at different rates. That could be because of the wood you’re staining or because of a lack of preparation. It could also be because of the type of stain product you’re using.
The article below explains how the types of wood, preparation, and types of stain affect how your deck looks afterward.
Wood Grains
Wood varies in density and that affects how liquid stain is absorbed. This makes the stained area look uneven and blotchy.
Some types of woods absorb more evenly than others. Walnut and oak are two that provide even density in staining as they absorb at the same rate throughout.
Other woods, like birch, poplar, cherry, pine, and maple, have softer areas that act like sponges, soaking up tons of stain while other denser areas resist stain. This makes some parts of your deck darker than others, creating a blotchy look.
Proper Preparation
You can build your deck out of any of these woods. They will all be durable and look beautiful. The secret is preparing your deck for the stain to prevent blotching. Correctly staining your deck is your best move against blotches.That involves sanding.
The face grain should have even sanding to 180 grit while the end grain should be sanded to 220 grit. This can be a problem with an orbit sander but you should follow a power sander with hand sanding using the same final grit.
Use mineral spirits to wipe surfaces after sanding. Look for scratches and sander marks. Rub those down with mineral spirits.
You can now use a washcoat or a gel stain to get an even wood density. A washcoat gives you the most protection against blotching.
A gel stain is easy because it can be used from the can and it has a certainty of color with no surprises.
About Gel Stains
While gel stains are highly predictable, they can still produce differences when used on both earlywood and latewood.
Gel stains sit more on top of the surface than deep-penetrating stains. It doesn’t oversaturate. Some color differences can be because the gel stain needs to be mixed.
Make sure there is no liquid rising to the top of the can and mix it up. Give your deck wood an even but generous amount. It should sit about three minutes, or as the manufacturer recommends, before wiping off the extra. Always wipe as the grain goes.
What a Washcoat Does
You can use varnish and mineral spirits or buy a wood conditioner for the washcoat. A washcoat allows a bit of the varnish to go into the more absorbent part of the wood and seals the wood. This provides equality to the wood grain so it absorbs the same over the entire board.
An oil-based washcoat can be used against either a water-based or oil-based stain. You can create your own with a 2:8 ratio of varnish to mineral spirits.
Using a washcoat will make your stain lighter because the washcoat fills the wood’s pores partially. Experiment with a washcoat and stain to see what amounts work best to prevent blotching.
Different Stains
Stains can provide a different look depending on whether they are a gel, an oil-based, or a water-based
stain. Read labels and do some research before buying stain to see how well each absorbs into the wood.
Mistakes People Make
Those attempting to stain their deck sometimes make mistakes that cause a blotchy effect. Mistakes include the following:
- Not testing the watercoat and stain on a test board first.
- Trying to stain after inclement weather.
- Rushing the work and putting on the second coat before the first one cures.
- Overcoating stain on the deck.
Testing the watercoat and the stain first on one board will mean you will know what to expect and how to fix any problems before working on the whole deck.
One key element to staining is the wood must be dry. Stain can’t soak into wood that is already full of water or stain. That means you will need to allow the deck to dry completely after rain before trying the DIY project. Plan your project around the weather to keep your wood dry.
Wait at least 24 hours for the first coat to dry before adding a second coat.
Stain is different than paint. Paint sits on top of the wood while stain seeps into the wood. The problem with overcoating with stain is that wood can only absorb so much stain.
Overcoating will result in stain pooling on top of the deck boards. This leads to the stain running down railings and the rest of the deck.
Your deck only needs one or two coats of stain to protect it. Adding more will create a mess and make the entire deck slippery, which leads to falls and injuries.
Tips to Fix Blotchy spots
Blotchy spots on your deck can be fixed. Follow these tips to remedy the problem. Be sure to work on one entire plank at a time. Trying to fix the one spot can make it more obvious.
Use a chemical stripper to remove the blotchy area. Use a paintbrush to apply it and look at the manufacturer’s instructions on how long to wait before removing it. This leaves your board clean to re-stain it properly. Make sure it’s dry before re-staining.
Apply a wood conditioner on the area and plank you are trying to fix before re-staining. Put a new coat of stain on the plank. Wait after the first coat to determine if a second is needed.
Final Thoughts
Understanding your wood and the type of stain product you have is a key part of preventing blotchiness. Preparation of your deck is another. While you can fix blotchy stain, it is much easier to take the extra time to stain the deck correctly in the first place.
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