DIY guideDeck and fence

Clean and stain the deck or fence

Check it's ready for a coat, clean it, let it dry, and stain it in the right weather, a few boards at a time.

8 steps

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Sprinkle water on the boards. If it soaks in within minutes, it's time; if it beads up, the last coat still works.
The wood has to dry before it's stained and the stain after, so wait for dry days, out of hot midday sun.
Move everything off, sweep it, hammer down any nail that sticks up, and cover nearby plants with plastic.
Scrub with deck cleaner and a stiff brush along the boards, then rinse it well with a garden hose.
Wear gloves and safety glasses. Skip the pressure washer: it gouges soft wood.
Leave it as long as the cleaner's label says, often a couple of dry days.
Brush or roll thin coats along the full length of two or three boards at a time. On a fence, work top down, a section at a time.
Rags wet with oil stain can catch fire on their own: lay them flat outside to dry, or soak them in water.
Keep feet, furniture and pets off for as long as the can says.
Soft or rotted boards, or a wobbly rail, post or stair: don't stain over them. Ask Handyman for a carpenter.

Handyman says: Soft or wobbly? I'll find a carpenter.

Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.