exterior stain

What is the quickest way to stain my deck?
Cleaning your deck is essential for good adhesion and longevity of the stain. Use one of the Benjamin Moore or Sansin deck cleaners that best suits your deck’s needs. They can clean away old stain, dirt, grease, mold, mill glaze, or greyness. Once the cleaning is done, apply your stain of choice. For best results sand with 60-80 grit sandpaper after the deck is dry. For the fastest application, roll the stain onto your deck and back brush with a wide brush. Proper preparation ensures that the stain last longer this equals less time doing or re-doing your deck and more time enjoying it.

How do I clean mould and mildew off my deck?
Mould can wreak havoc on your deck’s durability, slowly breaking down the substrate resulting in the need to repair or replace your deck. Avoid costly repairs by properly cleaning with Benjamin Moore’s Wood Restore or Multi-Purpose Deck Cleaner. Both products will remove the mould and mildew on the wood surface.

Do I need to clean my deck?
Nothing like the smell of fresh cut lumber! The saw blades that cut through the wood spin so fast that it causes the grain of your lumber to seal (we call this mill glazing) and this inhibits the penetration of the new stain. If the stain cannot penetrate through the mill glaze and into the wood it will peel off quickly. The Benjamin Moore’s Brighten will re-open the grain and allow your new coat of stain to adhere and last.

What’s the best time of year to stain outside?
Ideal conditions to stain your deck is after the dew has dried, between 18 and 25 degrees, with humidity below 40%, and if you can luck out to have a day of cloud cover and no rain that is even better. The less moisture around and the slower the stain can dry, the longer lasting it will be. How do I know if I have applied enough stain?
More is not always better. When applying stain, only apply what the wood can easily absorb. Apply so that you’re getting an even coat and don’t try to stretch the stain further that the can recommends. Some old decks can be very thirsty so apply a generous coat, but not so much that it pools for a long time on the surface.

Is a roller a good way to apply stain?
Rolling stain onto your deck is a quick and easy way to stain the large areas. Use a 15mm nap roller and pour your stain into a paint tray. Attaching your roller cage to a broom handle saves your back and makes the job speedy. Roll the stain onto a section of the deck at time, as if you were painting. Be sure to back brush (run a brush over) the fresh stain as this helps the stain to penetrate and adhere. Some brushes can also be attached to broom handles. This method works especially well when two people work together – one rolling and one brushing. Does the wood need to be completely dry before I apply stain?
Latex stains allow some moisture to escape, however; excess water that is under your stain can cause your stain to peel or form mold. Wait two days after a heavy rain or washing your deck, wait one day after a light rain before you stain. Moisture content in the wood when applying water based stains should not exceed 20%. Moisture content in the wood when applying oil based stains should not exceed 12%.

Are there safe cleaners that won’t harm my plants?
Benjamin Moore and Sansin deck cleaners are safe to use around vegetation provided the planted areas are adequately watered down first. Rinse with water again after you’ve rinsed the cleaning solution off your deck or siding. Stain stripper must be used with caution around vegetation. Ideally, you would wet the plant area and cover it with a poly while using the stripper.

How do I prepare my wood?
Inspect wood surfaces for defects and make any necessary repairs. We recommended cleaners and/or wash the entire surface with a pressure washer using clean water. Sand the surface well using a 60-80 grit paper with a variable speed orbital sander. Follow by vacuuming or using compressed air for proper cleaning. Surface must be clean, free from dust, dirt, grease, wax, or any existing coatings. Drips: How do I control them?
When applying exterior coatings we recommend completely saturating the surface with product to the point where it will absorb no more. This will naturally cause the product to slightly run. Then, as per Directions For Use, back brush the surface to eliminate any streaking by spreading the runs and drips evenly. How often do I need to stain?
Individual product performance depends on a variety of factors such as exposure, wear and tear, quality of application, quality of wood, and location. Stop into the store and we’d be happy to review your maintenance schedule.

Why are your stains more expensive than some competitive products?
Our products contain pure resins and ingredients, with no cheap fillers or paraffin – incorporating the best UV-protection technology available. They are premium, environmentally-friendly wood coatings that protect wood while allowing it to breathe. Plus, exceptional ease of maintenance means trouble-free beauty for your home for years to come.