Here’s Why Your Deck Stain Keeps Peeling
When the weather warms up and the days get longer, people begin gathering outdoors on their decks to soak it all in. But if you haven’t checked in on your deck in a while, you might find that it’s looking worse for the wear. If your deck stain is peeling, you might wonder what caused it and how to prevent it from happening in the future. Let’s explore why your deck stain keeps peeling and what you can do about it.
What to Know About Deck Stain Peeling
Improper Application
When it comes to painting and staining, the initial application is critical to how long the material will stick to the surface. It’s crucial to learn how to stain a deck or hire someone with experience. If applied incorrectly, even the best deck stain will loosen and peel away over time. But improper application can occur in more ways than one. You might have used poor-quality materials or tools, for instance. Or, you might have tried staining your deck during the wrong time of year or the wrong time of day. After all, if it's too cold, too hot, or too humid, your stain might not properly adhere.
For all these reasons, it's best to hire the pros from the get-go. Hiring an expert will also help you get an idea of trendy deck stain colors.
Too Much Stain and Trapped Moisture
Deck stain can also be overapplied to a surface. Wood can only absorb so much stain. If too much stain is applied, the excess material will linger slightly above the surface and prevent moisture from rain and dew from leaving the wood. If this moisture can’t evaporate, it will remain on the surface and begin peeling away the stain.
Lack of Adhesion to the Surface
Even if the proper amount of stain is used, it may still peel away if it’s not sticking to the wood strongly enough. During application, this can occur in a few ways. First, if the deck is not completely dry or clean, the stain won’t completely adhere to the surface. Instead, parts of it will stick to debris and moist areas, which will eventually loosen the stain. Or, if a previous coat of stain still remains, failing to remove it and sand the surface will also prevent the new coat from adhering. And, as previously mentioned, the environment in which you're staining can make or break your results.
Poor Maintenance and Lack of Sealer
Fluctuations in temperate, inclement weather, and other unavoidable scenarios will do damage to any deck over time. Still, there’s a lot you can do to protect your deck from harm and maximize the lifespan of your deck stain. If you don’t put in the effort to maintain your deck, its stain will peel away much quicker.
The easiest and most effective way to prevent your deck stain from peeling is to go over your deck with a proper sealant. Deck sealers essentially waterproof your deck, keeping moisture from contacting the surface directly. If you don’t bother to seal your deck, you’re leaving it vulnerable to rain, snow, sleet, dew, and other forms of moisture.
Hire a Professional to Stain Your Deck
There’s a lot to learn about the ins and outs of deck maintenance and stain application. If you want to ensure that your deck will look great and hold up for the upcoming spring and summer, hire a Raleigh painting company that offers deck staining and sealing services. Anderson Painting contractors specialize in all home improvement projects, not just interior and exterior painting. Our team can make your deck look as good as new and last much longer so that you don’t have to worry about going over it again and again. To learn more about us and our services, call Anderson Painting today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com! You can also request an estimate here.
