Brushes for Staining Decks

[BrianD]

Gentlemen & Ladies -

I have quite a few deck restoration jobs lined up for whenever the weather breaks. I have seen that many of you who do a significant number of decks have quite a variety of methods - from spraying to brushing to grooming. I have tried the spraying method with some brush work where necessary and am wondering how that stacks up against the use of painting pads, rollers, and the push broom method for staining/sealing decks. Any thoughts on this subject or recommendations on technique?

Also, what type of bristle is best?

Thanks!

 

[onecallpowerw]

Word of Advise

Stain pads, rollers and chip brushes. Stay away from sprayers. Too much prep time when spraying. Although, I have not tried the HVLP sprayers....... Anybody have any input on HVLP ?

 

[Cat Powerwash]

Stain pads, rollers and chip brushes. Stay away from sprayers. Too much prep time when spraying. Although, I have not tried the HVLP sprayers....... Anybody have any input on HVLP ?

Hey one call. Not much time in preping a deck job. I spray and back brush every deck and finish in half the time that you would brushing by hand.

 

[onecallpowerw]

9 Years and runnin...............

Each to own........I have stained every way possible and I prefer to stain all by hand. The difference in quality and the way the wood looks afterward is the main reasons. We have always had problems with spraying. Prep before and after takes just as much time as it would by just doing it by hand. Remember, you can not always do it yourself and some of us rely on help. I guess this would be one of the biggest factors. (Can't find good help for the money).

So many homes I have done show signs of past stain jobs. Remember your work speaks for you. (Concrete, Siding, Stuff under Deck etc....) Sure you can use tarps etc.....but this is all time spent prepping.

Again, I have heard that the HVLP works great but we just have not made that jump yet. (ANYBODY CHIME IN HERE ON HVLP) if you would.

 

[CaroliProWash]

We use a Titan 440i airless - love it for anything but Ready Seal (atomizes stain too much). We use a Deckster for that.

Celeste

 

[BrianD]

I have had several people tell me about using a push-broom to apply stain/sealer to decks. Supposedly that goes fairly quick and allows them to really work the stain into the wood. It sounded crazy to me. Has anybody ever seen or heard of this?

 

[Aplus]

Push broom....not likely. But a mop can be used for application.

 

[Jon Fife]

Celeste,

Try a big tip, and you can use your airless and RS. Like a....321 or 521 or bigger on the amount (not spray width). I think shurflo's are a nightmare for stain application, terrible overspray has been my experience.

Unless there is a special HVLP for high volume, I'd leave them for trim and such. Would be awefully slow I would think.

Regarding cover-up and such, method also depends on house type. For instance, where I live all the homes are brick. Might stain two decks a year with vinyl in the back. On brick, just tape the windows, doors, cover some plants and rock on. Vinyl siding would require much more prep, and thus, there could be a place for manual application. Also easier for employees, but man, the drips are SO much worse when brushing than when spraying.

 

[Deck Works]

Big fan of the staining brushes ACE sells. Black ones. They are $12+ but hold up for many jobs. They also hold a ton of stain.

 

[Deck Works]

should say also that I use an airless for really big jobs. I as most others have found that the prep time is really long.

Personally I think staining decks is not that complicated. What makes a professional job look professional vs. a homeowners jobs is no overspray on the house or drips etc.

 

[john orr]

I use a 4 gal backpack sprayer for the flats (best way to get the edges of the boards) and occasionally for the rails/spindles if sprayed from the outside, in. For most of the other stuff (rails, insides of spindles) I use a 6" foam roller and cut-in with a 2 or 2 1/2" brush - the inexpensive/throw-it-away kind.

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Great Deck advice Back in the Day

 

[minman]

I'm with you Cat. I use to only brush decks but found out spraying is the way to go. We spray and then back brush everything. What use to take us 10 hours to brush we can spray it in 5 hours plus i think the spray looks better and last longer.

 

[extremeclean]

We get big deck brushes from david at southern stain they do a really good job covering everything