staining my front porch this week...any tips????

[mtemm]

according to the forecast we are going to get a few clear days in a row here, so I am finally going to tackle staining the front porch. Years ago I stained a bookcase, and I have painted several interior rooms, but never stained a porch before. any tips? I have talked to some friends who have done theirs, and am doing some research online, but would love to hear some more real-life stories and tips before I get started!

thanks!

 

[telephoneman66]

1) What's on the porch now? Stain, Sealer, Paint?
2) If it's stain is it polyurethaned?


If you're going to "stain" a porch, you will want to consider using a penetrating stain/sealer like Cabot brand. This will not only stain the wood, but seal it from water.

It is easy to apply with a pump sprayer. Use a cheap brush for the hard to reach areas or the areas next to the house.

It won't work if your porch was previously painted or polyurethaned. If that's the case, you'd need to sand the old finish off. Read: HUGE JOB!!

 

[dallastxcpa]

Is your front porch wood or is it a concrete slab?

We stained about a 1,000 square feet in our downstairs. I love it. So easy to clean. Staining concrete is hard work but makes it easy maintenance later.

 

[mtemm]

front porch is fir, and has previously been stained, not painted. no idea of it is polyurethaned...is there an easy way to know? previous owners did it last, we've been here for 5 years

 

[asta]

I recommend that you use a Sikkens product on your deck. The big box stores like Home Depot or Lowes don't carry this line. I found it a local paint store. Lowes sold me a Cabot product to refinish my front door and it was so bad that I had to resand the door to remove it. It left a nasty, streaky finish. I took the Cabot stain back and complained. They gave me my money back but what a pain to have to sand the door again. Cabot may do a better job on a deck than a door but I am sold on Sikkens. It left a beautiful finish. My worn out door looks great now.

 

[anniemae]

I have no advice, but I thought your title said, "sitting on my front porch this week...any tips?"

I was like, "get chair, sit down!"

 

[Muushka]

Go to Ace and get a 'paint screen', roller and roller extender. Put the stain in a large bucket, hang the screen (to get rid of excess stain) and roll away. You can use the little sponge thingy that is narrow to go on the roller extender to get between the cracks.

Oh, and be sure it is cleaned first.