When replacing a deck with new red cedar, do you have to stain all 4 sides? Stain before or after install?

Answer 1

To the question of staining a cedar deck before or after the install, I'd say definitely after. A good idea when staining red cedar, particularly if you've not used a chosen stain previously, is to test it on a small portion of the deck, just to make sure that you're getting the result you expect. For this, you'll obviously need to apply it across multiple boards, and you'll need to do it early on, before the deck starts to weather. The deck will not otherwise absorb the finish properly once it weathers, and you'll have to sand it. Be careful when sanding cedar - it's a robust material for decking, but it's also a softwood! :)

Answer 2

"Staining" - means to apply a color to the wood. You only need to stain what portions of the wood will be visible. A garden sprayer is a quick and easy method of adding color to your deck, after it has been built.

However -- ANY wood that is going to be exposed to the elements should have some kind of a 'sealer' on it. Usually, the sealer is applied after the stain. To keep a board form bowing up, for instace, or cupping, it should be 'sealed', on all faces. This keeps the board 'balanced' and less likely to warp.

Here is what I would do:
1) put up my basic support structure, the 'floor joists', rim joists, posts, etc.... stain the surfaces that I know would be visible, then seal the whole thing.
2) Apply sealer to the BOTTOM of all my floor boards...then AFTER installing them, apply the stain. After the stain dries, then the final coating of sealer can be applied to all the surfaces, from the top.

Using a garden sprayer will greatly speed up the process of staining and applying sealer... just keep a rag, or mop handy for areas where the liquids tend to pool, instead of soak in.

Have Fun =)

Answer 3

Before you install, stain all four sides with a termite-preventing compound. Then stain the sides you'll be able to see, and then coat all four sides with waterproofing. Sounds like a terror, but if you buld to last, it'll last, and nobody wants to spend their life re-staining a deck.

Answer 4

If it's a quality decking it should already be pressure treated so you should only need to stain where you can see, after you've finished the building.

Answer 5

I would spray stain all sides, before assembly/installation.

Answer 6

stain three sides, face and edges that wasy you save on stain