Minneapolis Deck Staining Company

Your deck is a place to relax and entertain your family and friends.  However, if your deck is peeling or faded, it can be an eyesore that keeps you from utilizing this great entertaining space. You should feel proud to show off the beautiful finishes of your deck and home. Make a commitment to improve your home and protect your investments, contact Okeefe Painting for a free estimate. We perform the highest quality deck staining in MN.

Our deck staining services in Minnesota

• We start with extensive preparation.  This includes deck sanding, and pressure washing.  During the pressure washing process we inject cleaners through our equipment to kill mold and brighten the deck.  These preparation procedures are important to make sure the new stain soaks in and grabs onto the decks wood fibers.  (Owner Conor Okeefe, published a deck cleaning article with video.  The article demonstrates the difference between using our professional deck cleaners and the negative effects of using high pressure washing.)
• We then wait a couple days for the deck to dry out. The wood on your deck needs to have a moisture content level less than 15% before staining. If the deck is over 12% moisture level you run the risk of the moisture working it’s way out of the wood and prematurely breaking down the new stain.
• Before we start staining your deck we protect your plants and patio underneath with drop clothes and plastic.  Our two man deck staining crew is now ready to begin.  We first focus on the railings working together to make sure all drips are back brushed and the stain is applied uniformly.  After the rails are completed we start on the deck floor.
• The deck floor typically takes the most sun and rain damage so we have developed a unique application technique to prolong the life of the stain on horizontal surfaces without the risk of pealing.

Typically we use Sikkens SRD and TWP deck stain if the project allows.  View color samples of Sikkens and TWP to see what they can offer you.  We also use a variety of other products depending on your expectations and the decks condition.

Why do decks need to be stained?

The main composition of wood contains cellulose fibers and lignin.  Lignin is responsible for the strength of the wood and holds the fibers together. UV damage will destroy lignin, leaving the cellulose fibers to disintegrate and fall off the surface.  Wavy features and raised surface grain represents prolonged UV damage.  What you see is damaged lignin with valleys in between.  The valleys are representative of the missing cellulose fibers.  Your deck needs to be protected with a high quality sealer that will prevent this UV damage and slow down natural decomposition.  In its natural environment, bark protects the wood from UV damage.  Think of stain as its new layer of bark.

Safety concerns

• Mold build up on your deck becomes extremely slippery when wet
• Cycles of wet and dry causes splintering of the wood
• Water swells the wood causing nails to extrude from the surface

Maintenance coat process

A maintenance coat includes re-staining the horizontal surfaces after 2-3 years of weathering.  When using TWP deck stain, it’s not necessary to remove the old product before re-applying.  However, two coats wet on wet will be needed to achieve a uniform finish.  From our experience, most deck stain products will require their removal by stripping and sanding before re-application.  If they are not stripped they will look blotchy and glossy in some areas.  We have found maintenance it’s easier and more cost effective for our customers using TWP.  The video below demonstrates our maintenance coat process using TWP deck stain.  TWP is a translucent product and cannot be used in every circumstance.

Deck stain and paint types

To be one of the best deck staining companies in Minneapolis and St Paul you have to know what products are successful in our climate. The best policy is to go with a penetrative stain that soaks deep into the wood and offers UV protection. The alternative is a film-forming stain which sits on the outside of the wood like a thin sheet of paper.  While film-forming products offer a uniform look, the stain will peel when applied on a horizontal surface.

When selecting a penetrative stain you want a product that offers UV protection. Clear stains are appealing to some because they enhance the look of a new cedar deck by making it look wet but offer little to no UV protection. Because they offer no UV protection you typically have to re-coat the deck every year otherwise it will become grey and damaged. Our deck staining company in Minnesota uses a penetrative deck stain for our customers that looks good with proven results for superior durability and UV protection.

In some cases your deck may warrant a two tone application.  A two tone application involves painting the deck railings and staining the floor.  Typically, the color of the railings are painted to match the house siding while the deck floor is stained with a translucent or semi-transparent stain.

Free Quote

Please fill out our deck staining intake form.  We’ll ask you a few questions about your deck and you can upload photos of your deck project.