Staining Deck Railings – Making It Last

The more solid the stain color, the longer it will last. Therefore, the solid stains are best for areas like railings that are more difficult to stain than decking. Staining deck railings is not difficult, but it does take more care than simply staining the flat deck. So you want to use a color that will last as long as possible.

A great way to make your deck look as good as possible is to stain the deck and railings with two different colors. Many people achieve a designer look by staining the deck with a transparent or semi-transparent stain and using a solid stain on the railings. Staining railings can look fairly daunting at first, but there are simple steps you can take to make the job as easy as possible.

Staining Deck Railings

The first thing you should do to prepare for staining deck railings is to protect the deck by covering the areas around the base with plastic. Since you’re using a darker stain on the railings, you want to make sure you don’t get any on the deck. When you are ready to begin staining, the best approach is to begin at the top and stain the top railing first and then the balusters.

The key to effective staining is to make sure the stain penetrates the wood. Stain is not like paint and doesn’t simply cover up wood. Stain should penetrate in order to protect the wood. But you can use a paintbrush to apply the stain as long as you thoroughly cover the wood. The easiest part of staining railings is the flat top of the railings. But you will also have to paint the railing undersides and the balusters. You can use a roller or paint pads to apply the paint.

Staining deck railings can seem like a tedious job, but if you prepare the area first it makes the whole process a lot simpler. People get into trouble with staining when they don’t take enough care, because it can be a fairly boring job. If you do the job right the first time, the stain will last much longer. Use a darker stain on the railings, and you shouldn’t have to redo them for 2 or 3 years.