If
you have a wood deck, fence or other exterior wood, you probably know
you need to clean and stain the wood surface to make it look good and
last like it should. Doing so can help ensure you have a beautiful place
to relax, entertain guests, barbecue and simply enjoy for years to
come. But if you’re like many homeowners, you may be frustrated by all
the steps and decisions involved in staining. Don’t worry — with the
right products and information, it’s simpler than most people think.The most common mistake in a staining project is improperly preparing the wood surface. As many of us learn the hard way, improper prep can lead to discoloration, blistering, peeling or flaking of the finish. But get prep right, and you’ll be much happier with your results.
To avoid problems, you’ll need to use at least one of two kinds of prep products: a cleaner/brightener (like Flood® Cleaner/Brightener) and/or a wood finish remover (like Flood Wood Finish Remover). Figuring out which you need used to be complicated because it depends on a lot of factors: whether the wood has been previously stained, its current condition, the type of wood, etc.
Luckily, you no longer need to worry about all that — thanks to a foolproof, interactive selection guide developed by Flood Wood Care. This handy new tool, called Staining Made Simple, is available free at flood.com/simplify.
For any wood care project, visit flood.com/simplify before you visit the store. The site will guide you through a few easy questions about your project to quickly give you customized results, including:
- Exactly which prep and finish products to buy
- How much to buy
- Where to get it all
- A supply list
- How-to videos
- Printable application instructions