How to Stain a Patio

Spruce Up Your Patio with Wood Stain

Your patio is a great place to relax, entertain neighbors and enjoy meals with friends. There’s a lot you can do to enhance your outdoor space with a wood stain or deck stain to make it an even more welcoming place. Looking for a way to breathe new life into your worn or weathered patio? Follow this step-by-step staining guide to learn how to stain wood, for a patio that shines.

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Step 1

Choose Your Wood Stain

Various factors affect which wood stain colors you will want to use for your patio, such as your overall theme and existing exterior décor.

With so many stains to choose from, here are some general suggestions on how to highlight your patio:

Complement the surrounding landscape
Match other exterior wood surfaces, like a shed or your patio furniture
Use a neutral shade that looks good with any background or décor

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Step 2

Sweep Your Patio

Starting with clean surfaces is the key to all wood preparation and preservation. Leaves, mold, dirt, rust, and anything that might be blown in on the wind will accumulate on your patio.

Debris left behind may attract insects or retain moisture, potentially causing mold or wood rot.

Sweep or brush away loose particles from cracks and crevices, or between boards.

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Step 3

Clean Your Patio

You may think that a power washer is the best tool to use, but most of the time you should use an easier, gentler approach when it comes to washing your patio, to prevent any damage to the stain you’ve already applied.

Before you get started, you will need:

a soft cleaning patio brush
a hose
deck cleaner

Olympic Premium Deck Brightener & Wash is perfect for delicate wood, and will gently and thoroughly wash away stubborn dirt and mold stains.

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Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.

Step 4

Fix Wear and Tear

To check for structural soundness of your patio:

Look for loose boards, nails, or railings
Inspect the wood for damage from insects, rot
Check for any split, rotting, or warped boards

Make appropriate repairs.

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Olympic Staining Tip

Always test a small, hidden area, using the same number of coats you will be using on the siding and let it dry so that you can be sure to get the wood stain color you want.

Step 5

Stain Your Patio

You may want to stain your railings before your floor boards.
For darker wood stains, work from the top down and protect your surface from drips.
For clear, toner and semi-transparent stains, apply one thin coat with a high-quality brush, roller, paint pad, or spray.
For solid stains, apply two thin coats of deck stain with a brush, roller, or paint pad. To avoid lap marks, apply to a few boards at a time, keeping a wet edge.
For best results, backbrush into the surface to work finish into the wood and ensure the coating is even.
Treat all areas of the wood, including joints, edges and ends.
Let dry thoroughly before replacing furniture or walking on stained floor boards.

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Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.

Locate a retailer near you

An Olympic stains retailer is nearby

See where you can buy your favorite wood stains at a location close to you.

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