How To Stain A Pergola

Using A Wood Brightener

Before applying the stain, you may wish to spray on some wood brightener. This product neutralises any residual stain stripper and opens up the wood to improve penetration of the next coating of stain. This can be especially useful on wood with a long accumulation of stain in the grain. In most cases you simply spray this on, leave it sit for a few minutes and then rinse it off.

Waterproof Using Wood Oils

Linseed oil, derived from seeds of flax plants, and tung oil, extracted from the Chinese tung tree, are two protective and beautiful-looking oils you can use to protecthigh-quality wood. You could even try blends of these oils, which is said to enhance the drying time and eliminate the sticky sensation after coating.

Deck Premium Wood Stain

We thoroughly believe that the best pergola stain for the money is the #1 Deck Premium Wood Stain. It covers so many of the features offered by even the most advanced stainers, but unlike other advanced options out there, this one is much more reasonably priced.

Well-known as a great stain for decks, the #1 Deck Premium Wood Stain also makes an ideal fit for other outdoor structures like pergolas. This is because its water-based formula soaks deep into all softwood types to repel wet weather and protect against damaging UV rays, allowing the wood to last as long as possible.

Acting as both a stain and a sealer, the #1 Deck Premium Wood Stain is also low in odour and low in VOC content, a toxic chemical compound found in higher amounts in oil-based stainers.

Another feature that helped make this our top pick is its ability to be applied to damp wood. After constructing a pergola, it can take months before the wood is dry enough for staining, especially in more humid climates. Luckily, it is not necessary to wait for the wood to be completely dry before applying the #1 Deck Premium Wood Stain.

Its semi-transparent formula is available in four finishes, Natural, Cedar, Light Walnut, and Dark Walnutand each dry flat when applied to maintain the woods natural look.

The one-gallon can will cover 100-150 square feet , and will allow up to two full coats of use. Easy to apply, this stain also makes cleanup easy afterward, with just soap and water needed.

Don’t Miss: How To Fix A Broken Patio Umbrella Rib

Should I Stain My Pergola

shouldstainingpergolastainStainStain

Staining a pergola costs $6 per square foot depending on the size, elevation, and the number of ornamentations. A small 12Ã12 pergola costs $860 to stain, while a large 16Ã24 pergola costs $2,300 for staining.

Subsequently, question is, how do you stain and seal a pergola? Steps for Staining and Sealing Wood PergolasMake sure itâs clear of surface dirt and is completely dry before applying any stain, sealant, or paint. Brush off any surface dirt with a cloth or soft brush. If you lightly hose off any part of the wood, make sure to let the wood dry completely before starting.

Similarly, how long does it take to stain a pergola?

It wonât take long until you have developed a rhythm and the job will be done in no time. While stain brands recommend a drying time of 12 to 24 hours, allowing the cedar to dry between 24 and 48 hours ensures that it is completely dry before you handle it for assembly.

How do I protect my wood pergola?

Clean the pergola well before applying any wood stain and sealant. Spray the pergola with a translucent oil-based wood stain suitable for cedar. Allow the stain to dry before applying a sealant. A coat of wood stain every alternate year will help boost its appearance.

How To Stain A Wood Fence Arbor Or Pergola

November 26, 2012 by Learn

Pergola by Ruth Thomas via Wikimedia Commons

An arbor or pergola is a common feature found in many gardens. These consist of wooden fences and arcs where vines are allowed to creep and grow. A fully-vined arbor or pergola forming into a long, stretched tunnel will offer welcome shade and privacy.

In order to protect your wooden arbor or pergola, you should stain the wood, not paint it. This will highlight the natural beauty of the wood. We recommend Bakers Gray-Away products to stain your wood, using the following steps as guide:

Curing, cleaning, and preparation

New wood needs to cure, or weather, before stain is added. There are four different wood conditions that require specific cleaning, curing, and preparation before staining is done: new and untreated, new and pressure-treated, old and withered, and previously-stained wood.

The recommended weathering period for new and untreated wood is 4 to 6 weeks, while for new and pressure-treated wood, a period of 1 year is needed. Old and withered or previously-stained wood dont need any curing since they have already been subjected to plenty of weathering.

For previously-stained wood, you need to strip previous stains and sealers by using a wood stripper. Make sure you test whatever stripper you use on a small, unobtrusive section of your wood before cleaning it, to prevent discoloration and damage of your fence.

Properly mix stain and sealer products

Wood coating

Also Check: What Is The Difference Between Patio Gas And Butane

How To Stain A Pergola

Staining your pergola with a quality will help you avoid damage and premature aging of your backyard retreat. Follow these wood staining advice steps to clean and stain your pergola so it will last for many years to come.

Step 1

Choose Your Wood Stain

The wood stain color you choose for your pergola can boost your homes appeal and make it a welcome retreat. With so many stains to choose from, here are some suggestions on how to showcase your pergola:

• Complement surrounding floral arrangements

• Match other exterior wood surfaces, like a deck or furniture

• Use a neutral shade that looks good with any décor

Step 2

Brush Your Pergola

Starting with clean surfaces is the key to all wood preparation and preservation.Mold, rust, leaves, dust, chemicals, and anything that might be blown in on the wind will accumulate on your pergola’s wooden surfaces. 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

• Use a small brush or hand broom to sweep down any nooks or crannies in the structure

Step 3

Clean Your Pergola

Step 4

Check for structural soundness of the pergola:

• Look for loose boards, nails, or railings

• Inspect the wood for damage from insects or rot

• Check posts and beams for splitting, warping, or twisting

Make appropriate repairs. Find the Right Wood Stain for Your Pergola Buy Wood Stain Online

Olympic Staining Tip

Step 5

Stain Your Pergola

How To Determine The Size Of Your Pergola:

How to measure the size of your pergola: The rafters and top slats typically have a one foot overhang past the posts. The total coverage of the pergola is calculated based on the total length of the rafters and top slats including the one foot overhang. So for example lets say that you have a patio that measures 10×10. If we place the posts at the edge of the patio and account for a one foot overhang on each side you will end up with total coverage being 12×12. So a 100 square foot patio will often have a pergola that measures 144 square feet. This will maximize the ground space of the patio by placing the posts as far out as they can go, and it will also maximize the shade coverage of the pergola itself.

Also Check: How To Clean Dog Urine From Concrete Patio

Cost To Stain Seal And Waterproof A Deck

Sealing and waterproofing a deck costs $1 to $3.50 per square foot for just the planks, and $5 and $8 per linear foot for the rails and spindles. A standard 12 x 24 deck, including rails and spindles, costs $548 to $1,298 to seal. The flats or planks need to be sealed every few years.

Sealing a deck protects it from water damage, rot, warping, and the growth of fungi, algae, and mildew. Although, sealing does not prevent UV damage, which causes the wood to gray, crack, and split as the natural oils dry up.

Cost To Strip And Stain A Deck

If old stain, paint, or sealant has to be stripped, expect to spend $2.50 to $5.50 per square foot for just the flats, and $5.11 to $8.20 per square foot for the entire deck including the rails and spindles. The rails and spindles add $11.84 to $23.77 per linear foot.

Cost To Strip and Stain a Deck

A gallon of wood stain stripper costs between $20 and $30 and covers about 150 square feet of deck surface area. However, the process to strip and stain a deck is labor-intensive, which makes it expensive to hire a professional.

Recommended Reading: Thornwood Hardtop Pavilion

Heres The Stain A Wood Pergola Story

We needed to stain our wood pergola. The 8-year-old pergola has seen less than 8 seconds of maintenance, unless you consider rain as a cleaning.

It has a rough-sawn texture and an existing finish from the pre-stain on the parts before assembling the pergola.

Like anything that lives outside, its gathering dirt and the finish is wearing. In short, it needs some TLC. So before we can stain the wood pergola, we needed to prep it and clean it.

As much as a start and stop journey as this has been, the beauty of a wood pergola is that you can change its look. Unlike a pergie made out of something else, a wooden structure can be updated and improved.

We Specialize In Arbor And Pergola Staining

Our staining experts will professionally clean and apply the best staining products to protect your shade arbor, Pergola, gazebo, or patio cover. When the time comes for staining your pergola for the first time or restaining an older structure, we make sure to properly prep the area for the best results. As with any other project, the prep work is typically the most important step for producing great results.

After the preparation is complete, we get to apply the beautiful stain. We offer many different wood stain colors in diverse natural wood tones so that you can choose one that best meets your design preferences. We can match your pergola to your fence, and shutters to make your backyard look amazing.

Check out our staining photo gallery of past staining projects.

Fence Defense looks forward to delivering performance and style for all of your affordable staining needs.

Recommended Reading: What Size Umbrella For Rectangle Patio Table

Trim Vines And Foliage

Many people have vines that grow along their pergolas. A touch of live foliage can help bring your pergola to life, but its important to remember that the vines can thicken and add weight to the pergola as well. Keeping your foliage trimmed will help bring out the beauty of your pergola and prevent damage from unnecessary weight.

What Color Should I Stain My Pergola

Right before your lumber is even constructed, you might be interested in staining it or sealing it to help extend its lifespan. I used the ROXIL wood cream to stain my Pergola, its one of the best I recommend after testing a dozen.

In this article, well cover everything you need to know to effectively stain your Pergola.

You May Like: How To Replace Webbing On Patio Chairs

How To Restain A Deck Or Pergola

Once your deck or pergola has been exposed to the weather for a while, you will notice that the colour starts to fade, the grain becomes washed out and the timber wont look as good as it once did. When that happens, its time to re-stain. With most stains this will be required either once a year, or once every two years. To ensure the stain goes on evenly, itâs important that you first give your deck or pergola a good clean.

Thompsons Waterseal Waterproofing Stain

Staining your pergola doesnt have to be an overly expensive project, and the Thompsons Waterseal Waterproofing Stain is proof of this. While it doesnt offer the same UV protection as the #1 Deck Premium Wood Stain, it is still a great option suitable for most pergola staining jobs and stands as a top-quality stain for the money.

The one-gallon can will cover 100-400 square feet , and it only requires one coat to fully stain the wood. Like the #1 Deck Premium Wood Stain, this stain also acts as a 2-in-1 stain and sealer option, soaking deep into wood thanks to its water-based formula. 0

In addition to preventing water damage and damage from UV rays, its advanced polymers also make Thompsons Waterseal Waterproofing Stain resistant to fading and mildew. Offering the most long-lasting protection for its price, the formula dries within just two hours.

In each of its transparency varieties, Thompsons Waterseal Waterproofing Stain is designed to enhance the natural colour of any softwood. Like the #1 Deck Premium Wood Stain, this stainer can also be applied to damp wood if needed, a useful feature if you need to get your pergola stained during a season with less ideal weather.

You May Like: How To Install Ceiling Fan On Insulated Aluminum Patio

Before You Build Your Pergola Or Gazebo

Decide first if you have the building skills required to design and construct your own pergola or gazebo. Whether the answer is yes or no, dont forget to consider the cost of applying a quality finish.

The best time to stain western red cedar is before installation. Not only does this allow you to work in a safe, comfortable position it has the added benefit of allowing you to apply a finish to all six sides of your wood before installing them, thus protecting every surface of you pergola.

Store it in a dry place, off the ground. Only use use top quality Western Red Cedar that has been dried to approximately 15% moisture content. This is the optimal level of moisture to accept your finish. If left unfinished and exposed to the elements , Cedars ability to hold your stain stains will be compromised, so dont delay, and keep it out of the elements!

Thinking About Staining Your Deck Im Sharing Tips And Lessons Learned From Staining Our Wooden Deck Its Quite A Bit Of Work But Its So So Worth It

A huge thanks to Wagner for sponsoring this post. All content and opinions are 100% my own. See my disclosure policy for details.

This is our second summer in this house and we are spending a lot more time on the deck this year compared to last. Part of that is Chloe being older and wanting to run around outside, but another reason is that Ive put some effort into setting up a relaxing deck that makes it a more enjoyable place to spend time.

Earlier this spring, I gave our deck a makeover with some new patio furniture that created a beautiful, comfortable seating area. We LOVE hanging out in this cozy spot after work in the evenings, and I relish the quiet weekend mornings I often get out here soaking in the fresh air while the rest of my family is still sleeping.

As with many home projects, one project always seems to lead to the next. Once we added beautiful new furniture and started spending a lot more time on the deck, I started to notice how dirty the deck itself was.

It definitely wasnt terrible, but I knew the deck boards could use some attention. Heres what it looked like beforeyou can see how some boards are a lot darker and dirtier than others.

And heres what it looks like after:

And that, my friends, is how I wound up staining our huge 25 x 18-foot deck + railings + pergola a few weekends ago. Im not going to lie, it was a lot of work. But man, was it ever worth it!

Read Also: How To Make A Paver Patio On A Slope

Why Do Decks Need Sealing

Sealing a deck provides waterproofing and protects the wood from moisture damage and growth of mold, mildew, fungi, and algae. If water soaks into the wood rather than beading up, it’s time to seal the deck. For wetter climates, heavy-duty waterproofing products are available for extra protection.

There are combination deck + sealant products that make it cheap and easy to protect your deck. However, higher-end stains typically don’t include the sealant.

How To Clean The Wood

To get a deck or pergola clean, you dont need to spend lots of money on special wood cleaning detergents the active ingredient in most of these cleaners is sodium percarbonate and it’s used in plenty of other household substances, including Napisan and its generic alternatives.

Add about 2 cups of Napisan or a generic alternative to half a bucket of hot water and you have a great solution for cleaning the wood with. If you don’t already have one, buy a stiff bristled decking brush from a hardware store and give your pergola or decking timbers a light scrub while applying the cleaner. Leave the solution on the wood for about 15 minutes or so, add a little more to wet the timber again and then give it a really good brush down. Rinse it off thoroughly and allow it to dry. For pergolas, you may not be able to let the solution sit on the wood for quite as long so you may need to re-scrub several times to achieve the same results.

If there is a build-up of stain in the wood, you may need to take more drastic measures and use a commercial stain stripper. This wont get rid of any stain that has soaked deep into the wood, but it will certainly get rid of any surface staining. Be careful using stain stripper as it is caustic and can harm you as well as any plants or pets that come into contact with it. Any small spots of stain that wont come off with the stripper can be sanded out gently.

Read Also: How To Keep Patio Cushions From Blowing Away