Staining My Pressure-Treated Deck: Full Build Write-Up

Step 1: Check the wood is dry enough

Before doing anything else, I checked the deck boards with a moisture meter in a few spots — readings need to be under 15% before stain will take properly. (See the full explanation in Do I need to seal pressure-treated wood before staining? if you want the "why" behind this step.)

Step 2: Clean the deck surface

Swept the whole deck, then hit it with a deck cleaner and a stiff brush to knock off mill glaze and any surface dirt. Rinsed and let it dry a full day before moving on.

Step 3: Mask off siding and railings

Taped off anywhere the stain could drift or splatter — house siding, railing posts, and the edges of any built-in benches.

Step 4: Apply the stain

Used a pump sprayer for the field of the deck to move fast and even, then back-brushed with a regular paint brush to work the stain into the grain and avoid lap marks. Two coats, with a few hours of dry time in between.

Mistakes I made / what I'd do differently

I sprayed on a slightly breezier day than I should have, and got some overspray drift onto a section of siding that wasn't fully masked. Next time I'd tape off a wider margin than feels necessary, and check the forecast for wind, not just rain.