The first step is to prepare the wood surface for stain by removing loose surface finishes and paint if needed. If your deck does not have paint or opaque stain that is loose you can skip this step. If your deck is painted and you want to repaint it you can also skip this step. This step is only if you have a painted or opaque stain and want to have a semi-transparent wood stained refinished surface.
- Using a sharp paint scraper remove any loose solid stain, paint or finish.
- What does not come off by scraping will have to be removed by sanding.
- For sealed film finishes such as varnish or paint, you'll need to strip this off with a chemical stripper. Make sure you have on your rubber gloves and eye protection when using a chemical stripper.
- Apply the chemical stripper according to directions. Usually you'll apply it in smaller sections and wait for it to work, then scrape the loosened finish away from the wood. For stubborn areas you may have to apply the stripper a second time. You can also get in tight corners by using a putty knife. Rinse the stripper away as required by the instructions.
