Staining the Deck White

Two weeks ago I started the process of staining my deck white.  If you follow me on Instagram then you have probably seen a photo or two of the progress.

I am using Behr Solid Color Wood Stain in Ultra Pure White.  We use Behr paint in Semi Gloss in the color Ultra Pure White for the trim and shutters on the exterior of our house.  So we knew that we wouldn't end up with clashing white tones.  

This deck will require two coats. The first coat is blotchy but the second coat fills in the lighter spots and makes everything look the same color.  My plan is to get a single coat on everything before doing a second coat.  We are doing it this way because the first coat of stain really highlights any imperfections or problems.  

This was especially true of the top board.  It gets the most sun, rain, and snow so it was not looking its best.  To remedy the cracks and splits in the wood, R has been using a universal filler that we buy at ACE Hardware.

It is called Evercoat Home Fix Universal Filler .  We have used it on cracked exterior wood trim and window sashes.  It can be used for both interior and exterior use and we have been happy with the results.  The above photo is after filler was applied and then sanded off leaving filler behind in the cracks and crevices.

I will be so happy when we can finally store the ladders in the barn instead of under the deck.  We have ladders of just about any height and not a day goes by that we don't use at least one of them.

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