A weathered wraparound deck stripped, repaired and restained in Milford, NJ

The deck was large, well built and completely uneven in color. Sun exposure had turned the open field side pale while the shaded boards along the house held a darker, blotchy red.

Where furniture and planters had sat for years, the finish was gone entirely and the wood grain had started to raise.

We cleaned the whole surface, let it dry properly and then walked it board by board. Split and soft boards came out and were replaced, popped fasteners were reset and rough areas were sanded so the new stain would lay flat.

Railings, pickets and stair treads got the same attention. Prep is what makes a deck finish last more than one season.

A solid exterior deck stain went down in two coats, cut in by hand at the railings and rolled across the field. Working in sections kept a wet edge so there are no lap marks between passes.

The finished deck reads as one color from the house out to the far rail, and the owners got their outdoor room back.