You know that movie moment when the awkward girl takes off her glasses, adds a little makeup and suddenly looks transformed? Our deck already ditched its old finish, so it was time for the equivalent of a little makeup — a fresh coat of stain. We weren’t after anything dramatic, just a richer, deeper tone to complement the brick and to blend with the areas we hadn’t stripped, like the vertical rails and the lattice.
After cleaning the deck boards, we chose a semi-transparent stain for protection and appearance. We liked that look more than a solid stain and wanted something darker than the very light toner we used on our previous deck. We also wanted the new finish to harmonize with the remaining original spots, so matching the previous color mattered. We went with Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in the Russet shade — a brand and finish we’d used successfully before.
Supplies we gathered:
- Olympic Maximum Semi-Transparent Stain – 4 gallons for our 676 sq ft deck
- Bucket – to pour stain into for easier rolling and to mix gallons for color consistency
- Paper Towels
- Gloves & Mask
- Wide Brush – for back-brushing and smaller areas like railings
- High-Nap Roller on a Pole – we used a 3/4″ nap
To avoid color variation between cans, we mixed two gallons in the bucket at the start and added each subsequent gallon as needed. That prevented surprises if a single container was slightly different.
I was a little nervous trusting the sample match, so we tested the color on a hidden railing first. It turned out to be a perfect match to the unstripped mocha railings. We had stripped and re-stained the wider top pieces and left the skinny spindles untouched, and the finished result blended in seamlessly.
Next we tackled a railing I’d tried to strip previously but hadn’t fully removed the old finish from. The stain covered the uneven spots nicely, and once it dried the boards looked refreshed and much more uniform.
Since we started with the railings as a test, we finished all of them first. Working from the deck made it easier, and with both of us working we completed the inside, outside, and top railings in about two hours.
We paused because it was mid-morning and the sun moved in — this stain shouldn’t be applied in direct sunlight because it dries too quickly and can leave lap marks. So we waited until later in the day when the sun had moved and the deck floor was mostly shaded.
When the light dropped around 4:30 p.m., we had a window of about 30–90 minutes before our daughter woke up, so we worked quickly as a two-person team. My method was to roll generous amounts of stain onto a manageable area and then immediately follow with back-brushing.
Back-brushing evens out puddles, works the stain into the wood grain, and helps fill small cracks on older, weathered boards. The roller covered the main surface while Sherry handled the between-board creases and brushed each board’s top to ensure even penetration.
With more than 650 square feet of decking, the job took time. We reached nearly halfway before our daughter woke, so I continued alone to avoid leaving a visible lap line. In total it ended up being about a four-hour effort with two people for most of the time and me finishing solo after Clara woke. The before-and-after transformation was dramatic — the deck looked refreshed and cohesive.
We moved the furniture back and were pleased to find that the table hides the seam where patched boards meet the older planks. It’s subtle and unnoticeable, though the larger deck now feels like it could use more seating and accessories.
A few planters and an umbrella make the space feel more complete for now while we look for additional pieces on sale or secondhand.
There’s more decorating to do on the other end of the deck, but that’s a future project. For now we’re enjoying the results and the time we can spend on the refreshed deck — relaxing, eating, and just appreciating the view.
Refinishing a 676 square foot deck gives a different kind of satisfaction than repainting a room. It’s a big, visible change that improves how you use the space. We’re really pleased with how it turned out and are already enjoying evenings out there.
Later on we added custom gates to keep the dog from getting out, but that’s another story. For now, the refreshed deck is done and looking great.