Rant: Deck staining debate - do you stain boards before or after putting them together?

My friend and I keep butting heads on when to stain a new deck. He swears by staining every piece before assembly to get full coverage without missing spots. I prefer staining after the deck is built so I can fix any cuts and make adjustments. One time I tried his method, and some boards warped a bit, making them hard to fit. When I stain after, I often struggle to reach tight corners and edges. Which way works better in your experience? I'd love to hear what others think and any tricks you have.

3 comments

3 Comments

josepha322mo ago

Honestly, staining after assembly always leaves missed spots in my experience.

nora_park2mo ago

That "missed spots" thing reminds me of when I painted my deck and forgot the underside of the railing.

taylorc402mo ago

My last deck stain job turned out fine doing it after assembly. I just used a small brush to get into the tight corners first. It takes a bit more care but you can cover everything.