Showerthought: My neighbor said my deck stain job looked like a kid did it

I stained my deck last weekend and felt pretty good about it. My neighbor Frank came over, looked at it for a minute, and said it looked like a kid did it with a paintbrush. He pointed out all the lap marks and uneven spots. He told me to always use a pad applicator on a pole next time, not a brush. It hit different because he builds decks for a living. Has anyone else had a pro give you a harsh but useful tip on a finish?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_grant345d ago

Frank's not wrong, even if he could have been nicer about it. @jasonf17 has the right idea with the pad. I tried staining a fence with a brush once and it was a total mess, all streaks and dark spots. The pad on a pole lets you lay down a wet edge and keep moving so it blends. It's one of those things you don't know until a pro points it out, then you feel like an idiot.

jasonf175d ago

Pad on a pole" is the only way to go, Frank's right even if he was a jerk about it.

the_spencer5d ago

Yeah but jasonf17, it's not the only way, a good sprayer can work too if you know what you're doing. The pad just saves a lot of hassle for most folks.