Decks, doors and exterior trim
Wisconsin weather is hard on anything outside. These guides cover deck stain, front and garage doors, and trim, and how to time the work around our short season.
18 posts on decks and exterior
Decks and exteriorDeck stain dry times: touch, feet, furniture and the wait before
Dry to the touch, ready for feet, ready for furniture and fully hard are four different waits. Here's each one by stain type, plus the wait before you stain.
Decks and exteriorHow to paint a metal door so it doesn't rust, blister or stick
Steel and aluminum doors need different primers, and a door's surface temperature matters as much as the forecast. Rust, dents, dark colors, storm doors and cure time.
Decks and exteriorPainting fiberglass doors and steel doors: what the door makers say
Fiberglass and steel doors take paint well when you follow the maker's sheet. Where Pella, Therma-Tru and Clopay disagree, and how Madison weather fits in.
Decks and exteriorStaining pressure treated wood: the wait, the water test and Madison timing
When can you stain new treated lumber? Published waits run from one week to six months. Here's how to test the boards, and what Madison's damp months change.
Decks and exteriorChoosing a stain for your cedar deck
Cedar takes stain well, but film-forming finishes struggle on a deck. Here's how the stain types compare and what to look for on the label.
Decks and exteriorWhen to stain a deck: the weather, the wood and the forecast
Stain needs mild air, dry boards and a dry stretch afterward. Here's how to read the forecast, and what Wisconsin's cold nights change.
Decks and exteriorA yearly deck maintenance routine for Wisconsin homes
Wisconsin winters are hard on wood decks. This yearly routine keeps debris, mildew and a worn-out finish from becoming repairs.
Decks and exteriorFront door colors that suit your house, from brick to white walls
Navy, green, black, red and more: how to match a front door color to your house style, your brick or walls, and the light at your door.
Decks and exteriorHow long deck stain lasts, and how to tell when it's done
Two to three years on a new deck and longer on rough, weathered boards is the general range. Here's what moves it, and how to tell when it's finished.
Decks and exteriorHow to paint a front door without taking it off its hinges
Pick a mild, dry day, prep well, paint panels before edges and let the door dry ajar. Here's the whole job, step by step.
Decks and exteriorHow to prepare a deck for staining, in the order that works
Repair, strip what's failing, clean, brighten, dry and sand lightly. The order matters, and so does skipping nothing. Here's the whole sequence.
Decks and exteriorHow to paint a garage door so the finish lasts
Steel and wood garage doors need different prep, and dark colors can warp an insulated door. Here's how to paint one so it lasts.
Decks and exteriorPainting exterior trim: caulk, rot checks and timing
Trim is one of the first places exterior paint fails. Here's how to check for rot, caulk the joints and paint in the right order.
Decks and exteriorPorch paint ideas for floors, ceilings, doors and color
A porch is five surfaces with five different jobs. Here are color and paint ideas for the floor, ceiling, railings, trim and front door.
Decks and exteriorPaint or stain for your deck: the plain answer
For most wood decks, stain beats paint. Here's why, when paint is the exception, and what upkeep each one means.
Decks and exteriorSolid or semi-transparent deck stain: how each one wears
Semi-transparent stain soaks in and shows the grain. Solid stain hides more but forms a film. Here's how each one wears on a deck.
Decks and exteriorStaining a pergola: access, stain choice and upkeep
A pergola weathers faster than most wood on a house. Here's how to clean it, pick a stain and work overhead without making a mess.
Decks and exteriorWinter deck care: fall prep, shoveling and salt
A Wisconsin deck spends months under snow and ice. Here's what to do before it arrives and how to shovel and de-ice without damage.
Quick answers
How long after staining a deck can you walk on it?
About 24 hours for most semi-transparent stains. Rodda's oil-based stain allows light foot traffic after 24 hours, and Benjamin Moore's waterborne semi-transparent stain allows normal foot traffic after 24 hours. Both figures assume 77 degrees and 50 percent humidity, so add time after a cool or damp night. More in deck stain dry times: touch, feet, furniture and the wait before
What kind of paint do you use on a metal door?
A paint made for the metal you have, over a matching primer. Benjamin Moore separates paints and primers for ferrous metals like steel from those for non-ferrous metals like aluminum, and treats galvanized steel as non-ferrous. On an entry door, choose an exterior finish and stay inside the label's temperature limits. More in how to paint a metal door so it doesn't rust, blister or stick
What kind of paint do you use on a fiberglass door?
A quality exterior paint, usually acrylic latex, over the primer your door maker calls for. Therma-Tru's painting tips specify a high-quality acrylic latex house paint, and Pella asks for exterior paint with good blocking resistance so the door doesn't stick shut. Follow the finishing sheet for your own door, since makers differ. More in painting fiberglass doors and steel doors: what the door makers say
Is it a good idea to stain pressure-treated wood?
Yes. Treatment protects the wood from decay and termites, not from sun and weather. The Southern Forest Products Association recommends at least a clear water repellent on decking and semi-transparent stain for color, and EPA says water-based preservatives leave a clean, paintable surface once they dry. More in staining pressure treated wood: the wait, the water test and Madison timing
Should you stain a cedar deck?
You don't have to. Real Cedar says cedar can be left to weather naturally, but it will turn gray and, in most climates, tends to look dark and blotchy. A semi-transparent stain keeps the color and adds protection. More in choosing a stain for your cedar deck
What temperature is too cold to stain a deck?
Check your stain's label first, since limits vary by product. One treated-lumber maker's guide says the air temperature should be between 55 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit while you apply it. In cooler weather, coatings dry more slowly, so the boards stay vulnerable longer. More in when to stain a deck: the weather, the wood and the forecast
How often should a wood deck be maintained?
Clear debris regularly and give the deck a structural check and a wash once a year. Refinish when the water test fails. For fully exposed decks, the Forest Service says penetrating finishes need refinishing every 1 to 2 years. More in a yearly deck maintenance routine for Wisconsin homes
What is the best color for a front door?
Navy, forest green, black and a muted red are reliable choices, though there's no single best color. Pick one that contrasts a little with the walls and brick, suits the house's style and looks good in the light at your door. More in front door colors that suit your house, from brick to white walls
How often should I restain my deck?
Every two to six years for semi-transparent stain, going by the Forest Products Laboratory's general ranges: two to three years on a new deck and three to six on weathered boards. Walk the deck once a year and restain when the water test, graying or wear tells you to. More in how long deck stain lasts, and how to tell when it's done
Can I paint a front door without taking it off the hinges?
Yes. Remove the hardware, wedge the door open and work in the right order, panels first and edges last. Taking the door off makes the top and bottom edges easier to reach, but it isn't required. More in how to paint a front door without taking it off its hinges
Do I need to sand a deck before staining?
A light sanding is a good idea. One treated-lumber maker's guide says all wood surfaces should be lightly sanded and dusted, and that previously coated wood needs to be sanded or stripped to bare wood. The Forest Products Laboratory names 50 to 80 grit as a good range for restoring weathered wood. More in how to prepare a deck for staining, in the order that works
Can you paint a garage door without removing it?
Yes. Garage doors are painted in place. The door is cleaned, masked at the weatherstripping, hardware and tracks, then primed and painted panel by panel. More in how to paint a garage door so the finish lasts
Do you need to prime exterior trim before painting?
Bare or repaired wood always needs primer. Trim that is sound, clean and still holding firmly can often go straight to paint after sanding, and the adhesive bandage test described by Purdue Extension is a quick way to check the old surface. More in painting exterior trim: caulk, rot checks and timing
Can you paint a porch floor?
Yes, on a covered porch. The Forest Service says paint can be used successfully on roof-protected porch floors. Treat the wood with a paintable water-repellent preservative, let it dry, then use a primer and porch and deck enamel. More in porch paint ideas for floors, ceilings, doors and color
Is it better to paint or stain a deck?
For most wood decks that are fully exposed to the weather, stain. The Forest Products Laboratory says a penetrating stain or water-repellent finish is more effective than paint on such decks, and that refinishing is easier. Paint is the usual choice for porch floors. More in paint or stain for your deck: the plain answer
Is solid or semi-transparent deck stain better?
For most wood decks, semi-transparent stain. It soaks in, shows the grain and is easy to refinish. Solid stain hides more but forms a film that tends to flake on a surface people walk on, unless it's made for decks. More in solid or semi-transparent deck stain: how each one wears
Should I use a solid stain or a semi-transparent stain on a pergola?
A semi-transparent penetrating stain is usually the better fit because it soaks in instead of forming a film that can peel. Solid-color stains behave like thin paint, and the Forest Service doesn't generally recommend them on horizontal surfaces, which includes the tops of pergola beams. More in staining a pergola: access, stain choice and upkeep
Can you shovel snow off a wood deck?
Yes, and for safety you should clear the high-traffic areas. Use a plastic or rubber shovel, shovel parallel to the boards, and leave a thin layer to sweep off if you don't have a plastic shovel. More in winter deck care: fall prep, shoveling and salt
Decks and exterior: what to know
Anything outside is fighting the same four things: rain, sun, temperature swings and foot traffic. In Wisconsin the swings are the part that surprises people, because a mild afternoon can be followed by a freezing night, and fresh paint or stain needs dry, mild hours to set. These guides cover the exterior work homeowners ask us about most: decks, front doors, garage doors, trim and the smaller structures around the yard.
Decks come first because a deck is the hardest surface on a house to finish. It's a floor that lives outdoors, so the finish takes rain, sun and feet all at once. The U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, a federal wood research lab in Madison, says most fully exposed decks are better served by a penetrating stain than by paint, because stain wears away gradually and is easy to redo. Our guide on whether to paint or stain a deck explains the exceptions, and our comparison of solid and semi-transparent deck stain shows how the two kinds of stain wear.
Prep decides how a stain job turns out. The boards need repairs, a clean surface, a brightener if they've grayed, and time to dry fully before the first coat goes on. Our guide to preparing a deck for staining lays out the order of work, and our guide to the best time to stain a deck covers the weather and the moisture check that go with it. Stain wants a dry stretch, dry boards and mild air, so the forecast matters more than the calendar.
Then comes the question every deck owner asks: how long it lasts. How long deck stain lasts gives the general ranges and the signs that it's time for another coat. Our guides to deck maintenance and winter deck care cover what to do between coats, and if your deck is cedar, our guide to the best stain for a cedar deck is the place to start.
Front doors are the smallest exterior job with the biggest effect. Our guide to front door colors goes through ideas by house style and by what's around the door, and how to paint a front door covers the method, including how to let a door dry while it hangs in place. Painting a garage door has a set of details of its own.
The rest of the exterior is a collection of smaller pieces that add up. Trim frames every window and door, so painting exterior trim matters more than its size suggests. Staining a pergola covers the particulars of an open outdoor structure, and our porch paint ideas look at color and finish choices for a covered porch.
We stain and refinish decks, and we paint entryways, exterior doors, garage doors and trim. We don't paint whole-house siding. Smaller exterior projects usually take one to three days, and we schedule them around dry weather, so the start date depends on the forecast as well as the calendar. Our exterior painting page has the details, and if you'd like George to look at your project, ask for a free estimate.
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