Solid Stain Over Paint

I think you should be fine with the standard prep. The paint may prevent the stain from soaking in, which could create an uneven finish so you may have to put two coats on to get an even finish. Solid hide stain is pretty forgiving stuff.

We've done solid stain over paint many times. We stain about 100 decks a year. Make sure every loose fleck of paint is off the deck, and let your customer know that your coat is only as likely to stick as the one below you, or recommend a chemical strip and restart.
But as has been said, solid stain is pretty damn forgiving, especially for someone who doesn't do a lot of decks.

As for not knowing what you're doing, everybody is in that position at some point. There is a very vocal minority on this site that like to play that "don't start if you aren't already an expert!" card, but I'm pretty sure every one of them are too old and crusty to remember when they too were faced with starting something new. Good on you for doing the research first.

Thank you guys for the good info, I appreciate it.

onmywayup said:

As for not knowing what you're doing, everybody is in that position at some point. There is a very vocal minority on this site that like to play that "don't start if you aren't already an expert!" card, but I'm pretty sure every one of them are too old and crusty to remember when they too were faced with starting something new. Good on you for doing the research first.

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:laughing: :thumbup:

onmywayup said:

As for not knowing what you're doing, everybody is in that position at some point. There is a very vocal minority on this site that like to play that "don't start if you aren't already an expert!" card, but I'm pretty sure every one of them are too old and crusty to remember when they too were faced with starting something new. Good on you for doing the research first.

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:laughing::clap:

I am old and crusty for sure.

However I do remember not knowing what I was doing.

Also I cant see the advantage using heavy bodied stain over paint. They are mostly the same Right ? One is thinned down and one is over solid.

J.

John Hyatt said:

I am old and crusty for sure.

However I do remember not knowing what I was doing.

Also I cant see the advantage using heavy bodied stain over paint. They are mostly the same Right ? One is thinned down and one is over solid.

J.

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I've just found high quality solid stains to be more durable to foot and furniture traffic than an exterior paint. Looks similar, peels off in the end the same way, but seems to last another season or so, as long as it isn't applied over a bunch or loose, peeling paint underneath it.

Heck, I'm old & crusty and still not sure what I'm doing.

OK..... who can explain just what solid color stain is, or alternatively the difference between solid stain and a paint.

I use both regularily, and I know solid stain lets more texture show thru.... but in my thinking a stain should be a full penetrant with no surface layer.... clearly not solid color stain.

Is solid stain just a watered down paint, but then it has great color cover so it doesn't act like water downed paint.

I've never covered a paint with solid cover stain, and if the paint is only partially removed, won't you get a texture difference and flashng effect?

I've never used a solid color stain on surface decking.... matter of fact I'm not real fond of it on horizontal surfaces..... will it really wear as well as a decking paint.... what is the advantage of using it over a decking paint.


Curious....

deckman22 said:

Heck, I'm old & crusty and still not sure what I'm doing.

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^^^^^^^:thumbsup: Me too