I built a deck last year and I'm super proud of how it turned out! However, I haven't stained it yet, and I'm currently in the process of adding a ramp, staircase, and railing this week. I'm wondering if I wait another year to stain everything, will the boards from last year and this year's boards look similar, or will it always be obvious that one section has faded more than the other? Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
Definitely don’t skip the oxalic acid wash! It makes a huge difference, especially when you’re dealing with boards from different times. It helps to clean and prep the wood so the stain applies better.
I have a similar setup! My porch had a mix of old and new wood, and we stained it with a TWP 100 stain in Pecan. At first, the colors were a bit off, but over time they all faded together to a nice, consistent shade. I recommend staining now, but if you wait another year, all the boards will weather similarly. Just remember to use a wood cleaner/brightener for the best results! Oh, and here’s a [link to my porch photos](https://imgur.com/a/Anf7Oo9) to show how it all turned out.
The match really depends on the type of stain and the wood material you use. While it is possible to achieve a close match with some effort, remember that wood is a natural product, and there will always be some variance. If you're really worried about color consistency, consider using composite decking for a more uniform look.