Natural Deck Stain

Find out what you can use to stain your deck naturally and inexpensively. Get tips on using boiled linseed oil instead of regular linseed oil, which takes forever to dry.

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LESLIE: Alright. Now we’ve got Jamie from Connecticut on the line who’s looking to stain a deck. How can we help you with that project?

JAMIE: I know, right now, there’s a lot of innovative ideas out there and I’m just wondering if there’s something I can use on wood that I can afford to do it with.

LESLIE: Now, are you looking for something that’s going to give you a color or just be clear? When you say natural, do you mean what it’s made from or a natural look?

JAMIE: Either/or, clear or color.

LESLIE: Just cheap.

JAMIE: Right. I’m going to pressure wash it first and bring it down to the wood.

LESLIE: OK.

JAMIE: But I’m looking for something that is really affordable because, obviously, the price of everything is outrageous.

LESLIE: Oh, it’s crazy.

Now, depending on what you put on there is also going to factor in greatly how often you’re going to have to redo this. And probably the most natural thing that you can use would be boiled linseed oil. And that you would just coat onto the surface but you’re going to have to redo that.

How often on a horizontal surface, Tom?

TOM: On a horizontal surface? I think every five years.

LESLIE: Even with the boiled? That’s great.

TOM: Think so, yeah.

LESLIE: Because I know when you put it on a siding, you’re looking at 10, 15 years, which is great.

TOM: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

LESLIE: But once you get on a surface that you start walking on – and you want to make sure that you use boiled because if you don’t, it’s never going to dry.

JAMIE: OK. Now, when you buy it, it says boiled or it doesn’t, right?

TOM: It says boiled linseed oil.

JAMIE: OK.

TOM: You do not – you don’t have to boil your own; it’s already boiled, OK?

JAMIE: OK. I’ve heard of linseed oil but I didn’t hear it called boiled linseed oil.

TOM: Yeah. Yeah, boiled linseed oil. It’ll say that right on the can.

JAMIE: OK. Now, if I stain the deck, say, with just a regular stain you pick up at the hardware store, that’s still going to have to be done every 5 to 10 years, right?

TOM: Right. Yep. Yeah.

LESLIE: Yes but I believe the cost is going to be much greater for a stain.

JAMIE: Exactly, yep. OK. Well, that sounds good. That confirms some – one thing that someone has told me, that that is something good. And it will help preserve it.

TOM: Alright. Well, good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.