Staining your pergola with a quality deck stain will help you avoid damage and premature aging of your backyard retreat. Follow these wood staining advice steps to clean and stain your pergola so it will last for many years to come.

When should I stain my pergola?

If you opt for adding a sealant or stain to your wood pergola, follow a couple guidelines for when to stain or seal. For pressure-treated wood, you must wait until the wood is completely dry before adding stain, sealant, or paint. This can be 2-6 months after you assemble the pergola, depending on your local weather.

Is it better to paint or stain outdoor wood?

While staining may take less time than painting, painting often does a better job of filling the cracks, covering imperfections, and provides longer lasting protection. Paint also is typically more rot resistance and does a better job of preventing mold and sun damage.

What should I treat my pergola with?

Clean the pergola well before applying any wood stain and sealant. Spray the pergola with a translucent oil-based wood stain suitable for cedar. Allow the stain to dry before applying a sealant. A coat of wood stain every alternate year will help boost its appearance.

Do you need to seal outdoor wood after staining?

Yes, sealing wood after staining it is essential to protect it from damage and discoloration from foods, liquids, human touch, and piercing objects. While wood stain may seal the pores and offer some protection from moisture and water damage, its primary purpose is to color natural wood.

How do you maintain a wood pergola?

General cleaning will help keep your pergola looking sharp all year. We recommend a general purpose cleaner with warm water and a soft bristle brush to clean away dirt and debris. When you notice checks and cracks develop in the wood, we recommend using the supplied pint of stain with your pergola to make touch-ups.

Is it better to stain or paint a pergola?

If you are building a wood pergola, you might want to consider staining and sealing the lumber before the pergola is constructed. … Stain isn’t like paint, in that it’s better to do two or three coats for optimum coverage. Stain penetrates into the wood and actually changes the wood itself.

How long do wooden pergolas last?

With limited maintenance, expect a wood pergola to last about five years. You can improve its lifespan to 10 to 12 years with annual cleaning, staining or sealing.

How do you stain a pergola?

For clear, toner and semi-transparent stains, apply one thin coat with a high-quality brush, roller, paint pad, or spray. For solid stains, apply two thin coats of deck stain with a brush, roller, or paint pad. ​To avoid lap marks, apply to a few boards at a time, keeping a wet edge.

How do you protect the top of a pergola?

A more do-it-yourself option for the top of the pergola is to install corrugated fiberglass roofing panels onto the horizontal beams at the top of the structure. On top of being relatively inexpensive, this option will also let in the most light, since you can choose clear or light-colored panels.

Article first time published on

Does stain protect wood?

Unlike sealers, stains penetrate into the wood. … This gives the wood protection against harmful UV rays. Stains also have the same beneficial water-repelling qualities. There are many different types of stains, ranging from transparent stains, to semi-transparent stains, to solid stains.

Can you put stain over stain?

Staining over stain is easy and works beautifully if your applying a dark stain over a lighter stain on raw wood. 2. You can mix 2 or more stains together to make DIY custom stains.

Should I stain or seal my deck?

Sealing a deck is best for cedar, teak, mahogany, or other quality woods as it enhances the wood grain and natural color. … Staining a deck protects the wood from mold, mildew, moisture, and rot, and UV rays and sun damage. The stain is available in transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, and solid colors.

Will stain rub off if not sealed?

Once dry, the stain won’t rub off on the bedding. However, a sealer of some sort (polyurethane, shellac, etc.) will make the surface much easier to clean, resist staining, & wear better, etc.

What happens if you don't seal stained wood?

After staining wood do you have to seal it? Yes, when staining wood you must apply a sealer to protect the stained surface. The stain will highlight the grain in the wood but it will not protect it, meaning it is extremely susceptible to damages from liquids, foods, human touch, and other sharp objects.

Can you leave stained wood unsealed?

It is acceptable to leave it unfinished if you aren’t concerned with the effects of light exposure, potential water damage, or prefer the natural look of the wood you are using. Unfinished wood will stain easily, absorb moisture, and possibly crack or warp and quickly get ruined.

How much does it cost to stain a pergola?

Your budget for staining a pergola should be between $1,000 and $4,000. The higher cost is due to the number of ornamentations and elevation, making access difficult and increasing the time it takes to get done.

Can I stain over sealed wood?

Here’s what I discovered: Yes, you can stain over varnish without any issue. … Clean and sand the wood using fine-grit sandpaper before applying stain over varnish to remove dust, debris and to emphasize wood grain which helps to take the stain better.

Can you power wash a pergola?

An outdoor hose can also be used to spray down the surface lightly. A power washer will strip down the natural goodness in your wood, so we advise against that. … When spraying down the pergola, only use a garden or outdoor hose. Power washing your vinyl pergola can cause damage to the paint and structure.

Do you have to seal pergola?

If your pergola isn’t put together, seal it first! This’ll save you SO much time and lots of trips up and down a ladder! … One thing to consider when sealing wood is that you only need one coat. It will get absorbed into the wood.

Does a pergola add value to a home?

Here’s what we tell our customers: yes, a pergola will add market value to any house. Since outdoor living has become more popular than ever, the value of properties with a pergola or a comfortable outdoor space has been on the rise. A safe gauge for a deck or backyard improvement is about 50% — 80% for your ROI.

What kind of paint do you use on a pergola?

When it comes to selecting the type of paint for a pergola, acrylic paint is the best as it is weather resistant and lasting. The best time to apply the oil based paint is during the driest seasons when the humidity is very low.

Is Pine Good for pergola?

Pressure treated pine, the most affordable pergola wood option, is also very rot and insect resistant and able to withstand severe elements. Pressure treated pine has chemicals added to give it those properties.

Is it cheaper to build your own pergola?

The cost of building a pergola is cheaper than buying a pre-fabricated one or hiring a professional to construct one. However, you will need the tools, expertise, and time to properly execute the project to ensure that it lasts and adds maximal value.

How long will a pressure treated pergola last?

Provided you do the correct maintenance, however, a pressure-treated wood pergola can be a fantastic option for many homeowners and will give you up to 12 years of solid performance before you start to see any structural issues.

What do you put on top of pergola for rain?

A fabric cover provides shade, but for rain or snow protection you’ll need something more sturdy. You can purchase a pergola with a metal roof, or you can build your own waterproof cover out of corrugated metal or plastic. As a bonus, the raindrops will sound beautiful as they hit the solid pergola cover.

How do you waterproof a pergola?

1. Shade Cloth.
2. Canvas. Cover Attached to Top of Pergola. Roll Retractable Canopy. Single Track Canopy. MultiTrack Canopy.
3. Slide on Wire Canopy.
4. Louvered Roofs.
5. Corrugated / Flat Panels.

How do you winterize a pergola?

One of the best ways to adapt your pergola for winter use is to add a roof. A roof will keep the snow and rain out, and will also help keep any heat from below in. A louvered roof is a great option for a pergola. It allows you to choose the amount of light to let in, or completely seal the area from the elements.

Does staining wood prevent cracks?

If applied correctly, stain and seal work wonders to prevent cracks in wood. … Instead of seeping into the wood, paint merely rests on top of it. But because paint is so thick, it also does a good job of keeping moisture, heat, and sunlight away from the surface.

What happens if you don't stain wood?

However, choosing not to stain or paint the deck is simply a preference of the homeowner. The effects that can occur due to a lack of treatment are aesthetic in nature. After 6 months, the wood will start to lose its color and will begin to fade. Ultimately it will fade to grey or silver.

Does stain prevent mold?

CONSIDER A WATER-BASED STAIN Water-based stains are extremely resistant to mold and are easier to clean and maintain. Stains containing zinc nano-particles, such as Defy or Behr, will have better natural resistance to mildew. Beware of oil-based stains.