Stain Cedar Deck Boards Before Install

May 11, 2021 | Deck Staining, Stained Lumber

StainTrac Commercial Fence Stain SprayerIf you build wood decks, you might be looking for a way to stain cedar deck boards before installation

As contractors ourselves, we know that staining can sometimes be a pain.

Staining a deck after it’s built can be a tedious process, and can even cause delays in completing the job…

Especially if weather prevents you from staining the deck right away.

A job not complete may even cause a delay in when you get paid.

That’s why an upgrade from traditional methods of deck staining to faster, better methods has been long overdue.

Today, we’re going to introduce you to a wood staining machine to pre-stain cedar deck boards (or any other kind of wood) prior to installation.

Let’s take a look.

Buy your own deck staining machine ›

The Problem With Staining Decks

If you’re a deck contractor, you know that staining the deck after installation can come with certain challenges.

While you’re glad for the extra work, you also may be thinking to yourself…

  • I hope it’s not windy when it’s time to stain the deck.
  • Are the house or surroundings going to get covered by overspray?
  • How long might we need to wait till we get a clear day for staining?
  • When will I be able to collect final payment on the job?

Deck staining onsite can be unpredictable and can sometimes be a real pain.

Staining Deck Boards With Roller

If you don’t spray stain, you may need to roll & brush it on.

Applying deck stain after the deck is built gives you only partial coverage and can be a lot of work to get into all the nooks and crannies of each section.

Some deck builders pre-stain the wood and railings prior to installation by leaning them up against something in the shop or in the yard.

Then they spray all the wood with a traditional pump sprayer.

But.

This is can be messy, inefficient and wastes a lot of stain.

The Old Way of Applying Stain to Cedar

If you’re not careful while staining a deck.

Using an airless or pump sprayer – can lead to lots of problems.

Staining Cedar Boards Before Install

First.

Deck staining usually happens outside, where you don’t know if it’s going to be windy or calm or raining.

Weather delays make certain days unsuitable to staining a deck, which means you might have to wait several days or weeks to get paid.

Plus onsite staining after installation may not give your customer the best stain coverage possible.

When staining a deck onsite, you spray the deck after it’s been built.

This can leave parts of each cedar board, wood post or railings uncoated and vulnerable to moisture absorption or more rapid deterioration.

Once the deck is installed, you won’t be able to get stain coverage on wood surfaces that touch one another.

Fence Stain With Roller
Fence Stain With Brush
Fence Stain With Sprayer

The New Way to Stain Cedar Deck Boards

Now let’s look at a better way to apply stain to cedar boards.

A way to pre-stain all wood before arriving on the jobsite…

With this staining machine, you’ll get total stain coverage for each piece of wood run through the system.

That way you can stain cedar deck boards before install. Or stain any type of wood before installing!

StainTrac is a revolutionary piece of equipment designed to stain deck and fence boards.

Staining wood before installation…

A deck staining system that stains wood planks, railings and posts on demand in your shop or at the jobsite with no worries about overspray, weather, etc.

The StainTrac wood staining machine is intended for use by deck contractors, fence builders, lumber yards, fence or deck supply companies or others who want to offer pre-stained wood products. 

StainTrac Staining Machine

In addition to staining new cedar deck boards…

StainTrac works great to stain all types of lumber before installation, including pine, fir, redwood, cypress or pressure-treated for both smooth and rough cut lumber.

And you can stain almost any size wood component from thin deck boards to any length square post up to 8″ x 8″ in size.

And talk about saving time!

With StainTrac, you can stain 5-10 cedar boards per minute right in your shop, no matter what the weather is doing.

Rain, wind or snow are no longer a problem when staining lumber with StainTrac.

No Overspray & No Wasted Stain

The self-contained spray chamber of the StainTrac staining machine virtually eliminates waste.

As wood planks travel through our system, each piece is flood coated with stain then rolled on all sides through a series of nap rollers for even and total wood coverage.

Excess stain drips back into the stain bucket, where it’s re-circulated through the system.

Watch this video to see how StainTrac works.

The Best Way to Stain Deck Boards

If you are tired of the hassles associated with staining decks the old way, consider outfitting your operation with a StainTrac.

It works great to pre-stain wood for deck construction, wood fences, pergolas and other outdoor wood structures.

You can even start a side business offering pre-stained lumber to other contractors.

Your customers will love the results you provide with pre-stained lumber.

Let StainTrac give you total control over the staining process.

Your customer will end up with a better product, and you will benefit from the time and cost savings associated with more control over the inputs of each job.

View machine specs or request a quote below. Financing is available.