Can someone help me about deck staining?

Question

We have stained our deck twice now -- but this year on the steps the stain is peeling off badly -- why won't the stain last longer than 2 years and why does it peel off that way? Any recommendations on a high quality deck stain? Perhaps the quality of the stain is the issue.

Answer 1

A few questions before I give an answer

1.  What type of stain are you using, and if it is a solid latex stain, was the deck primed before the stain was applied

2.  How tall off the ground is the deck (a deck low to the ground can be more prone to peeling due to moisture in the gound)

3.  Was the surface properly prepared the first time it was stained (powerwashed or sanded, primed, and then stained)

Typically deck stains don't last much longer than a few years, they take much more abuse than walls due to the sun constantly shining on it, standing water, snow, ice, people walking on it, but if it is peeling off, you might be facing some other problems