Before we get into why one coat is better than two to both protect your deck and prevent it from peeling, we need to go over a few assumptions about your deck, types of stain, and prep. If your deck consistently peels every year, no matter what you do, read our previous post, Why Your Deck Peels Every Year, for reasons about why that might be the case.

So, you invested good money into your brand new deck, or bought a house that came with a gorgeous deck in the backyard. You want to protect that investment as best you can, so the first inclination is to put as many protective layers on that wood as you can—’the more the better!’, you think to yourself.

Unfortunately, too much product is one of the surest ways to end up with a peeling deck—especially if it’s a thicker, water based formula.

We get calls for staining brand new decks, restoring old faded gray wood decks, and everything in between. Without question, the number one reason people seek help for their deck is out of sheer frustration that their deck peels every single year, no matter what they do, or who they call.

Some feel gypped for buying the most expensive product in the store only to see it fail after its first winter. Others are completely discouraged their deck is chipping after spending countless hours sanding it. Neither are wrong to feel this way. There are many reasons a deck can fail and you might have everything exactly right except for one piece of it.

The two biggest reasons a deck peels are…