Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Help with deck

Last September, I had my deck rebuilt. At the time, the guys that did it stained it with Cabot #1417 New Redwood stain. Soon after that, I noticed that the stain was peeling in some places. I posted here, and was told that the reason was that the stain had been applied too soon. I should have let the wood weather for one season. To make a long story short, in the spring I sanded the areas where the stain had peeled, and re-stained them, and that seemed to help. Now, after the summer has passed, I am noticing that the stain is turning almost black in some sections. I don't know if it could be mildew or what. I think I am also coming to the conclusion that this stain isn't for me, as every little scratch can be seen from a mile away, and so I am thinking about somehow removing the stain and applying straight poly to the deck. So, my questions are.....what is the easiest way to remove the stain....is it the application of some stripping agent, or is it just straight powerwashing......and can someone recommend a kick-butt poly that will last a couple of seasons at least. Also is it best to do it now, or wait until spring.

Thanks.

Often there is a 'mill glaze' on decking. Drops of water on wood will soak in and tell you when it's o.k. to apply stain. This is usually in 2-3 weeks. You do not say what type of wood, but mill glaze is a result of milling wood that has high resin content and it coats the wood when it's milled.

The old school of thinking to wait a season before staining or sealing deck is no longer recommended because wood needs to be protected as soon as possible from moisture absorption. If wood was not kiln-dried, you would have experienced shrinkage as well. Staining or sealing wood that has high moisture content will result in finish spalling off. A moisture meter tells you the moisture content of wood. Wood with 15% or less moisture content is recommended.

Darker finishes over lighter wood beneath do tend to show scratches more because the light wood shows through. To completely remove the stain would require sanding it off and getting down to bare wood. The stains you see are likely mold and mildew. Perhaps using a good deck cleaner (Cabot's?) would resolve your current problems.

Typically, deck staining is redone about every 2-3 years depending on wear and exposure. Because decks are horizontal surfaces, they are a high maintenance area of the home.

Great explanation. I'll look for a cleaner and apply it and see how it turns out.

Thanks