Staining a wooden pier...

[TomM]

Also, what color should a wooden pier (cedar top boards) be stained?  My brother bought a used wooden pier.  The pier sections (4'X8') have the sides in treated lumber and top boards are cedar. It is about twenty years old.  Has been stained twice previously... sort of a brown color.
Any thoughts?  Just try to match the old stain color?
Is there a 'type' of stain that is best for a pier?

[Ghetto]

They make a marine paint. That would be my suggestion. Oil based primer first.

[TomM]

Hi Ghetto.. How ya' doin'?
The pier has been stained in the past and he's thinking he'd continue that as opposed to 'paint'.

[bigoil]

Ghetto was only a journeyman, I'd go to his boss!

If this dock is on a lake, no problems, on a river, I have concerns. I went thru two of them on the river.

[Ghetto]

Hi Ghetto.. How ya' doin'?
The pier has been stained in the past and he's thinking he'd continue that as opposed to 'paint'.

Barely an apprentice...

Maybe a colored deck stain? Hope he got that thing for free.

[TomM]

Restore

Is there an equivalent that costs less?  The stuff looks pretty good.

[mickey]

I dunno Tom. If it's twenty years old and has been stained only twice, why not make it three? seems pretty cheap to me and it probably won't take as much stain unless the wood is bare.

[Roo]

Tom,
A semi transparent stain will last longer on a pier than solid color stain. Either would work well in your case. If you don't want to try and get close to the old color use the solid color stain, it will go on like paint.

Menards carries Wolman Durastain,,,,I've used it on my pier, cottage and decks and it seems to be good stuff.  It also sprays well with one of those Wagner sprayers if you have one.

Enjoy.

[bigG]

I like black granite for a pier.

[TomM]

Ended up finding out what the original owner used and getting that. (X-100 Natural Seal.. Wood preservative. 1340B Cedar tone brown. From Nies Hardware Menominee Falls)  Thanks for all the advice.

[mickey]

I like black granite for a pier.

woooosh....no need for a slide with that puppy!   

[bigoil]

Way to keep it local!!  That place has been around forever, always super helpful. I went by hero's the other day, wasn't able to stop but I honked.

[maggie]

coming from a concrete man, I can only make a few suggestions, put it on real, real thick and start from the water and work towards the shore.  ..if I was you, I would put it on thick and take small hands full of silicate sand and toss a little on as you go before it dry's... ....that's all I know about piers beside walking on them to get to the boat...