1) You should never sand your deck

Sanding creates a smooth surface. Smooth surfaces do not have teeth. surfaces without teeth do not grab onto stain or paint. This is why you should never sand a deck, especially not with orbital sanders (those are the vibrating while rotating sanders you use on doors or furniture).

What to do instead:  The real solution is to make sure your deck does not need sanding in the first place.  You do this by never applying any paint or DIY-grade stains which peel later and require sanding.  Pro-grade stains do not peel and never need sanding.  True stains simply fade or lightly flicker.  they require power washing and re-staining often, but never sanding.

What if you have DIY-grade stain, it is peeling like paint,  and you want to replace it with real stain?   then you need to grind not sand.  The are called fiber disk grinders.  They don't smoothen the deck, they rip away the old material and leave behind a rough surface that has teeth to grab onto fresh coats of stain.

1) You should never use DIY-grade deck stains on your deck

Sanding creates a smooth surface. Smooth surfaces do not have teeth. surfaces without teeth do not grab onto stain or paint. This is why you should never sand a deck, especially not with orbital sanders (those are the vibrating while rotating sanders you use on doors or furniture).

What to do instead: .

What if you have DIY-grade stain, it is peeling like paint,  and you want to replace it with real stain?   .

1) You should never stain damp deck boards

Your deck should be completely dry before you apply any kind of stain.

Best time of the year to paint or stain exterior surfaces in Washington state  .