Staining wood

[bigplantpot]

I'm going to treat my pergola next weekend.
I did it last year and it looks OK but some of it has gone green. Is it best to simply stain it or do I need to really get any green bits off it first?

[hawthorns]

depends on what you used last time and what colour you used. was it was water based

[bigplantpot]

It was that stuff that replaced creosote. Creoseal?

[hawthorns]

i hate creosote. its awful stuff its not what i would call a stain it more of a preservative for rough wood. is the wood your wanting to stain rough or plained.

[bigplantpot]

The wood is plained, but I do like the more 'natural' look that creoseal gives. I did my whole fence (a new fence, therefore untreated) in it last spring and it looks great (especially compared to the neighbours' dark brown fence!)

[rustylady]

You really do need to get rid of the worst of the green before you re-paint or stain. Just give it a good wash with a stiff brush.