The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much deck stain as the wood can absorb. Typically this will be 2 coats, unless you are dealing with extremely dense hardwoods which may only be able to absorb 1 coat of wood stain.
Below is a chart that shows some general guidelines for how many coats to apply for each of our wood stains.
Wet on Wet Explanation: For wet-on-wet applications, we recommend using a car wash brush to stain the entire length of 2-4 boards at a time, then come back over those same boards with a second coat. This allows you to apply 2 coats without having to walk back over your work.
