Deck staining protects your deck from rain, snow and warping from excess moisture, while accenting the natural beauty of your backyard. Here are a few things to consider when buying wood stain for your deck.
Types of deck stain
Stains range from clear to opaque. The right stain depends on how much wood grain you want to see and what kind of protection you want.
Clear finish: Clear finishes let the wood’s natural colours shine through, but they also offer the least amount of protection. Clear finishes look great, but they'll require you to put in the extra effort of having to stain your deck every year.
Semi-transparent: Semi-transparent stain highlights the natural beauty of the wood, while offering protection from the sun and rain. These stains have pigments for added UV protection to better retain colour they but still won’t last as long as an opaque deck coating.
Opaque: Commonly called deck paint, opaque is the best deck stain for wood that needs protection from the sun and rain. Depending on which one you choose, the stain may completely cover the wood’s grain, but it will protect your deck for up to three years.
Varnish: Varnish is technically not a stain because it doesn’t soak into the wood and change its colour. Instead, it forms a hard, clear barrier between your deck and the elements.
Deck stain features
Stains are often mixed with different chemicals and pigments to offer better protection or change their appearance.
Colours: Wood stain colours can cover up uneven, knotted wood and tie your deck in with other outdoor decor. You can find any number of colours, but darker shades will get hot on bare feet on sunny days.
Materials: Stains are either water or oil-based. Water-based stains are quick-drying, have less of an odour and help your deck retain its colour. Oil-based stains have a longer drying time, but they penetrate the wood more effectively for better protection.
Gel stain: Oil-based gel stains are less likely to drip and won’t raise the wood’s grain. They don’t penetrate the wood as well as other varieties, so your deck may need additional coats, but they’re easier to apply.
Factors to consider whey buying deck stain
Before selecting a stain, think about the age and type of wood you have. Older woods can benefit from semi-transparent stains, especially if they were pressure treated with CCA. Newer woods will need lots of attention and regular treatment to keep the colour. Before staining, remove any old or excess varnish and sanding the wood down beforehand. That way, your new stain can bond to the wood more easily for better protection.
Learning how to stain a deck and knowing what products to use can save you money and keep your deck looking beautiful for longer.
