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Choosing the Right Deck Finishing Stain
The Pros and Cons of Various Deck Finishing Stains
By Leanne Tremblay
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Backyard decks made from cedar, redwood, or other classic wood decking materials have natural good looks. However, to keep a deck looking its best, you should apply a deck finishing stain or
transparent sealer on a regular maintenance schedule--usually every two years.
A deck is a big investment and the number one outdoor project undertaken by American homeowners. So, if you want it to last, follow these few simple rules for choosing a
deck finishing stain, paint, or sealer product:
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Clean and sand your deck before you stain. The wood decking must be spotless so roll up your sleeves and give it a good cleaning. A mixture of water with a little bit of laundry detergent, or water and oxygen bleach works well. Scrub with a stiff bristle brush and rinse thoroughly. Unless you're confident with a power washer, don't use one because the wrong pressure or angle of the water stream will blast away a layer of wood as well as the grunge, leaving you with a fuzzy look that's not good for the life of the deck. Once the deck is clean, you can also give it a light sanding to remove splinters and smooth out rough spots. If you have to remove previous staining or paint, you’ll have to do more intensive sanding with an orbit sander and 80-grit sandpaper, or invest in a paint stripper. Be careful if you work with cleaning and stripping chemicals, however. Use a mask and gloves and rinse the deck thoroughly after each application.
Choose a semi-transparent deck stain if you want to enhance the appearance of the wood. A semi-transparent stain applied to red cedar, for example, will enhance the texture AND color qualities of that wood and act as protective layer.
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Choose a solid or opaque stain if you want to change the color of the wood. The texture will be preserved like with a semi-transparent stain, but solid stains do a good job of permeating the wood fibers and hiding discolored patches or old weathered decking.
If your deck was previously treated with an opaque or solid stain, then you have to re-apply the same product. If you used a semi-transparent stain, you can re-stain with the same, or change the tint and use an opaque stain.
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Choose regular old paint as a last resort! Paint is easy to apply, but unlike stain, paint sits on top of the wood and isn’t absorbed by the wood fibers. You will have to deal with peeling and chipping after two years or so, which means you must re-sand the whole thing again before you can re-apply a fresh coat. Paint also doesn’t have the preservative qualities of stain, so water damage and bug damage are more likely to occur. But, on the flip side, you can have any color deck you could possibly want, and for a quick spruce-up job for an old deck, paint might be a good option for you.
Choose a transparent sealer if you like the natural color of your deck just the way it is. A sealer is an untinted protective layer that prevents sun damage (UV rays) and water damage. By sealing a wood deck on top of a stain, you get even more protection, but ask your local paint store for their recommendation.
Finally, when deciding on a brand or type deck finish, note that there are both oil and water-based finishes. Water-based will render your wood less vulnerable to the elements and help it last longer. However, oil-based finishes preserve the color better. Similarly, the more pigment that is in a stain, the more protective it will be. The less pigment there is, the less you will hide the natural appearance of the wood.
About the Author:
Leanne Tremblay is a freelance writer and publisher of
www.deckdesign.learnabout.info, a site with information on deck finishing stains and other deck maintenance chores, as well as ideas for stylish deck upgrades.
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