Deck Staining Tips 2023
As you may already know, there are three basic kinds of deck stains available on the market: clear, semi-transparent, and opaque stains. Although each type of stain will help to protect and prolong the life and looks of your deck, each different type of stain has a different reapplication rate and special characteristics.
Remember that before applying any stain, you need to clean your deck properly. Using an oxygen bleach and a garden hose as well as a little elbow grease will get your deck ready to be stained or sealed. Before applying any stain, perform a water test on the deck. Sprinkle water around on a few places on the deck itself. If the water does not sink in within a few seconds, then your deck will not absorb any stain. If your deck does not absorb water, you may want to invest in the best stain stripper or another chemical remover for your deck. You can also simply let it weather for a few more months and try the water test again.
A clear wood stain has the shortest lifespan out of the three. Clear wood stains will allow the grain and texture of the wood to be totally visible. If you want to apply a clear stain, look for one that has special UV blocking chemicals. The pigment is what gives stain it’s UV resistance and helps it prevent graying. Since clear sealers don’t have any pigment, you’ll need extra protection. Most clear sealers will vanish within a few short months.
There’s a clear product out on the market called DEFY Extreme UV-Resistant Clear Wood Finish that has special UV blocking chemicals that give protection from the sun as well as waterproofing capabilities. One of the ingredients absorbs UV rays, and the other reflects the rays. This unique combination allows this clear deck stain to last up to 2-3 times longer than most other clear stains. Make sure to read the labels very carefully before buying a clear stain. Do not assume a stain has waterproofing or UV resistant capabilities if the label does not clearly say so. It is likely that a clear stain will need to be reapplied at least every one to two years.
A semi-transparent stain is a step in between an opaque stain and a clear stain. This type of stain will give a tint to your wood but still allow you to see the natural grain and texture of the wood. The more tint the stain has, the greater the amount of UV protection it will give the wood. Semi-transparent deck stains are easy to maintain and generally can be reapplied every two to three years in order to keep your deck looking attractive and also keep it protected.
Finally, there are opaque stains that allow very little to none of the grain to show through and a limited amount of the wood’s texture. These stains protect your deck best from the sunlight and need to be reapplied every three to five years. The downside to opaque stains are that they are most likely to peel. Think of them like paint. When you apply them to horizontal surfaces, they get a lot of direct sunlight damage, which can cause them to peel up. They are better to use on vertical surfaces only. They’ll last a long time and won’t peel as they do on horizontals.
If you are looking for the lowest maintenance type of wood deck stain, then typically you will want to stick with a semi-transparent stain. This will cause the least amount of work overtime. They add a beautiful finish to your wood while allowing you to still see the grain and texture beneath. They don’t normally peel as opaques do, and they last much longer than clear deck stains.
People appreciate clear and semi-transparent stains for the fact that they allow the natural beauty of the wood to shine through whereas others appreciate opaque stains because they can cover up unsightly gray or weathered fibers and create a lasting beauty that doesn’t need to be reapplied very often. Decide what it is that you love about your deck already and choose a stain that is going to enhance that. If you love the natural look of your wood and don’t mind the extra work of reapplying every year or so, then a clear wood stain is just right for you.
Make sure you read the directions very carefully and do exactly what they say. If you are asked to apply a second coat while the first is still wet, make sure you do so. Nothing ruins the look of a deck more than a poorly applied stain or finish.
9 comments
ck) transparent stain for a brand new cedar fence? I have read that some stains, like Armstrong and TWP are not good to use on new first time wood for staining.
Thanks
getting ready to restain/seal my deck. 25X85 it was stained when new i would say 2006 with little up keep, we just bought late march.
i want to use an oil base stain / waterproofer. most of the deck in in the shade but does get a lot of setting snow in the winter. any idea thanks ken
Ken,
I would look at TWP Stains or Armstrong Clark Stains
New deck. Cured one year. Ready to clean and treat. Exploring Defy Extreme and Sikkens. Which is the BEST? Chris
Defy Extreme is better then Sikkens.
I’m currently in the process of re-finishing my deck and looking for a product that will work for years to come. Here’s my problem: two years ago I went through all the work of stripping, sanding, and re-applying a Behr Premium stain… only to find two years later (now) that it’s flaking off and looks terrible. I don’t want to simply re-apply without bringing the wood down to it’s natural state (lots of work). So what I’m looking for is a stain that I can re-apply in several years without having to completely starting over each time (stripping, sanding, brightening, etc). It seems the “waterproofing” products work so well they don’t allow good wood penetration even several years later. How do I avoid this never-ending cycle? Anyone have any ideas??!
Matt, I’ve never had much luck with Behr products. Was the Behr a solid color stain? Typically semi-transparents and clear stains don’t peel unless they’re over-applied. Two years is about all I would expect out of a stain on a horizontal surface. We use a product called DEFY Extreme Wood Stain in our business because the maintenance process is extremely easy. Every 2-3 years we come back and clean the wood, then apply a single maintenance coat of stain. Before you reapply a stain, always do a water test first. Take a few drops of water let it drip on the deck. If it soaks in in a few seconds, it’s ready to be stained. If it just beads on the surface, it’s not.
The semi-transparent stains will normally outlast a clear stain by as much as 2-3 years. A lot of people go this route simply so they don’t have to do maintenance as often. Plus the semi-transparent tones give the wood a nice touch.
A few years a go I used a clear finish on my deck and was really happy with the way it looked, but as time went on I forgot to keep reapplying and keeping things up. The wood started to dull, some of its natural look just sort of faded away in the sun and it was no longer the deck I built years ago. I applied a semi-transparent stain to my deck from SaverSystems, Epoxy Fortified Wood Stain and really like the warmth of the tones in the deck now. I used Light Walnut, it really looks nice.