Best Deck Stain For You
Posted in Paints & Stains on May 27th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment
Deck Stain
Finding the best deck stain will depend on what wood your deck is made of, and what you want it to look like. First of all, we should distinguish between stains and sealers.
SEALERS. A sealer is applied to keep water from penetrating the wood. If you buy a sealer with UV inhibitors, the effects of the sunlight will be diminished. It will take much longer for the wood to fade or discolor. Leaving the wood to fight the elements without any protection will cause it to degrade quickly, shortening the life of your deck substantially.
STAINS. As the name implies, stains will change the color of the wood. The best deck stain is one with a penetrating oil base. My father always used linseed oil on his exterior wood surfaces. It was semi-transparent and darkened the wood slightly. The more wood penetration by the stain, the more protection is given to the wood.
If the wood is already weathered, a solid/opaque stain will do the best job of covering imperfections.
The more opaque a stain is, the quicker it will show wearing and weathering. Even the best deck stain, if opaque, might need re-application every year, while a semi-transparent, wood tone treatment will last much longer. Solid opaque stains do not show the grain of the wood. Keep in mind that darker colors absorb more heat than light colors.
The stains we haven’t talked about yet are water-based stains. These usually come in solid colors. They protect the wood, but you can’t tell that it’s wood. In conclusion, the best deck stain will be different stains for different people. SEALERS – Coat the wood; don’t penetrate it. OIL BASED STAINS – Non-opaque stains will let the natural wood show through. They penetrate and protect the wood. WATER BASED STAINS – These come in solid colors. Have you picked your best deck stain?
APPLYING STAIN. Once you’ve prepared your deck, test the stain in an inconspicuous spot. Apply the stain to higher surfaces first. The stain has to be applied evenly across the entire deck surface.
Apply your best deck stain with a brush. Apply at cooler times of the day so that the direct sunlight doesn’t cause fast drying. This will give the stain ample time to penetrate the wood.