Staining your deck is about a lot more than aesthetics. Deck stain actually offers a significant amount of protection from the elements, meaning it can keep your outdoor space looking nicer for longer.
Now the question is, how do you go about picking the right one? As with different types of paint and primer, each deck stain is different. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the qualities you should be looking for when choosing a stain for your outdoor deck.
First, it’s important to make sure that you’re looking at stains made for exteriors. This might sound obvious, but interior stains are not compatible with most exterior surfaces. This has to do with differences in their formulas – certain additives that help slow down fading and general degradation that can sometimes occur when outdoor spaces are at the mercy of the elements.
The material that your deck is made of can also factor into which stain you should choose. Most decks are either cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated wood.
Cedar is naturally beautiful, but sensitive to sun damage. If your deck is made of this type of wood, we recommend making sure that your stain of choice offers UV protection.
Redwood is another undeniably beautiful option for outdoor spaces, but because of its unique color and ability to retain moisture, stains that both enhance natural colors and prevent mold growth are best here.
The third type of wood we often come across is pressure-treated. This type of wood is already pre-treated with certain chemicals that prevent rot and increase durability. There are stains that are specifically made for this type of wood that are better able to provide full coverage and permeate the layers of protection.
The other factor that we encourage our clients to consider when looking for the right deck stain is the frequency of use of their outdoor space. Similar to how you might choose a more durable paint for your kitchen than you would for a rarely-used guest
bedroom, the amount of wear and tear that your deck gets plays a big role in what type of stain is best for you.
Maybe you’re always hosting the neighborhood barbecue, or you have pets that always seem to find the muddy part of the backyard to play in. That might mean you need a more substantial stain that goes on thicker, helping to shield your wood from accelerated wear. On the other hand, if you use your deck more sparingly, you can get away with using a semi-transparent stain that provides a lighter layer of protection that will highlight the natural beauty of whatever your selected woodgrain happens to be.
Something to keep in mind here is that if you do choose to go with a more transparent finish, it will likely need to be reapplied sooner than a solid stain – think every one or two years, depending on the frequency of use.
Leave it to the Professionals, Schedule Your Deck Staining Today
Ireland’s Finest is a professional painting contractor that has been serving homeowners throughout Colorado for years. We use exceptional products, have a qualified team of painters, and can promise to treat your home as well as we’d treat our own.
Contact us today to request a free quote.
