Your deck is a key part of the way you present your home to guests. Often, it is the place they and your family will spend the most time, especially when the weather is good. Cookouts, post-game parties, family gatherings, and everything in between are all enjoyed on your deck. With all that wear and tear, deck staining is an important consideration in maintaining the health and longevity of your deck — not to mention the aesthetic benefits. But what kinds of deck staining are there?
- Transparent stains. These stains are completely see-through, highlighting the natural beauty of the wood. However, due to the lack of UV protection, transparent stains are only recommended for new decks with minimal sun exposure, and frequent re-staining is suggested.
- Semi-transparent stains. These stains have slightly more pigment in them, bringing in some additional vibrancy while still letting the grain and color of the original wood shine through. Due to the extra pigment, semi-transparent deck stains will bond with your wood and provide slightly more UV protection than fully transparent stains. For this reason, they are usually able to last a bit longer between reapplications — usually 2–5 years.
- Solid stains. Similar to paint, solid stains will sit on top of your deck’s surface without penetrating into the wood like the other two will. These stains offer your deck the most UV protection and can cover any visual imperfections in the wood, offering a uniform look to your deck and protecting it for years to come.
Each deck staining type provides its own benefits as well as drawbacks. For help choosing and applying a stain to your deck, please contact us to get in touch with our professionals.