A coat of semi-transparent stain can be a great way to spruce up a wooden deck. It lets you add some color to the wood without hiding its grain or texture. Before you decide on a semi-transparent stain, however, ask yourself this question: “How much do I like to paint?” If your answer is “not much,” you may want to reconsider your choice of stain. That’s because a semi-transparent stain won’t last much more than a year or two before requiring a new application.

If viewing the wood grain is not a high priority, an opaque deck stain can be a better choice. These products, which can be oil based or latex, are more like paints in their pigmentation and so hold up longer than a semitransparent stain.

Of course, if you don’t want to show either the grain or the texture of the wood, a porch and deck paint or enamel may be the way to go. It will last longer than any type of stain although you may need to use a primer for best results.

The bottom line—when it comes to painting your deck, you have plenty of options. Choose the type of coating that meets your needs best and go for it!

The Paint Professional at your local store can help you find the right product for your deck. Be sure to visit our Exterior Prep, Prime and Paint section for more information on surface preparation and priming and topcoating.

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