How to Protect Your Stained Deck

A deck can be one of the best places to relax at home – if you maintain it well. Otherwise it can be a real headache. An expensive backyard investment that was supposed to help you relax can end up causing you more stress than it’s worth.

Deck staining is more than just an aesthetic choice, it impacts your maintenance routine and helps protect your deck long term. Let’s look at how deck staining and proper maintenance can help preserve your deck.

Stain, Paint, or Bare?

While you can let your deck go au naturel,  leaving it exposed to the elements causes complications to your wood. You’re more likely to encounter warped or twisted wood – and damaged wood can lead to nasty splinters.

Choosing to stain and paint your deck offers more protection from the elements and makes maintenance easier. Some experts recommend using paint for any vertical or horizontal surface, but they agree that a stain should only be used on the floor of your deck.

What Does Maintenance Look Like With a Stained Deck?

Firstly, your deck will require more attentive maintenance if you choose not to stain your deck – it will not have added protection from the weather.

We already mentioned the structural damage you’re liable to come across. However, don’t forget that the sun’s UV rays can also damage your deck’s wood. UV rays can cause fading and discoloration, and potential cracking. Deck staining also prevents the growth of mildew and fungus, which can make your deck (and deck maintenance) downright disgusting.

Depending on your climate and how you use your deck, you can discuss deck stain techniques with an expert and exactly how often you should be restaining your deck.

Choosing the Right Stain

Deck staining is a decision that affects both maintenance and aesthetics. To find the ideal stain for your deck, you should keep in mind the overall style and design of your backyard and what sort of maintenance routine you can manage over years. Here are  deck sealers and stains  to use to increase the longevity of your deck:

Clear Sealers won’t affect the appearance of your deck at all. You’ll be able to show off the natural beauty of your wooden deck while protecting it. The downside of that natural look is that the sealer will not last as long. For some having that look is worth it, but others will want a sealer that requires less maintenance.

Semi Transparent Stains allow some of the grain and texture of the wood to show through, giving a translucent appearance. They also allow you to choose a colour for you deck, while offering more protection than a clear sealer.

Semi Solid or Solid Stains have an appearance like paint and offer the most protection. Deck staining with this material can last up to 5 years on vertical surfaces and up to 10 on horizontal surfaces. This is because, unlike paint, they are designed specifically for outdoor use.

Deck staining requires a harmonious balance of maintenance requirements and aesthetic choices. At Seal Tech, we’ll help you choose the right deck stain so you’ll have a beautiful deck you can rely on for years to come. Contact us for a FREE consultation and professional deck staining or sealing!