Choosing the right stain color for your deck can be tricky. The best stains last three to five years, keeping wood looking fresh while defending against the elements.
Translucent stains allow the most details to show through while adding a hint of color. Semi-transparent stains hide some details with more tint, and solid stains look like paint and cover the grain like a primer.
Weather Resistance
When selecting a stain color, you can ask for assistance from deck staining services since the weather that your deck experiences should be considered. If it gets a lot of rain, snow, or sunlight, the stain should be waterproof and protect the wood from harsh weather. In addition, if you have children or pets who will use the deck, the stain should withstand wear and tear.
The stain color should also match the wood type used on your deck. Different types of wood look better with certain stains and offer different levels of protection. For example, redwood is a beautiful choice for a deck but works best when paired with lighter colors that enhance its natural details.
Another consideration is the level of opacity that you choose. Stains come in four opacity options: clear, natural, semi-transparent, and solid. Solid stains completely hide the natural grain of your deck, while semi-transparent stains allow some tint to show through so that you can still see the wood’s natural grain. Solid stains are also more prone to peeling than other options.
The most popular color choices for a deck include shades of brown, with tones ranging from light tans to deep ebony. These shades work well with most homes and blend in naturally with the surrounding scenery. They fade gracefully with the sun and remain cooler underfoot than darker stains.
Durability
Nothing refreshes a deck like a new stain, and your chosen color should be durable to stand up to everyday use. Fortunately, there are plenty of options, from sizzling firetruck red to subtle pinkish hues and near-purples. These colors complement exterior colors, including brick, green, yellow, and blue.
Choosing the right opacity of stain is important, too. The opacity determines how much pigment the stain changes the original wood color and how well it camouflages imperfections.
Clear or natural stains barely change the original wood tone and allow the grain to shine through. However, this opacity level only offers the protection other stain colors provide.
If you’re restoring an old deck, this opacity level is ideal for revitalizing the appearance without fundamentally changing it. Tinted stains show only the slightest change in the wood’s color and can help protect against mildew and other problems.
Semi-transparent stains offer more coloration than tinted stains, and they are the best choice for those looking to make a subtle change to their deck’s look. The opacity is enough to hide minor scratches and imperfections, and they pair nicely with natural green lawns and trees.
Appearance
When selecting a stain color, it’s important to consider its appearance in your specific context. This includes your home, surrounding landscaping, and other structures like outdoor furniture or seating areas. It also depends on the lighting and other factors influencing colors.
The type of wood you use to build your deck can also impact how a particular stain looks. For example, some woods have pronounced grain patterns that may or may not appear depending on your chosen color. Lighter hues accentuate the grain pattern, while darker colors hide it.
Translucent stains let most of the natural wood color and grain detail shine through while adding a hint of tint. Semi-transparent stains are another popular choice. They allow more of the wood to show through than translucent stains but offer heartier color coverage, similar to paint. Solid stains are the most opaque and hide most of the natural wood grain, but they also offer more UV protection than transparent or semi-transparent stains.
Using a stain with a solid opacity on an existing deck is possible, but it’s best to sand the surface and apply a lighter shade than the previous one. Otherwise, the color will overpower the tone of the older stain.
Cost
Stain colors are available in a wide range of attractive wood-tone shades. Most stains are made of natural ingredients that repel water and reduce the risk of mold growth. They are also typically less expensive than acrylic-based stains and don’t require strong-smelling solvents to clean brushes or paint sprayers after each application. The type of stain that you choose will depend on the type of wood, how long you want the new color to last, and your budget.
The most popular choice for stain color is to go with a neutral or natural look. This lets the beauty of the natural wood shine through while providing the deck with a protective layer. However, you can also opt for a colored stain for a more vibrant look.
Another important consideration when choosing a stain color is how it will complement the surrounding landscape. A well-coordinated deck can make your home and yard look unified and attractive. Ideally, you should match the stain color to your home’s trim or siding for a cohesive look.
If you are still determining what look you want, test a few different stain colors on a small portion of your deck. This way, you can see how opaque the stain is and test if it looks good with your current landscaping.
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