Best Stain For Decks & Fences
What Does Stain & Sealer Do
All of which that is about to be stated is coming from the perspective of someone who refinishes exterior wood structures. There is no perfect stain/seal that will be perfect for every job. I will be directing my focus to the common types of wood and structures we deal with.
Deck, Pergolas, and Fences are mostly built with the same wood. Pine and Cedar have become the dominate choice for these structures. Both cedar decks and pine decks need some sort of stain/seal even though cedar is much more resistant to rot and decay. Pressure treated pine might do a good job and preventing rot, but warping cracking and twisting is the number one cause for boards to be replaced. When paper gets wet and dries out it changes form, wrinkled and warped. Wood can have a similar tendencies when getting wet and then drying out multiple times in short periods of time. Applying a sealing is the best way to prevent this.
The Best Deck Stain and Sealer
Strait to the point, the best deck stain and sealer is a penetrating, non-film forming, oil stain. There are many products out there with these properties so finding the ones with low VOC, little solvents added and lots of pigments (color) are a bonus. Brands like “Wood Defender” “Ready Seal” “Armstrong Clark” and Expert Stain & Seal” are all good choices. The biggest factors we take into consideration when choosing a stain are, how easy is it to apply? Does it smell terrible and give me a headache? Will this last on a customers deck? How will it look in 3 years, terrible or just needing a touch up? These stains for your deck and fence will both look amazing but more importantly protect and preserve your deck, fence or pergola.
What Should I Never Put On My Deck
Avoid at all costs putting a product that looks or acts like paint. Any solid stain will chip and peel over time and look terrible. Avoid film forming stains with a satin finish no matter how the guy at Home Depot or the paint store says it’ll work or look amazing. These chip and peel too, with the added affect that when you refinish the deck, you can see the areas of one coat vs. two coats. One of the most common products we have to strip is Cabot Stain, it just doesn’t last.
