If your deck has seen better days, there are a number of stains on the market that can give your outdoor space a whole new look, while protecting it from the elements.
Consumer Reports recently tested 29 deck stains. To find out which ones lasted the longest, testers applied them to wood panels. The panels were then left on Consumer Reports’ roof for up to three years. Other panels were left in a shady spot to test for mildew resistance.
The type of stain used made a difference. A clear finish showed off the wood’s natural grain and texture but tended to only last a year, and it didn’t keep the wood from turning gray.
A solid stain covered up the natural grain of the wood, but it was much more durable. Three years after it was applied, it was almost exactly the same.
The semi-transparent Cabot Express Deck Wood Stain claims you’ll need no dry time between cleaning your deck and applying the stain. So testers applied the Cabot to a wet wood panel. They tried the same experiment with a semi-transparent stain from Behr.
After two years the Behr still looked really good, but the Cabot had started to break down. In fact, the Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Weather Proofing Wood Stain earned top ratings. It costs $49 at Home Depot.
If you prefer a clear stain, the only one to earn a Consumer Reports’ recommendation was Thompsons Water Seal Advanced Waterproofer for $28. And for solid stain, Consumer Reports named Behr’s Solid Colour Waterproofing Wood Stain a Best Buy. It’s sold at Home Depot for $37.
