Deck stains not only enhance the look of your outdoor space, but they also protect and extend the life of the wood. Choosing the right deck stain is a crucial decision for maintaining your deck, especially if the wood has been pressure treated. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best stains for pressure treated wood decks to help you make a confident choice for your home.
In This Post
Why Pressure Treat Wood?
Since wood is a naturally durable, flexible, and beautiful material, most outdoor decks are built from wood. While wood is known for its strength, it can also be highly susceptible to damage and wear and tear from the outdoor elements, such as sunlight, moisture, pests, impact, and more. As a homeowner, you want to do everything you can to ensure your wood lasts for many years so you don’t end up with a damaged deck or rotting wood.
By pressure treating wood, you can add a layer of protection from the elements and extend the lifespan of your deck. Pressure treating wood is a process of injecting preservative chemicals into the wood with intense pressure.
If your deck is built with wood that has been pressure treated, you can feel confident knowing it has this extra layer of protection from the elements. However, if you want to preserve it even more and give it a stunning look, staining your deck is a great route to take.
What to Consider Before Staining Pressure Treated Wood Decks
Before we dive into the best stains for pressure treated wood, it’s important to consider the age of the pressure treated wood and the process in which it was treated. Depending on these factors, the wood may still contain moisture when it’s used to build your deck.
The number one consideration to keep in mind is to allow the pressure treated wood to completely dry before applying any deck stain. Failure to do this will cause the coatings to not adhere well (or at all) and prolong the drying process of the wood.
If the pressure treated wood is completely dry, you can move forward with staining your deck. An easy way to tell if the wood is ready for staining is to splash a small amount of water on the wood and see how long it takes for the wood deck to absorb it. If the water is absorbed in 10 minutes or less, you’re ready to stain! If it takes longer than 10 minutes, your wood needs more time to dry before staining.
The Importance of Proper Preparation Before Staining Your Deck
Before applying any deck stain, it’s important to go through a meticulous preparation and drying phase starting about 30 days after the deck is installed, especially in the Raleigh area.
During the prep and drying phase, put your deck through a pretreat wash. This will help suck the moisture out of the wood and speed up the drying process. It also breaks down the mill glaze on the surface, allowing for better stain penetration, which leads to a longer lasting, more durable finish.
Best Deck Stains For Pressure Treated Wood Decks
There are so many types of deck stains out there in different opacities, tints, thicknesses, features, and compositions, so it can be difficult to choose the perfect one for your deck. Keep in mind, the deck stain you choose is very dependent on the wood used, the area you live in, and your preferences. Let’s take a look at a few of the best deck stains for pressure treated wood.
Oil-Based Deck Stains
Here at Oak City Coatings, we prefer to use oil-based deck stains for a number of reasons. They are thicker and well-known for their ability to penetrate deep into the fibers of the wood, which provides excellent protection against the outdoor elements. Oil-based stains offer a more even finish and are easier to maintain long-term than some of the other stain options. Our top pick is the TWP 100 series stain.
Water-Based Deck Stains
Another great option is water-based deck stains, which are light, breathable, and more eco-friendly than oil-based deck stains. Water-based deck stains keep their color longer and are extremely mold and mildew resistant. If you live in a wet climate, this would be a good option.
Specialty Deck Stains
Aside from oil and water-based deck stains, there are also several specialty deck stain options, such as clear sealers, semi-solids, and solid deck stains. Each of these help achieve different looks and have different features, such as advanced UV protection, water resistance, etc.
All in all, choosing the best deck stain for your pressure treated wood is key for achieving the look and protection you desire for your outdoor space. When searching for deck stains, aim to look for one that clearly indicates it is meant for use on pressure treated wood decks. You can also explore this blog post for tips on choosing the best deck stain color for your home.
If you’re looking to stain your pressure treated wood deck and want to invest in a professional to help you with the preparation and drying phase as well as choosing the best deck stain and products, visit our contact page to book your free estimate today!
