Deck requires maintenance and over time and use, the deck will require a refinishing among other repairs. When it comes time to refinish, however, many people are faced with many options, for starters, whether they should use paint or stain. Both have pros and cons and today, we at McKay’s Painting would like them out to help you better make an informed decision.

Stained or Painted Wood Deck?

– Stains are more economical. Exterior paint usually needs twice as much than exterior staining finishes. You will have to spend more in cost for primer for the wood preservative in addition to the exterior paint costing more. Also, the commercial wood stains are already infused with wood preservatives and do not require an extra primer to adhere to.
– Stains have a more natural appearance. Allowing for a very natural look, stains form a thin film over the deck that lets both the natural grain pattern as the wood stain is a transparent to semi-solid in opacity that partially fills the pores of wood. A solid wood stain that is highly pigmented and virtually opaque is available if you still want the rustic appearance but disguise the imperfections.
– Paint hides imperfections better. Hiding cracks and covering the distinction of the wood grain, paint has a more manufactured look with high percentage of pigments and resins that completely fills the pores of the wood and dries to an opaque surface.
– Paint is more versatile. For those that want a host of options, paint offers assortment of colors from the warm, cool, and neutral pallets. Though there are still many choices, the options are thinner when you choose a stain used to accentuate qualities of the woods.
– Stain is easier to apply. Whether you choose a stain or paint, the deck needs to be prepared by clearing off the surface, sweeping of the dirt and mud and use an approved to clear scrub off the original finish. Replace any damage planks as well as any screw or nails are loose or missing. Any unevenness or minor damage will need to be sanded evenly. For the application, stain typically only requires a single coat brushed or rolled on. Preventing globs and pooling effects and the transparency of the texture minimizes the lap marks, stain is a thin and runny consistency. To improve convenience, many finishing brands are available as two-in-one stain-and-sealer as well. A minimum of two coats of latex or oil-based paint is required and maybe more since paint, the other hand, requires first a quality primer coat. A thick consistency of paint means lap marks and globs commonly crop up in the finish. Once you apply adequate coats, a final coat of a clear polyurethane sealer is a must.
– Long term durability. Both paint and stain on your deck can have their concerns with longevity but paint generally lasts longer.

Deck Painting, Staining, Refinishing & More in Ventura, Ojai, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills & Santa Barbara California.

Stain has discoloration with potential heat-related causes. Depending on several factors, stain has a shorter lifespan; anywhere from 1-8 years. Stain offers little to no protection from moisture or UV protection for transparent stains, but high moisture and UV protection with solid stains. Paint is prone to chipping and peeling. However, before needing re-application, being more durable, paint lasts 10 years or more. You can better protect from moisture and more UV resistance, with the right paint. You have a reliable source to get your deck refinished or restored quickly and efficiently with McKay’s Painting where it can be a tough decision for some to choose between stain or paint for their decks. Contact us today!