Deck stain is important since it helps protect your deck against the adverse effects of moisture, fungus, and ultra-violet rays. Currently there are many different types of stains for decks. Each of these stains has its own pros and cons. All of these stains can be included into one of three major types of stain, for e.g. clear, semi-transparent, and solid stains.
Mentioned below are the three major types of stains for decks and their characteristics.
Clear Stains:
Clear stains are also known as deck water sealer. They allow the grain to show through. Actually clear stains do not contain any pigment of oils. Nevertheless, clear stains do have certain wood preservatives as well as water repellent in order to protect the wood from moisture. But, these stains will not prevent ultraviolet rays from penetrating and damaging your wooden deck in the long run. As a rule of thumb, these types of deck stains are not quite durable and hence, you need to reapply the clear stain at least one or two time in a year.
Nevertheless, you can find few other clear stain brands that incorporate the features of other two types of deck stains. For e.g. you can find deck stains that contain oils and have the ability to permeate the wood. These types of stains offer better deck protection and you also need to repaint the deck less often.
Semi-Transparent Stains for Decks:
These types of stains are also very popular among the homeowners. Semi-transparent stains are also known as opaque stain and they will impart some color tinting to the deck. Semi-transparent stains would also keep the grain patterns visible. They also soak into the wood and last longer than the available clear brands. Due to the strong ingredients, semi-transparent stains are less likely to peel off deck surfaces. However, after a long time, they will lose some of their color and in that case, you need to reapply semi-transparent stains on your deck.
Solid Stains:
Solid stains are those that don’t seep into the deck wood. These types of deck stain sit on top of the deck surface and at the same time, cover the grain like paint. House owners often use solid stains for hiding discoloration from the deck and to provide a uniform appearance. However, most solid stains are prone to chipping, cracking, and peeling.
For any professional assistance regarding deck stains, you can contact the Armonk Painters NY.
