Deck Stain Color Ideas

Deck Stain Color Ideas and Choices

Deck stains today come in a wide array of colors, tones, and opacity choices. Knowing how these can affect the final result will help you in deciding which deck stain is best for your deck.

Deck Stain Opacity
While some deck stains completely mask the wood other stains will add some color but still allow the wood grain to show through. This is referred to as the opacity level of the deck stain. A higher opacity deck stain would be a semi-solid or solid colored stain that has more color pigment and solids which hide more of the wood. A lower opacity or semi-transparent stain allows more wood to show through despite the tone or color.

Deck Stain Tones
Deck stains come in many different colors and tones. The most common tones are naturals, cedar, redwoods, and browns. Some of the more solid colored deck stains will provide more color choices than the transparent stains.

When a solid stain is used the actual stain color or tone will represent the final result. When a semi-transparent stain is applied, one with a lower opacity level, the tone will help enhance the wood grain and can appear differently from deck to deck depending on the type, age, and condition of the wood.

Deck Stain Color Ideas
Some deck owners have fallen in love with two tone decks that utilize two distinctly different types of stain. Commonly a solid stain in any color is used on the railings and spindles while a semi-transparent more natural tone deck stain is applied to the decking. This allows the floor of the deck, which takes more abuse, to be maintained more easily while a semi-solid or solid stain can last many years on the vertical surfaces. Two tone decks can be very unique and stunning.

Another popular color choice idea for decks is to match the deck to the house siding. Some people like the natural look of a deck while others prefer the deck to match or blend in better with the house. This is where a higher opacity or semi-solid color can be more appreciated.

Understanding how opacity and tones can affect deck stains will help you decide what deck stain color ideas are best for you.

Scott Paul Wood, Deck, Paver Concrete Sealing Pro Owner

Scott only carries wood deck stains, wood prep, concrete sealing, and restoration products that perform best based on his experience using the products and his 30+ years of helping others. Scott has been approached about selling numerous restoration products through the years but selects only the products he has used and trusts to perform.

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