Deck/Fence Staining & Painting: What is the best choice?

Staining or painting? Which is best? Types and looks? Well, here you will get a break down to determine what is best for your project!

There are many types of finishes for painting or staining your deck, fence, along with exterior wood furniture!

Painting or Staining wood will give you a extra protection layer to fight against the brutal summer heat to the winter cold and everything inbetween.

Is Painting my best choice?

Painting a deck, fence, or outdoor furniture is a good way of transforming the space with color. Paint has a wide range of colors, however it doesn't give the best protection for the timber.

Painting timber doesn't have many features other than color. Paint eventually wears out to start peeling and cracking from the holding of moisture in the wood. This can also cause other issues as rotten wood, mold build up and other issues.

Therefore the timber would need to repainted every 1-3 years depending on climate, condition of wood, etc. And the repainting process it long! It takes scraping the old paint off, cleaning the wood and painting again.

What about Staining? What types of Stain should be used?

As for staining your wood, it is a way better choice for protection from weather and everything else Mother Nature throws at it!

With stains you have 3 choices:

1. Transparent

2. Semi-transparent

3. Solid
   

Staining as opposed to painting gives the timber the ability to breathe and let out moisture. Stains soak into the wood to give it a more lasting finish. Transparent stain is clear and keeps the natural wood look and protected.

Semi-transparent gives a hint of color while having the wood partially visible. And a solid finish can be tinted also, however a solid stain will take away the natural wood look but add more protection.