This Year's Best Deck Stain Color Options

With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to give your deck a fresh new look by staining it. Choosing the right deck stain can enhance the natural beauty of the wood while protecting it from the elements. When selecting a stain, there are several factors to consider such as the existing color of your deck, other exterior colors, sun exposure, and personal preferences.

Benefits of Staining Your Deck

Staining offers numerous advantages over leaving your deck bare or simply sealing it with a clear finish. Benefits of staining your deck include:

• Protects the wood from UV damage from the sun's rays which can cause fading, cracking, and splintering.
• Extends the lifespan and preserves the beauty of your deck for decades.
• Allows you to easily change the color if you want to update the look of your space.
• Provides a rich, uniform appearance as opposed to natural weathering.
• Enhances the aesthetic appeal of your home's exterior and backyard environment.

Quality deck stains contain pigments that soak into the wood and binders that adhere to the surface. This combination helps shield from moisture, mold, mildew, and UV rays while allowing the texture of the wood to show through.

Deck stains protect the beauty and integrity of the wood for the long haul. The unique combination of pigments and binders in deck stains allow them to permeate the wood while remaining adhered to the surface. This shields the deck boards from moisture, sunlight, mold, and mildew. Wood left unstained and unsealed will slowly deteriorate over time from the effects of weather and regular foot traffic.

Stains extend the service life of decking by years, saving homeowners money in repair and replacement costs down the road. They also lock in color pigments to prevent fading and graying. Deck stains beautify and protect, making them a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Deck Stain Colors

With so many deck stain options on the market, narrowing down just the right shade can be overwhelming. Here are some of the key factors to take into account:

• Existing color of your deck - Think about the current stain or natural wood tone when selecting a color. Drastic color changes are difficult.
• Color of your home's exterior - Choose a deck stain that complements the colors of your home's siding, trim, etc.
• Surrounding landscape features - Consider colors of plants, flowers, hardscapes to create a cohesive look.
• Personal color preferences - Select colors that appeal to your own tastes and lifestyle needs.
• Sun exposure - Decks with full sun may need lighter stains that reflect heat better than darker shades.
• Type of wood - Softwoods like pine or cedar may need more opaque stains than hardwoods like Ipe.

The color of your existing deck will inform the range of stain colors available. For example, it will be difficult to go from a light gray deck to a rich walnut without thorough stripping. Work within the undertones of your current deck color for the easiest transition.

Coordination with your home's exterior color scheme creates a cohesive, seamless look. Contrasting colors can allow your deck to stand out, while complementary hues will unify it with the rest of your home's materials and colors.

The amount of sun exposure your deck receives will dictate whether light or dark stains perform better. Darker stains tend to absorb heat, while lighter stains help reflect sunlight to keep the deck cooler. Carefully observe your deck at different times of day to choose appropriately.

Testing out samples of stain colors right on your decking before fully committing to one shade can help ensure you end up with the perfect color.

Most Popular Stain Colors for Decks

When it comes to deck stain colors, you can choose from natural, warm, or cool tone families. Here are some of the most popular shades for today's decks:

Natural and Neutral Tones

These sheer, transparent hues allow the natural beauty of the wood's grain and coloring to take center stage. They offer light protection without masking the deck's natural palette.

• Clear sealers allow the natural coloring and grain of the wood to show through without adding any pigment.
• Natural wood stains enhance the grain while letting the original tone shine through in sheer, transparent shades.

Warm, Inviting Colors

Earthy shades in the red, brown, and yellow families create a warm, welcoming look reminiscent of rich woods and cozy cabins.

• Cedar and redwood tones provide a welcoming look with their hints of reddish-brown hues.
• Rich browns in chocolate, chestnut, walnut, and mahogany evoke the feeling of cozy cabins.

Cool, Calming Colors

Serene blues, grays, and greens create a relaxing oasis and seamlessly blend with green lawns, trees, and water features.

• Grays create a sleek, modern vibe and hide weathering effects well.
• Blues and greens are tranquil shades that complement surrounding greenery and water features.

Today's deck stains come in a huge range of hues from warm natural wood tones to bold, saturated colors. While neutral natural colors remain popular, vibrant colors are also on the rise for those wanting to make a bold statement. Even black deck stains are growing in popularity, allowing maximum light absorption.

Coordinating Your Deck Stain with Home Exterior

Choosing a deck stain color that complements your home's exterior shade and materials is key for a cohesive look. Here are some color coordination tips:

• Match : Select the same stain color as your home's siding or trim for a uniform appearance.
• Complement : Pick a deck stain hue that matches a secondary color on your house exterior.
• Contrast : Go bold with a deck stain that contrasts the main color of your home to make it stand out.

You can also unify different exterior elements through tones and undertones. For example, pairing a brick house with red undertones with a chestnut brown deck with similar reddish hues.

If choosing contrasting colors, be sure there is enough separation from the deck and house to avoid clashing. Softscape features like plants and flowers can also help bridge very different colors together in a harmonious way.

For a coordinated look, swatch test colors next to exterior house paint samples before fully staining your deck. This allows you to see how the shades complement each other under natural lighting.

Applying deck stain properly ensures you achieve an attractive, long-lasting finish. Here are some tips for success:

• Clean and lightly sand deck to prepare the surface for staining.
• Carefully follow application techniques from the manufacturer.
• Apply sealers or clear finishes over stains for extra protection.
• Conduct regular deck maintenance to refresh stained surfaces over time.

Proper prep work like pressure washing, scraping, sanding, and spot cleaning ensures the stain adheres well. Applying stains over dirt, mildew, or failing old finishes will compromise results.