Deck and Porch Staining
Decks and patios are an extension of your home and often act as an outdoor living room. Taking care of your deck and turning it into a space you love will increase the property value of your home and provide a place to make cherished memories. By staining and maintaining your deck, you will increase its lifespan and keep it from looking faded and worn. Continue reading to learn more about different styles of stain and how to narrow down the options!
Natural Wood Stain
A wood stain that is a natural color will never go out of style. Whether you’re choosing a more classic color to enhance the natural colors of the wood grain or you’re brightening up the wood, natural stain colors are always an excellent choice. Natural stains are beautiful, but restrained. These stains work well with warm, rustic homes. This type of deck stain is reminiscent of a country home, a lakehouse, or a cabin. Natural wood stains are often associated with relaxation, quiet, and being connected with nature.
The clean, simple deck stain allows the natural materials to speak for themselves, while staying protected from the elements. Natural wood stains work exceptionally well with certain types of wood. If you are interested in having your wood deck stained contact Prim Painting. One of the professional contractors on our team can provide a quote and offer you their professional insight on which type of stains will work best for your deck.
Unique Stain Colors
Just because you’re using natural wood doesn’t mean you have to stick with typical natural colors. Utilizing unique colors can be used to make a bold statement or to create a simple, minimalist atmosphere. Blue deck stains can be rich in color or an honest, calming stain. Gray is another great option. Grey stains can be the perfect backdrop for letting other colors on your deck pop. Gray is great for a minimalist approach and can blend in with any color of furniture. There are so many different options for staining a deck, so make sure to consider all of the options available to you!
Opaque Deck Stain
The world of deck stain options is fairly extensive. Not only can you pick the color and hue of your deck stain, but also the opacity. The opacity of the wood stain can allow the natural wood grain to show through, or it can be completely covered. Customers have several options to choose from, including clear, transparent, semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid.
A clear deck stain is used to protect the wood from elements and erosion. The color change is almost unnoticeable with clear stains. Typically, clear stains are used on decks that are made from exceptional wood that the homeowners want to be seen.
Transparent stains are popular for newer decks or a deck that has been well-maintained and is in great condition. A transparent deck stain allows the texture and grain of the wood to shine through and maintain its natural character. These stains are typically lightly tinted and alter the color of the wood very slightly.
A semi-transparent wood stain is a great match for decks that have some wear and tear. Semi-transparent stains allow the natural grain to shine, and gently enhance the colors to make the wood appear brighter.
Semi-solid and solid stains hide more of the natural grain your deck would have. Semi-solid stains still allow some of the grain to show through, but are much more opaque than other transparent deck stains. Both semi-sold and solid deck stains are good options for older, weathered decks or decks that have many imperfections.
Narrowing Down Your Color Choices
With so many different options, we always find it helpful for our clients to consider pre-existing factors to help narrow down the possibilities. If you already have a deck built, we recommend selecting from stains that work best with the wood type. Woods and stains react differently to each other. Prim Painting contractors can offer suggestions and give you advice when selecting the stain for your deck.
Depending on different circumstances, you may want to opt for a stain that will endure more wear. If your deck is going to have a lot of foot traffic and heavy use, a hardier stain will hold up longer and be easier to maintain. The weather and sun exposure should also be considered when selecting a deck stain. Keep in mind that if your deck is in direct sunlight, darker stains will retain more heat and be less comfortable to walk on.
Benefitting from Darker Colors
Choosing the right wood stain for your outdoor deck goes beyond just color and aesthetics. Wood stains are also designed to protect the wood from moisture and general wear. Depending on how you plan to use your deck, opting for darker stain colors may be beneficial.
Some deck owners may simply use them for casual leisure activities, but some decks may be a main entrance into the home. Tracking dirt and mud across a deck every day causes it to look dirty and worn. Using a dark stain hides dirt better than a light stain. If you’re expecting that your deck will get a lot of functional use, you may want to consider a more robust deck stain. This will offer more protection and will likely last longer.
Always Test Each Color on Your Deck
When narrowing down their deck or porch color choices, many struggle to visualize the finished project. Just like when painting a room or the exterior of a home, we recommend sampling your final selection of deck stains before making a decision. Just by applying a small area of the deck with a wood stain, our customers can better understand how the deck will look when it’s completed once the deck is dry.
Without testing stain colors, you’re taking a risk that the finished deck may not look as you expected. Just like paint, stains may look slightly different once applied. Factors like the wood materials, the wood grain, stain colors, and the outdoor lighting can make a noticeable difference. If you’re not sure about the stain color you’ve selected, removing and applying the wood stain adds several steps to the process. Strains are removed by stripping and sanding the layer of stained wood off, exposing the raw wood beneath it. Once stripped and cleaned up, the new stain color is then applied. This process ends up costing additional time and money, which is easily avoidable. Before having your deck stained, Prim Painting will gladly stain a sample area at your request! Contact our team if you have any questions about staining your deck!
Pairing Your Deck and Home
The exterior colors of your home are a main factor to consider when selecting stain colors for a deck or porch. Selecting a color that strongly complements your house elevates the outdoor look of your home and brings the space together. Selecting a wood stain that isn’t a good fit may cause the deck to look cheap or like an amateur addition to the home. Keep in mind the paint colors on the exterior of your home and other features of your home that could clash with the colors of your deck. It’s also important to note what type of use and the level of traffic your deck will get.
Pairing siding and trim colors with your deck stain will create a cohesive and professional style. For decks that are directly connected to the home, you may want to take the interior colors and hues into account to create a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor. If you’re interested in staining your deck or have questions about the Prim Painting process, contact our team. Prim can provide you with a standard quote and give you more insight about what we can do to bring your deck back to life.
Learn More about Prim Painting
Staining a deck offers protection from the outdoor elements and moisture while also refreshing your outdoor space. Whether you’re having a brand new deck stained for the first time, or you’re looking to refresh a deck that has seen better days reach out to us! Prim Painting can provide more information on the services we provide and help you come up with a gameplan for staining your outdoor deck or patio!