Deck Painting vs. Deck Staining: Which One Should You Choose?
If you’ve been thinking about refinishing your deck, then you’ve probably gone back and forth over whether deck painting or deck staining is the best choice for you. Both options can drastically improve the look and feel of your outdoor space, but they offer different benefits depending on what you’re looking for. Additionally, with Indiana’s wide range of seasons, you need to take into account the climate we’re living in and how it can affect your deck over time. From hot, humid summers to prolonged snow covered winters, choosing the right coating is important for the life span of your deck.
The Pros and Cons of Deck Painting
Pros:
- Longer Lifespan – One of the greatest benefits of deck painting is the long-term durability of the coating. A high-quality deck paint can last close to 10 years (and potentially longer with the proper annual maintenance), which makes it a good long-term investment.
- Better Coverage – If your deck is weathered and starting to crack in certain areas, deck paint will provide and a much thicker, more uniform finish to help hide flaws such as these.
- More Color Options – As opposed to stains, deck paint can come in almost any color imaginable; the entire color spectrum is at your disposal! Because of this, deck painting services allow for you to pick the perfect color to help accent the other features of your home.
- Protects Against Moisture – When it comes to providing the most protective layer to your deck from the elements, there’s no better option than deck painting. If prepped and done correctly, there will be virtually no way for moisture to create rot and mildew buildup.
Cons:
- Peeling and Chipping – One of the main drawbacks to deck painting is the way it weathers. If not applied properly, it can start to chip and peel as opposed to fading away like traditional deck stains. With that being said, if you make sure to keep a little extra of the paint you use, touch up is extremely quick and easy.
- Can Be Slippery When Wet – Certain paint finishes tend to be more slippery compared to deck stains (satin and gloss finishes). To avoid this, make sure to use a paint that comes in flat.
- Difficult to Refinish – The biggest disadvantage to painting your deck is that it’s essentially permanent. You can always repaint it with a different color, but if you wanted to switch to a stain later, that would involve a labor-intensive sanding/stripping process or replacing the deck boards.
The Pros and Cons of Deck Staining
Pros:
- Enhances Natural Beauty – If you’re looking for the natural wood look that you’d find with a stained wood interior, deck staining is the right choice. It will give you a much less opaque finish so you’re able to enjoy the natural beauty of the wood.
- Ease of Application – Deck staining can often be completed in one coat to achieve your desired look. With that being said, it’s always a good idea to apply a second coat for increased durability and longevity.
- Penetrates Into Wood – Unlike paint, where it adheres to the surface of the wood, deck stains actually penetrate into the wood fibers to get a deeper level of application.
- More Slip-Resistant – Stains will often come in a flat finish, which will be less slippery than a satin or gloss paint finish.
Cons:
- Shorter Lifespan & More Maintenance – The main drawback to staining your deck is the coating’s life span and level of maintenance. Even the best deck stains only last 2-5 years, and unless you use the same color and product as before, there’s a good chance you’ll have an extensive stripping/cleaning process.
- Limited Color Choices – While stain can help enhance the natural beauty of wood, it does not have the same variety of colors you can find with paint.
- Less Protection Against UV Rays – If you choose to go with a transparent or semi-transparent stain (most common when staining a deck), then the finish will fade much quicker than a traditional deck paint.
Which Option is Best for Your Deck?
The choice between deck painting and deck staining ultimately comes down to two things: the desired look you’re trying to achieve and the amount of maintenance you want to endure over its lifespan. If you’re looking for the transparent finish that comes to mind when you think of stained wood, then deck staining is the route you want to go. If maintenance is your biggest concern, then deck painting will provide you with the longest lasting finish and protection to minimize the time spent maintaining your deck.
Interested in a deck refinishing project? If so, contact us today to start the conversation about bringing that old, weathered deck back to life!
In addition to our deck painting & deck staining services, we also offer several other exterior remodeling services like window replacement, siding replacement and interior & exterior painting. Click these links or visit our home page to look through the long list of services we can complete for you!
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