Choosing whether to stain or paint your deck can be very intimidating. When you want to refinish and get back original looks of your wood deck, consider stain. On the other hand, if you want to completely change the coloration, you may consider paint. You may even consider combining the two methods; stain the flooring and paint the posts and rails to complement the overall appearance of your home.
Let us tell you about the benefits of paint and stain along with drawbacks. You might be able to make quick and easy decision after reading this particular post. Let’s look at stain vs. paint now:
Pros and Cons of Stain
Semi-transparent stain allows the natural beauty of the wood to show through. You’ll see all of the wood grain without sacrificing the protection your deck needs to survive elemental damage. Stain doesn’t necessarily provide as much protection as paint, but it does fill in the microscopic gaps that allow moisture to penetrate wood and rot it from the inside. Stain does protect your wood deck from mold, mildew, and rot as well as mild to moderate UV resistance and elemental protection. Stain does not peel away like paint and clear coats tend to do over time.
Pros and Cons of Paint and Solid Stain
Paint covers in thick coats and blocks UV rays as well as provides protection against mold, mildew, and rot. A correctly painted deck may not need to be refinished for up to five years, longer than clear sealers. Paint provides a sense of uniformity that you won’t get with most stains or clear sealers. Paint hides defects in the wood and lightly damaged wood. Paint gets hot under the sun’s rays, so please keep that in mind if you choose to paint your deck. We know how that hot Georgia sunshine can burn the feet on hot surfaces.
Please keep in mind that painting your deck a solid color will make it very difficult to change later on if you decide you want to see the wood grain again. It is possible, but it requires a lot of work to strip away all of the paint and make the surface smooth for stain again.
Perfect and Protect the Appearance of Your Deck
A quick Google search will provide plenty of inspiration for your deck project. You will find photos of stained decks, painted decks, and combinations of the two methods. Collect a variety of photos of decks you love so that you can choose the right paint or stain for the project.
When you locate and print photos of the decks that catch your eye the most, call us for a consultation. Leisure Time Decks is available to all homeowners in the Alpharetta area. If you’d like to discuss your decking needs with us, give us a call at 404-939-2201.