Deck stain vs deck paint: which one for your yard?

Stain: for wood you still want to see

Stain soaks into the boards instead of sitting on top, so it shows the grain and tends to fade rather than peel. On a deck that's in decent shape, a clean and re-stain restores even color and keeps maintenance simple.

Paint: for boards that have been through a lot

Paint forms a film over the surface. It hides mismatched, patched or previously painted boards and gives a solid, uniform color — but if water gets underneath it, it peels. That makes prep and drainage more important than the product itself.

Either way, prep decides how long it lasts

• Wash and let the wood dry fully — coating damp boards is the number one cause of early failure
• Sand rough or splintered areas, especially handrails people touch
• Replace boards that are soft or cracked through before coating
• Reset popped nails and screws so nothing catches

Steps and railings

Steps wear faster than the deck floor because of concentrated foot traffic. We usually recommend the more durable option there, even if the main deck gets stain.

Before and after from our own jobs

Before

After

Before

After