Unlike paint, which merely forms a thick layer on the surface of your wood, the deck stain will seep deep into each wooden panel. This helps preserve the natural grain and texture of your deck.

Is it better to paint a deck or stain it? Decking paint is a bit more durable than decking stain, but it's also much more of a faff when you do need to replace the paint. These are the other key pros ...

Use an orbital sander with 80-grit sandpaper on any areas of the deck with old paint or finish that's peeling or chipped. If ...

Frequent reformulations for performance and emissions also mean the paint or stain you loved last time ... in lead-safe practices. And if your deck is older than 2004 and its finish is flaking ...