ooden or concrete decks have a great appeal even when they are in their bare form. One way to revitalize its appearance is to coat the deck with a new stain. It can be in any shade you want – natural, transparent, translucent or solid color. All of them are capable of enhancing the overall aesthetic for that area. Find out below which products are the most worthy of being crowned as the best deck stain at present:
Best Deck Stain And Sealer – Comparison
IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Wood Defender – Transparent |
| Check Price |
![]() | Cabot Stains 3004 Wood Toned |
| Check Price |
![]() | Dyco Dock N Deck Stain |
| Check Price |
10 Best Deck Stain and Sealers – Reviews
1. Woodrich Brand Timber Oil Deep Penetrating
Give your wooden deck a brand new look with this stain from Woodrich Brand. It consists of timber oil which goes deep into the wooden texture. This material penetrates the bland wood and gives it new life through the stain.
Only one of these containers is worth five gallons of stain and can cover an area of 750 square feet. You don’t need to be an expert to spread it properly. The first-timers will find it easy to apply and marvel at the exquisite finish. This stain possesses loads of trans-oxide pigments which are much more effective than other varieties of paraffinic stains.
It can be used to furnish wooden structures both commercially and casually. In addition to decks, the stain is effective on fences, log cabins and other structures made of wood. It works great on new wood as well. The best part is that you can choose from over 50 shades of this stain. So you don’t have to compromise with the overall aesthetic of the place.
- Up to 750 square feet coverage
- Ideal for new wood
- Rich natural finish
- Easy to apply
- Expensive
2. SikkensCetol 1 Translucent Exterior Stain
Sikkens is a well-known name to the people who are used to doing furnishing works. This brand has served us many quality products over the last few years. We picked this particular stain for our list because its feedback from the customers is extremely positive. We hardly found any point to be upset with.
This translucent stain is mainly made of alkyd oil which is highly effective for fighting moisture. It can protect the decks set on ground-level, pieces of furniture put on the lawn, fences and similar wooden objects which are the most susceptible to moisture. As a result, all your wooden treasures can stay safe from the rain and shine with a premium quality finishing.
Although our search is on for the best deck stain available in the market, you can use this particular stain for many other purposes as well. Apply it for siding, entrance doors, trim, windows, garage doors, and log homes.
The best part about this stain is its high durability. If you apply it on the wooden deck today, the coating will last for as long as three years. So you can stay away from worries of furnishing it every year and enjoy some free time.
- Alkyd oil
- Premium quality
- Multipurpose
- Lasts up to 3 years
- No color variation
3. Concrete Resurrection (WRC) Concrete Stain
One thing this product can definitely guarantee is that you will not be out of color options for the stain. It comes with a wide variety of 30 distinct beautiful hues which allow you to create any aesthetic you want. Some of the most popular colors include sapphire blue, alpine green, beach sand, and radiant red.
You can also layer one or more of these shades to create marbling mottling variegated effects. When one coat is wet, you can manipulate it to make mesmerizing unique patterns.
Pick the preferable size from its cans of 8 ounces and 32 ounces. Even though the cans are measured in ounces, it can actually make up for 1.5 to 2.5 gallons while concentrated.
Unlike our previous two stains, this one is made for applying on concrete surfaces. It is ideal for pool decks, floors, patios, and driveways made of concrete.
Since it has the feature of Water-Reducible Concentrate or WRC, this stain does not produce a strong odor. It is also quite environment-friendly and can penetrate concrete or cement decks easily.
- 2 sizes and 30 color variations
- Marbling mottling variegated effects
- Can create unique patterns
- Environment-friendly
- Displayed color may not be accurate
4. Concrete Resurrection Semi-Transparent
This is another entry on our list from Concrete Resurrection which also brings a wide range of color variations. These shades are more or less on the darker side. The colors play with dark hues of brown and green. If you wanted to put a brighter stain like red or blue, this product will not accommodate it.
You can apply this stain on any concrete surface. In addition to pool decks, it can also work well on concrete floors, patios, and driveways. To bring more artistic effects in the area, you can use multiple colors in various dilution ratios. The results will marvel the visitors as well as your family members.
It can provide a rich leathery finish without hampering the natural texture. You can purchase it in one gallon or 16 ounces at a time. One gallon typically covers up to 200 square feet of concrete space. After applying, you will need to wait a week until it sets properly and is safe from rain.
- 2 sizes and 12 colour variations
- Covers up to 200 square feet
- Leathery marbleized effect
- Unique textures
- Flakes off easily
- Takes a week to set properly
5. Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain
The wood stain from Restore-A-Deck is one of the most popular deck stain options for experts. Even though it comes at a very affordable price point, its features are as good as the more pricey ones. You can choose any of the eight shades it comes in. There are light and semi-transparent variations for each shade of cedar, natural, light walnut and dark walnut. So pick the one that suits your interior or exterior decoration the most.
Its water-based formula allows for an easy cleanup making the job much less tiring for you. This formula also happens to be environment-friendly. It protects the wood from greying and UV oxidation. Mold or mildew is less likely to grow on a surface stained with this product.
Buy it in either size of 1 gallon or of 2.5 gallons. Each gallon can cover an area of 200 feet at maximum. This coverage also depends on the porosity of wood in addition to the area.
- 2 sizes and 8 colors
- Water-based eco-friendly formula
- UV protection for wood
- Easy cleanup
- Affordable
- Doesn’t last longer than 6 months
6. Woodrich Brand Hardwood Wiping Wood Deck
This particular deck stain is aimed at furnishing the exotic hardwood surfaces. This range of wood includes teak, ipe, mahogany, garapa and cambara. Of course, you can use it on other kinds of wood as well, but these are the ideal variations for its application.
There is nothing new to be told about the quality of Woodrich Brand stains. We can assure you of the quality of this wood stain as well. Newbies to experts – everyone can apply it on the surface with equal ease. Any overlap or run can be dealt with some reapplication. You will not need to strip off the previous layer before reapplying. As a result, the end result seems quite rich and flawless.
It contains transparent oxide pigments which adds more to the rich finish by highlighting the natural wooden beauty. You can try out its color palette before settling on a decision. The two most popular shades for this stain are brown sugar and warm honey gold.
- Ideal for exotic hardwood surfaces
- Covers up to 300 square feet
- Transparent oxide pigments
- Low water repellency
7. Anvil Concrete Pool Deck Stain
Anvil had produced this stain targeting the concrete pool decks. Such surfaces struggle with adhesion which is why this stain comes with resins. It can fight well against the adverse weather and harsh pool chemicals. This strain results in a solid waterproof coating which provides more protection. In addition to pool decks, it can also work on tub decks, walkways, and patios. You can clean it up any time with just soap and water.
If you are looking for a transparent or semi-transparent stain, this one cannot fulfill those requirements. It is basically acrylic paint which covers the surface with a solid shade of light wooden colors including beach sand, adobe, and Navajo buff. You can get them in any of the four sizes – 1 gallon, 2 gallons, 4 gallons or 5 gallons. One gallon can cover up to 200 square feet.
- 4 sizes and 4 solid colors
- Acrylic paint
- 200 square feet coverage
- Waterproof coating
- No transparency
- Lasts for 6 months
8. Dyco Dock N Deck Stain & Sealer
Dyco has made this product which works both as the stain and the sealer. It comes in three beautiful colors including weathered grey, natural goldtone, navajo and redwood. Each of them has their own distinct appearance which can add or transform the current aesthetic of your decorations.
Each gallon of this stain covers an area of up to 300 square feet. The coating comes with UV protection which will keep the deck surface safe from harmful rays. It can resist moisture penetrations and mildew effectively as well. This stain can last a long time unless it falls under snow for a long time. Then the surface can start to look patchy.
- 4 colours
- 300 square feet coverage
- Protection from moisture penetrations
- UV protection fortified
- Snow can make it patchy
9. Wood Defender – Transparent Fence Stain
After long hours of hard work by the chemists, Wood Defender released this range of deck and fence stains in the market. It comes with the option of six transparent and semi-transparent shades including cedar tone, clear glow, Leatherwood, oxford brown, redwood, and Sequoia. Each of them can add a different element to the overall aesthetic of your interior or exterior decoration.
This stain is priced at a very affordable point which makes it even more desirable to the masses. The stain contains fine trans-oxide pigments. As a result, it highlights the natural wood grains through the new layer of stain. Besides, the pigments also prevent the wood from getting affected by UV rays. Once you coat the wooden surface with this stain, it can last for at least 2 years.
- 6 shades
- Very affordable
- Trans-oxide pigments
- Easy to apply and clean up
- Vulnerable to greying
- Not resistant to peeling, mold or mildew
10. Cabot Stains 3004 Wood Toned Deck
Cabot Stains brings the ideal stain for exterior surfaces in their 3000-series and 19200-series. The one we have picked for our list of best deck stains is the model 3004. This stain is basically a translucent oil which can protect the natural beauty of a wooden deck and enhance its shine. Once you apply it on an exterior surface, the coating will last for up to three years without causing any damage.
It has water repellent qualities which also resists mildew effectively. At the same time, it manages to penetrate the wooden texture deeply and sets the new layer in a long-lasting manner. The UV protection of this stain keeps it safe from the damaging sun rays and other harsh weather elements as well.
You can find it in five natural tones. Each gallon of this stain managees to cover up to 600 square feet of area. In addition to decks, you can also use it to furnish roofs, siding, shingles, trim, shakes, and log homes. Once applied, the new coat needs to breathe in the dry weather for 3 to 5 days at least. Make sure there is no rain forecast within this time for your area.
- 5 colors
- Oil-based translucent coating
- UV protection
- Resists water and mildew
- Lasts up to three years
- Not for interior surfaces
Final Verdict
Now that you know which products are the best deck stains in the market, start preparing your deck for a new coating. Make sure to clean it well with a pressure washer first to clean up the old stains. Then clean the surface, apply the new stain and seal the deck so that the coating lasts for a long time.