Deck Staining vs Painting in Amador County, California.
Deck Staining vs Painting in Amador County, California
Wood is one of the most popular materials for deck construction. The feel of solid wood deck boards under your feet and the familiar aesthetics of evenly spaced planks dotted with nails, knots and wood grain is just unbeatable. Even as it ages, traditional solid-wood reveals rustic memories of wonderful years of outdoor living and just how time flies by.
All this solid-wood awesomeness, however, requires some maintenance and care to protect the wood against exterior harsh weather conditions and wear and tear. When it comes to wooden deck care and maintenance, many homeowners in Amador County get a hard time choosing between staining and painting.
Painting and staining slightly differ and offer varying benefits, but they are both viable options for refinishing a deck. Generally, paint forms a solid film on the surface of the wood and tends to offer a slightly superior level of protection. Stain, on the other hand, gets absorbed by the wood and tends to allow the wood character (grains, knots, etc.) to show through.
To help you make your choice, let’s take a detailed look at the two options with their pros and cons.
Deck Painting in Amador County, California
Paint is a great choice for refinishing your deck, and as mentioned earlier, it offers a higher level of protection compared to other finishes such as sealer or stain. But it probably might not be the best option if you want to retain the natural look of your deck. Let’s look at its benefits and downsides.
Deck Painting Pros
• Wide Range of Colors: You have virtually unlimited options when it comes to choosing the color of your finish with paint.
• Paint Often Fills Cracks and Gaps: If your deck is a little damaged by weather, painting can help you fill in the cracks and cover up surface blemishes.
• High Level of Protection: While both paint and stain are designed to offer surface protection, paint tends to resist mold, UV rays, rot, and moisture damage better than stain.
Deck Painting Cons
• Hides the Wood Character: This is probably the biggest drawback of deck painting –it covers the natural beauty of wood, so you won’t be able to see wood grains and knots.
• Paint is Difficult to Reverse: Once you paint your deck, you might not be able to go back to other options such as sealer or stain without a major hassle and cost.
• Paint Can Be Slippery When Wet: This is most common with semi-gloss and gloss paints, when wet, they can sometimes get as slippery as ice.
Deck Staining Amador County, California
Deck staining is the best alternative to painting, and you have a variety of options too. In terms of appearance, there are mainly three types of stains: Transparent stains, Semi-transparent stains and Solid stains. Here is a quick look at the general pros and cons of refinishing the deck using stain.
Deck Staining Pros
• Stain Retains the Natural Beauty of Wood: Clear and semi-transparent stains allow you to show off the natural beauty of the wood and still keep your deck protected.
• A Variety of Colors: If you go for the solid stain, you will be able to choose from a wide range of colors for covering up your entire wood surface.
• Easier to Apply: Staining may only need general surface cleaning, and it tends to be a little more forgiving if you miss a spot or if your brush strokes are not as smooth.
Deck Staining Cons
• Stain has a shorter life span than paint.
• Stain is generally thinner and doesn’t fill gaps and cracks.
• Stain allows wood grains, knots and blemishes to show through, and the results might not be attractive is you’re dealing with a much older deck.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, both paint and stain are viable options for deck refinishing, but the best option might depend on the condition of your deck and your personal preferences. If you need any help with deck refinishing in Amador County, California, our experienced team at Hines Painting can help. Simply give us a call 209-256-4587 for a FREE estimate or if you have any inquiries.
And if you are living at Galt, CA. Then you can also contact us at Galt House Painter. Where we provide high-quality painting with the best finish to everyone.
