To many homeowners, decks are the ultimate outdoor living space. They’re great for gatherings or simply lounging around; but to paint pros, they are challenging structures that see a lot of wear and tear from weather, outdoor furniture and foot traffic. Whether it’s a recoat or new deck project, many paint pros also take on the role of educator on deck projects with clients, sharing insights about maintenance and how to get the most out of the coating used to protect and enhance the aesthetics of the deck. With decks, choosing the right coating or stain starts the customer relationship off on the right foot. Here, four pros shared which deck coatings and stains they’ve come to rely on and why, and also a little about how they navigate customer expectations with these sometimes-tricky projects.

JASON NANCE

B & M Painting operates in northern Arizona, a four-season climate, unlike the dry desert in the southern part of the state. Here, decks see their share of moisture and, with higher elevations, very strong UV rays.

“You have to be cautious with what you put down out here,” Nance says. “Horizontal surfaces are going to get weathered very quickly.”

For new decks, he likes Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck Exterior Waterborne Semi-Transparent Stain. He also uses its Solid Color version, but mostly on recoating projects.

“I like it because the application process is pretty simple. You can do multiple coats and get different types of colors and looks—and it’s durable,” Nance notes, adding that the solid stain product is self-priming and he likes how it “bites into just about any surface.”

Nance tells his customers a recoat will likely be needed every three or four years for a semi-transparent coating and up to five years for a solid stain, but they should be monitoring the surfaces closely depending on the structure’s sun exposure.

For older weathered decks, he also uses PPG FLOOD PRO CWF-UV Penetrating Oil Wood Finish. The product can cover up graying or sun-bleached surface, he adds.

“More than anything, the key to any job, I say, is getting the customer to understand maintenance. Out here, you even get people buying log homes and the builder doesn’t tell them anything about maintaining those surfaces. It’s something we really try to emphasize with our customers.”

JACOB SINGREY

Singrey’s company has been in business for over 15 years. When it comes to decks, the Oklahoma pro likes semi-transparent oil-based stains for their ability to bring out the natural wood grain and to penetrate deep into the wood for lasting coverage.

“With a semi-transparent, it soaks in really well and protects from the UV rays and from graying. I’m not a big fan of film forming on wood with solids. Even though they call solid stains a stain, they’re kind of like paints, and I’ve seen so many fail so I end up sanding them off,” he says.

His go-to product is Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Oil-Based Waterproofing Exterior Stain + Sealer (Semi-Transparent). He likes how well it holds up to UV rays and moisture. After applying Woodluxe on a new deck, Singrey recommends a recoat every three to four years. He also likes the product because it recoats very easily. While he prefers the oil-based option, he respects customers’ requests for a water-based coating, and for that he will opt for Woodluxe Water-Based Waterproofing Exterior Stain + Sealer.

Woodluxe does have a solid stain option that Singrey will use on very weathered surfaces or if a customer requests it, although he does try to persuade them to stick with a semi-transparent, if possible. With aged and poorly maintained decks, he has also tried PPG FLOOD PRO CWF-UV Penetrating Oil Wood Finish.

“I’ve done a couple decks with FLOOD and it seems to really be holding up well. I used it when I was dealing with shortages during COVID, and I really liked it,” he adds.

LAUREN FINK

This southern Michigan-based pro started her company in 2021 and focuses primarily on residential work. Her teams also tackle their share of restoration projects, and this work brings them into contact with plenty of challenging wood surfaces; but Fink says decks are still by far some of the most challenging surfaces out there.

“Decks are kind of a battle, and they are not set up for longevity with our weather,” she explains. “I think the biggest challenge is keeping customer expectations really honest and helping them understand what they should expect to get out of a coating and how to handle deck care.”

For new decks, Fink turns to Cabot Australian Timber Oil. The transparent oil-based product comes in four natural wood tones and does a great job of highlighting the natural wood grains on a deck, plus it touches up well, the pro says.

“I also like it because it’s a 1-coat system, and for customers, that’s great for doing touch-ups through the years,” she adds.

On new decks, Fink will sometimes even recommend customers use a composite on the horizontal surfaces, and wood for vertical structures. In these situations, she’ll use Timber Oil on the vertical surfaces and get plenty of years out of it.

“Vertical surfaces don’t see nearly as much wear, and that stain  will hold up really well,” she says.

For neglected or older decks, she likes a solid stain to “mask a lot of the wear and discoloration.” In these situations, she prefers BEHR Premium Solid Color Waterproofing Stain & Sealer.

“It’s just a matter of performance. I get no call backs with it; the price is good, and it’s highly-rated on Consumer Reports. My customers have been really happy with it,” the pro adds.

DAVID DELGADO CENDALES

David Delgado is confident with giving his customers a five-year warranty on his deck projects in large part due to his approach to surface prep and how he applies the SuperDeck products.

Delgado has been painting for more than two decades and is currently entering his seventh year in business. The Lancaster, PA-based pro’s go-to deck coating is Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck Exterior Waterborne Semi-Transparent Stain or its Solid Color version. For older, unmaintained wood and concrete decks, he turns to Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck Exterior Deck & Dock Coating.

“SuperDeck is the number one choice for us. I’ve used it for over a decade. I really like how Deck & Dock works on cement, too. I recently had a customer whose deck was made of mahogany; a harder wood prone to mildew. Deck & Dock worked great on that one too,” the pro says.

Delgado is confident with giving his customers a five-year warranty on his deck projects in large part due to his approach to surface prep and how he applies the SuperDeck products.

His process involves pressure washing to remove mildew, algae, stains and old peelings. After the surface dries, he inspects it before sanding. It’s not uncommon for him to pressure wash a second time. After that, he scuffs the surface with a sander, sprays the first coat, then back rolls it before spraying a second coat.

“We can spray the second coat because we know the surface is already penetrated with the stain from when we back rolled the first coat. With this process, we’re able to make sure the stain really gets into all the wood fibers,” he explains.