Deck treatment and stain buying guide
Wood decking has a warmth that synthetic decks lack. But you pay a price in maintenance: Wind, rain, summer sun, and winter
snow can take a noticeable toll on its finish in only a few months. Some deck treatments can lighten your workload by lasting
longer before they have to be reapplied.
Getting started
To see how well each deck treatment we tested protects, we built a deck behind our Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters and coated sections with various deck treatments and stains. Then we left the deck exposed to whatever Mother Nature dished out. The best we tested still remained close to their original color after three years, picked up only a little dirt and mildew, and effectively protected the wood from cracking. The worst looked ratty and provided little protection after just one year.
While the longest-lasting products were often the most expensive up front, their longer life should save you money over time. Don't buy strictly by brand; different products from the same manufacturer often performed differently. What's more, a product that worked well for you last time may not do as well this time, as manufacturers keep reformulating to address cost and performance, and to comply with government safety standards.
When greener isn't better
Deck stains must meet new environmental rules that lower volatile organic compounds. VOCs can cause acute symptoms such as headaches and dizziness, and some may be carcinogenic. But manufacturers admit that removing VOCs from deck stains and treatments without reducing performance is a challenge. Although many of the products in our latest test group performed well, none did quite as well as the best in our previous group.
Best choices for older decks
Before 2004, most decks were made of lumber pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate to fend off rot and insects. But concerns that arsenic, a toxin, could leach into the soil led to the introduction of other preservatives. If the wood in your deck is pressure-treated with CCA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends using a semitransparent stain, which tends to penetrate the wood and seal in the arsenic, preventing it from leaching out. Opaque treatments also seal well, but they may flake or peel and require sanding, which would spread arsenic-laden dust from CCA lumber. If your deck is made of CCA lumber and its finish is flaking, we suggest calling a pro equipped to safely remove the old finish, dust, and debris.
