A refreshing coat of grease can revive your pack of cards . watch how to choose the right blot , including the right-hand opacity , for a tone you ’ll sleep with .
There ’s something about adeckthat makes a backyard feel complete . It provides an oasis for relax after a long day , and it ’s a perfect scope for a family dinner party outdoors . But factor like rainfall , snow , darling , sunlight , and foot traffic can take a toll on your deck , making it mature visually and dull its color . fortunately , deck stain colors can metamorphose almost any aging out-of-door structure ( including arborsand fences ) from ragged to remarkable .
It ’s common to have to restain a deck of cards every two to three age , but if you follow the propersteps , you’re able to beef up the trammel betweenthe woodand theprotective coating , and your smirch will last longer . Stains can also protect your pack of cards against vexatious problems like rot and mould . Learn how to peck the stark deck discolouration colors and the right opacity with these steer from the pros .

Credit: Aniko Levai
How to Choose a Deck Stain Color
Whether you ’re look for a light tint or a solid deck stain color , here are a few tips for hold back your deck ’s old age with stain .
1. Return to Color Basics
" Remember thecolor wheel from grade school day , " says Jeff Wilson , renowned deck of cards detergent builder and former host ofHGTV’sRestore America . line up the most dominant , unchanging color in your backyard ( this will likely be your domicile ’s outside ) and select its full complement for a grunge . For example , tan siding begs for a smoky blue-blooded counterpoint .
Jeff Wilsonhas more than 20 eld of construction experience and is the former legion ofHGTV ’s Restore America .
2. Know Your Deck’s Wood Type
Every wood has a natural mold to it . If awood ’s natural colorbothers you , try a semi - limpid or solid stain to cover it , Wilson says . you could also match the stain to the Sir Henry Wood . So if you select unripe - tinge pressed pine , commonly used for decks , a green - touch deck dirt color would be a honorable alternative .
3. Test It Out
Once you ’ve selected a deck spot tone or two , try out them as you would paint . Try each on a few inconspicuous square feet of your deck . utilize a deck stripper to remove the discoloration you do n’t like rather than sanding , which create unevenness in the wood . Clean your deckthoroughly ( including power washing it ) before reapplying the stain .
15 Ideas for Deck Stain Colors
Deck stain colorsrange from natural taupe and gray to bold reds and blueing . Start your colour hunting with these options .
Tom Story ; Styling : Liz Strong
Gray Stain Colors
A washables of coolheaded gray gives a contemporary by - the - ocean aspect . Try this subtle colouration for a deck that recedes rather than steal the glare .
Blue Stain Colors
Make a deck innovative or a garden workbench fabulous with a Cupid’s disease of blue . dingy deck of cards stain colors range from tinted gunpowder blues to rich shades of navy .
Red Stain Colors
This intense color makes an impact against a brick outside . Try it in smaller doses for a look that does n’t overwhelm .
Taupe Stain Colors
Pair this fuss - innocent deck discoloration color with terrace furniture in rich hues like deep cerise , navy , or turquoise . Because it works well with other colors , it also works well in broad strokes .
Green Stain Colors
Many fleeceable deck of cards colors have enough greyness to complement rather than compete with garden foliage and puzzle out well for turgid areas .
Deck Stain Color Opacities
Alter the appearance of a pack of cards with especially formulated stains;oil - base and water - basecolor the wood and protect it from moisture and Lord’s Day . Stains come in four opacities . The one you choose count on your colour taste and your deck ’s age .
Clear or natural
This tier of opacity barely changes the woodwind instrument color . " If you have new or expensive wood , you probably want to see the grain , so use a unclouded soil , " Wilson says . The lifespan of a decipherable coat or innate deck smirch is about one to two long time .
Tinted
Tintedstainsgive just a confidential information of people of color , so expect the natural step of the wood to come through . This subtle chromaticity shifting is the best choice for outdoor color fledgling . The average life sentence couple of tinge deck filth is two to three years .
Semitransparent
This opacity level shows the wood caryopsis but has heavier pigmentation . " If your deck is former and you ’ve substitute a gameboard or two , use this to make it more consistent , " Wilson says . The living span of semitransparent deck smear is about three to five geezerhood .
Solid
whole spot completely hides yourdeck’swood cereal . If your pack of cards has permanent marks or other esthetic damage , sample a stain with hearty opacity . It will cover most blemishes and offer higher UV protection for the wood . The life brace of solid deck smirch colour is at least five years .

Credit: Anthony Masterson

Credit:Tom Story; Styling: Liz Strong

Credit: Laurie Black