Is your deck looking a little sad after the summer months?
Over the years, your deck, whether it’s been stained or painted, can start to look a little run down. You have a couple of different options when it comes to refinishing. You can stain your deck to bring it back to life or paint it.
The decision of deck staining vs. painting will come down to a few variables. If you keep reading, we’ll walk you through your options, and you can make a decision from there.
Deck Staining vs. Painting Durability
If you are looking for deck protection for your wooden deck, both options offer durability. Deck stain provides a durable finish, but paint tends to be the winner here.
Purchasing and understanding what paint is best for your climate is essential and should be part of your decision-making process. Paint with moisture protection, oil-based, is the way you want to go if you live in a wet climate. If you live in a drier part of the country, you’ll wish to paint with UV protection.
Does Stain or Paint Last Longer?
If you are looking into deck refinishing, you want your deck to look good for a long time. In the debate of deck staining vs. painting, paint tends to come out on top when it comes to longevity. Paint can last up to ten years, whereas staining requires you to reapply every few years.
Paint does take longer to apply, though, so you’ll need to put more effort in upfront. If the trade-off of work vs. longevity makes sense for you, though, paint might be the way to go.
Is Wood Staining More Cost-Effective?
When it comes to cost, stain is generally cheaper than paint. Stain can come in at around $20-$30 per gallon, whereas paint can cost anywhere from $30-$60 per gallon. If you are painting your deck, you will also need a wood preservative, so the wood doesn’t get ruined. This is an additional cost on top of the paint itself.
Overall, paint will cost you more, but as we mentioned above, it will last much longer than stain will. If you hire professionals to do your exterior painting like the ones at www.theraleighpaintcontractor.com, they can help you find a paint you’ll love for all budgets.
What Will You Choose?
The debate between deck staining vs. painting comes down to the look you are going for and the kind of protection your deck needs. Paint lasts longer than stain, but it also takes longer to apply. Stain will require you to reapply every few years. Ultimately it comes down to your preferences and how much work you want to put in to refinish your deck.
We are glad you’re here! If you enjoyed reading this article and got something out of it, consider reading some of the other ones on our blog. We cover every topic from real estate and home to tech. Check out our other pages today!
