What type of stain should I use on my dock or deck?

Published: April 01, 2022

As of 1/1/2022: We have changed our services. Dock and Deck Staining is one of our primary services. We no longer offer paver sealing or roof soft washing.

The choice of stain, the proper techniques for surface prep for your type of wood, and pre-planning are all keys to a lasting stained finish. The rule to live by is selecting the best stain for your wood dock or deck that will penetrate well. Wood stains or paints that remain on the wood's surface should be avoided at all costs.

You have many choices for staining your dock or deck, such as a clear sealant, a semi-transparent stain, semi-solid stain, or even a solid paint stain. 

The clear sealants are for wood surfaces that you want to preserve the wood and not change the tone or color of the wood grain. 

Using a semi-transparent stain will allow you to have a lightly pigmented color and not hide your nice grain underneath. You will still see the wood tones and textures under the stain. These stains are often available in grays, blues, greens, reds, and browns.

With a  semi-solid stain, as the name indicates, these stains are almost completely solid and only for decks in rougher condition. You can still protect decks with some age and have vibrant colors with a semi-solid stain. This stain is tough and will extend the life of your aging deck.

Why go with a paint stain? Well, sometimes you don't want to show the wood grain at all. Or, possibly you have replaced some wood boards on your deck, and you want to hide the different wood variations and textures. Not all wood accepts stain the same way, so if you change your deck boards, we recommend going with paint or solid color stain to cover your deck and protect it and provide a consistent look throughout the entire deck surface.

For more information about dock staining, dock sealing, and dock washing in the Sarasota to Venice, Florida area, go to our Dock Staining, Dock Sealing, and Dock Washing service page.

If you have dock, deck, or fence project and live in Sarasota or Venice, Florida, and would like a free quote, call Gulf Coast Stain and Seal Co. at 941-702-1526.