Stain Life Expectancy
Everyone wants to know how long will the stain last. This answer varies due to where people live, which side of the house the deck is on, do leaves fall constantly on the deck, etc.
Here are some key points to Stain Life Expectancy no matter which brand you are using:
- First and foremost it is the prep work which gives your deck the best chance of lasting longer then your neighbors. This means power washing every square inch of wood with the proper cleaning solutions and brightening/neutralizing after washing.
- The stain must be applied to dry wood so it can penetrate deeper into the wood for maximum protection from the elements.
- The stain should be brushed on to really penetrate into the wood, it is time consuming and spraying coats the wood, but doesn’t saturate it.
- Vertical surfaces will always last twice as long as the horizontal surfaces. So don’t be alarmed after 2-3 years if you need to recoat the top of the handrail, steps, and floor again.
- If you have organic debris on your deck it feeds the mold and your stain life will be reduced.
- If you use a stain with linseed oil your stain will not last as long because when the stain breaks down it turns into a food source for the mold
- There is no stain or paint that will last 30 years on a deck (read about how long these companies have been in business. Most of these 30 year companies have been around less then 10 years, so how can they prove a longevity test? They can’t!
- Read the can and take all claims of longevity as wishful thinking. I’d say the majority of stains will last about half as much as what is stated on the can. We are in Michigan and have various weather conditions to contend with. (10 inches of snow followed by a 60 degree day followed by 2 inches of rain and a flood)
- Clear stains usually will last one year, but will not protect against the sun’s UV rays and your deck will turn Grey
- Semi-transparent stains will last between 2-3 years on horizontal surfaces and 4-6 years on vertical surfaces. It will allow you to slightly color your deck and protect against the sun’s UV rays. We recommend using TWP 100 series.
- Solid stains will last the longest and offer the best UV protection, but come with a hefty premium as their formulations can make some stains difficult to remove with strippers and sanding may be necessary, otherwise you may see the additional coats and the subtle difference in height as many of these solid stains look and act like paint. These are the stains that peel off decks as they decay.
