What Are The Best Decking Stains?
Decking can be one of the most difficult exterior surfaces to keep looking how you want it to look! When it comes to treating your decking, it can be confusing, with many exterior wood treatments being able to treat almost every exterior wood surface except decking. In this guide, we are going to answer some of the most common questions we receive regarding decking, and give you our recommendations for the best decking stains, oils and paints available!
Can You Paint Decking?
Let's start with a common question we get here at regarding decking, "can you paint decking?" The answer is yes, you can paint decking. There are a range of exterior wood treatments that have been developed with decking in mind. This is due to the differing needs of decking compared to other exterior wood.
Decking for one is a horizontal surface, which means moisture can pool and gather on the decking, making it extremely slippy and prone to water damage. Furthermore, decking has a much higher traffic rate than other exterior wood, often with garden furniture that is scraped across the surface causing damage. Due to this, many exterior wood treatments are labelled as not for use on decking as they simply do not have the durability and protection required for the task.
Like all exterior wood treatments, decking treatments come in three broad forms; paints, stains and oils.
Decking Paints
Decking paint refers to opaque decking finishes, which completely cover the grain of the wood and give it a solid colour finish.
Decking Stains
Stains are less 'solid' as paints, allowing the natural grain of the wood to be seen through the treatment, often available in a range of colours.
Decking Oils
A wood oil nourish and enhance the natural beauty of wooden decking. The oil penetrates into the wood to provide excellent weather protection and resistance mould and algal growth.
All of these forms of decking treatment have their own benefits and can all be the best product for you depending on your requirements.
What Is The Best Decking Paint?
If you are looking for a decking paint that is going to offer a solid colour finish, then there is a clear winner for us!
While it is called a woodstain by Sadolin, Beautiflex® is an opaque, solid colour finish wood treatment for all exterior wood including decking! It's special formulation flexes with the wood, which helps to prevent cracking, peeling and flaking. This is so important for a decking paint!
You can apply it straight on top of previously painted decking or on untreated decking, making it the ideal tool to give your decking a change of colour or to paint it for the first time.
Unfortunately, the 7 year protection Sadolin promotes Beautiflex® with does not apply if it is used on decking, but this is the case with all leading manufacturers. Decking simply is too difficult a surface to provide any guarantees for. Nevertheless, we would highly recommend Beautiflex®, especially as it can be tinted to any colour you want. You can truly get creative!
What Is The Best Decking Stain?
Now we come on to decking stains that offer a transparent finish.
One of the most popular exterior wood treatments available in the UK today, Sadolin Classic is a fantastic woodstain that offers great value for money at just £16.50 for 1L. What makes Sadolin Classic so popular is it's versatility. It can be used for all exterior and interior wood, including decking, and provides excellent weather protection.
It is particularly effective as a base stain on new joinery, which can then be treated with Sadolin Extra to provide extra durability. With Sadolin Classic, it is important to know that it is not suitable for surfaces that have been previously coated with a medium/high build treatment such as Sadolin Extra! It must be used underneath these products. Sadolin Classic again can be tinted to any colour, with Sadolin themselves offering a wide variety of neutral pre-made shades. They are an excellent way to incorporate some extra colour without the harshness that can sometimes come with a solid colour finish.
An alternative option for a decking paint is Cuprinol Ducksback Decking Stain, whichoffers anti-slip technology and weather protection. It is available in a limited number of colours but is great value for money if you are looking for a cheaper option.
What Is The Best Decking Oil?
As we have mentioned, decking oils are designed to nourish the wood, replacing the natural oils that occur in the wood.
Our choice for the best decking oil once again comes from Sadolin, with their Clear Decking Oil. This penetrates deep into the decking to provide great weather protection and water repellency. This is crucial for ensuring the decking remains slip free. As it is a clear treatment, this can also be a better option if you do not want the hassle that comes with chipped and marked paintwork that a coloured decking paint may experience.
Decking oil is highly worthwhile investment as for the price of a tin, you will get the maximum amount of life out of your decking before you need to replace it. One drawback of oil is the fact that it can sometimes turn a silver due to exposure to the sun. Luckily, Sadolin Decking Oil is UV resistant, but whatever decking oil you choose to go with, make sure it has UV resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now we have covered what we at Painters World think are the best decking paints, stains and oils, we wanted to take the time to list some of the questions we are frequently asked from customers regarding decking.
Can You Use Decking Paint On Fences?
In short yes, you can use decking paint on fences. Decking paint, stain and oil are all perfect to use on fences as they can be applied to any timber surface. Due to the added technology required in decking paints to ensure higher durability and to prevent warping of the timber, decking paints will cost more than other exterior wood treatments. If you happen to have some decking paint spare and want to freshen up your fencing then go ahead! If you have the choice, we would recommend going for any exterior wood paint such as Sadolin Superdec Satin Opaque, which can be tinted to any colour with our paint mixing service.
Can You Use Decking Paint On Sheds?
Again, much with fences, sheds do not require the durability that decking requires. Much with fences, go for any exterior wood paint that matches your budget. We would always recommend spending what you can afford and not always going for the cheapest option. By getting a better quality paint, you will achieve a much better finish and benefit long-term. Saving money on the paint you use is a false economy, as you will pay much more re-applying the paint in the long run.
Can You Use Fence Paint On Decking?
No, as we have mentioned decking paint has been specially developed in order to withstand the high traffic it must deal with. Fence paint is cheaper, less durable and does not offer anti-warp features which is essential with a horizontal wooden surface.
What Exterior Wood Stain Colours Are Available?
As we have mentioned, Sadolin Classic Woodstain is available in tinted colours meaning you can pick any colour you want! Sadolin Classic does come in a number of pre-made colours which are all neutral and earthy tones. Furthermore Sadolin have a chart with some of their most popular woodstain colours for you to choose from.
What Exterior Wood Stain Colours Are Available?
As we have mentioned, Sadolin Classic Woodstain is available in tinted colours meaning you can pick any colour you want! Sadolin Classic does come in a number of pre-made colours which are all neutral and earthy tones. Furthermore Sadolin have a chart with some of their most popular woodstain colours for you to choose from.
We hope this has answered any questions you may have had regarding the best decking stains. At Painters World we have a wide range of paints available, so no matter the job, we've got the right tools for you! Shop our huge range of products today.
