Decks see a lot of use, especially when the weather is nice. Foot traffic plus the general wear from the outdoor elements adds up, and decks often need to be re-stained every two or three years. This gives homeowners the chance to add some variety to their backyards or freshen up an existing look that complements the house and yard. A quick visit to the hardware store can be overwhelming when faced with all of the different colours of wood stain. By first identifying the major colour in a backyard, most often the house color, homeowners can begin to narrow down deck stain colours by looking at complementary colours on the colour wheel. Also, keep in mind the type, age and natural colour of the deck wood. Four popular colour examples follow.
Mountain Cedar
This light brown hue is part of the Woodland Oil collection, a group of wood stain colours that are oil-based with just a touch of natural color. These stains are designed to emphasize the original colour of the deck wood and contribute a little extra pigment to highlight the natural tones. This stain seeps deep into the wood offering extra protection against the weather and help keep the wood strong. Mountain Cedar is light enough to add contrast to any dark-coloured house and provides a warm, comfortable atmosphere when entertaining.
Cape Cod Gray
This light gray colour works very well with white, blue or tan houses. This colour belongs to a group of wood stains that only mask some of the wood colour while highlighting the natural hue. These stain colours are subtle but emphasize the pattern of the grain of the wood adding character while not losing the original feel. Cape Cod Gray and other similar colours of wood stain are subtly reminiscent of houses near the ocean and work well on large decks. This results in a classic-looking addition to the house.
Amsterdam
Blue hues add a modern look to any deck, especially this deep, classic shade. These solid shade wood stains completely cover the original colour of the wood but highlight the natural texture. Using these deck stain colours also protects the deck wood by adding an extra full layer between the wood and the outdoor elements. Amsterdam pairs perfectly with light brown or gray houses and looks great with white railings for contrast. Blue stain colours promote an atmosphere of serenity and contentedness.
Mystic White
This colour combines a polished, fresh style with older wood resulting in a traditional weathered look, and the whitish hue complements most other house colors. This is one of the wood stain colours in the Olympic Resurfacer collection that is specifically designed to add a heavy-duty extra layer to the deck surface to help refresh an old, worn deck. This stain is thick enough to fill small cracks and smooths out the surface of the wood making splinters no longer an issue. The gray-white colour allows the dirt and dust from outside to blend in so that the deck never looks dirty and is a great accent to a bold house colour.
Whether staining a deck for the first time or re-staining after a few years, this process is not complicated, but it does require a few preparation steps including chemical cleaning, rinsing and sanding. Before purchasing the stain, homeowners need to identify the type and age of deck wood. This determination guides selection of the appropriate stain color. Finally, when changing colours, a test section is always a good idea to ensure the deck colour is a good fit for the home.
Whether staining a deck for the first time or re-staining after a few years, this process is not complicated, but it does require a few preparation steps including chemical cleaning, rinsing and sanding. Before purchasing the stain, homeowners need to identify the type and age of deck wood. This determination guides selection of the appropriate stain color. Finally, when changing colours, a test section is always a good idea to ensure the deck colour is a good fit for the home.