Now that it is time to finish your deck, you need to be as careful on your selection of a finish as you were when determining the size, shape and design of the deck itself. Considerable thought should be given to the color that you want, the look of the deck when it is finished and the life expectancy of the finish applied. Careful consideration of all these factors will result in completing your deck in a manner that will bring you joy and pride of ownership over the years.
Color
Just like paint for a wall or house, the color choice of a deck is an individual decision. Thought should be given to matching-up or accenting the house color(s) or corresponding trim color(s). You may also choose to pick a color that will blend in with the natural surroundings, such as trees, rocks or other landscaping color schemes. One color can be chosen for the deck itself while a contrasting trim color can be used for the railing.
Final Look The final "look" of your deck will be an important factor for you to decide. There are several options from which to select and the final decision can only be determined by you. "Clear" finishes are a great choice if you desire the natural beauty of the wood to be seen. This is especially important if you have new wood or wood that has been thoroughly cleaned or recently sanded. If you want to see as much natural wood as possible but want just a touch of color, then look for a "wood-toned" finish. This will give it a slight resemblance toward a specific wood type of your choice. Another popular finish from which to choose is a "semi-transparent" stain. This gives your deck a definite color while still allowing some of the wood grain to show through. Even more pigmented are finishes which are referred to as "semi-opaque". This finish adds even more color with just a slight amount of wood grain visible. For decks that need a complete color change or to help hide imperfections in the wood, consider a "solid color stain" finish. This will appear more like a paint but allows for some of the wood texture to be visible.
Life of products
product. This type of finish will need re-coating more often and will require a bit product. This type of finish will need re-coating more often and will require a bit more labor. This is usually the case in most "clear" finishes. The more opaque that your finish is, the longer the product will usually last. Semi-Opaque and Solid Color stains will usually hide most of your wood but will also offer the longest amount of time between maintenance re-coats. longest amount of time between maintenance re-coats.
The decision on a deck finish can only be determined by you. Some people like a cedar color while others prefer a clear so that the natural beauty of the wood can be seen. Whether a look is more important than the expected life of the finish is something that needs to be determined. Maybe you prefer to get the longest life possible between maintenance re-coats and that will outweigh the need for a certain look. Whatever you decide, you will now know some of the factors involved in making the decision on a deck finish that is right for you.
