Benefits of deck stain and painting
A beautiful deck is what every homeowner in Toronto wants. These outdoor structures add life and personality to you exterior aesthetics. That’s why they should be maintained in the best condition possible. Protecting your deck from outdoor elements is of utmost importance. Otherwise, it will become ugly due to cracks, twists, and warps as it absorbs moisture and heat from the sun.
As a homeowner, you have to choose between painting and staining for your deck. The two techniques to add a protective layer that keeps the deck safe from outdoor elements such as moisture, direct sun, winter ice, and so on. But which of the two should you use for your decks Toronto? Well, both of them are quite different but popular in Toronto.
Although you can ask your deck builder to recommend the best option, you need to have the right information. In this handy guide, we have rounded up some of the main pros and cons of deck painting and staining.
Pros and Cons of deck painting
Deck Painting has numerous benefits that make it popular with homeowners in Toronto. However, there are also a couple of drawbacks that drive deck owners to other alternatives. Here are the main pros and cons of deck painting.
Pros of Painting
Easy Maintain. When compared to staining, painting is easy to maintain and last longer. Once you have painted the deck, it will take a very long time before you can consider repainting. It has been proven that a quality painting, done by a professional, can last for 10 years. So, you will spend less to maintain a painted deck.
A range of color options. When it comes to painting, you have a plethora of colors to choose from. If you’re looking for a custom deck, you have an opportunity to pick the paint color of your choice. Therefore, painting allows you to play around with colors to achieve the desired results.
You can hide flaws. If your deck is old or has some cracks that would make it look ugly, then you need paint. It will help you mask all these flaws and make your deck look new.
Cons of Painting
Traps moisture. Painting does not protect the deco from all moisture. Since the deck lies horizontally, there is a high likelihood of water pooling on it. This water eventual gets access to the wood.
Conceal Wood Beauty. The beauty of the wood deck is the natural appeal of the wood. But when you apply paint, this beauty is concealed.
Pros and Cons of Deck Staining
Unlike painting, staining provides a protective layer to the deck while maintaining its original beauty. If your deck is constructed from redwood, cedar, or exotic hardwood materials, stains will maintain the wood’s natural beauty.
Pros of Staining
Pocket-friendly. At any given time, stains are cheaper than paint. In addition, painting requires a primer, something that staining does not need. So the overall cost of staining is cheaper compared to painting.
Stains give a natural look. Unlike paint, stains do not conceal the wood. So if you had constructed the deck from exotic wood because of its natural grain patterns, then staining would be the best option. It will maintain the natural look of the wood.
Easy to apply. The entire process of staining is straightforward. In addition, stains have runny consistency, which prevents globs (common in painting) from forming. That makes it easy to work with.
You can determine how much of the wood is visible. With staining, you can determine the level of opacity that you want. That means you can control how much of the wood’s texture, grain or color is visible.
No moisture. If you apply a quality stain, it will penetrate the wood grains and seal it. That’s how stain prevents moisture from penetrating you deck wood. So your deck will have an extended lifespan.
Cons of Staining
Stains don’t last for long. Unlike paint that lasts for almost 10 years, you need to stain your deck every year. That means you will spend more money in the long run
Won’t hide flaws. If your deck wood is cracked or old, staining will not conceal these flaws. That is where paint becomes the best option.
Stains don’t work on all wood. Unlike paint, these are woods that don’t hold stains. A good example is some tropical hardwoods that are very dense and do not hold stains very well.
Before you set off to paint or stain your deck, these are some of the factors to consider to make an informed decision. You must also hire a professional deck builder in Toronto for installation. In addition, use the best quality material for your deck. These are two factors that will enable you to get perfect deck after staining or painting.
