Deck stains can restore a deck and protect its wood, but choosing the right one can be confusing. I performed hands-on ...

You may think that choosing a deck color is as simple as pointing to a brown stain on the hardware store shelf and going with it, but you’d be doing your home’s aesthetic a big disservice ...

But even the best semi-transparent stains in our tests aren’t as tough as the top solid stains, and our data say that this type of stain will probably last only two to three years on a deck.

We've tested and reviewed products since 1936. Read CR's review of the Woodsman Solid Color Deck Stain wood stain to find out if it's worth it.

To test if the deck is ready for a stain or coating, splash water on several sections. If the water beads and does not absorb within 15 minutes, the surface will not properly absorb a finish.

We currently have 34 wood stains in our ratings, including a number that are still undergoing testing. That’s because we test each stain for three years and rate the products each year.