Some finishes, including Sikkens Cetol SRD 1708902 semitransparent stain, $27 per gallon, can provide one-coat protection. A final point to consider.

For house and deck stains, CR Best Buys for solid stains are Behr Solid Color Deck, Fence and Siding Wood Stain (Home Depot), $28, and Sears Weatherbeater Deck, Fence and Siding Solid, $21.

However, if your wood deck needs some serious attention, you will need to strip off the old stain or coating before you refinish it. But this is a process you can’t take lightly, because ...

Made from an alkyd (oil) and acrylic (water) hybrid mix, new Sikkens Cetol SRD is a premium flat finish stain that requires only one coat on any exterior wood surface – from decks and fences, to ...