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

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 ...

Quick tip: Reader Marian Ramos offers a hearty endorsement of Sikkens deck stain ? a brand not sold at many home centers. She says Sikkens stain costs more than many others but added, ”I will ...

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 ...

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.