What’s the Difference Between Transparent and Solid Stains?

Transparent stains penetrate deep into the wood, protecting and coloring the wood’s fibers. Solid stains sit atop the wood, creating a thin layer that protects the wood — similar to paint. 

Properties of Transparent Stains

• Maintains the natural wood grain
• Shows imperfections in the wood
• You can only choose from natural colors (wood-like browns and reds)
• Easily reapplied

Properties of Solid Stains

• Covers the natural wood grain
• Covers imperfections in the wood
• Many colors to choose from  
• Can crack and peel over time. If you reapply the product before it cracks, you will avoid this issue.

Shared Properties

• Protects against weathering 
• Protects against UV damage
• Protects against wood rot

Example Deck Using a Transparent Stain

The wood on the left of this image is already stained; the wood on the right is not. Notice you can see the detailed wood grain. 

Our clients hired us to stain their deck about a year after it was built.  We rarely get to work on decks in great condition, and we love how the deck turned out! 

Example Deck Using a Solid Stain

It’s been a long time since this deck was maintained. There were plenty of broken boards and unfastened nails. The wood had a thick layer of algae and debris built over it. To give this deck a proper facelift, we replaced all the broken wood then pressure washed the deck to remove the algae.

If we applied a transparent stain, there would be a visual difference between the new and old lumber. So, we used a dark-brown solid stain to create a beautiful back deck.