This post was updated on July 14, 2024
Hi! I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood staining. We have stained many decks doing the two-toned look. Solid stain for the verticals and semi-transparent for the floors. See here for more info about me.
Understanding Two-Tone Decks
These are my pro tips on what you should consider a two-toned deck and how to do it.
- Why a Two-Toned Deck
- Advantages of a Two-Toned Deck
- My Prep and Application Tips
- Use Solid Stain for Verticals
- Use Semi-Transparent for Floors
- Check Out Two-Toned Deck Photos
- Watch My Two-Toned Deck Video
- Need Help? Ask me questions.
1. Why Have a Two-Toned Deck 2024
Many deck owners are choosing two-toned decks for 2024 for multiple reasons. A two-toned deck normally has paint or solid deck stain on the railings and spindles, and the deck floor is stained with a transparent or semi-transparent deck stain.
There are several advantages to having a two-toned deck. One benefit is matching or blending the deck in better with the house without giving up the natural wood look. Most houses have 2-3 colors, including the siding, trim, shutters, gutters, fascia, etc. A wood deck with a translucent stain sticks out more from the house when it is all-natural. Some deck owners like the deck to blend with the house better, so they coat the railings and supports with a solid deck stain color to match. The deck floor can then be stained with a semi-transparent stain to have that natural wood appearance.
Two-Toned Deck Staining
Because you are using a solid deck stain or paint, the color options for the railings and spindles are almost limitless. These can be tinted to almost any color imaginable, while most transparent stains are normally limited to tones of natural colors, browns, and reds.
When deck paint or solid stains are correctly applied on vertical surfaces, they are extremely durable and can last long. Film-forming solid stains can last up to 10 years on a vertical surface and may only need to be cleaned occasionally. However, solid stains and paints do not perform well on horizontal surfaces such as decking and are prone to cracking and peeling, so they are only used on vertical surfaces.
A properly done two-tone deck can add appeal and value to your property. Initially, it may take a little more time and labor, but as some deck owners know, the result can be amazing.
2. Two-Toned Deck Advantages
There are several visual and maintenance advantages of having a two-toned deck. Here are some main reasons consumers have been switching to the two-toned look.
- Using a solid-color stain allows you to color-match the railings and vertical wood to match the house’s color. The most popular solid-color stains are White, Taupe, and Gray, but most brands can be tinted to any color.
- The deck floor/horizontal wood is stained with a semi-transparent stain, so it still has that natural wood appearance. However, solid stains and paints do not perform well on horizontal surfaces such as decking and are prone to cracking and peeling, so they are only used on vertical surfaces.
- Solid stains on vertical wood/railings can last 2-3 times longer or up to 6 years with little to no maintenance.
- Future coatings typically involve cleaning and reapplying a semi-transparent stain to the horizontal floors every 2 years.
- Visually, your exterior wood deck has a beautiful two-color look.
3. My Prep and Application Tips on Two-Toned Decks
Here are my basic tips for prep and application of a Two-Toned Deck.
- Prep all wood first by cleaning and/or stripping it. You must strip and/or sand the horizontal areas to remove any previous coatings. Brighten the wood afterward. There is no need to strip the vertical wood where the solid stain will be applied. Just pressure wash the railings to remove all dirt, grime, and loose stain.
- Apply the solid stain first to all vertical wood. Be very careful to cover and tarp the horizontal wood from any drips of the solid stain. Ensure you follow all manufacturer application directions of the solid stain brand you choose.
- When the solid stain is dry, apply your semi-transparent stain to the horizontal areas, following all manufacturer directions.
- Let all stains dry for 12-24 hours before using.
My Pro Tip: A correctly done two-tone deck can add appeal and value to your property. Initially, it may take a little more time and labor, but as some deck owners know, the result will be excellent.
4. Use a Solid Stain for Railings
For A Solid Stain on the verticals/railings, I suggest:
#1 Best Solid Color Deck Stain | #2 Best Solid Color Deck Stain | #2 Best Solid Color Deck Stain |
 |  |  |
From $65.99 *Ships Free | From $66.06 *Ships Free | From $59.99 *In Store Pickup |
5. Use a Semi-Transparent Stain for Floors
For a semi-transparent stain for the flooring/horizontals, look at:
Top Oil- Based Stain | Top Water-Based Stain | Top Solid Color Stain | Easiest to Apply Stain |
 |  | |  |
From: $41.99 | From: $47.99* | From: $65.99* | From: $69.95* |
6. Two-Toned Deck Stain Photo Ideas
7. My Tips On Two-Toned Deck Stain Video
8. Need Help? Two-Toned Deck Stain Questions?
Prep or Stain Help when considering a two-toned deck? Please ask me below if you have questions about my semi-transparent deck stain reviews for the deck flooring or need help choosing a solid stain for the verticals. Just post a comment below and include as much information as possible.
What’s the better semitransparent stain to use on mahogany ? I’ve power washed this but assume I need to use a stripper and brightener before I stain this deck.
Strip and brighten and then try one of these for your hardwood deck. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/ipe-exotic-hardwood-stain-review/
We like the RAD Stain or Armstrong Clark.
Thanks!
Hi, thanks for your post! Do you know what stain was used for the picture in the third row on the left? (The one with the striped mat on the ground). It’s such a lovely colour
Could be Dark Oak by TWP or Rustic Brown by Armstrong Clark Stains. Colors vary after applying based on wood type and the age of the wood so not 100% sure.
We have used Defy extreme semi-transparent deck stain twice in the past, so we’re familiar with it and we’re satisfied with it. We replaced flooring, steps, and rails with PT pine last summer. We’re ready to stain and we’re deciding between RAD or Defy. It seems that performance-wise Defy and RAD are very similar in your ratings, though I see RAD is recommended more often. It looks like Defy has come out with a new, improved stain called Defy Ultra. Do you know anything about that?
The Ultra just came out so no history yet with it. We like both the RAD and the Defy stains so either would work very well.
What coor stains are used in the photo 3rd down and on the right (has the table with black chairs)?
That is IPE decking. You cannot get regular wood like pine or cedar to look like that. No knots, etc. Color is probably a light tint like Armstong Clark in Amber.
We are have stripped, sanded, cleaned and brightened our 30 year old decks. We think it is old treated pine. Having a tough time choosing stain. Water base or oil base? Timber oil? We have tried so many samples of each. Been to many places that sell stain, but different opinions from each place. Semi transparent, semi solid. We have cedar posts and are trying to find stains that look good on both the decks and posts , knowing stains turn out differently on certain types of wood. Our home was painted a moss green and I like the darker cedar color with a pop of reddish. Can ypu help
Try Restore A Deck Stains for this.
We have a new pergola (will have grayish pavers underneath) and then a deck with metal roof. The deck has black metal spindles. When the wood has dried out and ready to be stained, what would be a recommendation of a two toned stain that could tie both structures together and with the house. (House is gray siding with white trim)
Look at the Restore A Deck Stains.
Can I have a grey deck floor with brown cedar toned railings?
Sure if you want.
Hello! We love some of your two tone stain decks but are having trouble with ours as the layout makes it funky to us! Could you help if we sent a pic??
Sure.
This is the deck. We colored it on an iPad to see what it would look like. The brown isn’t the color we are using but it shows sorta what it would look like. My wife and I are struggling with the pillars especially the two white ones. We can not find a way to do those that looks good. We have colored them multiple ways all white, part white, part brown multiple different ways and all brown. They probably look the best all brown. Any thoughts on how you would do this deck two tone ? Our colors are probably close to these colors.
https://images.app.goo.gl/qz4j1UdmAfueoQ2o8
Thanks!
We would normally do all the verticals in the same color so this would be white in your case for all posts.
What is the reason for that? This is good information to have. We were considering the white as just an accent color.
It blends with the house trim when looking at the deck from the yard.
Ah. I am still learning all of this. My wife is concerned about the posts being difficult to clean if all white. Do you expect or know if that will be an issue?
So to ensure I’m confirming what you’re saying with all verticals.
All spindles, posts, and then the banisters near the spindles would be white? Floor, railing on top and steps would be the brown?
Is blending in with the house trim a good thing? Not sure I understand that completely. Sorry if I’m asking too many questions. This is our first house and we actual had problems with our original stain. The entire deck is having to be done for a second time.
Thanks!
They are vertical posts, they will not get that dirty. You can really do whatever you like, it is all personal preference.
Am thinking about staining my year old non stained deck 2 tone. I am thinking g about using Armstrong nature oak semi transparent on floor and their cedar semi transparent on the railing. Do you think their will be enough contrast between the two to look right
Hard to say. Have you done any test spots with samples?
We have replaced the decking of a previously painted deck, and allowed it to age 1 year and then prepped it and will be staining it with AC semitransparent. We did not replace the railings and the facing boards below the deck (which is 15′ up), which are stained with Cabot solid, and which we will continue to use. It is difficult to stain the vertical edges and endcuts of the decking without it dripping down on the facing boards, and cleanup is difficult due to the height. Can we use the Cabot solid on the vertical edges and enducts of the decking, or would this look strange and/or not be a good idea for some other reason? If not, how would one control the dripping? Thanks!
No, don’t use on end cuts and edges. It will look bad.
We had our deck rebuilt last July. The decking, stairs and sides are composite, and the uprights and deck supports are pressure treated wood. It’s time to stain the wood, and from what I read I see solid stain recommended for vertical surfaces and semi-solid for horizontals. What is recommended? Thank you!
What do you want to stain? The rails are already white and the rest is composite wood and you do not stain that. You do not need to stain the supports or the underside of the deck.
I realize that the white rails and composite do not get stained. I don’t need to stain the supports or the underside, but want to add some color for aesthetics. I do not like the look of naked sticks holding up the deck. : ) Thank you!
I would use a white solid stain then so it blends with the rails. Try the Restore A Deck Solid Stain.
Thank you! Great idea, will consider this.
We didn’t do the right research when we built our upper deck. It started out as a maintence project and turned into a complete tear down and rebuild. We used regular pine, sanded & stained as it was being built with all in one Behr. Less than 2 years later, with mildew, and peeling, we are re-doing. We were advised to use the stripper that matched the stain we used, so used the Behr stipper. Not very helpful & very messy. Doing the research now, I realize I should not have used regular pine, or sanded or stained when being built. We have been sanding this 12×14 deck for hours & hours (with helpers). The spindles are tedious & it is challenging to get to all the nooks and crannys. I am trying to preserve the underneath by not having to sand and restain. I am hoping I will be able to scrub off the stipper than left white from between the floorboards on the underside. The deck gets all afternoon sun. We also added rafters/pergola above which gets the worst UV exposure. I am considering replacing the pergola with cedar or pressure treated wood. If I do, is there any product I can use on it now or do I need to wait until next year to take them all down again and add perhaps a clear marine varnish or a stain?
I want to clarify that the semi transparent stain is better on the floors/top rails vs. semi solid. Is an elastomeric coating an option I should pursue?
I was all set to go with AC semi trans & they have been so helpful to answer questions on the phone & mailed me samples. However, I came across a website that tested many stains over 14 months, & the AC stain was graying considerably. Now I am looking at TWP or Cabot. However, I like the fact I reach an owner when I call, I have actual samples to test the color and the reapplication doesn’t require special products to clean the deck.
I was also set to use an oil stain this time and then I read that the water based stains last longer. The more I research, the more confused I become.
My goal is to make the best of what I have with the longest lived product available.
Thank you!
Hello,
Answers to your questions;
-No, you cannot top coat with a marine varnish on a deck.
-Use a semi-transparent penetrating stain. Not a elastomeric stain.
New deck installed last fall, allowed to cure through winter and spring, now time to stain. Trying to decide all one semi-transparent vs. a two-tone since the design of the deck would look nice that way. Considering a darker stain on the “frame” and verticals and a lighter stain on the 45 degree pieces. I don’t want to use any solid since both colors will be on the horizontals. Thoughts? Recommendation on brand and color? I plan on cleaning and brightening either way.
If you do not want a solid on the verticals, then do it all one color. Try TWP stains or Armstrong Clark Wood Stains.
I was leaning that way. I think it would look cool (see picture), but I don’t know that it would be worth the trouble or if the different stains would age differently causing touch ups to be done at different times on the different colors.
That’s a composite deck. It would be very hard to maintain a stainged deck like that.
Hi, we’re purchasing a new home in northern VA and the deck is being completed this week. It will get a little sun in the morning and then be shaded the rest of the day. We’ll be following the advice we’ve seen here (waiting 2-3 months and using proper prep, cleaner, brightener). We are interested in possibly doing a two-tone deck; the house is beige with white trim. A couple of questions:
1. We would do the railings and spindles in white but I’m not sure what else. The railing are mounted to the sides, not the top. Our thoughts for the horizontal deck was a darker shade of brown in either semi-solid or semi-transparent.
2. Semi-transparent vs. Semi-solid. Thoughts? Do they hold up equally well?
3. The stairs and supports. I assumed they would be in the darker color but unsure. Basically I’m unsure how to make this look good in two-tone.
Thanks for any input.
Do all verticals in the solid color. This includes railings, outside edges of the deck, risers of steps, framing underneath, etc. Basically, if you are in the yard looking at the deck, you would see the solid color. Use Flood Solid Stains.
For the Horizontals, do all flooring, top of steps, and tops of rails. Use a semi-transparent. Dark Oak by TWP or Rustic Brown by Armstrong Clark.
Posts some pictures when done!
I have stained my deck with Olympic Stain 3 times over the last 20 yrs and loved it. However the last time (last summer) it started to peel off in spots. What can i do to correct this problem before I restain it this year?
Strip or sand it down to the bare wood and start over. FYI, the Olympic has gone through numerous formula changes and is not as good as it used to be.
I installed new deck wood in June this year, it is not Oct 3. Should I wait until next spring to stain or has it been enough time to stain before winter?
You can do it now. Prep first. Deck cleaner and then a wood brightener.
I have a stain that I need stripped off. I did a small section to test it. The salesman said to do 10 ft sections at a time. The question is, do I put the revive on it RIGHT after I am done with each section or do I wait till I get the whole deck done? what is the time frame between stripper and revive.?
Do you mean Brightener? You can neutralize with the brighener after you strip all of the wood.
I have a two tone deck in Massachusetts; my railings have several coats of solid stain which is peeling and mildewy. Chemical strippers do nothing. Floor was painted with Behr deck restore (unfortunately) two years ago and so I am sanding ALL wood bare prior to refinishing.. My question(s):
1)Do I need to do any SPECIAL PREP AFTER SANDING BARE or can I simply apply the finish right away? I want to refinish with a semi solid or semi trans on the deck surface but would love to cover up defects with a more opaque finish, PREFERABLY ONE THAT CAN BE TINTED. The wood is pressure treated pine and is about 20 years old. I can’t seem to find any tintable stains outside of Sherwin-Williams which I do not want to use.
2)Can you RECOMMEND A HIGH QUALITY STAIN WHICH CAN BE TINTED? I cannot use a high VOC product in Massachusetts.
3)IS IT REALLY MISSION CRITICAL TO RESAND AFTER RAIN?Also I have read that if the wood gets wet after sanding that the grain would raise and would have to re-sand. I am using a Metabo paint remover tool followed by a 36-40 grit sandpaper.