This post was updated on May 1, 2024
Wood Stain for Pool Decks 2025
We at DeckStainHelp.com would like to thank you for your continued support as we continue to be the internet’s number one resource for all things wood deck restoration-related. See this article for tips for picking the best stain for your wood pool deck. If you have stained a pool deck, we want to hear about your experience and any tips you may have. Feel free to leave us a comment below.
Exterior wood surfaces need to be protected from harsh elements like UV rays and moisture. Foot traffic from people and even pets can also do damage. A wood surface around a pool, however, is subjected to a lot more moisture and harsh chemicals like chlorine so it becomes even more crucial to provide protection. Doing so will help the areas like a pool deck last much longer.
When it comes to staining wood there are a few things to keep in mind. Prepping the wood correctly and choosing a quality deck stain is crucial. Follow the proper instructions for cleaning and prepping a wood deck prior to staining. Once the wood is prepared correctly the decision must be made as to which stain to apply.
The best stain for pool decks is a penetrating semi-transparent deck stain. Look for one that has exceptional penetrating traits. Any pool deck stain is going to take a lot of abuse so try to stay away from the film-forming stains that stay on the surface of the wood. These will be prone to peeling and flaking due to the chlorine and extensive moisture from the pool and foot traffic.
Pool Deck Stains
A semi-transparent penetrating stain will lock out moisture and UV rays without blocking the wood’s natural beauty. There will be less chance of wearing and maintenance will be easier down the road. Penetrating stains have the advantage of diving deep into the wood pores so moisture can’t. They also act as a sunblock to protect against UV fading and discoloring. Excess moisture and harsh chemicals from the pool will take their toll on any pool deck stain over time, but using a penetrating stain will ensure the longest protection while providing a beautiful finish.
My concern will be how slippery will the deck be after staining and with 7 grandchildren jumping in and out.
Thank you
We are staining our deck for the first time, it is around our above ground pool. What is best low maintenance stain?
You want a penetrating semi-transparent stain. Is the wood new? If so, see this for tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
I have an above ground salt water pool with an deck around it.. Whats a good stain we can use that will protect the wood and also keep us from staining the wood every year? Thanks
Try TWP Stains or Armstrong Clark stains.
What is the best wood sealer for an indoor hot tub room ?
Try one of these top stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
just built a wood deck around my pool. I used pressure treated and ground contact lumber . the wood is still wet from the pressure treated treatment. should i wait for the wood to dry out before staining and sealing it.
See this for tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
Would deck oil work as well as deck stain to protect the wood under a 10ft pool
Thankyou
You need a stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Hi I have an above ground pool made of Cedar that I stained 8 years ago with Cabot Australian oil Mahogany flame color and then 3 yrs later I stained it all over again with same product but a few years ago I had to buy more product from same CO but they changed the formula as In Canada they were not allowed anymore as per co.”We only have the one version available in Canada. Canada is VOC restricted and the old version cannot be sold there” I tried the replacement one from same co and its as if I am not putting anything on. Do you have any advice on what other brand I could buy to give me a great finish? The first can i used was the one white black label and it was so easy to use and we saw the color right away. the can on the right even after 3 coats does not compare to 1 coat from first can. ANy advice would be great. I live in Montreal QUebec Canada. sorry could not add image.
Strip it all off down to the bare wood and try TWP 200 Series or Armstrong Clark Stains.
We have a pergola near pool water features that gets hit with chlorinated water. We are staining the pergolas every year to year and a half due to the sunlight and chlorinated water hitting and breaking down the stain. What stain product would you recommend that would be the most resistant to light and chlorine? We would need a product that could be matched in color to the existing stain on the deck because this year we are just touching up the areas that are void of stain.
The next time we paint/stain the entire pergola structure would you recommend paint or stain?
Sorry but no stain is resistant to bleach/chlorinated water splashing on it. All stain brands will fail due to the bleach prematurely. Never paint, use a solid stain if you want it to be opaque the next time you redo all the wood.
Have a 5 year old cedar pool deck. Removed the previous stain by sanding. Now whenever the pool is used the wood pulp is forming in clumps on the deck? Assume I need to resand. Recommended sandpaper grit? What sealant would you recommend I used to keep the wood pulp from appearing after every swim?
60-80 grit paper. Stain with TWP Wood stains.
Would you recommend oil or water based around an in-ground pool?
Doesn’t matter as long as it is a good brand: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Would you recommend water based or oil around a pool?
Morning,
Looking for some direction. We have a wood deck with an pool. It is about 8 years old. Never been stained. Wood is pressures treated brown. Has faded some. Lots for sunlight and all 4 seasons hits the deck. Would you recommended an oil base or water base stain? Could you recommended a product that would work for use? Will use a Simi transparent, don’t want the deck to be too dark and hot in the summer. thank you for any help!
My deck is about 11 yrs. old. I didn’t think before choosing the color carefully I just matched it to the cedar sided house! Omg it’s so hot! Never realized that it would be so hot. Dark brown . Is there an option of staining it a lighter.color, without stripping it down? I used A semi transparent oil
No choice but to strip or remove it if you want to go lighter.
Would you say this stain is the best to put on a old wood deck by the pool?
One of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Good morning, we live in the Northeast. Built a deck around our swimming pool and it’s time to protect it. As you recommended, going to go with a semi-transparent stain. Any product you can recommend to make the surface non-skip or slip when getting out of the pool? Only products I see are the deck resurfacing which leaves a very gritty surface. Anything you can recommend? Thank you in advance.
You cannot add a grip into a penetrating semi-transparent stain. No need really.
Semi-transparent won’t be slippery when getting out of a pool wet or when the surface is wet? Thanks
Not if its penetrating stain.
I live in Louisville KY and have a 2year old deck around my pool. I pressured washed it one time last year. I do have some trees . I was wondering what to use on this deck for first time staining and do I need to pre wash before and if so with what. I have never stained anything this large before and I am just stuck on what to do. Also what should I apply with I do not have a sprayer. I have heard it needs to be made of wool.
Thank you so much
Prep with a deck cleaner and pressure washing. Brighten the wood when you are done.
Stain with a penetrating wood stain like TWP 100 Series or Restore A Deck Wood Stains.
Hello and thank you so much for sharing your expertise. So we have an 1100 square foot pool deck that was installed one year ago. Nothing has been applied yet. I see you recommend the semi-transparent stains which will look so nice. We were thinking a solid stain only to get more years out of it. It sounds like you do not agree with that. It’s just so big we want to see if anything can be done to stay less frequently. Do you recommend a certain product for our situation? Also, some people say don’t power wash and others say just apply a clean and brush it on, then hose off. We do have some mildew marks. It gets about 6 hours of direct sun. No more because we live deep in the woods both of Baltimore MD.
Solid stains do not last any longer before reapplication is needed and they are harder to apply and reapply.
Use one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Prep with a deck cleaner and pressure washing. Brightener after the cleaning. Redo every 2-3 years.
Building a redwood deck around a semi above ground pool in Orangevale California, ( Near Sacramento) partial sun most of the day under large oak trees. It does get triple digits during the summer. What do you recommend?
See this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Use the TWP 1500 or Armstrong Clark after the wait and prep.
I power washed all my deck stain off my pool deck and used a penetrating stain in Golden Oak. The only problem is it soaked in so much that it is dark and just makes my pool deck look wet and weathered. Is there anything I can put over the penetrating stain to add color?
New deck around above ground pool. Treated pine it’s been in heavy sun for 4 to 5 weeks in Louisiana. Looking for the best semi transparent stain/sealer which name brand. Looking
At Olympic maximum right now. Can you give me the Top 3
See here about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
As for the top stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
We have a very large 20 year old deck with and extension around a large oval pool. It has lattice sides with a railing around all. Has been treated with stain several times. Have replaced several floor boards last year due to rotting. Some top rails now need replaced. Considering one of the “restoring” type finishes over all parts for this summer to prevent further issues. Are any better suited to chlorine from a pool “splashing” We don’t want it too tough on the bare feet. We are in North East Ohio so it gets full sun and a lot of snow as well. Can any of these be put on with a sprayer for the lattice sides? What do you recommend ?
No, they cannot be sprayed. The only decent one that we have seen is the Deck Revive by Gulf: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
Typical hot tub on Ipe hardwood deck – switched to Penofin Penetrating Oil Finish for Hardwoods, “Transparent Ipe” color. Very good penetration, absolutely great color (looks like freshly planed boards!) seems to be weathering well. Some light stains under the spa cover hinge joints, I just hose them down weekly – will sand and re-stain those areas next year in warmer weather.
Penofin has a tendency to turn black after a short period of time and is why we and mnay consumers do not use it anymore. It does have great color though. Let us know if it darkens and or turns black next year.
Can you have a diferent colour ?on wooded deck
Deck stains are colored. Not sure on your question that you are asking?
Installing a cedar deck around pool. What do you recommend? This is in north central Illinois.
See this about how to prep and stain new wood decks: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Hi
We are getting wood deck installed by our pool. Pressure treated wood. Do we wait a month or two to prep and seal/stain or wait to the fall? Would the chloring damage the wood if not sealed.
See this about new decks: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Sealing wood will not stop chlorine. It will get through any stain or sealer eventually. You will have to redo your deck sooner than normal because of this. Every 12-24 months.
I have a commercial pool with a wooden deck that was sprayed with Thompson Water Seal. The overspray got all over the pool tile how can I get this out of the Border and all the tile and top layer brick
Sorry but no idea on this one. Might want to ask Thompsons on this.
We have a 2000 sq ft Pressure Treated Pine Deck that was built around a pool last summer. We are trying to decide which stain to use, oil or water based. We live in central Ohio, so we have looked at the TWP 1500 and the Defy Extreme. We also have 2 dogs so a concern with the Oil based was some stain transfer to the dogs feet as well as the kids feet. Should we worry about this with the TWP 1500 and which stain would you recommend? The deck is in the sun for most of the day.
No worries as the TWP 1500 is a full curing stain. Either brand should work but honestly, there is no way to not have some wearing when you have large dogs.
We are prepping our pool deck and would like your advice on stain. Is oil based the best penetrating or can we use the the Behr semi transparent? Worried that the oil based might be stickey. Please respond. Thank you for your feedback. Your web site is extremely helpful! Regards, Gay
Oil based stains are not sticky if applied and prepped correctly. Behr has horrible reviews. We would never suggest it. Try TWP 1500 or Armstrong Clark.
I cannot get TWP in Canada, do you have another recommendation for a pool deck that is 5 years old and never been stained ?
Armstrong Clark deck stains.
Purchased a house last summer with a 10 year old massive pool deck where they must have used one of the terrible behr or Rustoleum products because it is peeling really bad. We have scraped most of it off and then we will pressure wash. Now comes the hard part….what type of stain do we use? Our wood is splintering and cracking so we don't know if its best to sand/stain or get indoor/outdoor carpeting. We plan to take down at least half the deck in a few years. how quickly could carpet rot wood? I don't want it to become unsafe.
If we decide to sand/stain, what type of stain will work in NE Ohio with full sun/pool deck that is cracking/splintering and what is the prepping process? I think I have been researching so much that I'm confused.
Any suggestions on any of my ideas would be greatly appreciated.
You have to remove all the failing product if you want to switch to a better penetrating stain. After removal, try a deck cleaner for prep and brighten after. Stain with TWP 1500 Series.
we have a pool deck,have treated it 4-5 years in a row and it looks gray .full sun also.northwest ohio ,so snow all winter lays on it as well.graduation party coming this summer ,what is the best stain to put on it to give it life again
Prep well with the Restore A Deck products. Try the Armstrong Clark stain or TWP 1500.
I already apply one coat of stain and its looks solid and weak over the area.Should i put another coat on???
How many coats of semi- trans stain should you apply on a deck???
Depends on the brand you are suing and what they suggest as to the amount of coats. More stain is not better.
Which brand do you recommend? We have a Pressure Treated Pine Deck built May 2012. Used Thompsons Honey Gold semi transparent stain/sealer spring and fall of 2013. Looked good for that year, by end of last season its a mess! Just pressure washed and some boards are "fuzzy". What is next step and is it recommended to use an oil base semi transparent? We are in Northeast Ohio, full sun. I posted a question in another forum and didn't see an answer.
TWP 1500 for this. Sand the fuzzies off lightly first.