• Stain protects wood decking.tools on deck image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  Leaving wood decking unstained is leaving it unprotected. Eventually water and the UV rays of the sun will cause the decking to deteriorate. Wood turns to a gray color if not stained. Some homeowners prefer the weathered appearance, but others think it makes the deck look uncared for. Choosing the stain for your deck depends on how much protection you wish and the depth of color you desire.
  
  

Clear

• There is no color to clear stain. It seals the wood and protects it but does not change the color. Clear stain allows the wood to weather naturally to a gray color.
  
  

Toner

• A toner stain has a whisper of color that enhances the color of natural wood but doesn't change it. It's usually offered in colors that complement cedar or redwood but can be used on pressure-treated wood as well.
  
  

Semi-Transparent

• The grain and texture of the wood show through a semi-transparent stain, but the wood's original color is covered. Colors include natural wood tones such as walnut, oak, cherry, redwood and cinnamon. Other colors include blues, greens grays and whites that look weathered and dulled rather than bright and clear.
  
  

Solid Color

• Solid color stains allow the texture of the wood to come through but not the grain or the color. These are more of a paint than a stain. Colors cover shades of blues, greens, gray, white, browns and reds. Colors range from dark hues to pale. The color is affected by the texture of the wood--the same as a smooth wall will look different than a rough wall with the same paint. Solid color stains offer the most protection to the wood.