Hi there. I pressure wash in the Southeast and I use Ready Seal stain. It's really really easy to work with because it doesn't require me to keep a "wet-edge" so I don't get lap marks. I've used a brush, a roller, a pump-up sprayer and/or flat pads to apply it. It's a penetrating stain so it's not like a paint...this sucks into the wood. I use it on my decks and I've been impressed with the longevity of the product. I have family in Wisconsin and we put it on a deck that is next to a 5th wheel travel trailer that is on some hunting land. This area gets a good bit of snow and certainly lots of frigid temps. It was done 3 years ago and is still holding up really well. Ready Seal has UV protection with the darker colors have more protection than the light colors. It's petroleum-based so it resists mold and mildew that you can get from other type of products that are made from something like linseed oil. Consider the long-term upkeep of any product. I have a lot of customers who choose something like an acrylic coating which is tough to remove. Tough to remove equals more money spent by the customer. And although I like to make more money, some of these products are just a bear to remove. My personal opinions....stay away from Behr, Cabot and Sikkens. Armstrong Clark is good. Their color palette is more orangey. Ready Seal has more browns, gold and reds. Color is always a personal opinion. And TEST PATCH TEST PATCH TEST PATCH!!! Nothing worse than going full speed ahead and realizing that you don't like the color! Good luck!

I'd either stain it a medium to dark brown, to contrast with the red brick, or paint it white to match the house and window trim. I wouldn't try to make it match the brick. In choosing brown or white, you should take into account not just your preference in aesthetics, but the fact that dark will be warmer on bare feet while white will be more reflective of sunlight. Depending on what side of the house the deck is on and how much shade there is, you might not want hot feet or too much reflection. You might also try posting this in the Home Decorating forum. They're good with color advice.

Hi all, thanks for taking the time to check out our dilemma. We have to chose a stain color for our deck and unsure what to go with. We have white vinyl railings and light butter yellow siding. We have mid tone hardwood on the interior of our home and are leaning towards something similar outside but just sent sure. Definitely leaning towards a more “natural” look. Our painter uses Sherwood Williams products. Any inside would be much appreciated! Oh and if anyone is feeling really generous, we want to replace our outdoor builder grade light! Suggest away! Can’t thank you enough.

First pic is the deck after we have started painting the exterior of the house. The 2nd is our exterior paint colors. 3rd is the deck when we bought it. Do we paint it all one color?