A deck stain lasts when the wood is cleaned, dry and stained within the product's temperature range. Benjamin Moore's Woodluxe stains, for example, need surfaces at 40°F or warmer, pressure-treated lumber below 15% moisture, and 48 hours before furniture goes back.
They behave differently. Benjamin Moore describes Woodluxe semi-transparent as a penetrating waterproofing stain and sealer that sinks into the wood, while its solid stain masks the wood grain without hiding the texture and forms a film. Penetrating stains let grain show and wear away gradually; solid stains cover more color variation and older repairs but behave more like paint as they age. Both are listed for decks, siding, fences and shakes, and as ideal for softwoods such as cedar and pine.
Both Woodluxe stains list a spread rate of 300 to 400 square feet per gallon. A 12 by 16 foot deck is 192 square feet of decking, so one coat is roughly half a gallon before rails, stairs and the extra stain rough or weathered boards soak up. Rails and balusters often take as much stain and time as the floor because of all their sides.
Benjamin Moore lists a 40°F minimum air and surface temperature for both Woodluxe stains and a 50°F minimum for its wood cleaner. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Lehigh Valley International Airport show average lows of 40.3°F in April and 43.8°F in October, so spring and fall staining depends on the forecast. Rain is the other limit: wet wood will not absorb stain properly.
Most decks built in recent decades were never painted with lead paint, but older porches, railings and stairs on pre-1978 homes may have been. If paid work disturbs more than 20 square feet of painted exterior surface on a pre-1978 home, the EPA rule requires an EPA-certified firm, containment and lead-safe practices.
Gray color on an older deck is weathered wood fiber plus dirt and mildew. Cleaning comes first: Benjamin Moore describes its Woodluxe All-In-One Wood Cleaner as removing dirt and stains from mold, mildew, algae and water on decking and siding. The same Woodluxe line includes a wood brightener and neutralizer and a wood restorer, which are used when cleaning alone does not bring back an even surface for stain.
Not by brushing one over the other. A semi-transparent stain has to penetrate bare wood, and a solid stain forms a film that blocks it. Going from solid back to a penetrating stain means removing the old film first; Benjamin Moore makes a Woodluxe Wood Stain Remover for that purpose. Going the other way, from semi-transparent to solid, is simpler after a thorough cleaning.
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It depends on sun, foot traffic and the type of stain. Penetrating semi-transparent stains wear away gradually and usually need a maintenance coat sooner than solid stains, which form a film. A practical test is to sprinkle water on the boards: if it soaks in quickly and the color has faded, the wood is ready for cleaning and a fresh coat. Horizontal surfaces always weather faster than rails.
Usually not. Benjamin Moore's Woodluxe stain data sheets say new pressure-treated lumber must be allowed to dry out until its moisture content is below 15% before staining. Freshly treated boards are often wet from the treatment process. A moisture meter gives the answer; otherwise the stain may not penetrate and can fail early.
Benjamin Moore lists a minimum of 40°F air and surface temperature for its Woodluxe water-based stains and 50°F for its wood cleaner, with a maximum of 90°F. The stain also needs dry wood and no rain while it penetrates, and the sheets call for 48 hours before furniture returns. In the Lehigh Valley, late spring through early fall gives the most reliable conditions.
Stain is the usual choice for walking surfaces. Penetrating stains soak in and wear away gradually rather than peeling, and solid stains cover color variation while keeping the wood texture. Paint forms a thicker film that can peel on horizontal boards where water sits. For porch floors, use a coating made for floors, such as a porch and floor enamel, rather than wall paint.
Sources: Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Water-Based Semi-Transparent Stain + Sealer (692) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Water-Based Deck + Siding Solid Stain (694) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Woodluxe All-In-One Wood Cleaner (018) technical data sheet; NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Lehigh Valley International Airport (USW00014737); EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E. Figures checked October 2026.
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