a custom backyard deck and railings with a gazebo on one end

What Happens If I Don’t Stain My Deck?

Published On: October 26th, 2011

Q: What happens if I don’t stain my deck? What types of visible signs and long-lasting effects are seen when left untreated? A: We highly recommend putting your deck on an annual maintenance program. As you would do with your lawn or car, regular maintenance will keep your deck looking like new and uncover potential […]

Q: What happens if I don’t stain my deck? What types of visible signs and long-lasting effects are seen when left untreated?

A: We highly recommend putting your deck on an annual maintenance program. As you would do with your lawn or car, regular maintenance will keep your deck looking like new and uncover potential hazards before they become a problem.

(More: DeckTec’s Refinishing Services)

However, choosing not to stain or paint the deck is simply a preference of the homeowner. The effects that can occur due to a lack of treatment are aesthetic in nature. After 6 months, the wood will start to lose its color and will begin to fade. Ultimately it will fade to grey or silver. This is not a problem in and of itself, and some people prefer this look for their decks.

You will see what is called checking of the wood. This is where the wood begins to form small surface cracks or takes on a slightly scaly appearance. This checking occurs when the wood becomes dried out and is only a problem if this happens very quickly.

(Introducing: Fresh Deck)

Applying a transparent finish to the deck helps to protect it from the elements, and allows the wood to resist stains and dirt from setting in. It is highly unlikely that the deck will rot, splinter or decay if you choose not to have it finished and you can always choose to stain and protect the deck at a later date.

If you choose to revitalize the natural color of the wood, we recommend our two-step maintenance clean. This process is a chemical application that brightens the wood by extracting stains and tannins, restoring it to its natural color.


Have a question you’d like to ask? Send us your deck questions and we’ll post our answers right here on the blog. Need to get your deck on an annual maintenance program? Click here to get started.

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My husband Matt and I [...] have moved away from the home where we had the beautiful deck and outdoor living space you created.  We will forever remember fondly that beautiful deck, and the hard work you did during a very bad economic time to fix problems around the foundation of our home.  Steve, Keith, and all of your workers were fabulous and we sent several of our friends your way with referrals.  We are sure that your deck helped us get a wonderful offer on our home.

Nancy & Matt, Lakewood

We just wanted to tell you how much we enjoy the decks DeckTec constructed at our home. Their use is a constant joy. We continually receive compliments on the design and quality of your work. We look forward to many years of use.

Eric & Gloria, Arvada

DeckTec are absolute pros. They just finished a big deck and roof cover project at my house. The total experience from working with Steve in Design and Sales, Keith in Project Management, and Charlie, Josh, and Hank in Construction was nothing but 6 star service. 100% on time and on budget with craftsmanship and quality. Skip the “Hammer and Nails” contractors and go with DeckTec if you want an “Outdoor Living Space”. Call these people – you will not be disappointed.

Dave & Sheila, Centennial

I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the work Decktec completed refinishing my deck. It hasn’t looked this good since it was new sixteen years ago. Decktec was very professional, polite and willing to work with me to get the exact color of stain I wanted. I would recommend Decktec to anyone who wants a complete job from the great construction work starting the job, to its thorough cleanup. I’m happy my neighbor referred me to Decktec. You are the fourth company I’ve had refinish my deck and will now be the only company I use going forward.

Rob, Littleton