Stains come in semi-transparent colors and opaque colors. ... So, while the color will lighten over time, the effect is less noticeable and the deck looks better between staining sessions. Flaking opaque stain on a treated wood deck. An opaque stain or a paint also requires more prep time before refinishing your deck.

How long does it take for deck stain to fade?

A good quality deck stain will have a life of about two to three years. This is going to depend significantly on some different factors and may vary a little. Direct sunlight is one of the worse things that deck stain has to deal with.

What do I do if my deck stain is too dark?

If you want to lighten up the color of a dark deck, consider a lighter solid stain. Semi-transparent: Cover the existing stain with semi-transparent or solid stain. Solid: Apply another solid finish stain; semi-transparent stain is engineered to bind with the surface of the wood and won't bind well to a solid surface.