In certain parts of the country, clear weather periods in July and August are prime time for deck building, resurfacing and renovations. So we're continuing our mid-summer series highlighting a few different perspectives depending on whether you're just thinking about building a deck, you're ready to take that deck to 'the next level,' or just refurbishing.

Debbie Zimmer at the Paint Quality Institute says in years past, many homeowners used oil-based or “alkyd” deck stains, but these products have some major shortcomings: for one, they soon become very brittle; and second, they absorb the sun’s harmful UV rays. As a result, oil-based coatings quickly degrade, wear away, and must often be re-applied as often as once a year.

Fortunately, she says, technology has come to the rescue, and manufacturers now offer some far better options in the form of water-based 100-percent acrylic deck coatings. If you like the idea of stretching out the staining cycle on your outdoor deck, then a water-based 100-percent acrylic coating is the way to go.

Zimmer says you can choose from three popular options, each one offering some specific advantages:

• Semi-transparent acrylic stains are lightly pigmented coatings that permit you to either maintain, or change, the color of your wood or composite without hiding its grain or texture. These coatings are water-repellant and contain special ingredients to keep mildew in check. Semi-transparent coatings typically last about 18 months.
• Solid color acrylic stains -- sometimes referred to as opaque stains -- have more pigment than semi-transparent products, so their color tends to obscure the grain of the wood. At the same time, that added pigment provides extra UV protection and better durability, so solid color stains last longer, typically, three to five years.
• Wood restoration acrylic coatings are the product of choice for severely weathered and some habitually neglected decks. These are basically super-thick acrylic coatings that actually fill in and conceal cracks and crevices up to ¼-inch deep. Plus, these coatings create a slip-resistant finish that resists future cracking and peeling.

To learn more about acrylic deck coatings, including information on surface preparation and application techniques, visit the Paint Quality Institute website at www.paintquality.com.