• Use clear or colored wood stains, depending on your deck.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  If you have recently built a deck or have bought a house with a deck and are wondering how to maintain it, you have several staining options. Deck staining is a continual process rather than a single project. For some types of wood, like ironwood or mahogany, you will need to resurface the deck yearly to keep it protected. Other types of wood can be stained only once every few years. Choose a stain based on how you want your deck to look.
  
  

Varnish-like Stains

• Some stains resemble urethane or varnish coatings. These coatings tend to stay partially above the deck instead of soaking all the way through. The result is a coated surface that has more of a shine than other types of wood stains. Use these types of stains if protecting your wood is very important and you enjoy a lacquered deck. The varnish will start to peel and must be sanded off before you add new coats.
  
  

Clear Coats

• Clear coat stains are designed to keep the natural color of the wood while offering protection against weather and water damage. If you have a wood with a color that you like and do not want to adjust, this is the best stain for you. However, light-colored woods can fade and gray over time, and clear coats may not prevent this from occurring, so be prepared to have your deck change color.
  
  

UV Protection

• UV protection helps prevent graying and blistering damage caused by the sun. If you want to protect your deck while also displaying its natural surface, choose a colored stain. Colored stains range from dark shades to light browns, giving you many options when it comes to choosing a color that will best complement your wood grain and deck appearance.
  
  

Translucent Coatings

• Translucent coatings bridge the gap between clear coats and the darker UV protection stains. They are designed to offer sunlight protection while enhancing the natural color of the wood. While they do not have the same resistant qualities as the darker stains, they can help preserve and treat softwoods like redwood and cedar.