Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Advice - best UV Stain for Pressure Treated Pine Deck

Rear of house with Deck faces due west with full Virginia sun exposure and it really cooks in the summer.

I am looking for advice on the best Stain or product to protect this deck. It is approximately 1.5 years old and starting to sun fade.
Thanks. FF

FairwayFatty,

Search a few threads. A lot of brands get recommended, and some are given pretty bad raps in here.

Basically, the clearer (or more transparent) the stain or sealer is, the more often you'll have to apply it. The more solid it is, the longer you can expect it to last. (Prep and application methods have a HUGE effect on the life as well!!) And price can be a pretty good indicator as to quality.

Thanks.

I read some posts and one of which as I understood suggested that the solid stains are not best for a newer wood. This deck being 1.5 years old - is a solid stain a good idea and can you name a few?

Thanks. FF

A solid stain can be applied at anytime provided the PT wood has dried. I normally recomend a translucent or semi-transparent stain on new decks [once dried] because they let the natural beauty of the wood show. A solid stain looks similiar to paint. When the wood can no longer be cleaned well enough for a transparent stain to look good is when I recomend changing to solid stain. There is no reason not to use a solid stain on a fairly new deck if that is what you desire.

I'd suggest going to your local paint store [not big box paint dept] and discuss your wants/needs with them and then buy their best coating that will do the job you want.