Sick of an old, musty deck and ready to give it a new coat? For 2 years, we’ve bought and tested over 20 deck stains to find out the best one working well on pressure-treated wood. Our teams spent months testing rigorously each model extensively.
Here are the best semi-transparent deck stains for pressure treated wood you can buy in 2025:
- Best Overall: Ready Seal 512
- Best For Color-Fading Resistance: THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH.042851-16
- Best For Harsh Environmental Conditions: DEFY Extreme 1 Gallon Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain
- Best For A Natural-looking Finish: SaverSystems Store #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain
- Quick-Drying: KILZ L832211
- Easy To Apply: Cabot 140.0016337.007
| 6 Best Semi-Transparent Deck Stains For Pressure Treated Wood | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Ready Seal 512 | |
Best For Color-Fading Resistance | THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH.042851-16 | |
Best For Harsh Environmental Conditions | DEFY Extreme 1 Gallon Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain | |
Best For A Natural-looking Finish | SaverSystems Store #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain | |
Quick-Drying | KILZ L832211 | |
Easy To Apply | Cabot 140.0016337.007 | |
Best Overall: Ready Seal 512
- Easy to use – require no diluting, thinning, priming, or wet-line application
- Effortless to re-apply it – require no stripping or sanding
- Beautiful and true to advertised color
- High-quality - Goof proof labeled
- It leaves an oily residue in places, making a slick look
Out of many brands we’ve tested, Ready Seal 512 performs the best. You can apply it at any temperature and the whole staining process is super-easy. It requires no diluting or thinning before spraying as well as no primer.
Besides, as the product can blend itself, it needs no wet-line application at all. Before re-applying, it either requires no stripping or sanding whereas the final results are amazing.
It has no back brushing, streaks, runs, or laps. Beautiful and can be ready to use after 72 hours.
Besides, the product is true to its labeling “goof-proof”. It repels water beautifully.
| Ready Seal 512 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 5-Gallon |
Material | oil-based materials |
Coverage | 125 sq ft to 175 sq ft per gallon |
Dry Time | 48 to 72 hours |
Highlight Features | Require no diluting, thinning, priming, or wet-line application Require no stripping or sanding before re-applying Goof proof labeled |
The Ready Seal 512 beats out the competition for many years in a row for its overall performance.
Best For Color-Fading Resistance: THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH.042851-16
- Offer superior color sustention – made of advanced polymers
- Able to resist UV rays, mildew, and water damage - built to Industry Standards ASTM D-4446
- Only available in 1-gallon capacity option
If your main purpose when finding a semi-transparent deck stain is color sustention, this option is a no brainer.
Using the advanced polymers, it keeps your wood surface from UV and mildew damage effectively while providing anti-fading color to look like new for years to come.
Besides, it is built to Industry Standards ASTM D-4446, meaning that the stain appears to be waterproof as well as able to prevent water damage. We’re also glad that it can be applied to any kind of wood, whether it’s dry or wet.
| THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH.042851-16 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 1 gallon |
Coverage | smooth wood 200 square feet rough wood 100 square feet Plywood about 150 sq ft |
Dry Time | 60 minutes on a sunny day |
Highlight Features | Made of advanced polymers Built to Industry Standards ASTM D-4446 |
From freshly clean damp to bone dry wood, the THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH.042851-16 can keep it well protected from color fading and water damage.
Best For Harsh Environmental Conditions: DEFY Extreme 1 Gallon Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain
- Able to resist UV rays and repel water - zinc nano-particle technology
- Eco-friendly – water-based materials
- Easy to maintain – require no stripping or sanding
- Not shipped to California
- A bit pricey
If to you, a long-lasting semi-transparent deck stain overweighs by its pricing, this is a great pick.
It is known for unmatched durability and longevity that not just resists efficiently darkening and fading but also lasts much longer than other competitors. That is a big thank you to the zinc nano-particle technology which can reflect UV damage to remain its like-new looking as long as possible.
As being made of water-based material, it is also eco-friendlier while allowing your wood deck to show its unique grain.
Don’t worry about the maintenance (if that’s also what you are concerned about) as it requires no stripping or sanding the surface. Meanwhile, it is waterproof perfectly.
| DEFY Extreme 1 Gallon Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 1 gallon |
Material | water-based deck stain |
Coverage | 240 square feet |
Dry Time | 20-60 minutes |
Highlight Features | Zinc nano-particle technology Water-based materials Require no stripping or sanding |
For harsh environmental conditions, the DEFY Extreme 1 Gallon Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain is hard to beat.
Best For A Natural-looking Finish: SaverSystems Store #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain
- Safe to humans and the environment – contain under 50g/l VOC content
- Multipurpose – add colors to your wood surface & UV + water protection
- Enhance the wood beauty - natural-looking finishes
- Wish it lasted longer
Available in five color choices. This semi-transparent deck stain gives you the best of both worlds – preventing damage caused by UV rays or water penetration and adding color to your exterior wood then seal it.
The biggest selling point is its natural-looking finishes allow your wood beauty to be well-complemented.
We also like the fact that its ingredients include under 50g/l VOC content, which is eco-friendly as well as easy to maintain. If you’re wondering which kinds of wood would work best on this stain, they’re softwoods, such as redwood, fir, cedar, or treated pine.
The best time to apply stain is when they’re still damp because this helps short off the time for waiting.
| SaverSystems Store #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 1 gallon |
Material | Water-based |
Coverage | 100 sq ft |
Dry Time | sun 4-5 hours day |
Highlight Features | Contain under 50g/l VOC content Add colors to your wood surface & UV + water protection Natural-looking finishes |
If you’re seeking the best semi-transparent deck stain for a natural-looking finish, this not only affords that need perfectly but also gives you up to 5 color options to choose from.
Quick-Drying: KILZ L832211
- Able to dry out within 24 hours before re-applying
- Superior protection against sunlight, snow, and rain - Acrylic formula
- Dependable – backed by a 3-year warranty on decks
- Economical and efficient – coverage of 250 square feet/gallon for the 1st coating
- All the prep makes it sound less forgiving or durable
- A little more orange than red
We highly recommend the KILZ L832211 for impatient handymen.
It can dry out within 24 hours depending on the conditions where the wood surface is placed before you apply one more new coating. Much like other counterparts here, it is made to resist UV rays and mildew to last longer.
Besides, thanks to the Acrylic formula, it is also able to protect wood against snow and rainfall damage with a manufacturer warranty up to 3 years on decks.
Huge coverage. Per gallon, this semi-transparent deck stain can cover up to 250 square feet if that’s the first coating or up to 500 square feet for the second.
| KILZ L832211 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 1 gallon |
Material | 100% Acrylic formula |
Coverage | 250 square feet for the first coat 500 square feet for the second coat. |
Dry Time | at least 24 hours |
Highlight Features | Able to dry out within 24 hours Acrylic formula Backed by a 3-year warranty on decks Coverage of 250 square feet/gallon for the 1st coating |
If you’re looking for a quick-drying semi-transparent deck stain, our top recommendation for you is the KILZ L832211.
Easy To Apply: Cabot 140.0016337.007
- Very simple to use – require just one coat application
- Super-durable, protective, and long-lasting - Using an oil-based and acrylic water-based formula
- Showing the wood grain better - a little bit pigmented
- Take a long amount of time to dry out
The best thing about this option is it requires only one coat application without wasting time to wait for it to dry out to re-apply like most others.
In turns, the dry time is up to 8 hours but that’s okay if you don’t intend to use your deck or wood furniture right away. Using an oil-based and acrylic water-based formula, it is super-durable and long-lasting.
And it is also a little bit pigmented to complement your exterior wood grain way better.
| Cabot 140.0016337.007 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 1 gallon |
Material | Oil Based and Acrylic Water Based |
Coverage | 350-450 sq ft. |
Dry Time | 7-8 hours |
Highlight Features | Require just one coat application Using an oil-based and acrylic water-based formula A little bit pigmented |
The Cabot 140.0016337.007 is specifically made for people who have less handyman DNA in their blood because it’s very easy to apply.
How To Choose The Best Semi-Transparent Deck Stain For Pressure Treated Wood?
Types
By understanding the difference between an oil-based and a water-based stain, you’ll know a thing or two about how it affects your wood and its colors.
They’re both created to protect wood surfaces from the damage caused by water, UV rays, and other elements but in comparison, oil-based stains give better preserving effects. In turn, it is more expensive, has unpleasant odors, and takes time for drying out.
Water-based stains are cheaper, dries faster, and easier to clean up. The biggest strength of this stain is mildew resistance.
However, you might want to apply more coats to get the desired color, which means it takes extra time and effort. Water-based stains are also considered to last less than the oil-based.
Coverage
This element is key for you to estimate the amount of stain needed for your deck. Rest assured, the coverage of a semitransparent stain is easily found on the product’s information.
For example, the Ready Seal 512 features a coverage range of 125-175 square feet/gallon. If your wood surface area is around 350 square feet, you should buy two gallons.
Which Brands Make The Best Semi-Transparent Deck Stain For Pressure Treated Wood?
Ready Seal
Ready Seal stain products are always appreciated because of three big strengths:
- Goof Proof application process
- Wood stain and wood sealer in one, meaning that you can eliminate time-wasting and extra costs that happen during traditional stain application
- Guarantee to not chip, crack or peel
THOMPSONS WATERSEAL
Founded by Edward Addis Thompson in the early 1920s, this brand leads the market by its exclusive formula that protects buildings from exterior water damage. One of the bestsellers is Thompson's® WaterSeal® Clear Multi-Surface Waterproofer.
KILZ
Established in 1954 by Melvin Caldwell, KILZ has now been a big brand specializing in wood stain products. In 1989, their building was over 157,000 square feet, sitting on 11.2 acres.
Cabot
One of the longest-standing wood stain manufacturers in this list, founded in 1877. That’s why we love it the most. Cabot not only provides high-quality products that work just as advertised but their customer care is also great.
FAQs
Is a semi-transparent or solid stain better?
A semi-transparent stain is better for people who want something easy to maintain but still show the natural wood grain. The solid stain is better if you don’t care much about the wood grain display but just something providing your furniture the most UV protection.
What is the best semi-transparent stain for wood decks?
It depends on your needs. Here are the 6 best semitransparent stains for wood decks (also the ones that we’ve reviewed above):
• Ready Seal 512 - Best overall
• THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH.042851-16 - Best for color-fading resistance
• DEFY Extreme 1 Gallon Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain - Best for harsh environmental conditions
• SaverSystems Store #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain - Best for a natural-looking finish
• KILZ L832211 - Quick-drying
• Cabot 140.0016337.007 - Easy to apply
Can you use a semi-transparent stain on pressure-treated wood?
Yes, you can. Semitransparent or oil-based deck stains work the best on pressure-treated wood while the solid paints are a no-no because they might peel off the wood.
Is it better to stain or paint pressure-treated wood?
What happens if I stain pressure treated wood too soon?
It might lead to the stain not being absorbed by the wood, resulting in a failed and patchy upgrade for the wood deck.
Conclusion
To find out the best semi-transparent deck stain for pressure treated wood in our fleet, we rated each one’s materials, coverage, safety levels to use, and dry time. Hopefully, after reading this post, you’ll get an idea or two that helps your making-decision process.
