Decking oil vs stain: What's the difference and which is best for your deck?

We explain the difference between decking oil vs stain, what they should be used for and how you can get the best results from using each product.

By Rosanna Spence | Published - 15 May 2024

Garden decking can go through a lot, as it works hard to keep our outside spaces level. It’s walked, played and dined on; it withstands the British weather; and it gets scratched by our pets’ claws, scraped by garden seating, and more. That’s why it’s important to keep your garden decking design looking its best.

But do you know if you should be using decking oil or stain? If your decking is made from a composite material (often a mixture of wood and plastic) then it won’t need treating with either decking oil or stain. Though, to be certain, always check with the manufacturer and installer about ongoing care of any decking.

But if your decking is a wooden structure, then you’ll want to know whether to use decking oil vs stain – because the products can react with wood in very different ways.

Decking oil vs stain: what are their uses?

Both are used to treat the wood

Decking with a natural stain one level down a black stone floor — Image credit: Sadolin

Knowing how to treat decking properly can help increase the life of its surface, as well as make it less slippery and prone to fading. Though oils and stains are both used to protect your decking’s timber, they help in different ways.

“Oils penetrate deeply, to preserve the wood by replenishing its natural protective oils,” says Ken Jensen, senior technical consultant for woodcare brand Sadolin. “Stains, on the other hand, create a film-like defensive layer on the surface.”

Decking expert and consultant Karl Harrison agrees, noting that decking oil is applied to the surface of a smooth decking board to replace the natural oils present in the wood, which are weathered away over time. As for decking stain, he explains: “A decking stain is usually solvent, or water-based, and is used to change the colour of the timber.”

This doesn’t mean that oils don’t have any effect on the colour of your decking, though. “Oils are designed to protect and enhance the wood’s natural colour,” notes Jensen. “So, deciding which one is best for your project depends on whether you want to maintain or alter the material’s natural look.”

How long do you need to wait before treating your deck?

The grain of wood is important

Ipe wood deck, modern house design with wooden patio, low angle view of tropical hardwood decking — Image credit: Shutterstock/Radoslav Cajkovic

Depending on the material your decking is constructed from, you may need to wait a while before picking up a brush and going to town with the oil or stain.

It's important to know if the wood has any existing treatment on it. If it does, experts at B&Q recommend leaving your decking to weather naturally for six months or so before you apply stain or oil. This, the company says, helps to ensure existing treatment has eroded enough for the new product to sink in and stick.

Untreated wood, and decking that’s been previously stained, can be stained straight away.

Things are a little different if you plan to oil untreated wood, though. “If you have a tight-grained timber, such as hardwood, then you are best to leave for at least six months to a year before applying any oil-based product,” advises Harrison. “This is because the timber needs time for the surface to open fully, which then allows the product to properly soak in. “If you have a pine deck, then cut it back with 240 grit sandpaper or apply NetTrol to open the grain. Allow this to dry fully before saturating with oil.”

The experts at Toolstation told Saga that stains will not take to a deck that’s been previously oiled, meaning it’s best to choose between one or the other.

How do you apply decking oil vs stain?

The process is similar, but oil takes longer to penetrate and dry

A man kneeling on the grass oiling the new wood deck — Image credit: Karl Harrison Landscapes

The application processes for stains and oils are largely similar, according to Jensen. Before you get started, though, the wood must be properly prepared.

“Whichever product you choose, prepare the timber surface by either sanding or using a chemical to neutralise the surface before applying an oil or stain,” says Harrison.

“You should mix the products thoroughly prior to application, to make sure the pigment and ingredients are effectively distributed, and a brush is best to achieve a smooth finish,” Jensen continues. “Both also need to be applied in dry conditions and at temperatures above 10°C (50°F), so they can dry properly. With oils, sometimes excess material might need to be wiped away from the timber surface with a lint free cloth.”

Harrison advises that with oils, you must allow the product to fully soak into the wood until it is saturated. “You may find that given the right climatic conditions that water-based products will dry faster than oil-based,” he adds.

You need to wait until both stains and oils are fully dried before seeing the finished results. “Before you coat the whole deck, cover a small area or timber offcut as a test, to ensure you’re happy with the finish,” suggests Jensen.

What ongoing care is needed for decking oil vs stain?

Regular maintenance is key

Someone cleaning a wood terrace sided by a grass area in the right and gravel on the left, using a high water pressure cleaner — Image credit: Shutterstock/bubutu

Although both oils and stains help to keep decks looking fresh, regular care and maintenance between treatments can help the products work more effectively.

This is especially important if your decking is subject to high footfall. “Decking should be cleaned frequently, particularly after winter periods,” says Jensen. “The deck should also be regularly inspected to determine whether further maintenance coats of oil or stain are required. It is far easier to apply a maintenance coat than to allow the coatings to erode to a stage where heavy preparation is required.”

According to Harrison, in most cases, once you have correctly applied the products you may only need to top them up once a year.

Which is ultimately better, decking oil or stain?

It really does depend on how you use your deck and what it’s made from as to whether decking oil or stain is the best choice. But as we’ve mentioned, once you have committed to oil, your deck won’t be suitable for staining in the future. You need to get it right first time. Use these key advantages to help you decide.

Pros of decking oil:

Oils nourish the wood from within, preventing it from cracking, splintering and warping.
They provide excellent coverage per square metre, even though the product might be slightly more expensive than a stain.
You won’t need to strip back the wood to apply a fresh coat of oil. This may be the case with stain if you don’t keep up with maintenance.
Oils are often less slippery than stains, as they don’t sit on top of the surface.
Can be easily and subtly topped up in high footfall areas.
Oils are better at maintaining the natural colour of your wood, although they can still change it.
UV filters present in many oils can help to reduce damage from the sun.

Pros of decking stain:

It can be applied straightaway for instant protection. You may need to wait several months for your timber to open up before applying oil.
It’s quicker to dry.
Stains will change the colour of your wood to fit in with current trends.
Stains tend to be slightly cheaper than oils.
Fewer mould and algae are likely to form on stained wood.
Stains can reduce discolouration in the wood as a result of UV exposure.

How to avoid issues from the very start

There are a couple of tricks that will help your decking start life at its most robust and stay in good condition for longer. This includes making sure that all wood has been full stained or oiled before it’s constructed into the deck to make sure every inch has been treated. Then when assembling the deck, do so in a way that helps water to run off easily. “

When the decking is constructed, it incorporates a slight gradient to assist in the shedding of rainwater,” advises Jensen. “All elevations of the timber used, particularly the end grains, should be fully coated prior to fixing.”