What looks like a minor deck issue can turn into an expensive project, with hidden structural problems, labor and materials quickly driving up costs.

The best wood stains aren't always the costliest. Here are test results from leading brands including Behr, Cabot, Olympic, and Valspar.

Your deck might be only a few years old and still drag your whole backyard down if it looks tired, dirty, or poorly ...

Make any necessary repairs before re-staining. Secure any loose fasteners on the deck with a hammer or cordless drill. Replace large areas of rotted wood or entire boards if necessary. Use an ...

Finally learn the proper way to stain a deck to provide long-lasting beauty. These tips are the best way to stain a deck so it stays looking fresh. After three decades of watching people struggle to ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Person applying stain to a wooden deck in a backyard. - Truepixelart/Getty Images Once you have finally checked off that deck ...

A great wood stain does double duty. First, it adds to the aesthetics, either by enhancing the natural grain pattern of the wood or by covering blemishes, depending on the stain you choose. Second, it ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Wood deck outside a house - tab62/Shutterstock There are a lot of mistakes you want to avoid when designing your deck, and ...

I just built a cedar deck railing. I was going to paint it and call it a day, but now my wife wants me to stain it to show off the wood's texture and color. That sounds like a lot more maintenance ...