Try Before You Buy
Stain color depends on your wood. Species, age, prep and sun exposure all change the final look, so a color chart only gets you so close. Test a Restore-A-Deck stain sample on your own deck before you order gallons, and get a color you’re happy with.
Available Samples
- Semi-Transparent Stain Samples: Natural, Cedar, Light Walnut, Dark Walnut and Cottage Gray. Adds color while the wood grain still shows.
- Solid Stain Samples: Classic White, Coastal Gray, Desert Taupe, Cypress, Brown Oak and Espresso. Opaque color that covers the grain.
Each sample is about 1–2 oz, enough to test a small area.
How to Test a Sample
- Prep the test area first. Clean and brighten it the same way you’ll prep the whole deck. Unprepped wood won’t show the true color.
- Pick a representative spot. Choose an out-of-the-way area that gets typical sun for your deck.
- Apply as you would on the full project: Two coats wet-on-wet for semi-transparent, two coats for solid.
- Let it dry fully before judging the color. Wet stain looks darker.
- Check it in sun and shade. Colors look different depending on the light.
Ready to Order?
Shop Semi-Transparent Stain, Solid Color Stain or our Stain & Prep Combo Kits.