Is it Better to Paint or Stain Your Porch Floor? Everything You Need to Know

Wondering if you should paint or stain your porch floor? A beautifully finished porch or deck floor can completely transform your outdoor space – but only if it holds up over time. After years of peeling paint and constant touch-ups on our wrap around porch floor , we finally found a product and method that actually lasts.

In this post, I’m sharing the mistakes we made the first time around, how we chose between paint and stain, the most durable porch floor product available, and the exact steps we took to prep and paint our wood porch floor to avoid chipping, flaking, or fading.

Whether you’re updating a wood porch, deck or patio, these simple steps will help you achieve a durable, professional-looking finish that stands up to the elements over time.

Choosing Wood Porch Floors

I halfway jokingly say that we designed and built our house around our wrap around porch. Porch first, house later.

My husband and I were head over heels with the idea of a large wrap around porch reminiscent of an old farmhouse. We dreamed of sitting on the porch, sipping coffee or tea in our rocking chairs, and watching our children play in the yard.

Part of achieving that “new old house” charm was choosing real wood as the porch floor. I’ve mentioned many times before how we chose elements in our new build that would give us that historic charm of an old house. Choosing real wood for the porch floor was one of those decisions.

Now, I would be lying if I told you this wasn’t a very controversial decision. Everyone warned us: Don’t use real wood. It will require too much maintenance. It won’t hold up. Not a good choice. And the list goes on.

Do you think we listened? Nah, we’re way too stubborn for that 😉 I had a very particular vision of a painted wood porch floor just like you would see in a historic home, and I wasn’t willing to give up that dream!

Porch Floor Problems: Chipping, Peeling, Flaking

The first time we painted our porch floor was in 2021 right after we moved into our new home. By this time the decision fatigue from building was very real and we were just ready to be done with construction and start getting settled in to our new home.

We hired our trusted painters to paint the porch floor. Without doing any research of our own, we let them make the decision on which product to use for paint/stain.

Our porch floor was peeling, worn, and chipping after 4 years of wear and tear.

They chose Arborcoat by Benjamin Moore. Our painter said he had seen good results with this product in the past and we trusted him, so we just went with his recommendation.

The porch floor looked beautiful at first. But it wasn’t long at all before we started noticing peeling, flaking, and chipping.

Disappointed was an understatement! Our porch is an integral part of our home, and one you see from literally every angle. A few years in and the porch floor paint looked worse than ever.

We tried touching up the paint a few times, but at this point it was too far gone and we knew we had no choice but to start over.

Should You Paint or Stain Your Porch Floor to Prevent Peeling?

This time around, you better believe I did my due diligence. I was not about to spend a huge amount of time and money to repaint our entire wrap around porch again unless I was absolutely sure I was choosing a product that would last over time.

I researched and researched porch floor paint and porch floor stain for more hours than I can count. I read professional painter forums online, and my local Sherwin Williams store probably got so sick of my constant questions and inquiries.

It just so happened that around this same time we went over to a friends house for a baseball party for our son. They also had a large porch and deck. It was all wood, it was painted, and it was flawless! I looked around inspecting it and did not see one little area that was worn, flaking or chipped.

So like any {normal} person does, right there at the baseball party I began to interrogate them on what they used to paint their deck, what they thought of it, how it was holding up, you name it.

Long story short? They used Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series and were very happy with it!

Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series Solid Stain

I was really encouraged when I heard how happy our friends had been with the durability and longevity of Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 series for their porch floor.

I began to do my own research and due diligence on the product and everything I learned confirmed that Sherwin WIlliams SuperDeck 9600 Series would be the best choice for our porch floor.

SuperDeck 9600 is a solid color acrylic-alkyd stain. It is an exterior solid color coating fortified with an alkyd resin. It feautured the benefirst of oil and water combined in one unique formula with easy soap and water cleanup.

Should You Paint or Stain Your Porch Floor? Pros and Cons of Each Option

When I first started researching, there was a lot of confusion around porch paint versus stain. Should you paint or stain your porch floor?

What is the difference? Which one is better?

• Paint creates a film barrier by sitting on top of the wood. It doesn’t flex well with the natural expansion and contraction of wood, which will lead to chipping, flaking and peeling over time.

• Stain on the other hand actually penetrates into the wood fibers. This allows the stain to move with the wood instead of breaking away from it.

	Stain	Paint
Best For	Horizontal Surfaces, Decks, Porches, Fences, Pergolas,	Vertical Siding and Surfaces

Why To Choose Solid Stain for a Porch Floor

When it comes to stains, there are three different types: transparent, semi-transparent, and solid.

For the sake of keeping thing concise, here I am only going to talk about solid stain because that is what we used. We chose solid stain because we wanted the look of a historic “painted” porch floor.

Should you paint or stain your porch floor? A solid stain gives the look of paint with the added durability and longevity of stain.

Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series comes as a solid, self-priming stain. This product gives you the best benefits of both a stain and a paint with easy soap and water cleanup.

We chose the color Gray Matters by Sherwin Williams. It reads as a blue-gray color in person and is perfectly in keeping with the paint color you would have seen on a historic porch floor.

Benefits of a SuperDeck 9600 solid stain for a porch floor:

• Rich, opaque finish that looks very similar to paint
• Excellent protection against UV, moisture, and weather
• Can be tinted to any color
• Allows natural texture of the wood to come through while still hiding wood imperfections
• 5 year manufacturer warranty against peeling on decks
• Self-priming
• Unique combination of oil and water benefits with easy soap and water cleanup

Materials List for Staining a Porch or Deck Floor

• Pressure Washer
• Floor Sander
• Respirator Mask
• Scraper
• Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series Solid Stain
• Paint Brush
• 1/2 Nap Roller
• Paint Roller Frame
• Adjustable Extension Pole

Proper Prep to Paint or Stain Your Porch Floor

Be sure to properly prep the surface before you paint or stain your porch floor. Correct floor prep is key to obtaining a lasting, durable finish.

The prep took much more time than the actual “painting,” but it is arguably the most important part of the entire process.

1. Clean

Before you paint or stain your porch floor, you want to make sure you thoroughly clean the surface. We used a pressure washer to remove any dirt and mildew.

The pressure washer served the added benefit of removing a lot of the old, flaking paint.

2. Sand the Porch Floor

Ensure the surface is completely dry before sanding. We let ours dry out for 48+ hours before sanding.

We rented a Deck and Floor Sander from Home Depot which is ideal for sanding exterior wood decks. It was inexpenive, easy to transport, and easy to operate.

Sand with 60 to 80 grit sandpaper to completely smooth the surface.

Once the floor has dried completely and then been sanded smooth, you are ready to paint or stain your porch floor.

How to Paint or Stain Your Porch Floor that Won’t Peel

After floor pressure washing and sanding, it’s time for paint! Be sure to remove all dust from sanding before starting to paint.

A nice thing about the SuperDeck 9600 Series is that it is self-priming. So once your surface is prepped, you are able to skip an extra step of priming and jump right to the fun part of painting.

1. Cut in Edges with a Brush

First use a high quality brush to cut in all your edges. Once dried, apply a second coat.

2. Roll on Porch Stain

Use a 1/2 nap roller and extenion pole to roll on two coats of stain according to manufacturer directions.

This is by far the easiest and most rewarding part of the entire project! After all that prep work, there is no greater satisfaction than seeing fresh porch stain roll on so flawlessly and easily.

DIY Porch Floor Stain Before and After

Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series Review

So far, so good! I have been highly impressed with Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series thus far. While it’s only been on our porch floor for about four months, it is still in pristine condition and I have not noticed a single flaw/chip/peeling. Trust me, I look!

This is especially impressive given the extreme temperature and humidity in the Georgia summer. We’ve had extreme heat, lots of rain, not to mention I have three rambunctious boys and one crazy golden retriever that run up and down our porch floor multiple times every single day. We don’t exactly go easy on our porch floor.

Obviously time will tell, but so far I have been truly impressed and hopeful this product will last for many years.

Should You Paint or Stain Your Porch Floor? FAQ’s:

What is the best way to keep deck stain or paint from peeling?”

To keep porch paint or stain from peeling, ensure adequate prep of the surface. Choose the best product for porch and deck floors, which is Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series Solid Stain. Follow manufacturer directions for application and cure times.

Can you paint a wood deck floor instead of staining it?

Yes, of course you can. There are paints made particularly for porch floors. However, a stain is a better choice for a porch or deck floor. Stain penetrates the wood surface to prevent flaking, chipping and flaking.

What kind of paint should I use on a porch floor?

The best paint/stain for a porch floor (or deck floor) is hands down Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series Solid Stain.

How long does porch floor paint last?

How long porch floor paint/stain lasts depends on many factors, such as adequate prep and the quality of the product. Sherwin Williams Superdeck 9600 Series has a 5 year manufacturer warranty against peeling on deck/porch floor surfaces.

Do I need to prime my deck floor before painting?

No, Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series Solid Stain is self-priming.

Will deck paint peel or chip over time?

Over time, any porch or deck paint will peel or chip over time. To prevent chipping and peeling, adequately clean and prep your surface, then choose a high quality product that is made specifically for porch and deck flooring, such as Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600. It has a 5 year manufacturer warranty against peeling on a deck surface.

Is painting or staining better for a wood porch floor?

A stain is better for a wood porch floor because it penetrates the surface of the wood. This adds durability and prevents flaking and peeling.

How do you prep a deck floor for painting?

Before painting a deck floor, you should thoroughly clean the surface to remove any residue, mildew, or dirt.

How long should I wait to walk on a painted deck?

Sherwin Williams SuperDeck 9600 Series Stain is ready for foot traffic in 24-48 hours.

What is a good color paint for a deck or porch floor?

A great color for a porch floor is Sherwin Williams Gray Matters.

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