CR's Take

Solid stains last longest overall but hide the wood grain. This Home Depot finish was tops among solids in our tests. It still looked impressive after the equivalent of nine years on a house (and other vertical surfaces) and three years on a deck. It also provided the most protection, resisting cracking, color change, dirt, and even mildew. And with a claimed 100 grams per liter of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), it meets even the toughest, regional-California limits for stains