Never Paint a deck! -- Seriously, Would You Walk On Your Walls? Paint is a coating, it is NOT a stain...it will crack, flake and peel within months. It seals in moisture that leads to wood rot & mold -- and perhaps eventually a collapse. NOTES: Be Careful! -- some paint, hardware & Big Box stores sell what they call a "stain", that is really a coating or paint.. How do I know if I have a paint or stain? (click link left) A stain will fade away. If your deck has flaked or peeled, often revealing unstained wood -- then you have a paint or coating, -- NOT a stain. Photo of a deck at a Big Box home improvement store.