How to Stain Your Deck “Burnt Hickory”

Hey there, friends! I’m so excited to share how to stain your deck with Cabot’s 2025 Color of the Year, Burnt Hickory!

I am so in love with this color and thrilled to use it on our deck! BURNT HICKORY is a deep, earthy tone that reflects today’s lifestyle and design trends. You may have noticed how homeowners are using warmer wood tones in their flooring, cabinets, trim, and furniture. So it makes only sense that they are also enjoying this hue outdoors as well.

 Burnt Hickory is available in 3 different opacities: Semi Transparent, Semi Solid and Solid. I chose to go with the Semi Transparent stain to still let the natural wood show through.

This beautiful shade embodies the warmth and richness of natural wood, making it an absolute stunner in any outdoor space. Burnt Hickory creates that cozy feel we all crave. Whether you use it to stain your furniture, freshen up your deck, or add a splash of color to your garden accents, this color radiates comfort and style. Enjoying sunny afternoons surrounded by this deep, rich color will feel like a warm hug from nature!

The house we are living in now while we build our home, Four Gables, has a small deck on the back. It overlooks our pond, so we love to spend time out there, especially during the warmer months.

However, the deck is made of pressure-treated, exterior pine, and never has been stained or sealed. I knew staining the deck, Burnt Hickory, would give it a more finished and elegant look.

Why I Chose Cabot’s Semi-Transparent Stain?

Cabot’s Exterior Wood Stain + Sealer, including the Burnt Hickory stain, features a high-performance formula for exceptional durability and fade resistance. Designed to withstand sun, rain and mildew, it provides long-lasting protection while showcasing the wood’s natural texture.

With the weather warming up in Tenessee, it was the perfect time to stain our deck! Here are the simple steps I followed, and you can too!

Preparing Your Deck for Staining:

REMINDER: Choose a nice day—preferably when it’s not too hot or humid, and keep the stain in the shade. We want perfect conditions for a smooth application!

1. Gather Your Supplies

First things first—let’s get our supplies ready! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Cabot’s Semi-transparent Stain and Sealer in Burnt Hickory
• Cabot’s Wood Cleaner (if needed)
• Power washer or a stiff-bristle brush
• Broom
• Sandpaper (if you have any rough patches of wood that need sanding)
• Cabot’s Wood Stain Pad Applicator
• Cabot’s Wood Stain Brush
• Paint tray
• Painter’s tape
• Gloves
• Drop cloths

2. Clean That Deck!

Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work! You want a clean deck before staining. You can use as few or as many of the options below depending on your decks condition:

1. Sweep: Brush away any dirt or debris from the deck surface.
2. Wash: Give your deck a good wash. Just be careful not to blast away the wood!
3. Scrub: If you see any stubborn spots, grab your stiff-bristle brush and get scrubbing with some deck cleaner.
4. Repair: If you have any nails sticking out of your wood, or any rough sections, use a hammer to tap the nails back in and sandpaper to sand the wood smooth.

3. Let It Dry

Once you’ve cleaned it up, let your deck dry completely—this usually takes about 24-48 hours. We want it nice and dry before adding any stain.

4. Tape Off Areas

Take your painter’s tape and cover any areas you don’t want to stain, like trim or railings.

Staining Your Deck:

Now for the fun part! Let’s get that Cabot’s semi-transparent stain on the deck.

TIP: Give your Cabot’s Burnt Hickory stain a good stir to get everything mixed up evenly.

5. Apply the Stain

1. Cabot Stain Pad Applicator and/or Brush: If your deck has railing, stain it first. Then stain the deck floor by starting at one end and working your way across with the stain pad. Use the brush in the groves or hard to reach places, if needed.
2. Follow the Grain: Always work in the direction of the wood grain. This helps everything look nice and even.
3. Small Sections: Work in small areas and blend the edges as you go to keep everything seamless.

Sorry for the grainy photo, but I couldn’t take pictures of myself while staining 😂, so I had to take a screenshot of my video. This was the first time I have ever used a stain pad applicator when staining a deck, and I loved it!! The stain went on so smoothly and evenly.

SIDE NOTE: I thought I would use the Cabot Wood Stain Pad Applicator only on the deck floor, but it was AMAZING to use on the railings as well! Whenever I use a brush, my wrist gets really sore, but the pad applicator didn’t hurt my wrist at all! 🙌🏻

6. Let It Dry

Let your first coat dry completely—this usually takes about 24 hours. If you want extra protection or a deeper color, consider a second coat after it’s dry!

That’s it!

Once the stain was completely dry, I added the furniture back on the deck. I am in love with Cabot’s Color of the Year, Burnt Hickory!

I love how well the color compliments the natural surroundings on our property. It provides such a beautiful, rich finish to our deck. Check out the before and after…

One of the things I love most about Burnt Hickory is how it beautifully captures its effect on outdoor spaces during dusk. The color’s neutral undertones deepen under low light creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. It works well with warm lighting, natural textures, and elements like fire pits and string lights by adding warmth to the space.

I love the way the color deepened as the sun started setting on our property. The glow of the string lights made the whole space feel so warm and cozy.

It makes me so happy every time I look outside our kitchen window at our “new” deck! I’m so glad I decided to stain it Burnt Hickory, Cabot’s Color of the Year!

Now I’m brainstorming other ways to use this beautiuful color in my home or around our property!

Do you have any outdoor projects planned for this spring? I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and tell me what you think of my new deck!

xoxo, Traci