[Macstu]

My summer home is on a lake in northern Michigan. We have hot summers and cold and deep snow in the winter, this is very hard on my deck. I have used a number of products to stain/seal the deck but the older is gets the harder it is to keep a nice look to the wood.
I am considering paint or a solid color stain. My question is what gives the best result and last longer? This every other year stuff is killing me.

Macstu

[GLEIGHVAH]

I would go with the stain . I think it lasts longer also when it is time to re up there is a lot less prep work

[glavine]

I agree with gleighvah, stain will work best with a sealer of coarse.
If you deck is 18 years old your done really well by the way.
You best investment if you can aford it will be to use a composite decking and handrails. Just think you'll never have to stain or paint again, and also in another 18 years it will look like the day you installed it.

[ballengerb1]

Thompson makes a water proofer plus wood protector that comes in clear or tinted versions. I spray this on my decks and log side walls with a Wagner Paint Crew sprayer. It is difficult to go beyond 2 year intervals on horizontal surfaces even with a great product.

[healypainting]

Never put paint on a deck unless your willing to oil prime it first. An old deck like yours will peel in a year, then you have bigger problems. If you want to put a color on it, Two coats of oil base stain will last. A solid color stain also requires an oil primer first. Oil sucks to work with but lasts longer.