I’ve started using wood that is pre-stained for all of my decks and fences. There are lots of products entering the market that promise easy care and maintenance for our wood surfaces. I have been using brown pressure treated instead of the green alternative. They are the same price, but because it’s been treated with a great brown shade, I don’t need to stain it every spring. If you just want a surface that looks great even though it’s not wood, go for a composite deck board.