Noozer wrote:
My deck looks awful. I stained it a little over a year ago and much of the
stain is gone already. From the looks of it, it was more of a thin paint
than a stain because it didn't soak into the wood.

I'm planning on sanding the whole thing down and restaining.

So... What brands should I look for? What to avoid?
I go to sherwin williams and have great luck there. Go to a real paint
store, in any case. the guys who work there know what's up. A lighter
color of penetrating stain will not last as long as a daker color so yu
will want to choose a darker color this time. the darkest stains come
very close to being a paint rather than stain. Tell the guys at the
paint store your problem and they will be able to advise further.

BTW... Is there a trick to removing BBQ grease from a wooden deck?
Power washer with an appropriate detergent.