We're planning to stain our deck in the coming weeks and want to use a product that's lower in volatile organic compounds. How well do these deck stains work?

Environmental regulations at that local, state, and federal level have lowered the amount of volatile organic compounds in deck stains and other finishes. For deck stains, the expected new federal VOC limit is 250 grams per liter. VOCs are linked to ozone, smog, respiratory illnesses, and memory impairment.

All of the fully tested products in our June 2010 review of deck stains meet the federal limit. We recommend two deck stains, a Behr and a Sears Weatherbeater. See our ratings of deck stains (available to subscribers) for more details.

Manufacturers admit that removing VOCs from deck stains without reducing performance is a challenge. "It may take a couple of years for manufacturers to formulate a new high-quality product, but most of them succeed," says Rico De Paz, the Consumer Reports project leader who tests paints and stains.

Find out how to get a great-looking deck and keep it in good condition. If your deck is dirty, check out this post on cleaning a deck with a pressure washer.

Essential information: Read our July 2010 review of decking materials, which covers wood, plastic, composite, and aluminum decking.