Tell me about deck stain...17 gallons later...

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. It will fade some

from the elements. We did ours last year. Oil, at least 2 coats. It was 'shiny' for most of the summer, now it is duller and the grain is starting to show through.
As a former painter, I know that spraying and even rolling does not fill the pores like a brush does. If they backbrushed after spraying, that's good. If they just sprayed some spots, it may not have soaked in like it should have, and dried on the surface like a film instead. then when you go over it again it's too dark.

but like I said, after a few months of weathering it should look better.