Advice on re-finishing deck
I'm looking for some advice on how to re-finish my deck. I started last year by pressure washing it to strip the brown paint...and then life got in the way so it sat for most of the winter. I got back to it last month and pressure washed it again which stripped a lot more of the paint than the first time, but didn't quite take it all off. I rented a push sander to take off the rest but the boards are cupped just enough to render it not particularly effective.
I got an orbital sander (after flaps wheels on an angle grinder proved to be too aggressive) to take off the paint that has remained, but I don't really have a sense of how perfect it has to be. It's going to take me a loooong time and a lot of sanding discs to get every last bit of it off, and if that's what it's going to take then that's fine, but I don't know if there is a "good enough" where the flecks will get covered or won't be noticeable.
My original plan was to stain it, but I didn't know if I'd be able to strip the paint enough for stain to be an option. Then I was going to use the DeckCorrect/Deck Over, but having read a bit more about it, it seems like I should avoid those like the plague. But I also have seemingly read both "yes, this worked for me!" and "no, don't use that!" for every product. I am back to staining it, but was wondering if anyone had any recommendations.
I don't know how old the deck is, but it's in good enough shape. I don't need a solution to last forever, but looking at like 5 years or so would be great.
Thanks!