Stain Deck Support Columns?

[u/Positive-Abrocoma628]

I have a second story deck which obviously has a few pretty tall support columns. I believe they're pressure treated wood and they're on concrete pads with metal brackets. Is staining these purely an aesthetic choice or do they need to be stained for structural purposes like the top deck boards? It's a new (1 year old) deck, not prior stained. I'm not too concerned with aesthetics (the deck doesn't face any neighbors and I'm never below it) but I also don't want the whole thing to be a rotted out structural hazard in 30 years if staining will actually make a difference in that regard. Thanks in advance!

[u/txtaco_vato]

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