[HayZee518]

If it's gray then I'd have to understand it was exposed to the weather and sun - unfinished by any stain or paint. The sun bleached the wood and the rain added to the grayness. Sometimes take a look at barns if you go for a ride out in the country. Their boards are all gray colored from the bleaching of the weather and sun exposure. Now to the root of your problem. Merely applying a stain to the unfinished wood would deepen the "patina" of the wood you need to get down to the wood by sanding. I don't think a wood bleach would help. Unless you go down at least 1/32 of an inch by sanding, the wood may turn out all blotchy as an end result.