Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain Review  4.4/5 (4)

This post was updated on February 25, 2024

Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain Review 2024

Defy Extreme Clear Review

Defy Extreme Clear Review

Note: Defy Extreme Clear had a label change in 2019.

We would love to hear from you if you have used the Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Consumer reviews below in the comment section have shown good results when using the Defy Extreme Clear Wood Finish.


Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain is the premier “crystal clear” decking finish on the market. The Defy Extreme Clear utilizes nanoparticles of zinc oxide into their formula. This is the same product that is used in sunscreen. These zinc oxide particles filter the UV radiation from the sun, prolonging the oxidation (graying) of the wood cells.

We tested the Defy Extreme on a wooden fence. Decking surfaces may have slightly different results.

*Note: Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain is an “untinted” version of the Defy Extreme Stain. Clear wood deck stains traditionally will not last as long as a stain that has a tint when it comes to preventing UV graying.

Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain Rating (1-10)

Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8

– Defy Extreme Clear Stain did not change the appearance of the wood at all after drying. The Defy extreme Clear goes on the wood milky white but then dries clear without enhancing the wood or filming on top of the wood.

Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 6

– After 2 years the wood fence had retained close to 60% of the initial color. There was some graying of the wood that had southern exposure. Consider using the Defy Extreme Stain in one of the three tints if you would like better UV protection.

Wear/Tear and Peeling: 9

– The Defy Clear had no wearing on the vertical fence. There was a small amount of peeling on the horizontal crossbars. On further inspection, it seemed as if the sprinkler system had worn off some of the finish.

Defy Extreme Clear

Defy Extreme Clear at 12 Months

Cost Per Square Foot: 7

– Defy Extreme Clear costs about $40 per gallon. We used 10 gallons of the finish to apply 2 coats to our 800-foot test deck. The cost was a little high but take in consideration that the wood fence was extremely absorbent. The first coat soaked into the wood within a few minutes of application.

Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 10

– No mold or mildew was growing on or in the Defy Extreme Clear

Ease of Application: 7

– We applied the Defy Clear with an airless sprayer. The product is very “thin’ in consistency. Similar to as if applying water. The first coat of finish soaked into the wood immediately. The second coat took a little longer and we did not back wipe a few drips. There were no noticeable overlap marks.

Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 9

– The Defy Extreme does not darken in color but rather fades and turned slightly gray in color at the two-year mark.

Difficulty of Reapplication: 7

– A thorough cleaning of the wood would be needed to remove the graying. This should be followed with a wood brightener to lighten even more. There would be no need to strip as the Defy Clear faded evenly without any heavy peeling.

Overall Score Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain at 2 Year Period: 8.125

– Defy Extreme Clear is a great choice if you want to use a finish that will retain the natural color of the wood. We did find though that the Defy Extreme Stain in one of the tints will prevent UV graying 2-3 times longer than the Defy Extreme Clear. If you are looking for a true clear wood deck stain and you do not mind refinishing every 12-24 months, then Defy Extreme Clear is the correct product to use.

Product Information:

Help or Questions? Google Search Defy Extreme Clear Stain
Cost: $48.99 per Gallon, $239.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Crystal Clear – Water Based
Available Colors: Clear
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 2 Coats. “Wet on Wet”
Coverage Per Gallon: 100-150 sq. ft
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 2-4 Hours
Cleanup: Water
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in all States
More Info: Product Data
Manufacturer: Saver Systems

Test Fence Stats:

Location of Fence: Toledo, Ohio
Fence Wood Type: Rough Sawn Pine Fence
Fence Square Footage: 800 Square feet
UV Exposure: 90% Full Sun, 10% Shade. South facing.
How Many Years Tested: 2 Seasons
Stain Color Used: 
Clear


*All products tested and results are from our experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Take into consideration that results may differ due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.


Please Rate This. You may also post comments or ask questions below.

author avatar
Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993
#As an article and comment contributor to the site, Scott has been around the pressure washing industry since attending college. In 1993 he started his first company called Oakland Pressure Wash specializing in exterior pressure washing and deck staining. That company evolved into OPW L.L.C. shortly thereafter concentrating more on exterior wood and deck restoration. Scott and his Deck Cleaning Michigan company have restored over 10,000 decks in the Metro Detroit area since the early years. He has become an authority in the deck restoration industry and has contributed to numerous wood restoration forums and informative sites. All the products he suggests through this site are sold through online sites and in retail stores, allowing the consumer to choose their own means of purchase. Scott’s eCommerce sites do sell many top brands he endorses and if you appreciate any of the help he has offered then feel free to purchase from one of them.

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PNW
PNW
2 years ago

We are located several hundred meters from Puget Sound. We have a wrap around deck 60 feet x 6 feet. We had the deck stripped and sanded and applied CG2 Guard a clear water based deck sealer. It did not perform well and after 8 months the wood had turned quite gray. While I expected this, the deck looked just awful. The next year we used DEFY clear wood stain. It protected the deck much better and just this month we had the deck power washed and the deck just glowed. I am very happy with the protection from this product and will apply another coat when the weather warms.

MMD
MMD
1 year ago

Will the extreme gold stop my pine exterior log siding from turning grey?

Luke Windy
Luke Windy
2 years ago

We just built a covered patio with rough sawn cedar. We will be using TWP Series 1500 on posts and beams but want to keep natural look of the ceiling. Thinking about using the defy extreme clear stain. Does this prevent graying? We don’t want the graying to happen. Ceiling will have no water or sunlight on it. ANy recommendations will help. Thanks

Luke Windy
Luke Windy
2 years ago

We just built a covered patio with rough sawn cedar. We will be using TWP Series 1500 on posts and beams but want to keep natural look of the ceiling. Thinking about using the defy extreme clear stain. Does this prevent graying? We don’t want the graying to happen. Ceiling will have no water or sunlight on it. ANy recommendations will help. Thanks

Erin
Erin
2 years ago

We are installing a new smooth milled cedar deck and plan to protect with Defy Extreme Crystal Clear. How long should we wait before applying after install? Also, how do we apply to underside portion of wood? Should we go ahead and apply on that side before installing even though it may not penetrate properly?

Erin
Erin
2 years ago

Awesome! Thanks for quick reply.

ML H
ML H
5 years ago

What about the finished producr? Will my deck be slippery when wet from rain and melting snow?

Leslie
Leslie
6 years ago

Does Lowe’s carry this

Patrick
Patrick
9 years ago

Recently my condo neighbor put down behr premium redwood stain on our 2 story deck/stairs which is what is used to get into and out of the condo I live in. After finding out he used the cheapest stain possible, I am now looking for ways to further protect my/our deck and stairs from constant wear and tear of people going up and down the deck/stairs. Do you think there would be a problem with using the Defy Extreme Clear as an overcoat on the redwood stain? Or can you suggest any other sealant that could be used in that way? We don't have the money to strip/clean/prep/re-do the work that was already done. :(

Patrick
Patrick
9 years ago

Thank You for your reply. I guess I will have to wait till the Behr stain wears off in the next few months. Again, Thank You for your help!

Kerrie
Kerrie
9 years ago

Thanks so much for your quick response. I assume from your answer that you don't think we will have a problem with covering the treads only with the Defy product if we choose that option. Thanks again!

Kerrie
Kerrie
9 years ago

We have 2100 sq ft of covered pressure treated southern pine decking plus 2 sets of uncovered stair treads– none of which have ever been painted or stained. They were installed 9 years ago at our home in Bradenton, Florida. We did not stain them in the past because we were unaware of any product which would not alter the color of the wood including the natural stain products. The covered decks still look great but the uncovered stair treads are starting to show their years. We like the greying color of the wood and think that the color looks beautiful with the "Alaskan White", (a very light yellow) paint color of our Low Country RiverHouse-style home. The porch ceilings are clad in bead board and exposed beams that we have painted "Salvia" (previously offered at Sherwin WIlliams). It is a striking blue-green color. The flat underside of the exposed beams are painted to match the house and ties the two elements together. The appearance of the home is akin to the home of the Gulfside Village of Seaside located along the Florida Panhandle. The frame homes are painted a variety of colors but in publications of the village homes, the decks are often depicted as remaining rustic and appear as being untreated/unstained, pressure treated pine. We love this look but are concerned that the southern facing stairs in the front of our home and the northern facing stairs in the back of our home (both of which experience the torrential rainfall and high heat and humidity of our harsh SW Florida summers into mid October each year) will experience unsightly damage if left untreated any longer. We like the Defy Extreme Clear Stain product description as it promises not to change the wood color and also like the claim of algae control — Algae is an ongoing problem on our northern stairs occurring after every extended period of frequent rain. We wondered if we might apply the product to the exposed treads only with little difference in appearance between the decks and treads when the application is completed and has dried. Unfortunately, this product is not located locally so returning any remaining gallons might be difficult or costly. Hence we hope for advice that might help us in planning–especially if the vendor is online. One painter suggested using Superdeck Elastomeric Deck and Dock Coating for all of the PT deck and stair tread wood as it would fill in the tread cracks — but will cover the natural appearance we love. It is located locally at Benjamin Moore. In addition, we have not found any good reviews on the Elastomeric product online–maybe because it is too new. I might also add that although the treads have weathered and do have some cracks, we would not characterize their condition as extreme damage as the Elastomeric product description proposes to correct. Our questions: Do you believe that the Defy Extreme Clear Stain product will adequately protect our stair treads from the… Read more »

David
David
10 years ago

Can you tint this with either Natural or some other light one for more pigmentation? I am building removable heavy wooden frame windowsills for a patio out of Doug fir and KD fir and want mostly the color of the wood, light beiges and pinks…every stain I have tried so far that says "honey" something actually comes out looking like "cheetos orange". TWP Honeytone (which actually seems the best, seems coated and protected), Aust Timber oil, new and old versions), and the Behr "natural". don't want orange wood, help.

Ron Ladd
Ron Ladd
11 years ago

I recently applied defy extreme clear coat to my new cedar deck. It does a great job repeling water after the rain and the deck is no longer fading from the sun. The problem that I am having is after I rinse off the deck with my garden hose to give it a routine cleaning when it dries it leaves dirty spots all over the deck and the deck looks dirty. I have even used a mild detergent on it and I still get the same results . I am considering stripping off the clear coat and using another product. My deck is brand new but always looks dirty.

Greg
Greg
11 years ago

I thought this review would be rather helpful…now I see that various products were applied to different structures (i.e., deck vs. fence vs. dock). This unfortunately is a completely unfair comparison. I can't hold any validity to this review…sorry.

Seth Canin
Seth Canin
10 years ago
Reply to  Greg

Greg .. just go home and figure out yourself!

Brian
Brian
11 years ago

I recently applied this to my deck in St. Louis Mo. The appearance is truly clear and I'm interested to see how well this holds up on the decking surface. The manuafacturer recommends using defy brightener before applying a maintenance coat 1-2 years later, depending on if the wood is repelling or absorbing water. I have two questions:
1. Do you think a stain stripper and/or cleaner is needed prior to using the brightener, and then maintenance coat of stain? Thanks.
2. If I'm not pleased with the results of the Defy Extreme Clear and decide to switch to Defy Extreme Cedar tone, what would the preparation process be?

Thanks, Brian

Derek
Derek
11 years ago

Unfortunately I have not had te same experience. I initially applied the stain with no problem however when I recoated two years later the entire finish peeled off. I have had to sand the entire deck down to bare wood. I will never use the product again.

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