This post was updated on March 3, 2024
Defy Extreme Wood Stain Review 2024
Note: Defy Extreme Stain had a label change in 2019.
Welcome to DeckStainHelp.com, the Internet’s first stop for exterior wood deck restoration topics. Our customers who have used Defy Extreme wood stain continue to be satisfied by the appearance and longevity of their deck stain projects year after year. If you have used Defy Extreme wood deck stain, we welcome your input, so feel free to leave a comment below with pictures of your completed projects if you have them.
Defy Extreme Stain Review
Important Note: This is our Updated 2nd Review of Defy Extreme Wood Stain. Our first review of the Defy Extreme Stain was started in 2009 and completed in 2011. See Here for First Review: Defy Extreme Stain Review
*Note: Defy Extreme is replacing the Defy Epoxy after 2014. The main difference between the two is that Extreme contains zinc oxide nanoparticles. According to the manufacturer, this gives added UV protection and mold prevention.
Defy Extreme Deck Stain Ratings (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8
Defy Extreme Stain is a semi-transparent stain that seems closer to a transparent in that it does not mask the wood grain but rather highlights the natural tones. We used the Light Walnut color for our test deck. The Light Walnut is not a brown color but rather a reddish-brown color. The customer was happy with the appearance but if you are looking for a brown, then try their newer Butternut.
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 9
The Defy Extreme offers excellent resistance to UV fading. Testing over the two years showed very little color loss on the vertical railings. The horizontal flooring should have very good color retention as well. The Extreme contains zinc oxide nanoparticles. These particles seem to offer an additional layer of UV filtering.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 7.5
For a semi-transparent water-based decking stain, the Defy Extreme is excellent at diving deep into the wood grain. We have used and seen numerous water-based acrylic stains and the Defy Extreme penetrates the wood grain better than the others. Very close to the penetration abilities of an oil-based stain. Some wearing around table chairs and wood knots were noticeable otherwise, the stain was very intact.
Take note that we do not use the Defy Extreme on brand new wood. If you want to use it on your new deck, it is best to wait a few months. The Extreme will penetrate better if you do.
Cost Per Square Foot: 7.5
Defy Extreme costs about $44 per gallon. This is a price increase from our first test but is in line with other stains $ increases. For the two coats applied with a wet on wet application, we covered close to 125 sq. feet per gallon. We used 3 gallons for 350 sq. feet of deck and railings.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 10
We had no mold on the deck in the sun or shaded areas. The Defy Extreme Stain is a water-based stain that contains zinc oxide. A search online of “zinc oxide” shows that it is commonly used as an anti-fungal product in paints and other consumer products. This is also in line with water-based stains in general as they do not contain “oils” that may feed the growth of mold.
Ease of Application: 8
Easy to apply for a water-based stain. Most likely due to its penetration ability. When we apply the Extreme we like to move fast to avoid potential overlapping. We like to apply a light coat to the floor first with a sprayer, wait about 30 minutes then apply a second coat with a pad applicator on a pole. We can do the entire floor on a 350 sq. foot deck in an hour or less.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 10
The Extreme Stain does not darken in color at all.
The Difficulty of Reapplication: 8
Prepping for this deck of a light cleaning with a deck cleaner and pressure washing. Once the deck was dry, we applied two coats to just the horizontal areas. The verticals did not need another coat as they had little to no color loss.
Overall Score Defy Extreme Stain at 2 Year Period: 8.5
Defy Extreme is an excellent product and outperforms any other water-based deck stains that we have used or seen on customers’ decks. Deep penetrating abilities and better than average color retention. Slightly costlier than other stains and can wear some in heavier traffic areas.
Product Information:
Help or Questions? Defy Extreme Stain
Cost: $52.99 per Gallon, $259.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Semi-Transparent – Water Based
Available Colors: Cedar Tone, Natural Pine, Light Walnut, Clear, Butternut, Driftwood Gray
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 Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Cedar decking
Deck Square Footage: 350 Square feet
UV Exposure: 50% Full Sun, 50% Shade. South East Exposure.
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: Light Walnut
Defy Wood Stain Photos
*All products tested and results are from our experience as wood restoration contractors. 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.
Deck Stain Help & Questions
Stain Reviews & Comparisons
We are putting up a pergola and want to stain the wood. It is Hemlock. Is there any prep that needs to be done before staining? I would like a dark brown color, does this stain come in darker colors?
You cannot stain this right away: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
After the wait and prep, try the Defy Extreme in Butternut.
I have sanded all mold/mildew & cleaned the wood deck. Can I apply Defy Extreme Solid stain over the existing solid water based stain?
Does this stain seal the wood also?
Thanks
Yes as long as the current stain is intact and not peeling. Stains are sealers as well.
Our fence was stained with SW waterborne Deckscapes stain. We were not happy with the stain. We have stripped and brightened the fence with Defy stripper and brightener but not all the stain came off. We were thinking of switching to Defy Extreme Stain but does all stain have to be removed before restaining? If so maybe we should just restain with the SW Deckscapes??
Yes, most should be removed or 95% or more. SW is a poor brand compared to the Defy.
We are building a new home in the Sierras at 5000ft elevation and siding the entire house in cedar. We are considering whether to use the Defy Original Synthetic or the Defy Extreme. The only difference I see on the data sheets is "nano particles" in the Extreme that are not in the Original. Is that the only difference and what would you recommend? This is new cedar so I assume we would have to clean the wood first, correct? Thanks!
You would want the Defy Extreme Stain. The two products are not the same. Better UV protection and overall performance with the Extreme.
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback!
Oil based Sikkens SRD Cedartone was used on three decks, two west facing and one east facing in Lake Tahoe, California, 6500' elevation. Initial appearance was excellent (just as in Sikkens' rating) but showing lots of wear on the bigger west facing deck that gets 4-8 hours of sun. Mildew has developed on the east facing deck that gets 4-6 hours of sun and then, lots of shade. New construction. Decks stained in Nov 15.
Would you suggest Defy Extreme because it's water based and less prone to mildew or TWP 1500? Would TWP go on better because it is oil base going on Sikkens oil base? Of course, I would strip and brighten decks first. How difficult is it to strip the oil based Sikkens stain? Could Sikkens' poor performance be due to application of too new a deck? If so, would you advise re-staining with Sikkens?
You cannot apply anything over the Sikkens. It will need to be stripped and removed first. Brighten after. After removal you can use either a water based or oil based stain. If you have mold issues, the Defy Extreme would give the best protection from this. New decks never last as long the first time stained. About half the life as when stained the second time.
also, some told me by watering the new deck down twice a day and letting it dry it would help the decking dry out quicker by helping to pull out oils inside the wood. true or false?
Doubt it will make a difference.
Would Defy Extreme be a good choice on a new pressure treated pine deck? After waiting the necessary time for the wood to dry out of course.
Yes and prep well first.
Live in Piedmont section of North Carolina, near water, humid in summer, snow and ice once or twice a year, and a lot of Oak Trees. We have a pressure treated pine covered side deck that gets little to no sun, mold and mildew noticed. Been there about 1 1/2 years. We will be building a connected back open deck with the same materials. It will get noon and afternoon full sun. We know we will have to wait 9 months before staining the addition, but are ready to stain the one that is already built. We want to stain them with the same stain brand, type and color since they will be connected. Due to the differences in conditions, we are worried about using one type of stain on both. What would work for us?
The Defy extreme will work as long as you prep all the same. Use a deck cleaner and wood brightener for prep.
We recently bought a log cabin in the Sierras with a redwood deck. The cabin is at 5600' elevation so gets snow as well as rain. I believe the deck was treated at some time in the past, not sure when, with a Perma-Chink product called Lifeline Deck Sealer, which I believe is a water-based product. I have been planning to sand the deck, mainly to smooth out the board surfaces, which have been degraded by the weather (though boards are still intact). My question regards sanding vs stripping. I see very little discussion of sanding on this site. Does sanding with an orbital sander do everything that would be done by a stripper, or do I still need to use a stripper after sanding? If sanding replaces stripping, should I still clean the boards with a cleaner before sanding and use a brightener afterwards? I am considering DEFY Extreme for stain. Opinion?
We are not fans of stripping and only sand if it is a last resort or absolutely needed. It typically is a ton or work to sand off a deck stain. It also can decrease the new stain\’s ability to penetrate into the wood grain. Orbital sanders can also show swirl marks on wood when staining. Another issue is spot sanding. If you do not sand the wood evenly, your stain will dry splotchy. Smoother areas will be lighter in color over areas where the sanding came out rougher. We understand though in many cases you do not have a choice but to sand. This would be for removal of solid stains, paints, etc. You may want to strip off what you can, sand difficult areas, then rewash/brighten the wood to ensure an even porosity of the wood. Defy Extreme is s very good stain.
Hi there!
We are having a cedar pergola and fence installed in Ohio on the north side of our house. We get cold winters and hot and humid summers. I want something to preserve the look of cedar, but wanted to protect from fading to gray. I was leaning towards the Defy in natural or natural pine. However, I saw that another post from Ohio had a recommendation of Kimberly Clark. I am also looking for recommendation, but was also wondering what the benefits of each product are? Thank you!
We would suggest the Defy Extreme for the fence and pergola. Natural pine will last longer over the Clear.
Thank you for the suggestion. Do I still need to use the cleaner and brightener even though it is new wood?
Yes it helps to remove mill glaze.
I have just a very small project. A bench. I bought it at a small antique store. A flat bench, 2 x 5 ft. Just plain and rustic. I am not sure of the wood but it is heavy for me as a woman. The grain resembles oak. It stays in the sun and rain so I sanded it with 60, then again with 120 sandpaper to remove the last of the old finish. I am so overwhelmed with all the stain choices. I should have to reapply to the top only for a couple of years as the legs and supports look good. Is sanding enough for this project. I don't want to invest in cleaners and brighteners for such a small project. Of your recommendations, I have found the "Flood CWF Oil Wood Stain for abt $35. Should I spend that much. I do want the wood to have some transparent color instead of letting it turn gray. Can you give your recommendations. Thx. I am on a budget.
Try the Defy Extreme stain for this.
Georgia,sun in afternoon,mildew,pressure treated pine. Previously used Cabot semi transparent. Blotchy and dull.
Strip and brighten first to remove the Cabot. The Defy extreme will work well here.
I built a PT deck last November. I'm thinking May/June with Defy. Will the all in one cleaner/brighteners work? Do I really need a pressure washer when the deck is so new? If I reapply ever 2-3 years, do I have to strip and clean every time?
I was thinking; The whole (12'x14'') deck cost $800 with footings, anchor brkts., 6×6 posts, 38' of guardrail and less than 2 days to build. At $150-$200 in stain every 2 years I could just rebuild the deck in under 10 years. Probably less time than would be spent on staining and cleaning too. Maybe leave the frame and upgrade to composite.
Light pressure washing should be used with the cleaners. It will make the prep easier and faster. No heavy washing. You do not have to strip overtime you reapply. Just clean.
I have a new screened porch floor that is tongue-in-groove Perennial Wood (aceylated southern yellow pine). I would like to stain it so that I can still see the grain and make it look good with (not necessarily exactly match) the living room floor which is red oak with a natural stain on it. For semi-transparent, the Perennial Wood website recommends all-acrylic latex stain. I'm thinking they're saying not a oil-base. What would you recommend? Would Defy Extreme be a good option? Thanks.
Yes the Defy Extreme would be a good choice and is not oil based. It is a penetrating semi-transparent that will show the grain of the wood.
I have a fairly large multi-level cedar 6 year old deck Approx 40 X 35. I Prepped the deck with all the DEFY cleaners and brighteners and power washed as prescribed. The 4 year old finish was gone and deck was sun bleached grey. I applied two coats of DEFY Hardwood stain in May 2014 and have to do it again as 50% of the horizontal finish has peeled or worn off. The original stain I used was Cabot's Australian oil based. I am more than a little hesitant about using DEFY again as I was not pleased with the results. Do you have a recommendation for a different product to use that will have better results.
Thank You
Kevin, it is normal to have to react every 2-3 years with Defy or any quality stain. If you want to switch you will need to strip off the remaining stain first and brighten then deck. If you switch, you still will need to redo the floors every 2 years so not sure if it will be worth it.
I'm unhappy with the durability of Penofin Hardwood on my Merbau deck. I'd like to switch to Defy if that would work over the Penofin. I plan to clean and brighten the deck first, of course. What color comes closest to the Merbau's normal color? I'd prefer clear if its available. Please assure me that this stuff will not peel off in time…
You cannot apply Defy over the Penofin so you will need to remove it first. You also will need a hardwood stain for the wood you have. Clear with no tint means you will not have UV protection.
You cannot stain over a urethane so you will need to remove 100% of it. Cleaners and strippers do not work on urethanes so you portably need to sand it all off. You need a stain for longevity. You can use the Defy Extreme but much better in the semi-transparent tinted colors over the clear. SW\’s advice is poor unless you prefer to have everything painted as opposed to natural looking wood.
Our house is about 9 years old — we acquired it 5 years ago. We do not have a deck, but the screen porch with interior wood ceiling and the porches around the house which have tall wood posts and wood ceilings were previously preserved with spar urethane every other year. The interior of the screen porch looks like it has a semi-transparent redwood-colored stain that has lasted 5 years, but is now molding. This year the posts outside are molding badly and the last coat of urethane is peeling away — it’s peelings are foggy/clear.
Do we need to strip or sand the spar urethane or stain inside the screen porch or will it be enough to power-wash using cleaner and brightener? Would you recommend Defy Extreme for the wood on the porches. We love the natural wood look, but the Sherwin Williams expert recommends that we should clean, prime, and paint all the wood. How long do you think the Defy would last in an interior screen porch space and on vertical surfaces like the posts? Thanks.
I have a wood deck in Marathon, FL that gets constant sun exposure. There is Thompsons sealer on the deck now. (not working very well.) I want to upgrade the product I use this time. Would this be the best product for that type of job? Any other steps to make sure the new product goes down and the Thompsons does not hinder the application? Thanks
Strip and brighten to remove the Thompsons and ensure that the new stain penetrates. The Defy Extreme would work well for your area.
I am in Canada and want to stain my Cedar deck with a Defy product. I would have thought the Deck Stain for Hardwood would be best since it is designed for Cedar but your review of Extreme Wood Stain (done on Cedar) rates higher. I'm not sure which way to go – should I use Defy Extreme Wood Stain or Defy Deck Stain for Hardwoods?
Yes the Def Hardwood. It does better with penetration in a colder climate.
This stuff does not work. Don't waste your money. Put it on in the fall with all prep done, by spring it was peeling off.
It should not have done that. I would call the manufacturer for some advice and help.
Was this a new deck or previously stained? I have a 2 year old cedar deck and need to stain it. Thanks
I am planning to paint/stain an old deck, which I have cleaned and brightened. The deck is in reasonably good shape, considering it's age. Any recommendations for product?
The Defy Extreme would work as long as the wood does not have a current stain or coating on it and it is cleaned and prepped well.
Should I wait to stain a new kiln dried after treatment pine deck? If so, how long? Should I use the restore-a-deck kit before staining?
Please read this: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-kdat-…
Do I need to tape off my Vinyl siding for this stain? Or will it wipe right off? sorry if that is a stupid question.
Mask it. It does not wipe off easily on siding.
I'm looking to restain a deck that surrounds a pool. Climate is cold winters, hot summers. Currently need to strip failing stain, sand and brighten. What would be best option for around the pool? Looking at driftwood colour in either Armstrong or Defy. Is one better than the other for this application? Has to be easy on bare feet as well.
Either would work for you. What state are you in?
I'm north of the border. Toronto, Ontario Canada.
I'm in Canada. Toronto, Ontario.
Any tips or suggestions on how to tackle the stain removal, sand, brighten around the pool, without making a mess of the pool?
Yes that will work to help reduce the mess.
Sorry, but what will help to reduce the mess around the pool during deck prep? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Not sure what you are asking. Just try not to get in the pool when you are either sanding or stripping.