Defy Extreme Hardwood Stain Review  4.1/5 (2)

This post was updated on March 5, 2024

Defy Hardwood Stain Reviews

Defy Hardwood Stain Reviews

Defy Extreme Hardwood Stain Review 2024

Defy Hardwood Stain Review Defy Hardwood Deck Stain was developed to penetrate dense exotic woods such as IPE, Tigerwood, Camura, Teak, and Mahogany. The Defy Hardwood Stain contains synthetic resins that absorb into the wood leaving a natural semi-transparent finish. Defy Hardwood is a “green” friendly finish that blocks out water and provides long-lasting protection from weather damage.

Defy Extreme Hardwood Stain should also be considered for oil-rich woods such as Cedar and Redwood, offering better penetration for these wood types.

Important Note: Testing for Exotic Hardwood Deck Stains

Exotic hardwoods such as IPE are extremely dense and difficult to penetrate. These wood types when stained, will always fade faster the other woods such as Cedar, Redwood, and Pine. Testing will be changed to 1 year instead of 2 years for exotic hardwoods.

Defy Hardwood Deck Stain Rating (1-10)

Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8

– We choose the Defy Hardwood in the Light Walnut color to enhance the natural brownish/red tones of the IPE decking. The IPE looked stunning when the stain was applied but dried a little lighter. Overall a very rich look to the IPE as expected.

Preventing UV Graying at 1 Year Mark: 8

– As mentioned previously we only test exotic hardwoods for 1 year. Defy Hardwood Stain was one of a few stains that lasted the full 12 months on the IPE wood. About 80% of the original color was left on the IPE.

Wear/Tear and Peeling: 8

– Being that IPE is extremely dense we expected some wearing of the Defy Hardwood Stain. Overall the Defy did well and small amounts of wearing were visible throughout the IPE on the flooring and steps.

Defy Cedar Stain

Defy Cedar Stain

Cost Per Square Foot: 7

– Defy Hardwood Wood Stain costs $52.99 per gallon. The IPE decking was 450 square feet and we used all 5 gallons for the 2 coats.  Costs $.40 a square foot.

Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 9

– No mold or mildew on the flooring surface. A small number of algae was present in the shaded area. This area seemed to be constantly wet from the bushes and sprinklers.

Ease of Application: 8

– For a water-based stain, Defy Hardwood penetrates extremely well without any filming on the surface of the wood. Coverage per square foot was not what we would expect with an oil-based stain but on par with similar water-based wood stains. We applied the Defy Hardwood with a brush to the railing and a lambswool pad to the floor. Two coats were applied to the floors. The first coat took 2-3 hours and the second took 1 hour.

Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 10

– Defy Hardwood Stain did not darken but faded lightly after 1 year. This would make re-application easier.

Difficulty of Reapplication:8.5

– Since the Defy Hardwood Stain had faded evenly without any peeling or darkening, it would be easy to apply a wood cleaner to prep the wood. Re-coating should not be an issue since the stain had penetrated into the wood.

Overall Score Defy Extreme Stain at 1 Year Period: 8.31

– We were very pleased with the Defy Hardwood Stain on the IPE decking. Overall the stain lasted longer than most hardwood stains and did not darken or turn black in color. This will make annual maintenance easy for the IPE.

Product Information:

Help or Questions? Defy Hardwood & IPE Stain
Cost: $52.99 per Gallon, $259.99 per 5 Gallon Pail w/Free Delivery
Stain Type: Semi-Transparent – Water Based
Available Colors: Cedartone, Natural Pine, Light Walnut
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 2 Coats. “Wet on Wet” Cedar and Exotic Hardwoods
Coverage Per Gallon: 100-200 sq. ft
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 2-4 Hours
Cleanup: Soap and Water
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in all States
More Info: Product Data
Manufacturer: Saver Systems

Test Deck Stats:

Deck Wood Type: IPE Exotic Hardwood Decking
Deck Square Footage: 450 Square feet
UV Exposure: 20% Shade 80% Full Sun
How Many Years Tested: 1 Year
Stain Color Used: 
Light Walnut

*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.

Defy Wood Stain Photos

The Best IPE Hardwood Deck Stain Video – DeckStainHelp.com


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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Ahmad Yaghmour
Ahmad Yaghmour
1 year ago

Is it a good idea to use teak/linseed oil for decking ?
The area gets much sun, wet in winter and snowy as well.

Ron L.
Ron L.
8 years ago

I have a mahogany deck & railings roughly 7 years old. I’ve power washed the deck, sanded and hit the surface with 40% ammonia to 60%H2O solution then rinsed thoroughly.

I’d like to stain the railings in white; and finish the mahogany deck with a clear or semi-transparent stain. I currently have picked out Flood Pro Solid Deck, True White for the railing system; Benjamin Moore EXT Translucent Mahogany for deck.

Thoughts anyone?

Chris
Chris
9 years ago

I'm planning to stain my deck with Defy Hardwoods Light Walnut. Can you recommend the best application method? Brush? Deckpad? I've read that the stain is very runny and drippy and difficult to apply with a brush. FYI, the deck is cedar, and it has weathered for about 15 months now. I've cleaned it with Defy Cleaner and will be brightening it with Defy Brightener. Plan to stain 48 hours or so after brightening.

Bryan
Bryan
9 years ago

Should we paint the deck boards on all sides, before installation, or can we simply install and then paint the top side?

Michelle
Michelle
10 years ago

We are currently putting in an ipe deck . We are coastal Southern California. Looking for a non toxic stain since our wee ones will be on the deck ALOT. What would you recommend?

Rod
Rod
10 years ago

As a suggestion, I would like to propose from a practical standpoint that the category of "Difficulty of Reapplication" not be made in an assumptive manner.

As a contractor, I am looking at these reviews with great interest because I need to know what others are experiencing.
The review is incomplete in this particular category because I need to know exactly what was done to conduct the reapplication and the results afterwards.

Not all Stains are created equal and any darkening whether obvious at the point of determination or not needs to be investigated. I have run into a number of products that color shift with age and need to be removed before another application can be made. The results otherwise had turned out uneven and splotchy due to furnishings on the deck and traffic patterns created by use.

These reviews have been quite helpful, but this one aspect didn't help in my overall decision for my customers.

Acidex
Acidex
10 years ago

Hi, I have a 2nd story balcony made out Massaranduba wood (54’ x 4’). It was build in April 2013. At the time of installation, they lightly sanded the boards with 100 grit paper, cleaned them with a damp rag and gave them a light coat of Ipe oil with another rag on all 6 sides. At the beginning of the summer (June) the wood was looking vey dry and faded on the surface. I re-applied the Ipe Oil on the top surface again with a rag, I did not clean or bright beforehand. It looked great for about a month and then it started to fade and dry again. The balcony is only partially covered and it gets wet when raining. The outer edge of it looks blackened, I guess from dirt and possibly mold. I tried cleaning a couple of boards with a very light solution of warm water/oxyclean and a hand brush, all the gunk seems to come out but it leaves the wood with a whitewash look, not really sure why.
Although Ipe Oil has positive reviews, gathering what I have read on this and other sites, I don’t think it was applied correctly in the first place. Still it has not worked really well for me. Nevertheless, I still have some Ipe Oil left.
On the other hand, I read in another site that natural oil stains are food for the mold and algae and that is why is better to switch to water based stains like the Defy Hardwood, plus they are easier to clean
I was thinking of washing it with “restore a deck” cleaner and re-staining it with the Defy hardwood. I was going to use a brightener but I have aluminum windows and doors underneath the balcony and I read that the brightener could corrode the frames. Not sure if that is truly the case.
Given that the method of application of the Ipe Oil, Do you think the cleaner would be enough or would it be better to use a stripper? If that is the case, is the stripper safe for the aluminum frames? Sanding with 80 grit would be the last resort.

I would greatly appreciate If you could please shed some light on what would be the best course of action for my situation.

Lori
Lori
10 years ago

Hi: Would Defy hardwood stain be suitable for some teak trim on the deck of my boat? The area in question does not get a lot of seawater on it but it does get a little from time to time and it will be near the sea all the time. Thank you.

Kit
Kit
10 years ago

Hello, I'm new to IPE and have a 45 x 24 ft deck which is half shaded most of the day, but the other portion is heavily exposed to West Texas hot sun. The current finish of Australian Timber Oil mahogany flame has not lasted 8 months on the sun exposed portion. The finish was done by a contractor and its also a bit uneven. Looking to start again and need some advice on the best approach at this stage. Prep, product and maintenance.

Thanks

Kit
Kit
10 years ago

Can you recommend a stripper and brightened?

Elise
Elise
10 years ago

I have an older pine deck that was painted with the Behr cedar colored product, so it looked like a pumpkin. I have stripped, sanded, and power washed over the last 2 summers. I am finally ready to put a new product on it. Is there a good single coat product? Should I use oil or a water based product? We live in SW Ohio so temperature can range from 0-100- full sun too.

Bill
Bill
10 years ago

For a new Tigerwood deck, which color Defy, Cedar or Light Walnut, would result in the most natural looking finish? Would one have a significant color retention advantage over the other? I'm in SE Massachusetts, lots of sun, heat, cold & snow; Defy a good bet up here?

Thank You,
Bill

Bill
Bill
10 years ago

The protection/color retention would not be compromised much with the lighter product? The Tigerwood has such an impressive look that the Natural Pine sounds like what I want, as long as it holds up close to as well as the other colors, Thank You.

Deb
Deb
10 years ago

Is there anything I can do to fix the blotchy areas we tried light sanding and wiping it but no luck.

Deb
Deb
10 years ago

Does the hardwood stain look blotchy the first day you put it on. I'm hoping it looks better tomorrow. Please advise.

Stephanie Ford
Stephanie Ford
10 years ago

Does the Defy Hardwood Cedar tone color come out the same as the Defy Extreme Cedar tone?

Deb
Deb
10 years ago

We have a cedar deck which is about a year old we power washed and used a brighter. Should we put one or two coats of the defy for hardwood on it. I saw for newer decks only one coat should be used. What do
you recommend. Also can we lightly sand the rough areas? Thank you!

Susan
Susan
10 years ago

my deck is only four weeks old, built with new western red cedar ( full southern exposure to sun).. Would you recommend one coat or two coats?
The deck is 230 square feet plus three steps. How many gallons should I order?

Thank you very much.

Stephanie Ford
Stephanie Ford
10 years ago

TWP 1500 versus Defy Hardwood… Which stain is less toxic?

Saly Nisley
Saly Nisley
10 years ago

I posted a question earlier today, but I don't think you received it. So here I go again. I have a garapa hardwood deck located in central Virginia. It was constructed in 2009 and the contractor used Rymar Exotic Forest wood sealer which has tung oil, linseed oil, and other proprietary resins in it. We even had a Sherwin Williams representative on the scene to help correctly apply the Rymar product on the new deck. The stain started to fail in 6 months. I am considering using the Defy because I have been told the water base would be a better choice for the garapa. Does the my deck need to be sanded again or will the Defy stripper and brightener be sufficient to remove the Rymar product? Also is the Defy Extreme formulated for harwoods such as the garapa, the reviews seem excellent on this product. I know that whatever product I choose I will have to reapply in a year, but my goal is not to have to strip or sand again. Thank you for your help. Sally Nisley

Rick
Rick
11 years ago

Hello. I am in Portland, OR and awaiting materials to install a 600 sf Tigerwood deck. I had initially decided to apply Ipe oil to the deck after installation. Now, after reading the reviews of the Defy Hardwood Stain, I am having second thoughts. Is it the case that once an oil based product, Ipe oil is applied, the water based Defy stain will not penetrate the wood, say, one year later. Alternatively, if the water based product is initially, will the oil based product penetrate. My thought would be to apply the water based product initially and use the oil based product later…….
The question boils down to: once you use either a oil or water based system, is it best to stay with that system?
Thanks,
Rick

Karen
Karen
11 years ago

Have a mahogany deck that was stripped, sanded to bare wood and coated with Australian timber oil in flame mahogany color. Deck Is protected by roof. Color looks pretty good but seems not the best product that I could have chosen even though I did a lot of research for treating mahogany. Can I use this Defy hardwood stain?
Have a second deck of new mahogany that is in sun with no roof or overhang that was also treated with the Australian timber oil and that has faded very quickly. Would also change that to something that is better for longevity and low fading and mildew resistance.

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