Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in One Review  3/5 (70)

This post was updated on February 22, 2024

Olympic Wood Deck stain Reviews 2024

Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in One

Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in One

Note for 2024: This review is for the Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in One. This is their newer water-based version. For the Oil Based review see: Olympic Maximum Stain Review

OLYMPIC MAXIMUM Deck, Fence & Siding Semi-Transparent Stain provides a subtle color that allows wood’s natural grain and texture to show through. Core-shell hybrid resin technology provides deep stain penetration, waterproofing, and UV defense to strengthen, protect and condition wood fibers, ensuring the wood’s natural beauty lasts.

Recommended for use on properly prepared exterior wood, including decks, fences, siding, railings, outdoor furniture, and other wood surfaces.

Note: Olympic Elite Stain is the same stain, just a different label for different stores.

Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in One Stain Rating (1-10)

Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 6

– The Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in One is a water-based acrylic oil hybrid. What that really means is that it is a waterborne stain. This stain applies like the majority of water-based stains in that it is a film-forming stain that does not penetrate into the wood deeply. The appearance of the Cedar natural tone on the deck was a mild orange color. We applied evenly but the final look was uneven as some of the stain dried into the wood and some did not.

Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 8

– After 2 years the Olympic Maximum in the water-based version did a fairly decent job with only about 30% fading

Wear/Tear and Peeling: 5

– This stain had worn about 50% on the surface and handrails. Not a very good showing here.

Cost Per Square Foot: 6

– We used 10 gallons to cover the 800 square foot deck and railings at a cost of $.53 a foot. Coverage per gallon was closer to 150 sq. feet per gallon

Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 9

– Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant is a water-based stain that did an excellent job and preventing mold and algae growth. This is typical of most water-based stains.

Ease of Application: 6

– Average to apply. We applied 1 thin coat as the manufacturer suggests. The coverage was poor and not even close to the specs. Application with a stain pad did cause some overlapping.

Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 8

– The OLYMPIC® MAXIMUM lightens in color instead of darkening.

Difficulty of Reapplication: 6

– Since the stain had worn unevenly we needed to strip off the rest and start over. This proved slightly difficult but the old stain did remove after a couple of attempts with the stain remover

Overall Score Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in One at 2 Year Period: 6.75

– The Olympic Maximum has moved away from oil-based to water-based stains and like many other brands, the performance has gone downhill. If you can still find the oil-based versions in your local Lowes or Sears, then consider yourself lucky. If not, there are many better stains out there.

Important Note: OLYMPIC® MAXIMUM claims a 6 years warranty for decks. Warranties that claim ridiculous amounts of 5, 6, and 7 years for exterior wood are using this for marketing. Do not believe these false advertisements.

Olympic Deck Stain Photos

Product Information:

Where To Buy: Lowes
Cost: $43.99 per Gallon, $219.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Semi-Transparent Acrylic Water Based
Available Colors: Transparent Natural, Transparent Cedar, Clove Brown, Slate Gray
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 1 Coat
Coverage Per Gallon: 150-250 sq. ft
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller – Back brush as needed.
Dry Time: 24 Hours
Cleanup: Soapy Water
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in All 50 States
Manufacturer: PPG

Test Deck Stats:

Deck Wood Type: Pine Deck
Deck Square Footage: 600
UV Exposure: Full sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: 
Cedar Naturaltone

*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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Bruce johnstone
Bruce johnstone
8 months ago

Olympic used to make good stains, but not any more. – In fact, this paint is so bad that you have to wonder whether they did it deliberately on the idea that it just isn’t worth it for the average home-owner to sue them for a couple of thousand dollars worth of wasted time and money. This paint lasts less than a year in the Northwest no matter where you put it. – Sun? Fail! Shade? Fail! Covered area? Fail! Dry area? Fail! Wet area? Fail even more!

I am being serious when I say there is a strong possibility that this was a conscious business decision to defraud buyers into buying one season paint as the paint was being heavily pushed by the reps until quite recently. They even told distributors that the old stains (which actually used to be quite good) were being phased out, – they weren’t, as all the professional builders I know hated the new line,- they cared about the quality of their product whereas Olympic obviously does not.

If you are considering buying this paint you may be better off just taking a few hundred dollar bills and burning them. – You will come out further ahead as you won’t have wasted all that time putting down one of the world’s worst paint products!

Kenneth James
Kenneth James
9 months ago

This product is complete junk. Do not purchase it! I bought 3 gals of Olympic Maximum Semi-Transparent Stain 716 Cedar Natural-Tone 79561C on Apr 8th 2022 at a cost of 3x$67.99 CAD plus tax. I cleaned all the surfaces and applied as per directions. It took a lot of back-breaking work and I am over 75yrs old. The product states a guaranteed 6 year life on decks. By the fall the stain/sealant was already starting to fade and peel off all the horizontal surfaces. By the spring of 2023 almost all the stain/sealant was gone. I took a picture of the horrible mess and contacted the company ‘PPG’ for a refund. They still have not acknowledged or responded.

May 23 2023.JPG
Bonnie Shannon
Bonnie Shannon
2 years ago

Very disappointed with this product! Our deck is a mess! Waste of $$ and our time. Cannot recommend this product. Pictures of deck after one Canadian winter. Can’t attach photo..probably a good thing…. file too big.

Bonnie
Bonnie
1 year ago

Can I get a refund from Olympic or PPG?

Bonnie
Bonnie
1 year ago

Stain has a white look in places, which tells me it did not penetrate the wood evenly. Its a mess and its only 6 months old. I’m so disappointed and we paid 1800 to have this crap applied.

Jared
Jared
1 year ago

Picked up three gallons of Olympic Maximum recently at Home Depot for $4 a gallon (90 percent off.) The Can looks the same as pictured newer formula but the fine print lists a higher VOC (VOC <600 instead of <100) than what they still sell for full price. Cleanup says mineral spirits. I am looking for a cheap move to an oil-based stain rather than continuing to use Thompson’s water seal every year.

I’m ok with what was reported on the performance of the older version of Olympic linked at the top of this article…the new formula gives me pause. Would it be safe to say I purchased the OK performing older oil formula?

Jared Taylor
Jared Taylor
1 year ago

How many years ago? So which version does your review cover? The higher VOC, apparently water based (with mineral spirit cleanup) that I bought or the newer, even lower VOC version with soap cleanup?

It’s all very confusing.

Meme
Meme
2 years ago

Can the Olympic Stain and Sealant be use if you have pets! Is it pet friendly

Patricia
Patricia
2 years ago

I have a half gallon left of Olympic Maximum stain and sealer in one. How many years can it be kept in the can? Would like to use it again eventually.

John S
John S
2 years ago

What is the difference between Olympic Maximum cedar semi transparent stain and sealer and Olympic WaterGuard cedar semi transparent stain snd sealer ?

Ryan Gauder
Ryan Gauder
2 years ago

Can I use the oil based stain over top of the maximum line win it is time to restrain?

Jamie G
Jamie G
2 years ago

I bought the Maximum Stain + Sealant in One with a 10 year warranty on decks, 25 years on fences/siding. Even had the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. It was easy to apply and looked great after application. Applied in 2017 and started peeling 2 years later. Now at the 4 year mark, the peeling is terrible and the wood is getting wet and mildewing. I would not recommend this product at all. Unless you like having it removing the old paint and repainting every 2 years. I saw they reduced the warranty on this product – smart move on Olympics part. Run as far away from this product as possible!

Mike Bockover
Mike Bockover
3 years ago

Recent stained fence what can I put on it to make it semi shiny shiny

Bob DePiero
Bob DePiero
3 years ago

Do you also review oil based stains for redwood siding or do you just review decks.

I am trying to match olympic redwood stain for redwood shingles and want oil base.

Andrew thomas
Andrew thomas
3 years ago

What is the best thing to use to thin the stain+sealant?

Laurie
Laurie
3 years ago

We used this on our deck when it was new in 2012. I reapplied three years later, and then again two days ago. It’s warm and sunny, but it’s still oily and and not drying. I don’t know what the deal is, but my husband started trying to soak up the excess with towels and it looks terrible.

Frank Torino
Frank Torino
3 years ago

This is the worst deck stain I ever used. I stained a new deck that was installed 9 months ago. The stain goes on unevenly. Used 2 gallons for 384 sq ft and couldn’t complete the deck. The color is so uneven I now have to completely redo it with a solid stain. Which will be from another company. Will never use Olympic again.

Steven Jacobs
Steven Jacobs
3 years ago

We bought this can of stain for our deck/fence 3 years ago. Is it the same now? We cleaned the flat surface of the deck and planned to just stain that portion again. We do not want to have to do the rails and side boards. Just wondering if it will match?!

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Donna
Donna
3 years ago

Can you use Olympic maximum stain and sealant on an indoor floor

Liisa
Liisa
3 years ago

I’ve used the TWP 100 Cedartone color for probably 6-9 years. I typically get two years out of it after each application for my 18 year cedar old deck in Minnesota that is in full sun. I was wanting to switch to something less orange. If I were to switch to the Pecan color in the same stain line or Dark Oak, can I just power wash it and use the cleaner and wood brightener on it or do I need to strip the old stain before the slight color adjustment? The latter two photos were from two years ago when I did it last time. thanks!

Deck #1.jpg
Deck #2.jpg
Deck Pic #1 2018.JPG
Deck PIc #2 2018.JPG
ryan macinnes
ryan macinnes
4 years ago

I used the Olympic redwood stain on my very large deck. Took me all summer season to finish the deck and fence around my pool inside and out.
After one winter this stain has peeled and looks terrible.
All summer wasted and over $3000 stain and labor down the drain.

Stew
Stew
4 years ago

Contractor here. I have a deck that was stained 4 years ago with Olympic Maximum Oil based Water Proofing Sealer-Honey Gold. Will this new Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant in One is a water based acrylic oil hybrid go over the previous stain? Or do I need to strip the entire deck and start again. Or can I go with another Oil base stain and go over it after it is washed? Thank you.

Stew
Stew
4 years ago
Reply to  Stew

I was a Solid Color-Honey Gold.

Stew
Stew
4 years ago

Thank you.
Is there any stain type that you can wash and prep to have a stain re-applied without stripping the entire thing (with previous stain)?
I was lead to believe that you could do that. Appreciate the help.

Sara D.
Sara D.
4 years ago

I installed a new deck in 2017 and had it stained with this product as it came highly rated at the time. 2 years later it has lost all water proofing. In northern exposed areas it is growing algae and mildew like crazy. In southern exposed areas it has worn away from the wood. In all areas, it is no longer repelling water. Definitely not a long term solution & will not use again!

Robert Hoeflich
Robert Hoeflich
4 years ago

It’s best to let the new wood sit for at least one season before putting on a stain. I even recommended to lightly sand the wood to get the millings off from the lumber mill. It helps the Stain to adhere better and rough up the wood slightly for better absorption. A lot of people make the mistake of putting stain on way too early. Take a little bit of water and put it on the wood if it doesn’t soak in right away it’s not ready yes usually new wood the first coat usually doesn’t last long. These steps will help make it last longer,
I know from experience.

Allan
Allan
4 years ago

A very disappointing product

Very unsatisfied
Very unsatisfied
4 years ago

We used Olympic Elite Advanced Semi-Transparent Stain and Sealer on a very nice redwood deck in Oct. 2017. PPG shows a “Lifetime Results Guarantee” right on the can. The price was much higher than any stain we’ve used before. It required nearly 4 times as much stain. It wore off in less than a year (less expensive stains lasted 3 times longer), and in less than 2 years our redwood deck went from a really nice deck to several boards rotting. We are waiting to hear PPG’s response. Even if they do refund our money, it doesn’t account for the damage done by their deceptive advertising claims and incredibly inferior product. I’m convinced our deck would be in much better shape if we wouldn’t have used anything at all versus this stuff. How can PPG get away with this? They are advertising a lifetime warranty and guaranteeing this is their best “Elite” product when they surely must know their cheaper 3 and 4 year products last far longer than this one, cost far less, and actually protect wood instead of ruining it.

The deck was scrubbed and prepared very well with Olympic deck cleaner. All instructions on all the Olympic products were followed. The deck was in exceptional shape before application. The product didn’t even last a year and water was soaking right in. At less than two years, several boards are rotting and splitting and need replacing. Redwood decks are tough and rated for 30 years. Ours isn’t even half that old. Several of our exposed boards went from perfect to poor in less than two years after using this product. The stain went on like water and required over 4 times more stain than we ever used before. It seemed to soak past the top layer of the wood, then wore off the surface within a few months. So because of this product, I think water soaks through the top layer very quickly, then sits just under the wood surface and rots the boards faster.

On top of all this, their customer service was really poor. A Lowe’s representative called PPG with me. They were disconnected 3 times. Then they said they would email me a complaint form to fill out and didn’t. After 2 hours, I called back and they acted like it was my fault. Finally, I received the email and they asked every question under the sun about how I prepped it, how I applied it, deck condition, sq. ft., and more. I was very thorough in my response and I asked for a manager to call me. No reply or call yet.

See attached pictures. I have many more before and after photos.

stain-card.jpg
rot.jpg
Brenda Venable
Brenda Venable
4 years ago

Please tell me what happened. I am experiencing the same thing. Mine is treated pine. I have had several decks and always used Thompson Water Sealer. So disgusted in myself for swaying to Olympic Elite. My boards are rotting daily. What I found on the internet specifically consumer reports is there product doesn’t allow the normal contracting and expansion therefore causing cracking which the water gets into rotting the boards out. The underside of my deck and the frame it is sitting on is in great shape. They have given so many excuses. It is over $1000 in just the wood alone. They offered to reimburse for the product WOW!

A year ago. Do I still have to remove that stain f
A year ago. Do I still have to remove that stain f
4 years ago

If it was already stained with Olympic maximum A year ago. Do I still have to remove that stain from last year even though I’m applying Olympic maximum again?

larry hiatt
larry hiatt
4 years ago

I just did a test patch on a red gum eucalyptus stump that was cut down about 2 weeks ago. I sanded the surface, cleaned and applied a thin coat. It has the appearance of a yellow pine, not the natural red color of the stump. I am waiting 24 hours for dry time, but hope this is not the final color. Is this normal?

jon
jon
4 years ago

I used the Olympic Maximum acrylic/oil stain back in 2012 on a cedar railing. I recently sanded the railing down mostly to bare wood, but not completely as sanding close to other rail material was hard to get it to bare wood so there’s some spots on the vertical 4x4s where it’s not completely bare wood . What brand/type of stain would you recommend to re-coat? Do I still need to use a stripper or a brightener? I live in NJ.
Thanks!

Jon
Jon
4 years ago

As a follow up to my previous question, here’s a few pictures. Ideas on further prep and a compatible stain to recoat?
And thanks so much for your advice.

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Don
Don
4 years ago

What are the ingredients in this? I want to thin it as it’s settleing and becoming darker than I wantef

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