This post was updated on February 27, 2024
Not to be confused with Cabot Australian Timber Oil
Timber Oil Brand is a deep penetrating paraffin oil-based wood and deck stain. This stain dives deep into all exterior wood to condition the wood cells while preventing UV fading and water damage.
TimberOil Brand is strongly suggested by the manufacturer for all new wood. Many wood and deck stains have difficulty with penetrating new exterior wood such as cedar, redwood, and especially pressure-treated pine. Timber Oil Brand promises ease of application and proper penetration into new decking.
Note: We tested the TimberOil Brand on a new cedar deck three weeks after installation. Only prepping was a light cleaning to remove the dirt.
TimberOil Brand Stain Rating (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8
– The Timber Oil Brand looked even on our new cedar test deck. No overlapping or issues were apparent. The Honey Gold color was a rich “wet look”. The railings did not have any drips or runs. Penetration into the wood was 100% with no surface film or oily residue.
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 5
– About 50% of the original color was left after 2 years. Wood looked more “natural”.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 8
– Timber Oil Brand had a slight amount of wearing on the railings otherwise, there were no issues.
Cost Per Square Foot: 7
– We used 6 gallons of the Timber Oil Brand for our cedar deck. The cost was decent per gallon but square footage was a little on the low side. Not bad but average. About $.31 a foot.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 8
– Paraffin oils do not “feed” mold or mildew growth like other oil-based stains that contain linseed oil. Little to no mold was noticeable on the cedar. A small amount of algae around the railings.
Ease of Application: 10
– Very very nice to apply! We were surprised at the ease of application on the new cedar. We applied the Timber Oil Brand with a garden sprayer then back wiped the excess with a pad applicator. At the time of application, there was puddling under the railings from overspray but this went away once dried.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 9
– No darkening for the Timber Oil Brand. Fades lightly while looking more natural.
Difficulty of Reapplication: 8
– Light cleaning to remove dirt and grime. No need to strip or sand.
Overall Score TimberOil Brand Stain at 2 Year Period: 7.875
– If you have a new deck then Timber Oil Brand would be our top choice. Fades faster than some of the top stains but still lasts the normal benchmark of two years. The ease of application is a plus.
Product Information:
Where To Buy: Click to Find on Google
Cost: $59 per Gallon, $259 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Semi-Transparent Paraffin Oil Based
Available Colors: Warm Honey Gold, Western Cedar, Brown Sugar, Amaretto
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 1-2 Coats
Coverage Per Gallon: 150 sq. ft per gallon as tested
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 2-24 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in All 50 States
More Info: Product Data
Manufacturer: Extreme Solutions
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: 1-month-old Western Red Cedar Deck
Deck Square Footage: 800
UV Exposure: Full Sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: Warm Honey Gold
*All products tested and results are from our experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Take in consideration that results may differ due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.
Are all these companies that you review owned by the same corporation?
I noticed on the restore a deck site they link to …and sell…several of the other products you recommend!
What gives? And are the reviews here on your site completely independent?
Thanks!
No, they are not owned by the same corporation, all independent. The very first article on the home page explains all.
I accidentally bought and painted half my deck with the stain for hardwood- and I have treated pine. Do I need to buy another 5 gal for softwood and start over?
No, just finish it with what you have. It will be fine.
can it be used on wooden fences
Yes.
Is there a difference between the Cabot and Woodrich brands of timber oil? I have cedar deck that has not been previously sealed or stained.
Completely different products and manufacturers.
I have a new redwood deck that I am planning on using Woodrich TimberOil to stain. Will this stain make the deck more slippery when wet than it would be otherwise? Thank you!
No, it will not.
Are skid resistant additives appropriate for this type of wood finish on stairs; would you recommend their use?
You cannot apply an anti-skid additive to a penetrating deck stain like this.
Thank you.
Are Skid resistance additives Helpful to reduce slipping and falls; do you recommend this type of product ??
Hi,
I live in Melbourne, Australia,. We have a varied weather from very dry hot summer (46 Degree C to frosty and wet winter 2 Degree C. We have recently installed new merbau decking and my preference is to have oil based stain. Could you please suggest me the best quality oil based satin. Unless you suggest other than oil based.
Thank you in Advance
Not sure what brands are sold there and if any good. The states have different stain options.
Just put down new pressure treated pine deck boards. Live in South Carolina with lots of heat and humidity. Deck also gets hours of direct sunlight in the afternoon. I am waiting until fall to stain when thing cool off about 4 to 7 months to stain. Stuck between TWP 100, Armstrong and Woodrich Timber Oil. Which one?
Also have post older posts and and facial boards that did not need replacing that I am gong to sand and stain. Same deck board stain ok? or a different brand for those? Thanks.
Same stain for all. Try the Armstrong Clark or TWP 100 series.
I’m in similar situation as Keith except I’m in NC. In the next couple weeks, I’m having new pressure treated pine floorboards and railings put in (but not posts and fascia). Unlike Keith, my deck doesn’t get much direct sun, though we do have heat and humidity.
By the time my deck weathers 2-3 months, it could get chilly here overnight. I had originally been thinking Armstrong Clark and taking my chances with temperature. In this Woodrich review, it sounds like I could get just as good results without the wait of AC and get deck stained before risk of low temps. Given Keith was asking about new wood too, I’m curious as to why you suggest AC/TWP rather than Woodrich.
Same or different recommendation for me?
Also, do Woodrich and AC require the same prep/prep time? If one would require less time/materials, it would be helpful to know. Since I’m planning to have the contractor do the staining, more time = more $.
Thx!
AC and TWP will last longer. Prep and materials use are about the same.
What are your thoughts on Defy brand for a dock?
Use the Defy Marine Sain for a dock. Works great.
Love the reviews but live in Canada. I was wondering if you are able to ship to us up here . Thanks Kevin
We do not ship products. Best to check online for dealers.
I live in Canada (Alberta) – long cold winters, nice summers. My deck faces west so I get hot intense sun afternoon till evening. I put on a grey stain from behr 2 years ago.. deck had seasoned for 2 years. This grey stain did not even last a winter and it was peeling by the following spring. I have now sanded all that peeling paint/stain off and I want to now go with the Timberoil stain – natural. Is that the best for my deck now…. I NEVER want to sand again! The wood on the stairs attached to the deck is treated wood about 8 years old. I’m only doing the deck and stairs…railings re not wood. thank you
Try Armstrong Clark Deck stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/tag/armstrong-clark-deck-stains/
used Thompsons Timber Oil on new pressure treated spruce decking last year. TTOil was so highly recommended. Applied it as directed and deck looked beautiful, was so proud. This spring deck was, in most places, as black as coal with mildew. I live in a relatively dry, very sandy soil area surrounded by agricultural fields. Not in a damp, swampy area at all, as mentioned, dry and well drained. Will have to pressure wash deck and restain but it will not be with TTOil. Very disappointed.
This review is not for Thompsons Timber Oil. In general, all Thompson deck stains and sealers are useless. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/?s=thompson
I have a very large redwood deck which was in need of some love. It had been 3 years since last refreshed. I previously used a product called Super Deck, was not impressed by the product. Through lots of research I decided to try Woodrich deep penetrating oil. I picked Brown Sugar and couldn’t be happier. The product is so easy to use, leaves no marks where you left off. Drys quickly and the results are stunning. Just ordered another 5 gallons for my new fence. Thank you Woodrich for such a wonderful product and excellent customer service. Happy Customer
We have large deck, lots of sun, lots of rain and humidity down south, pressure treated pine, dried for one year. Now we are ready to apply a seal. I like the woodrich option because I can reapply with out sanding. wondering how well it can handle the rain?
You always have to prep when reapplying. Use a deck cleaner and wood brightener. There are better options for a year old deck than the TimberOil and can be cleaned and they can be recoated with the need for sanding. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
“If you have a new deck then Timber Oil Brand would be our top choice.” Guess I get confused easily…is there that much difference between brand new and 1 year old? Many stain reviewers call up to one year new. Also, file under “picky picky” but think there’s a typo…do you mean withOUT the need for sanding? If you could expand on what a 1 year old deck needs compared to brand new that would be really helpful.
1 year old is not new anymore so not treated the same. 12 months old is substantially more absorbent compared to a brand new deck. Do not sand for prep.
Thanks so much for this site. It has been the most helpful and unbiased. It’s so hard to find a site that’s not actually an infomercial for one particular btand.
You are welcome!
I have a small year old deck made of pretreated pine. Which has never been sealed or painted. What should I use that would be better than Timber Oil? Looking for a Golden Honey with good UV protection and zero chance of peeling and black marks. Live in rainy Washington State. Thanks in advance for your help. Single mom, first time homeowner. Researched my brain is dead. Lol.
Try TWP 115 Honeytone. Make sure to clean and brighten the wood for prep.
Would you consider this the best for pressure treated pine also?
It will work for pressure-treated pine as well.
Hi there! Thanks so much for this website, I have learned so much!! I wanted to ask your opinion on something, I changed out all my deck boards from april to August with pressure treated pine in new York state. It’s been 2 months since the last deck board was put down and I wanted to ask if you would recommend I stain this weekend or wait until the spring. Water still beads on the deck boards, so I suspect they are not done weathering yet. I’m worried that the harsh winter will damage my deck.
Thanks again!
Just wait until Spring. One Winter will not harm the wood.
Got it! Thanks for the fast reply!!
My husband built our small 14′ x 9′ deck three months ago, using kiln-dried Alaskan yellow cedar. I checked with the wood supplier, and they said we can stain it immediately since kiln dried. The deck is under a tree and in constant shade. We are planning to use a cleaner and brightener and then apply one coat of the TimberOil. Is this a good idea? Or should we wait until next Spring and use a different product?
You can do it now since it has been 3 months.
Thanks so much for response! Would you recommend applying the TimberOil now, or waiting until Spring and using a different stain/brand?
Either would be fine.
I recently had a worn out PT deck resurfaced and re-railed using Selkirk KD cedar. It’s got SE exposure here in Minnesota, so lots of sun in summer and lots of snow in winter. I ordered the Timber Oil sample kit, but have not tried any yet. I’m contemplating between deciding on a Timber Oil stain and applying in a month or so, or waiting til late next spring/early summer (gotta let the snow melt), and going with something like TWP 100. Color preference is something dark golden, darker than honey but not all the way to brown. Would you recommend the former, to get something on before the onslaught of winter, or the latter, and wait to use a better product?
We would wait until Spring.
The boards on my deck are about eight years old. The semi stain that was used is almost all off now. I’ll be trying to remove the rest with the pressure washer and a remover. The wood has sort of grayed from age and being bare. Will this oil be suitable for it? If so, what shade should be used to get a brown tone?
Go with Armstrong Clark in Rustic Brown instead: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/tag/armstrong-clark-deck-stains/
I applied penofin oil to an IPE deck about a year ago and not happy with the results. I’ve heard good things about the Woodrich brand Timber Oil. What do I need to do to switch products on the ipe wood? Thanks!!!
This stain is not going to work well for IPE. Use one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/ipe-exotic-hardwood-stain-review/
Strip and brighten for prep.
The TimberOil (Woodsman) stain has been great on our ipe deck. The color has been long lasting, up to three years. The reapplication is relatively easy … does require wiping but it looks great
Is Austrarian Oil stain avalible in quart size ?
Sorry but no idea.
Does it come in a clear formula? My wife is allergic to the off-gassing of the red cedar in our sauna. Will this product seal the wood? If not, can you recommend something else?
It does not come in a clear. Try Defy Extreme Clear.
I have used the Cabot Timber Oil semi transparent Natural. My question is the stairs did not stain well, how can I redo these ? or should I wait until next year and clean and then stain again. From what I read I only have to clean with no sanding and then stain with the same stain. I just stained yesterday, so I guess I am wondering what my options are without ruining it.
Try leaving alone and clean and recoat in the Spring.