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Defy Extreme Stain Review 2019

by Deck Stain Help 01/31/2019

Defy Extreme Stain Review

Update 2019: This is an updated Review of our original Defy Extreme Wood Stain. See Here for First Review: Defy Extreme Stain Review

Coming new for 2019, Defy Extreme Solid Stains.

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

Summary: Defy Extreme Wood and Deck stains are one of our top choices for water-based deck stains. It has superior UV resistance and has the ability to penetrate into the wood grain almost as well as an oil based semi-transparent. The mold and mildew protection is superior to 90% of all other semi-transparent stains due to the nanoparticles of zinc oxide.

In 2008 Defy unveiled the Defy Extreme Stain, which quickly became the most popular stains in the Defy stain line. As a water-based stain formula, Defy Extreme penetrates wood surfaces and does not form a film. Defy Extreme Stain utilizes synthetic resins and nano-particles that harden the cellular structure of the wood pores and helps reflect harsh UV rays like a sunscreen to prevent fading and graying.

Defy Extreme Deck Stain Scores (1-10)

Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8.5

– The initial appearance was a warm rich finish with even natural grain highlights. We were impressed that Defy Extreme Deck Stain did not conceal the wood grain like other water-based stains. Wood surface penetration was outstanding. The Cedartone test color revealed a hint of orange but was tolerable and almost expected for a cedar deck stain tone.

80 comments

Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster @ Thickening Gel Review

by Deck Stain Help 04/10/2019

Restore-A-Deck Stripper Booster and Thickening Gel

Update: Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster @ Thickening Gel Review

We would love to hear from you if you have used the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper with the Booster and/or Thickening Gel additives on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below.

If you have any questions as to the effectiveness for your deck or wood stripping project, please ask below with the name of the stain brand and type being removed. Please add a couple of pictures as well.

Note: These are 2 additives for the RAD Stain Stripper. They only work as additives for the Restore-A-Deck Stain stripper and will not work by themselves. This article is reviewing both of the additives when used together into the RAD Stripper. We tested this on two extremely hard to remove finishes. Behr Acrylic Based Semi-Transparent Wood Stain and a White Solid Color Deck Stain. Both of these coatings were applied 3 weeks before removal. Pictures of test boards below.

Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster – Up to 300% More Effective

Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster Additive is a special blend of solvents that is added to premixed 5-Gallons of the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. The Restore-A-Deck Stripper Booster will raise the effectiveness of the stain stripping up to 300% by helping to break down the surface tension of difficult to remove wood stain finishes.

Restore-A-Deck Booster should be used to increase effectiveness in stripping difficult to remove wood and deck stain coatings. Stripper Booster improves effectiveness on removal for most exterior wood and deck finishes including:

Acrylic-based (water-based) wood and deck coatings such as Behr, Olympic, Sherwin Williams, etc
Oil-based wood and deck coatings
Clear wood and deck sealer
Transparent wood and deck stains
Semi-transparent wood and deck stains
Most semi-solid exterior wood and deck stains

Behr Stain Before Stripping with Booster and Behr Stain After Stripping with Booster

Behr Stain Before Stripping with Booster and Bare Wood After Stripping with RAD Stripper + Booster

Restore-A-Deck Stripper Thickening Gel Additive – Clings up to 1 Hour

Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Thickening Gel is a special blend that is added to premixed 5-Gallons of the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. With a longer dwell time, Restore-A-Deck Stripper Thickening Gel will raise the effectiveness of the stain stripping by adding the ability to cling to vertical and horizontal surfaces for up to 1 hour. Works especially well on improving the performance of the stripping on vertical wood such as wood railings, wood fences, and wood sided homes.

Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel should be used to increased effectiveness in stripping difficult to remove wood and deck stain coatings. RAD Stripper Thickening Gel improves effectiveness on removal for most exterior wood and deck finishes including:

Increased effectiveness for vertical surfaces such as railings, wood siding, log homes, and wood fences
Longer dwell time for horizontal and decking surfaces
Clings to wood for up to 1 hour

The pictures below show the RAD Stain Stripper with Thickening Gel with the Booster Additive combined. The before picture is Behr Acrylic Stain. The middle is after 30 minutes leaning against a wall. Notice how the stripper did not run off the wood with the Thickening Gel Additive. The after picture shows the stripping results.

RAD Stain Stripper with Thickening Gel – Before – During Leaning Against a Wall – After Stripping

Restore-A-Deck Deck Stain Stripper with Booster and Gel Additives Scores (1-10)

Removal of Graying, Dirt, Grime: 10

– The RAD stripper will easily remove all oxidized graying, dirt, mildew, mold, and algae.

Cost Per Square Foot: 9

-Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper covers 500- 1000 sq. feet for the 2 pound, $34.99 a bottle. The RAD Booster and Thickening Gel Additives retail for $19.99 each. All mixed together this will make 5 liquid gallons for a total cost of $75. That equates to $15 per gallon. Very good price for an extremely effective product.

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Best Deck Prep? Clean, Strip, or Sand the Deck?

by Deck Stain Help 04/16/2019

Best Deck Prep? Clean, Strip, or Sand the Deck?

What is the Best Deck Deck Prep 2019

In this article, we help by guiding consumers in finding the best way to prep their deck for an application or reapplication of a deck stain or deck coating. Not all scenarios are the same and this article with some input and pictures from you will help determine the proper way to prep.

What is the Best Deck Prep? Clean, Strip, or Sand the Deck?

This is the 2nd most popular question that deck owners have on this website with the first being What is the Best Deck Stain? Prepping your deck is the single most important aspect in the deck restoration process and will determine your final appearance and the stain longevity. Not prepping properly can lead to premature stain failure and overall poor appearance results. How to best prep your deck could vary on numerous scenarios:

Is the wood new or old?
Does it have a previous coating on the wood?
Are you recoating with the same brand and colors as last time?
When was the last time it was stained?
What type of stain was it coated with before?

A better way to approach the deck prepping question is to ask, “what is the best deck prep for my deck due to its current condition and age”?

The three main ways to prep a deck are:

Deck Cleaning followed by Wood Brightening
Deck Stripping followed by Wood Brightening
Power Sanding
Or a combination of the above.

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Update on Deck Stains for 2019

by Deck Stain Help 04/29/2019

Deck Stains in 2019

– What’s new? What really works? What types are there?

Today we will be reporting what’s new in the deck staining industry for 2019. Out two years ago is the Restore-A-Deck wood stain. The Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain can be applied to damp wood, allowing for prep and stain to be completed on the same day. Restore-A-Deck Stain uses the latest in water-based wood staining technology to create a formula that allows for better UV protection, excellent penetration into the wood stain for long lasting beautiful results, and the ability to apply to damp wood for single day project completion. The Wood Stain comes in four radiant semi-transparent colors that highlight and enhance the natural wood grain.

Which stains really work? With the help of thousands of people who have completed deck stain projects over the years, we consistently see the same higher quality stains outperforming lower quality stains. Hands-down, semi-transparent wood stains seem to receive raving reviews as far as the quality and durability go. As always, be sure to choose a high-quality semi-transparent wood stain, as low-quality semi-transparent wood stains fail to penetrate the wood grain and make maintenance a pain. Click here to see the top 6 rated deck stains.

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Amazon vs DeckStainHelp.com Reviews

by Deck Stain Help 06/15/2019

Amazon vs, DeckStainHelp.com Reviews. Why ours are better in 2019

We have been getting questions here at DeckStainHelp.com as to why our ratings and reviews differ from other consumer review sites such as Amazon and other Internet Marketplaces. We have compiled a list of reasons why we believe our reviews and ratings are more realistic and honest examples of how a deck stain actually performs over a period of time.

We encourage customer interaction on our site, so feel free to participate in our open discussion below.

We have Restored 10,000s of Decks since the 1990s

Reviews and articles are posted from our experience as deck restoration contractors. We have a tremendous amount of knowledge in the industry and hands-on experience as well.

DeckStainHelp.com does Full Deck Testing

The deck stains are tested on actual decks with normal exposure to weather and traffic over period(s) of time. We test for ease of application, appearance, wear, reapplication difficulty, preventing mildew, and color-shifting.

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How to Restore Your Deck all in One Day

by Deck Stain Help 05/20/2019

Tips on Restoring Your Deck in One Day

In recent years there have been a few new deck and wood stains coming to the market that allow the ability to prep and stain your deck all in the same day. As contractors in the deck restoration business, this allows us to save money and more importantly time by completing everything on the same day. No need to wait days or even weeks for the wood to dry or the rainy weather to cooperate. This frees up a lot of time for the average homeowner as the task of redoing the deck or exterior wood does not take up multiple weekends.

Here are the 3 basic restoration steps on prepping and staining your deck on the same day.

15 comments

Why Rinse a Wood Brightener with Water?

by Deck Stain Help 05/10/2019

Update 2019 for Why Rinse a Wood Deck Brightener

Deckstainhelp.com remains committed to being your number one reference for deck restoration professional tips and industry news. It is important that when done applying a wood brightener that your rinse the wood well with water to achieve maximum results.

As always, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below.

Exterior Wood Deck prep is key to the longevity and appearance of the deck stain brand that you choose. Prior to staining the surface needs a good cleaning and or stripping of previous coatings. A properly prepped surface will ensure proper adhesion and stain penetration into the wood grain. Cleaning or stripping a wood surface prior to staining will also enhance the beauty of the wood and give you a better end result. The downside to a caustic cleaner or stain stripper is that it raises the pH level of the wood and makes it appear darker in color. The way this darkening of the wood is reversed is to simply apply a wood brightener. This mild acid formula known as deck brightener or deck neutralizer cancels the condition of the caustic soaps and restores the wood’s pH balance to a more neutral or acidic state. This also “brightens” the wood and enhances the wood grain.

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Are Deck Finishes, Stains, Sealers, or Both?

by Deck Stain Help 05/02/2019

Update 2019 Are Deck Finishes, Stains, Sealers, or Both?

Deck Finishes, Stains, Sealers,

Here at DeckStainHelp.com we continue to be your go-to source for 2019 on the latest in deck restoration news and trending topics. See below for an article that answers the question, are Deck Finishes, Stains, Sealers, or Both? We appreciate your input. Feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.

One of the more popular questions asked on DeckStainHelp.com is what is the difference between a deck sealer and a deck stain and do I need to apply a sealer over a deck stain? Some might think that a deck sealer and a deck stain are basically the same things but in all actuality, they are two different products when it comes to appearance. They both share the same purpose in general, to preserve and protect wood but there are some major differences.

Deck Sealers

A deck sealer is typically a clear or transparent finish that penetrates into the wood. It helps to lock out moisture and reduce water intrusion. Unwanted moisture can lead to mildew and wood rot so it is crucial in reducing the chances of jeopardizing the wood’s longevity. A clear deck sealer, however, will not protect from sun damage ore preventing the wood to turn gray form the UV oxidation. U

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What are The Best Solid Color Deck Stains

by Deck Stain Help 04/24/2019

Update What are the Best Solid Color Deck Stains in 2019

The Best Solid Color Deck Stains

Some new solid color stains have been introduced in the last few years and are better than previous brands due to enhancements in technology. Less wear and peeling when tested.

We always appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below with pictures of your solid deck stain projects.

Solid Color Deck Stain Reviews for 2019

Our favorite deck stains have always been the penetrating semi-transparent stains. These stain types allow the wood grain to show and if they truly soak into the wood grain, reapplying is easier down the road. Solid color deck stains have always been a “last resort” coating in our opinion. We have not been huge fans of the appearance or performance of solid deck stains but do understand that there is a need for them. That being said, there are some really good solid color deck stains on the market for 2019.

See here for tips on when best to use a Solid Opaque Deck Stain: When to use a Solid Color Deck Stain?

Listed below is a summary of our Top 3 Solid Deck Stain Ratings for 2019

Best Solid Deck Stains

1. Restore-A-Deck Solid Color Deck Stain Rating

Restore A Deck Solid Color Stain Review

Restore A Deck Solid Color Stain will be our go-to Solid Color Stain for 2019 due to its ease of use, 5 pre-mixed solid colors (the only solid stain on the market that comes pre-mixed), and the ability to prep and stain on the same day.

Note: Restore-A-Deck Wood Stains are the only stain we have tested can be applied to dry or damp wood. Applying to damp wood allows you the ability to prep and stain on the same day, saving you a tremendous amount of time.

Stain Type: Solid Color (Opaque) Wood Stain – Water Based –

Available in Pre-Mixed Solid Colors: Classic White, Coastal Gray, Desert Taupe, Cypress, Brown Oak

DeckStainHelp.com Review (On a Scale of 1-10): 8.88

See Review Article Here: Restore-A-Deck Solid Stains

2. Defy Extreme Solid Stains Rating

Defy Extreme Solid Color Stain Review

DEFY Extreme Solid Color Wood Stain is a synthetic-resin, opaque wood and deck finish that helps protect against water, mildew, mold, algae, and UV radiation on exterior wood surfaces. This V.O.C. compliant water-based product provides a beautiful finish, fortified with transparent “oxide” based Nano Particles. There are over 30 TRILLION nano-particles per square inch that provide extreme protection for your wood by blocking out the sun’s harmful UV rays, moisture and fungal growth.

Stain Type: Solid Color (Opaque) Wood Stain – Water Based

Available Custom-Mixed Solid Colors: Custom tinted to any color.

DeckStainHelp.com Review (On a Scale of 1-10): 8.5

See Review Article Here: Defy Extreme Solid Stains

3. Flood Pro Series Solid Stain Rating

Flood Pro Series Solid Color Stain Review

Flood Pro Series Solid Color Stain is an advanced stain and sealant in one that protects wood from moisture and sun damage while adding rich, opaque color. 100% acrylic formula provides excellent adhesion and durability. Urethane-fortified to resist cracking and peeling. Rain resistant finish within 12 hours. Powerful UV absorbers protect against fading and UV damage. Provides a mildew-resistant finish.

Stain Type: Solid Color (Opaque) Wood Stain – Water Based

Available Custom-Mixed Solid Colors: Tintable to over 120 colors

DeckStainHelp.com Review (On a Scale of 1-10): 8.0

See Review Article Here: Flood Solid Color Stains

Solid Color Opaque Deck Stain Rating Questions

If you have any questions on this review of solid color deck stains, please ask below. For a more in-depth article on “What is The Best Deck Stain for Your Deck” see this article: What is the Best Deck Stain

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Applying A Deck Stain in Full Sun

by Deck Stain Help 03/29/2019

How to Apply Deck Stain in Sun

Update for 2019: How to Apply A Deck Stain in Full Sun

We appreciate your input here at Deckstainhelp.com as we continue to be your go-to source for the latest in deck restoration news and deck stain topics through 2019. See below for an article about How to Apply Deck Stain in the full sun of the day and the issues that could potentially arise.

Feel free to leave a comment or ask questions below.

These tips are for Transparent, Semi-Transparent, Semi-Solid, and Solid (Opaque) deck coatings.

If you have a wood deck, at some point, you will have to stain and seal it. Staining your deck allows it to withstand the elements such as severe weather, foot traffic, and scuffing from heavy furniture.

Before you begin, make sure you plan ahead. Ensure there’s no rain in the forecast or excessive pollen levels that create an ideal environment for mold to grow. Please note that instructions for staining and sealing a deck will vary from product to product, so read the manufacturer instructions for best results. Prep is key to the longevity of a deck stain so make sure to prep accordingly by cleaning and or stripping the deck surface. Always neutralize with a wood deck brightener if using a stain stripper or deck cleaner. This will ensure the wood is left in the proper pH balance prior to applying your deck stain coating.

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Defy Extreme Solid Color Stain Review

by Deck Stain Help 03/12/2019

Update for 2019: This is our initial Review of the Defy Solid Color Wood and Deck Stain. This review will be updated through the years. The Defy Extreme Solid Stain is an excellent choice for a solid color wood and deck stain. As always, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects using the Defy Extreme Solid Stain.

Defy Extreme Solid Color Wood Stain Review

Summary: DEFY Extreme Solid Color Wood Stain is a synthetic-resin, opaque wood and deck finish that helps protect against water, mildew, mold, algae, and UV radiation on exterior wood surfaces.

This V.O.C. compliant water-based product provides a beautiful finish, fortified with transparent “oxide” based Nano Particles. There are over 30 TRILLION nano-particles per square inch that provide extreme protection for your wood by blocking out the sun’s harmful UV rays, moisture and fungal growth.

Defy Extreme Solid Wood Stain Scores (1-10)

Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 9

– The DEFY Extreme Solid Color Wood Stain in the custom-mixed Redwood color has a beautiful finished appearance. Coverage was excellent and the grain of the wood was completely covered, which is the nature of solid opaque stains.

21 comments

Flood Pro Series Solid Color Stain Review

by Deck Stain Help 02/16/2019

Update for 2019: This is our initial Review of the Flood Pro Series Solid Color Wood and Deck Stain. This review will be updated throughout the years. As contractors, we have been using the Flood Pro Series as one of our top solid stain choices for the last 10 years when a solid stain is needed over a semi-transparent. There are new and better brands of solid stains coming into the market, but the Flood is a decent choice.

We appreciate your input. If you have used the Flood Solid Color Deck stains, feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects.

Flood Pro Series Solid Color Stain Review

Summary: Flood Pro Series Solid Color Stain is an advanced stain and sealant in one that protects wood from moisture and sun damage while adding rich, opaque color. 100% acrylic formula provides excellent adhesion and durability. Urethane-fortified to resist cracking and peeling. Rain resistant finish within 12 hours. Powerful UV absorbers protect against fading and UV damage. Provides a mildew-resistant finish.

Flood Solid Deck Stain Scores (1-10)

Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 9

– We used the Flood Pro Series Solid Color Stain in white. Very easy to apply and the overall appearance when dry was excellent with a nice matte opaque look.

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