Use deck stain or water sealer? DeckStainHelp.com experts always recommend using a deck stain over a water sealer. A clear water sealer will do a good job of protecting the wood against moisture, water damage, and mildew. However, a clear water sealer will not protect the wood deck from natural graying that happens when wood is in the sun. Tinted deck stains will offer a level of protection against UV rays. Tinted penetrating deck stains also protect against moisture and act as a water sealer. More information about deck stains and water sealers Will a Clear Sealer Prevent Graying on Deck? Best Deck Stain and Sealer Can you stain and seal a deck stain at the same time? Thompson’s WaterSeal …
Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993
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.
In the spring of 1996, Scott opened his first Brick and Mortar storefront in Rochester Hills, MI. Scott relied on his experience and stocked the store with the best wood restoration products available. The store quickly became the go-to place for contractors and homeowners seeking the best products possible for their deck maintenance needs. In 2002, Scott opened his first eCommerce site selling the products he sold through his retail store. This allowed him to offer eCommerce solutions to both contractors and homeowners alike.
Over the years, Scott has used and sold enough decking and wood stain to cover over 100 million square feet. In the past 10 years alone he has helped over 30,000 contributors on his sites with their wood restoration questions and concerns. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject and loves to help homeowners. His goal has always been to help consumers achieve better results through better products and better service than provided by a local big box store.
Scott is only biased toward the products that perform the best based on his own personal experience using the products and in his 20+ years of helping others. Scott has been approached about selling numerous different deck restoration products through the years but selects only the products he has used and trusts to perform.
All the products he suggests through this site are sold through numerous 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. You can also contact the manufacturer(s) directly for help in locating products.
eCommerce Deck Stain Sites Operated By Scott:
- www.opwdecks.com
- www.TWPStain.com
- www.DeckStain.com
- www.ArmstrongClarkStain.com
- www.Restore-A-Deck.com
DeckStainHelp.com was conceived by Scott and is his way of giving back and helping promote the use of quality products for better results.
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Best deck stain to prevent mildew? The best type of deck stain to prevent mildew is a water-based deck stain. The best water-based deck stain to prevent mildew is Restore-A-Deck. Some oil-based deck stains have added mildewcide, but not all. Check the label of the brand and color you want to make sure it is appropriate for a wetter climate. The best oil-based deck stains with mildewcide are TWP and Armstrong Clark semi-transparent penetrating deck stains. A deck with existing mildew must be thoroughly cleaned before applying new deck stain in a moist environment. How to Prevent Mildew on Deck Stains Pro Tip: The RAD Guard will remove the black mildew and green algae stains from your wood and deck …
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Best tinted deck sealer? All deck stains are tinted. Clear deck sealers do not have tint. Transparent deck stains have a very light tint that blends into the natural grain of the wood while still offering minimal UV protection. Semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid deck stains all have visible tint at varying degrees, ordered here from lightest to darkest. The darker the tinted deck sealer the better it protects against sun damage. The best-tinted deck sealers are penetrating deck stains that seal the wood while giving it a natural tint. The best semi-transparent penetrating deck stains are TWP, Armstrong Clark, and Restore-A-Deck. More information about tinted deck sealer Deck Stains More Pigment in Deck Stain Means Better UV Protection Why Penetrating …
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What Ready Seal stain colors are there? Ready Seal stain colors include options from a Natural Cedar to a Gold that can be used on any wood. Ready Seal stain color photos are included in the links below so that you can see how Ready Seal stain colors look in real deck stain applications. Note that there are many better deck stain colors among the top recommended deck stain brands including TWP, Armstrong Clark, and Restore-A-Deck. More information on Ready Seal stain colors and reviews Ready Seal Wood and Deck Stain Review Ready Seal Wood and Deck Stain Review The 7 Best Deck Stain Reviews and Ratings Deck Stain Color Photos Deck Stain Photo Albums
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Deck Stain Facts, Questions & AnswersDeck Cleaning Facts and Tips: Helpful Advice
Deck Stain Touch Up?
How to deck stain touch up? The best way to do a deck stain touch up on most decks is to clean the deck, brighten it, then apply a new light coat of deck stain to all of the wood on the deck. Spot deck stain touch ups are not effective and untreated areas may be prone to mildew or sun damage. Deck cleaners and brighteners ensure that the deck is ready to accept a new coat of stain. Solid color deck stain touch up requires starting with a deck stain stripper to remove the flaking coat so that new stain can be applied evenly. More information on how to touch up deck stain Best Deck Prep? Clean, Strip, or …
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Is there a deck stain and sealer in one? Yes, deck stains and sealer are one and the same. All deck stains are sealers, but not all water sealers are deck stains. The best deck stains have mildewcides in addition to penetrating to wood to protect it from intruding moisture. Clear sealers completely protect the wood but do not offer other types of protection. Clear sealers do not offer UV protection, but all tinted deck stains act as deck stain and sealer in one to protect against both water damage and sun damage. More information about deck stains and sealers Will a Clear Sealer Prevent Graying on Deck? Best Deck Stain and Sealer Can you stain and seal a deck …
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Deck Stain Facts, Questions & AnswersDeck Cleaning Facts and Tips: Helpful Advice
How to Remove Deck Stain Without Chemicals?
How to remove deck stain without chemicals? The beset way to remove deck stain without chemicals is to sand the deck. Where semi-transparent deck stains have faded power washing the deck and spot sanding areas of thicker stain is typically sufficient. When removing a semi-solid or solid deck stain the entire deck may require sanding, but be careful not to over-sand. Over-sanding the wood compromises its integrity and can lead to early deck failure. More information on how to remove deck stain without chemicals How To Sand Your Wood Deck Why Sanding a Deck Can be an Issue Do I Prep after Sanding Deck? Best Deck Prep? Clean, Strip, or Sand the Deck?
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Best deck stain for pool decks? The best deck stain for pool decks is a semi-transparent or semi-solid penetrating deck stain. If you want the wood grain to show through opt for a semi-transparent penetrating deck stain. Penetrating deck stains soak into the fibers of the wood to seal it against moisture and protect it against the sun. Semi-transparent penetrating deck stains are best because they wear evenly and reapplication can easily be done in a day. Semi-solid penetrating deck stains do not soak into the wood as deeply but still protect it against sun and water. Choose a semi-solid penetrating pool deck stain when you want to hide the wood completely. More information about deck stain for pool decks …
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Deck stain with grip? When needing a deck stain with grip use a deck resurfacer instead. A deck resurfacer has grit for grab and traction while also pulling splinters back into the wood. The only good deck resurfacer deck stain with grip is Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive. Adding grit to deck stain to gain grip causes the deck stain to fail almost immediately. More information on deck stain with grip Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive Review Behr Deckover, Olympic Rescue-It, Rust-Oleum Deck Restore – Do They Work? Best Stain for an Old Deck
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Which fence stain lasts the longest? The longest lasting fence stain is penetrating semi-transparent deck stains like TWP, Restore-A-Deck, and Armstrong Clark. Penetrating deck stains soak into the wood and do not crack and peel over time like paint or solid deck stains. Penetrating deck stains still protect against moisture, while the pigment in semi-transparent deck stains prevent graying. Penetrating semi-transparent deck stains also wear evenly and are easy to maintain over time. More information about fence staining and longest lasting stain Why Penetrating Deck Stains are Best What Deck Stain Lasts the Longest? Best New Wood Fence Stain Best Semi-Transparent Deck Stain Reviews The 7 Best Deck Stain Reviews and Ratings How to Stain a Wood Fence How to …
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What Deck Stain UV Protection? The best deck stain for UV protection is a tinted deck stain. The tint or pigment is what keeps the deck from greying over time. The more tint or color added to the deck stain the more it protects against UV rays. Clear sealers do not have a tint and therefore do not have UV protection. Clear sealers will start to gray in a matter of months. More information about deck stain UV protection and full sun decks Best Stain For Full Sun Decks Darker Color Deck Stains Will Last Longer
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Is there a deck stain estimator? There are several things that impact how much deck stain you need. The type, brand, and color of the deck stain as well as the type, color, and age of the wood dictate how much deck stain you need in addition to the size of the deck. The DeckStainHelp.com calculator linked below is the best way to determine how much deck stain you need to buy. More information on deck stain quantity estimators Deck Stain Calculator – How Much Deck Stain Do You Need? How Much Deck Stain you Should Buy? Deck Staining Tips
