Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993

Hello, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior deck cleaning. My wood deck cleaning help tips are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing. See here for more info about me. Pro Deck Cleaning Tips for 2026 Thanks for stopping by Deckstainhelp.com! Below, I will discuss Deck Cleaning and offer some advice and tips I have been using for the past 30 years. Feel free to leave me a comment below with any pictures you may have. Wood restoration can be among the most misunderstood and challenging projects for do-it-yourself homeowners. One thing to remember is that a new deck sealer …

Bleach or Oxygenated Deck Cleaners Welcome to Deckstainhelp.com, where deck staining experts come to share their knowledge and insights. Water-based stains have come a long way as far as quality and longevity go in the last 10+ years. In this article, we highlight the difference between bleach wood cleaners and oxygenated wood cleaners. As always, comments are encouraged. Wood deck cleaners are used to clean and prepare exterior wood prior to staining or sealing. Wood cleaners can contain different ingredients and come in different concentrations. The goal of a deck cleaner is to remove natural pollutants like dirt, grime, graying, fungal growth, and sometimes an old failing stain. Most deck cleaners contain caustic detergents that help break up contaminants making …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My Cabot Australian Timber Oil review is based on hands-on testing across real decks — all designed to give you an honest, independent look at this product. See here for more info about me. Cabot Australian Timber Oil Deck Stain Review Cabot stain has been a fixture in the deck staining market for decades, and the Australian Timber Oil is their most recognized semi-transparent product. It is marketed as a penetrating oil-based stain that enhances wood color while protecting against UV damage and moisture. After testing it on a 200 square foot pine deck with full southern …

Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain Review 2026 Note: Defy Extreme Clear had a label change in 2019. We would love to hear from you if you have used the Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Consumer reviews below in the comment section have shown good results when using the Defy Extreme Clear Wood Finish. Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain is the premier “crystal clear” decking finish on the market. The Defy Extreme Clear utilizes nanoparticles of zinc oxide into their formula. This is the same product that is used in sunscreen. These zinc oxide particles filter the UV radiation from the sun, prolonging the oxidation (graying) …

Cabot Deck Cleaner Review Cabot® Ready-to-Use Problem Solver® Wood Cleaner is specially formulated to remove mildew stains, mold, algae, dirt and other foreign matter from all painted, stained, unfinished or weathered wood surfaces. Use for routine cleaning and for properly preparing all surfaces prior to staining or painting. Cabot Problem Solver® Wood Cleaner Rating (1-10) Removal of Graying, Dirt, Grime: 6 – Cabot Problem Solver Wood Cleaner is a sodium hypochlorite “bleach” based cleaner. It removed the mold but did a poor job of removing the graying and dirt. Cost Per Square Foot: 7 – In general, we are not fans of liquid-based wood cleaners. You are mostly paying for water in a bottle with a small number of chemicals …

PPG ProLuxe (Sikkens) SRD Wood Stain Review 2026 PPG ProLuxe Cetol SRD is one of the most recognized semi-transparent oil-based stains on the market, and after testing it on a 1,200-square-foot pine boat dock over two years, my verdict is straightforward: it looks excellent on day one but struggles with long-term UV protection, mold resistance, and color stability. If you are considering Sikkens SRD for a deck project, read the full results before committing — there are better-performing options at a similar price point. In 2017, PPG transitioned the Sikkens brand for exterior wood products to PPG ProLuxe in North America. The name and packaging changed but the formulas remained the same. When you see PPG ProLuxe Cetol SRD, you …

Behr Deck Cleaner Review 2026 BEHR Premium 2-In-1 Deck Cleaner is a cleaner specifically formulated to clean and brighten wood surfaces and remove mildew stains. This unique product will also remove tannin bleed, red clay stains, rust stains on wood and masonry, and clean vinyl/aluminum siding, composite decks, and more! BEHR Premium 2-In-1 Deck Cleaner Rating (1-10) Removal of Graying, Dirt, Grime: 5 – The BEHR Premium 2-In-1 Deck Cleaner did a poor job of cleaning and removing the graying. The cleaner did not remove any of the mold or mildew from the wood. It lightened the color of the wood slightly. On inspection of the contents, it was determined that this product is more of a wood brightener than …

Wolman Deck Brite Deck Cleaner Review – Updated 2026 Wolman™ DeckBrite Wood Cleaner is an oxygen-powered wood cleaner used to clean and restore decks and other weathered wood. When mixed with water, DeckBrite quickly and safely restores dirty, weathered-gray, mildew, and algae-stained wood to its bright, natural, like-new look. DeckBrite is used to prep for the reapplication of wood stains as well.   Wolman™ DeckBrite™ Wood Deck Cleaner Rating (1-10) Removal of Graying, Dirt, Grime: 7 – Wolman™ DeckBrite cleans and removes grayed wood very effectively. We prefer oxygenated-based wood cleaners and the DeckBrite performs as we would expect. Cost Per Square Foot: 9 – Excellent! Powdered deck cleaners are hard to beat when it comes to cost.

Restore-A-Deck Cleaner Review Important Note: This is our 2nd Review of the Restore A Deck Kits. See Here for First Review: Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kit Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kit Review We would love to hear from you if you have used the Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kit on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Consumer reviews below in the comment section have shown excellent results when using the Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kits. If you have any pictures of your experience with Restore-A-Deck, you can add them in the comment area with a detailed description. Restore A Deck Cleaner Restore A Deck Cleaner is a specially designed two-part …

Wolman DuraStain Review 2026 Wolman™ DuraStain Semi-Transparent Stain protects new and older decking/wood from UV radiation, mold growth, and rotting. Beautifies wood with a richly pigmented, semi-transparent, matte finish while providing durability and prolonged color retention. Retains color longer than traditional semi-transparent stains. Ideal for wood exposed to the severe sun. Wolman™ DuraStain Stain Rating (1-10) Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 3 – When applied the Wolman™ DuraStain looks very unnatural. The stain sits on top of the wood similar to a paint or solid deck stain. It actually looks like paint with just a small amount of transparency. The Natural Redwood color used masked the wood grain instead of enhancing the wood grain. Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood cleaning. My Defy Stain Stripper review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top deck stain choices. See here for more info about me. Defy Stain Stripper Review 2026 I would love to hear from you about whether you have used the Defy Stain Stripper. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. If you have any pictures of your experience with the Defy Stain Stripper, you can add them in the comment area with a detailed description. Defy Exterior Wood and …

Penofin Blue Label Review 2026 Penofin Blue Lable continues to have issues with darkening or turning black on a vast majority of wood decks and exterior wood. Penofin (PENetrating Oil FINish) Blue Label preserves and protects exterior wood. Using trans-oxide pigments, Penofin Blue label retains the wood’s natural colors while penetrating deep into the wood fibers. Use Penofin Blue Label on fences, decks, and unfinished exterior wood siding. Note: For this test, we used the Penofin Blue label on a vertical fence in Texas. Penofin Blue Label Wood Deck Stain Rating (1-10) Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 9 – Penofin stains always present some of the most natural-looking wood. The Cedar color used highlighted the grain without adding too much …