This post was updated on May 1, 2024
Bakers Gray Away Review
Baker’s Gray Away wood stain from Texas Wood Products is a premium, long-lasting, easy to apply stain, sealer and wood preservative perfect for Fences, Decks, Roofs, Siding, and Log homes. Special UV stable pigments, resins and heavy-duty penetrating oils make Baker’s stain is the first choice of professionals for deck staining, fence staining, deck sealing, fence sealing, staining cedar shakes and siding and any other exterior wood sealing project.
Bakers Wood Deck Stain Rating (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 7
– The Super Cedar Gold was used for the test deck. The color did not highlight evenly throughout the decking surface. The knots in the wood had a much lighter tone of color while the rest of the wood had a yellow hue to the wood grain.
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 6
– We were not impressed with Baker’s stain after two years. The majority of the color had a washed-out look and there was a decent amount of graying of the wood cells.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 6
– Bakers Wood Stain films closer to the surface than other stains that we have tested. About 30% of the finish had completely worn off in the higher traffic areas. Closer to the house there was some heavy peeling of the stain
Cost Per Square Foot: 7
– Bakers Wood Stain is less per gallon than other wood stains but the spread rate on our test deck was poor. We averaged about 125 square feet per gallon. We used 6.5 gallons of Bakers on our test deck or about $200 for 400 sq. feet. This averages to $.50 a square foot.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 7
– Mold and algae were noticeably growing in the finish. Little small black dots of mold had accumulated throughout the coating and algae had grown on top of the wood near the outside edging of the deck flooring.
Ease of Application: 7.5
– This is an average product to apply. We would have given the Bakers a higher rating if the coverage was better. We applied the stain by spraying on a light first coat and reapplied the second coat with a stain pad and brush. Total application time took 3 hours for the two coats of Bakers Wood Stain on our 400-foot deck and rails.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 7
– We gave the Bakers Wood Stain and average score here due to the mold and algae issues.
Difficulty of Reapplication: 7
– Best would be to strip the is stain off completely and start over. This would be an easy strip as the Bakers was barely noticeable after the 2 years test period. Any quality deck stain stripper should work to remove this stain.
Overall Score Bakers Wood Stain at 2 Year Period: 6.81
– An average wood deck stain in our opinion. We did some research on the Bakers Wood Stain and came up with this conclusion. Bakers is a “watered down” knock-off version of TWP Stains. It is our understanding that they buy this from Amteco (manufacturer of TWP) in a concentrated formula then add paint thinners and solvents to thin the product. They then add in some clay pigments for color effect. The end result is a poor version of the TWP Wood Stains and that is why it scores so much lower. If you want the real thing then buy the TWP 100 Series or the TWP 1500 Series.
Product Information:
Cost: $44.99 per Gallon, $209.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Oil-Based
Available Colors: Super Clear, Super Gold Cedar, Super Cedar, Super Cedar Dark, Walnut, Super Redwood, Driftwood, Special Blend
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 2 Coats. “Wet on Wet”
Coverage Per Gallon: 150-200 sq. ft
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 48 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant
Manufacturer: Bakers Wood Products
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Pressure Treated Pine
Deck Square Footage: 400
UV Exposure: Full Deck
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: Super Cedar Gold
*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.
Seems like all the top products you rate high are the products the Sealer store sells and you own also.Not really a biased review at all? Guess you didn’t like when they turned you down to sell the product in the sealer store. I use over 2000 gal a year of Gray Away widely used exclusively by HOA’s and builders/developers.
I am sorry but you really have no idea what you are talking about. We give full 100% disclosure as to who we are on the very first article on the front page and also on every single page with the article bio below each article. As for “turning us down”, we have never talked to the people at Baker’s Gray Away about carrying their products. We tested it and reviewed it. We would not consider using it or carrying it as it is a “thinned” down version of TWP 200 Series or their RADCON formula. It is not a “bad” product but there are better options that we have used and tested.
If you want the real thing, then use any of the TWP stain products as they are better options in our opinion.
I just put up a 104 feet of cedar fence. When can I stain. How much would I need to do both sides twice. Thanks
Rough sawn or smooth? Makes a difference as to when you can stain. As for amount needed, what is the total sq footage for both sides?
Thanks for replying back. Its smooth picket fence panels from home depot. Its 104 square feet for both sides. Which would be 208 square feet if my math is correct. What is the best method to apply. Thanks
Are you sure you are doing your math correct? For square footage, you do Lenght x Height x Two for both sides. Just want to make sure as 104 for one side means it is not very long.
Use a stain pad or brush to apply.
1,234 square feet. How much stain will I need. One ot 2 coats. Thanks
8-10 gallons for one coat should work.
Thanks for your time and help
Would you recommend Bakers for a PT Pine lattice privacy screen/fence? I prefer their color selection over TWP and Armstrong Clark.
I like the idea of an AC semi-solid, but again, not loving any of their colors. Any other oil-based semi-solid stain options out there?
Bakers is an okay product and should work for the fence. No other semi-solid oil based stains that we know of.
After 15 years, Super Cedar still going strong in shade. Spring hail storm is causing us to power wash and reseal, but hen good for 15 more +! Thank you for producing superior products available to individual consumer @ fair cost.
Baker's wood look good but is very delicate. It is very good choice for a short term use but for the long term use it is not ver durable.
Baker's isn't thinned too much. It's also not possible for it to peel. It also wasn't applied right on the test deck. A heavy coat should be applied first. It finishes prettier than any other stain. Best mildew resistance of any stain that I've used. Doesn't darken up like TWP 100 series and much better mildew resistance than Armstrong Clark (worst mildewing of any product I've ever used). I'm a wood restoration contractor and have used many different products over the years.
Sorry jack I ment to do thumps up.
Baker's Gray-Away a must to use only
I started using Bakers Four years ago after TWP 100 was banned in Ohio, Used Flood UV5 oil not bad did not go on as well or last as long. Ran into Bakers and have not looked back since goes on very easy almost impossible for lap or drip marks, wears well not as good as TWP 100 but much better then the Flood oil. I have no idea how you got the stain to peel on your review. I've done hundreds of decks with it and its all oil no way this stuff peels. Only way that could happen is you waited too long for second coat not wet on wet. This stain is the closest to TWP 100 yet. BTW TWP 1500 not good reminds me of Sikkens SRD you have to be perfect with it or you see everything no drips and fast with application or you will see lap marks. Just my two cents been a restoration contractor for 20 Years I've seen a lot of stuff.
same as twp 200
Yes Bakers is a TWP Radcon formula. Basically a concentrate that is thinned down. In our opinion Baker\’s is thinned too much and does not perform as well as the TWP 100, 200 or 1500 but is a better stain then many others.
It wasn't applied properly. I Have It on my pine deck And Is great! Is so easy to maintain all you do every 3 years you clean with bleach, let it dry for 1 week and apply 2 coats wipe down and let go for 3 more years. Oh and is not thinned down is just goof proof.
Hi Mary, we do not how to apply a deck stain. As for thinned TWP Radcon, yes it is. Just ask them.
twp 200 series is the closest to bakers, bakers is a thinned version of 200. i stain decks professionally and use 205 with great results and easy reapplication