We would love to hear from you if you have used the Behr Deck Stain on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Behr Deck Stain Stains consumer reviews below have shown issues with the application, drying unevenly, and peeling. We encourage you to read all the comments below.
- Behr Deck Stain forms a surface film that peels on horizontal decks; 80% of our test deck failed in two years.
- Behr Deck Stain labeled semi-transparent masked 80 to 90% of wood grain, appearing semi-solid and darker than comparable colors.
- Behr Deck Stain claims 250-350 sq ft per gallon but delivered under 150; real cost was about $0.67 per sq ft in our test.
- Behr Deck Stain alternatives include Armstrong Clark and TWP 100, penetrating oil stains that outperform for durability and easier recoats.
Best Behr Deck Stains in 2026: Reviewed by an Expert
Behr Deck Stains are widely available at big box stores and are marketed as long-lasting, durable coatings for exterior wood surfaces. They come in multiple versions, including semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid color stains.
From my experience restoring decks since 1993, Behr products tend to act more like coatings than true penetrating stains. While they can provide initial coverage and color, they often sit more on the surface of the wood, which can lead to issues with peeling, flaking, and difficult maintenance over time.
Behr Stain Opacity Issues Recently: Behr essentially lies about the opacity of its stains. Their “semi-transparent” colors do not show wood grain properly and look more like semi-solid or even fully opaque colors. This makes the wood look more like solid paint and makes removing of the stain, when it peels, extremely difficult.
See the pics below that show these opacity issues.
4.63 Overall Rating Behr Deck Stains
🔹 Quick Verdict – Behr Deck Stain
Behr Deck Stain – Quick Review
- Best For: Short-term appearance and availability
- Not Ideal For: Long-term durability and easy maintenance
- Type: Acrylic / film-forming stain (varies by version)
- My Overall Rating: 4.63/10
My Take:
Behr stains can look good initially, but from my experience, they tend to create more problems over time due to peeling and difficult reapplication.
BEHR’s Premium semi-transparent wood stain offers a 100% acrylic formula that penetrates into the wood to deliver complete protection from the elements on decks, fences, and siding. The silicone-fortified formula protects from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Behr’s Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain is available in 83 custom colors, allowing the natural wood grain to show through.
Behr Wood Deck Stain Rating (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 2
– Behr’s Premium Deck Stain is a 100% acrylic stain which means it is a water-based product. We found that the stain does not penetrate into the wood as promised in its description. The product had the look of a semi-solid stain, not a semi-transparent stain. 80-90% of the wood grain was masked by the heavy pigment. A good way to describe the finished appearance is to compare Behr Deck Stain to a watered-down paint. The Cedar color we choose was much darker/redder than other brands.
Does Behr Semi-Transparent Deck Stain Actually Show Wood Grain?
Behr deck stain labeled as semi-transparent does not perform like one. In our field test, the stain masked 80 to 90% of the wood grain — a result you would expect from a semi-solid or heavily pigmented stain, not a semi-transparent. The Cedar color we applied also ran significantly darker and redder than the same shade from competing brands.
This is not a minor labeling discrepancy. Homeowners who buy Behr expecting to see their wood grain will not get it. And because the product sits on the surface of the wood rather than penetrating it, stripping it later — especially once it starts peeling — is extremely difficult.
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 7
– Behr Deck Stain performed well in the areas where the stain was still on the surface of the deck after the 2 years of testing.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 3
– One of the worst stains that we have ever tested! The Behr Deck Stain had peeled on 80% of the decking surface. This stain seemed to offer little to no protection on the flooring after the 2 years. The railings did hold up much better.
Cost Per Square Foot: 5
– Behr Premium Deck Stain costs $39 per gallon. The manufacturer stated 250-350 square feet per gallon when actual coverage was less than 150 feet per gallon. We used 20 gallons for the 1200 square foot deck translating to a per square foot price of $.67 per foot.
Coverage Reality Check: Behr states 250 to 350 sq ft per gallon on the label. In our field test on a 1,200 sq ft pressure-treated pine deck, we used 20 gallons — actual coverage was under 150 sq ft per gallon. That is less than half the manufacturer’s claim and nearly doubles the real cost per square foot.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 8
– As expected with a water-based stain, Behr had no mold or mildew on top or growing in the stain. Small amounts of algae were present along the perimeter of the home.
Ease of Application: 1
– Nothing positive to say here. We tried applying for manufacturer directions with horrible results. Behr suggests applying with a pump sprayer and back brushing with a pad applicator. The problem is the stain does not apply evenly or at all with a sprayer. We switched to a pad applicator but still had horrendous results with ease of application. It was next to impossible to achieve an even finished appearance with the Behr Stain.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 7
– Behr Deck Stain retained close to 90% of its original color after 2 years. No noticeable darkening and the railings looked like they had not changed at all in appearance.
Difficulty of Reapplication: 4
– The Behr Deck Stain would be difficult to fix. Since the stain failed so badly we would suggest a professional cleaning with a stain stripper and possibly sanding of the entire surface.
Overall Score Behr Premium Wood Stain at 2 Year Period: 4.625
– Behr Premium Deck Stain gets our lowest score to date of all deck stains tested. The initial appearance, application, and peeling making Behr Decking Stain a poor choice for any exterior wood restoration project.
Buyer Beware!
Product Information:
Behr Deck Stain Home Depot
Where To Buy: Home Depot
Cost: $42.99 per Gallon, $214.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Premium Semi-Transparent – Water Based
Available Colors: 83 mixed colors
Application Temperature: 40-90 F
Coats Required: 2 Coats
Coverage Per Gallon: 125-150 sq. ft in field tests
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 24-48 Hours
Cleanup: Soap and Water
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in all States
More Info: Product Data
Manufacturer: Behr
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Pressure Treated Pine
Deck Square Footage: 1200 Square Feet
UV Exposure: Partial Sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: Cedar
*All products tested and results are from our hands-on experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Take into consideration that results may differ widely due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.
How to Remove Behr Deck Stain That Is Peeling
Removing peeling Behr deck stain requires a dedicated deck stain stripper. Do not attempt to apply a new coat over peeling Behr — the new stain will fail just as quickly.
Follow these steps:
- Apply a quality deck stain stripper such as Restore A Deck Stripper to the entire surface.
- Let it dwell according to product directions, then scrub with a stiff brush.
- Rinse thoroughly with a pressure washer.
- Sand any areas where peeling is severe and the stripper alone did not reach bare wood.
- Apply a wood brightener to neutralize the wood pH before staining.
- Allow the deck to dry completely before applying a penetrating oil-based stain.
Because Behr is a film-forming acrylic, stripping it is more labor-intensive than removing a penetrating stain. Budget extra time and a second stripper application for heavily peeled areas.
Better Alternatives to Behr Deck Stain
If you are looking for a Behr deck stain alternative that will actually last on horizontal deck surfaces, these are the two products we recommend based on our hands-on testing:
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain — An oil-based penetrating stain that soaks into the wood fiber instead of sitting on the surface. It scores significantly higher than Behr in wear, durability, and reapplication ease. Available in semi-transparent and semi-solid. [Link to your Armstrong Clark review]
TWP 100 Series — Our top-rated penetrating deck stain. Oil-based, highly durable on pressure-treated pine, and easy to maintain with a light clean and recoat rather than a full strip. [Link to your TWP 100 review]
Both products cost more per gallon than Behr but deliver a lower real cost per square foot due to accurate coverage rates and longer service life.
BEHR Semi-Transparent Deck Stain Photos
BEHR Semi-Transparent Deck Stain
🔹 Pros and Cons – Behr Deck Stains
Behr Deck Stain – Pros
- Widely available and easy to purchase
- Offers multiple color options and finishes
- Provides good initial coverage and uniform appearance
- Can help hide wood imperfections (especially solid versions)
- Easy to find at local stores
Behr Deck Stain – Cons
- Tends to sit on the surface rather than penetrate
- Higher risk of peeling and flaking over time
- Difficult to maintain and recoat properly
- Often requires stripping when it fails
- Shorter lifespan in real-world conditions compared to better stains
🔹 Best Wood Types for Behr Deck Stain
- Older wood needing coverage: Can help hide imperfections
- Decks where appearance is the main goal: Provides uniform finish
Not Ideal For:
- New wood – better options for penetration and longevity
- Decks where easy maintenance is important
- Hardwoods (IPE, Cumaru, etc.) – not designed for proper absorption
👉 See: Deck Stain for New Wood
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
🔹 Application Tips
- Apply to properly cleaned and prepped wood
- Follow manufacturer coverage guidelines closely
- Avoid over-application
- Be aware that thicker coatings increase peeling risk
👉 How to Prep a Deck
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-deck-prep-clean-strip-or-sand-the-deck/
👉 How to Stain a Deck
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-stain-a-deck/
🔹 Maintenance & Recoat Tips
Maintenance can be more challenging with Behr products compared to penetrating stains.
- Recoating may require additional prep or stripping
- Peeling areas must be removed before reapplication
- Regular maintenance is more labor-intensive
- Allowing the coating to fail will increase prep difficulty
From my experience, once Behr starts to fail, it usually requires more work to fix compared to penetrating stains.
👉 Deck Cleaning and Brightening
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/cleaning-wood-deck/
🔹 Who Should Use Behr Deck Stain?
You should consider Behr if:
- You want a readily available product
- You are looking for a uniform, painted-like finish
- You are less concerned with long-term maintenance
You may want to consider other options if:
- You want long-term durability
- You want easy maintenance and recoating
- You prefer a penetrating stain that will not peel
👉 Best Deck Stains
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
🔹Behr Deck Stain — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Behr deck stain any good?
Behr deck stain is not recommended for horizontal deck surfaces based on our hands-on testing. It scored 4.63 out of 10 overall. The semi-transparent version does not penetrate wood as claimed — it behaves more like a semi-solid — and peeled on 80% of our 1,200 square foot test deck within two years.
How long does Behr deck stain last on a deck?
In our two-year field test on pressure-treated pine, Behr Premium Semi-Transparent failed significantly on the deck floor boards, with 80% of the surface showing peeling. Railings held up better. Behr claims up to 10 years for their solid formula, but our results and hundreds of reader comments consistently contradict that claim for horizontal deck surfaces.
Why is my Behr deck stain peeling?
Behr deck stain peels because it is a film-forming acrylic product. It sits on top of the wood surface rather than penetrating the wood fibers. When deck boards expand and contract with heat and moisture, that surface film breaks loose. Heavy foot traffic and UV exposure accelerate the process on horizontal deck floors.
Does Behr semi-transparent deck stain show wood grain?
No. Despite being labeled semi-transparent, Behr’s semi-transparent deck stain masked 80 to 90% of the wood grain in our testing. It looks closer to a semi-solid or heavily pigmented stain. Colors also run significantly darker than comparable shades from other brands, which compounds the problem for homeowners expecting a natural wood look.
What is a better alternative to Behr deck stain?
For pressure-treated pine decks, Armstrong Clark Wood Stain and TWP 100 Series are significantly better choices. Both are oil-based penetrating stains that soak into the wood fiber rather than forming a surface film. They score well above Behr in our durability, application, and reapplication ratings and do not carry the same peeling and opacity problems.
How do you remove Behr deck stain that is peeling?
Start with a dedicated deck stain stripper such as Restore A Deck Stripper. Apply it, let it dwell, scrub, and rinse with a pressure washer. Heavily peeled areas may also need sanding. Follow with a wood brightener before applying any new stain. Do not apply a new coat over peeling Behr — it will fail again.
🔹 Final Thoughts – Behr Deck Stains
Behr deck stains are widely available and can provide a good initial appearance, but they often fall short when it comes to long-term performance and ease of maintenance.
From my hands-on experience, penetrating stains tend to outperform products like Behr over time because they absorb into the wood instead of sitting on the surface.
If you are looking for a long-lasting, easy-to-maintain finish, there are better options available. However, if your priority is short-term appearance and accessibility, Behr may still be a consideration.
This is a Horrible product. I followed instructions exactly and this supposedly semi-transparent stain ended up peeling almost like a paint. Now I have 2 very large decks that need to be stripped and redone.
Did my deck in May with Behr stain and waterproof looked good and the rain came after weeks of drying deck and so much rain has taken stain off looks bare in spots is this normal after this work to have to do another coat spent 600.00 already not happy client of this product
It’s a very poor product. Read the review and comments below.
I wish I checked your site 2 days ago. I used the transparent version of this with the colour “cedar naturaltone”. My cedar deck is 1 year old and was unfinished. Same as reviewed here. It looks kinda blotchy, the colour is very orange. It doesn’t seem to sink into the wood. It’s almost like a thin latex paint. I’m hopeful over time the colour will fade or I will get used to it, or the furniture will cover it up but right now…regret.
Sept. 21, 2022:
😫I had my deck prepped and stained by professionals using Behr Semi-transparent Premium Stain and in August, 2021. By the Spring of 2022, it was peeling in all areas: high traffic and no traffic. I purchased it at Home Depot and took the receipts and photos back to the store. I was told that I had to contact The Behr Customer Service which is only open until 1:00 p.m. MST for any chat or live chat assistance. I was totally unable to use my deck this year. Every time that I swept it, there were more areas peeling off. I have sent my receipts and complaints to the Behr email customer service.
We just applied the Behr semi transparent stain on a new cedar deck and it is horrible looking as described. It went on unevenly, is blotchy and dried so fast that brush marks couldn’t be removed after just a minute or two. We waited months for our deck to be ready for staining. Their recommended cleaner was crap too, Home Depot is blaming the weather (21c). It is sticky and they assure us it will go away but I don’t believe anything they say. After spending a fortune to a contractor to build our pride and joy, we are ashamed for anyone to see it. So wish we had read your reviews beforehand.
Sorry to hear. Not only is it a poor product overall, it is also extremely hard to remove as it goes on like a solid stain or paint.
We stupidly trusted the 10 year guarantee for the Behr Premium Deck Stain and were severely disappointed!! We painted a stairway and ramp for a customer in June of last year and when we went back to customer in April of this year 90% of the stain was completely gone!! We prepared the wood well before and were very careful to give a good coverage. The area actually looked worse then before we’d even started. It was heartbreaking because we’d put so much work into the project just to have a disappointed customer. She admitted it was not our application but a terrible product…still now we need to find a way to rectify it for her. Very upsetting.
This “semi-transparent stain” is not stain. It is thick paint. It does not penetrate and so dries on top instead of penetrating the cracks and pores in the wood. The following year, much of it will have peeled off. DO NOT BUY. Look for other actual stains!
We agree, It is junk and they lie about the transparency. See here for proper deck stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
We used the semi-transparent stain early last summer on our deck. It went on like paint. The deck looked real nice until the muddy paw prints from our two dogs and muddy footprints would NOT come off. The deck is bare in places, it is peeling all over, and I do not recommend this product to anyone!
Worst product I ever used was Behr product on my deck It came with. 10 year warranty and didn’t last a year peeled and flaked Just finished sanding the whole deck again and not sure what to use for our harsh Canadian winters but nothing from Behr that’s for sure
Lets put it this way (BEHR)ly worth it. After two years of battling with their conflict resolution department. Can you imagine you have such a crappy product you need a conflict resolution department. And a very rude conflict resolution department at that. Why not just make a reputable product. First offer after stripping entire deck and restaining and then having same problem with peeling was a $400.00 offer. I spent 120 hours of intense labor so that comes to $3.33/hour. Thanks alot for standing by your crappy product.Well I wrote to Behr president directly and low and behold they sent an adjuster to look at problem like I asked them to do 3 years ago. So they finally sent me a check for $3500.00 if I hold them harmless along with Home Depot. Yes your harmless but your product still sucks. I have two choices now being replace all the decking boards or paint it which is not why I used stain in the first place. So my review is a minus 20. Can’t see how you rate a 2.2 out of 5 or even anything over a 0.0. If I could go lower than minus 20 like minus 100 I would. If you read this review I suggest you use some other product. Anything has to be better than this product and their customer service or should I say disservice. Run, Flee and get as far away from BEHRly worth it as you can. 😩😬
Behr Premiun Stain, these photos were taken 6 months after the stain was applied. Notice from the photos, the tremendous amount of mold. In the 25 years, I have owned my house, I have have never seen anything this bad. Behr claims that their stain is “mildew resistant”. This statement isn’t even close to being true!
Try a deck cleaner and a light pressure washing. That should remove most. Much of that is dirt, not all mildew.
It looks like who ever did the work is the problem. I use behr all the time and never had a problem
The applicator is not at fault for mildew that happens after the stain is applied. It is the stain and/or a product of the environment.
The railing tops on our deck peels and flakes off. The deck is approximately 6 years old and I’ve treated the railing tops at least three times. The deck itself is made of Trex, but the railing posts are cedar and I’m not sure what the part that keeps peeling is?
I’ve attached pictures of what I’ve used previously and what the top rails currently look like. Everything else on the deck looks fine, no peeling . Any advice is greatly appreciated . Thanks!
Strip and brighten for prep. Stain with a penetrating stain like TWP 1500 Series.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/twp-1500-wood-and-deck-stain-review/
Used solid color Behr deck stain with a new brush. Wasn’t able to clean it out of brush with soap and water. Any suggestions on how to clean and save the brush?
We would just throw it away. Not worth the effort.
So wish I read these reviews on the Behr semi-transparent stain before I purchased and applied it…grrr! It went on unevenly, left brush marks everywhere, and dried with a murky, white/yellow film coat on top. I hated the first coat so much that I mixed left over walnut stain from Home Hardware (that I love btw) with the rest of the cedar Behr stain and it’s marginally better. I wish I had just made the extra trip to buy my regular stain. What a total waste of money and time. I’m also not sure if we’ll be able to power wash or sand it off next year to start over.
Canadian customer (New Brunswick). Bough Behr semi-transparent deck stain. Je le regrette énormément! I wish I saw the very accurate review you folks made before going ahead with my purchase. Followed the Behr application procedures to a tee, even with extra drying days and all. 1 month later, this has also become a mud stain magnet, (dog paws and sneakers) where that makes the whole deck look worse than before. The mud has penetrated the acrylic it seems, it wont go away with soap and water. What would you recommend I do to make it less dirty looking ?
Thank you!
Remove it all and use a much better stain as you cannot fix this issue with the Behr.
Dear Behr Co.,
I am the kind of person when I do something,I try to do it right the first time.This is what occurred when I used your deck stain.
#1) I cleaned my deck off with the deck cleaner after drying, I hand scraped the old stain off, Pressure washed with your deck stain cleaner again. After drying, I applied 2 coates of stain with 2 hr drying in between coates. I had moved all my furniture off before doing this project. After a couple days of drying, I put my furniture back on my deck.
Your stain is not as advertised. I miticulously cleaned the deck per instructions. I used your 5 yr.stain and the following year it has peeled up
again and not to specs. of your product.
Sorry but I will not use this again.
Anyone have trouble with a new deck rotting after using this product?
Yes Our brand new Cedar deck is rotting. We used the Solid color waterproofing & Stain & Seal. The wood is rotting and the stain did not last 2yrs. Its worn away. We are on our second claim with Behr.
Absolute garbage. Air dried lumber (softwood SPF) for 2-3 years, then installed, left natural for 4 months. Sanded with 80 grit and cleaned. Starting peeling in the first year. Followed directions exactly. Total waste of money.
Bought Behr Premium Semi Transparent stain. We prepared our redwood deck as instructed by Behr. First winter 2020-2022 we noticed the stain was lifting off deck. Our deck looked just like the deck in the video above. Same thing happed to my son on his gazebo !. Bad stuff and should be taken off of market!
I had the same problem with the solid stain. Stained the deck last summer when I checked it in March the stain was peeling in multiple locations. My daughter did her deck last summer also with the same product with the same results. I spent hours prepping the deck so disappointed. It should be taken off the market.
Is thompsons sealer any good it doesn’t last what can Use instead I something to last at least a year ,I have power washed my deck and cleaned and scrubbed with a deck cleaner
Thompson’s is useless: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/thompsons-waterseal-finish-review/
Use a proper deck stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
This a deck that has taken behr clear for the life of it. Last coat 2 years ago.
This is something I would not touch if it
not being a regular customer .
Looking to do just deck floor and top rails in solid.
Was powerwashed,but only softwash
Besides running from this one.
Whats my best solution? Thanks much!
You can cover this with a new solid stain as long as the behr that is still there is fully intact.
Yes it is besides the few peeling areas. I was concerned about gripping . I m going arborcoat.
Tks for the time sir.
We would not suggest Arborcoat, it peels: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/tag/benjamin-moore-arborcoat/
Suggestion? Deckscapes?
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
No need to post pictures- mine looks just as crappy as most others. First time when deck was new and wood cured for several months it lasted a little over a year. Power washed to loosen old and then sanded entire flat part of deck and steps and cleaned. Put 2 coats as required and started peeling within 6 month. Only the rails are ok. Give them -10 stars
Well wish I had just read this before buying Behr… but can’t afford to buy more right now. Last year I bought the semi-transparent Behr (you show above) and it was horrible, and yes just like everyone has reported it peeled and flaked! After a Minnesota Winter and by Spring it was horrible. It took me 4 heavy duty pressure washing efforts to finally get down to bare wood in hopes of starting all over again. This time I thought I would try transparent stain thinking the problem was primarily because the semi transparent was more like paint. This week I plan to apply this transparent stain. I took a little bit to see if I would like the color which I got because our wood is nothing of beauty and clear would not make it attractive. I am see from my test area I will need to apply a thin coat to get the transparent results I want. I am hoping that if I put a thin application it will tint the dull color wood but not be a layer that will peel and flake. Is there hope? Is there something I can mix it with to not end up with a have looking paint like surface. I hope it just soaks in Only good news deck is clean and mold free and it can’t look worse then it did with that semi transparent Behr…
Do not use any Behr products. They are all very poor.
Hi, What is the different between Behr Premium vs Behr DeckPlus? Thanks in advance!!
Not much as they are both very poor stains that fail and peel.
I recently stained my deck with an Armstrong semi transparent cedar and am very happy I chose it. I built a frame for a garden door and used Behr stain. Boy I can tell the difference just by how they applied to the wood. Behr was drippy and barely penetrated the wood. The frame was small so will be interesting to see how long each wears out in full sun.
Behr is a horrible stain. Does not even look good when applied and it fails quickly.
Glad I didn’t use Behr on my deck. I followed the advice on this site and used Armstrong stain.
Followed the instructions to the letter. New deck. Let it dry for over a year before staining. Not happy. Re-stained the next year – still came off.
I posted 5 days ago- neglected to specify the awful product used on my deck as BEHR Deck Plus – semi-transparent Wood Stain – Cedar Natural Tone. Again – it didn’t last 8 months. Peeling and discoloration. This is the worst product. Home Depot should pay for the repairs now needed. Attaching a photo.
Yep, ours peeled as well. We will never use this product again. Its horrible
Absolute worst! Didn’t even hold up 8 months… peeling, PEELING!! – horrible uneven marks from application appeared just one month after application. Horrible mess . DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT
Worked hard for a long time last summer (2020) using the Behr semi-transparent redwood color stain on old and new redwood. It did not survive. It is all peeling off in sheets. Do not have pics, but it looks just like the ones you have shown. I am sick. As time goes by, will look to your website for remedies. Have another 34′ x 10′ deck to stain. Want to do it in a redwood color so everything matches. Will use another brand.
I restained my cedar deck with Behr Premium 100% Acrylic semi-transparent stain 7 years ago and was happy with the result. The only prep was sanding the heavily weathered deck. Application was simple with a deck pad — two *very thin* coats. I do remember it taking a very long time to dry completely. I second two aspects of this review — It did look “redder” than I expected for a cedar stain, part way to redwood, but I really liked the color. And it did not penetrate as much as I thought it should and looked more like a semi-solid rather than semi-transparent stain. It retained color and resisted wear well for about 5 years. Started peeling after that in places. This is in Colorado, so UV is the main enemy, but we also get snow that sits on the deck for a few weeks at at time. I am suspecting that others are having trouble in wetter climates… or maybe the formulation has changed?
I just stripped the deck and cleaned (with Behr products) and sanded to prep for a new round of staining. Given the reviews I think I will return the unopened Behr to Home Depot and try something better. I want something that is a) easier to recoat next time (i.e. no stripping), b) is a bit on the “red” side of cedar tones like the Behr, and c) has great UV protection, and d) has a bit of a surface to it (not just a penetrating stain). Would like semi-transparent so that the grain shows through because the cedar boards are still pretty good for 30+ year old wood. Prefer water based if possible, but not completely rigid on that one. Any suggestions?
Defy Extreme Stain or Restore A Deck Stain. You want the stain to penetrate fully as if it lays on top of the wood, then that leads to peeling issues.
I used the behr oil base stain for 13 years.. Never sanded my three decks and stairs on the side of my home looked better than most peoples floors in their homes. 2 years ago they changed the formula.. It could have been 3 years because I always tried to keep an extra can on hand in my garage. They stop making the Redwood color oil base and than changed the formula. two year ago the new formulat dried in streaks and on my stairs it bubbled. This year I had no choice I had to strip off my stair and my entry area deck. I am on my 2nd can now. It won’t dry. It is like taking oil that you put in your car spread it out and than it just sits there. I am so pissed off. Before I strip this shit off I will hire someone to put in trek’s. I can’t believe any company would put out crap like this. For 13 years I’d put it on and within 4 hours I could walk on it. It was shiny and looked beautiful. I have 3 decks off one each level of my home and an entrance deck and stairs going down the side of my home. I have stained these areas successfully for 13 years. Now they change the formula and it is my problem.
I have the same problem with the Behr stain and paint products. I hired a contractor to replace some boards, power wash the deck, left it to dry for several days. After the first year it was peeling and hadn’t adhered to the deck boards at all. What I am wondering if anyone had filed a complaint with Behr and if, also included the labor? I never thought of looking into reviews after filing my complaint and seeing how many homeowners have had the same issue. Unfortunately I accepted the money they offered to cover the expense for the stain that I can’t file a claim for the labor I paid the contractor. I’m just wondering if anyone had that type of success being reimbursed for the labor.
I am on my second year of having to restrain mine and my neighbors deck I was given a gallon of deck wash from you last year along with a few gallons of stain, I am truly disappointed in the appearance of this product I will be staining a 10×10 shed this year and don’t know that I’ll be using the Behr product if I have to keep staining every year. Any suggestions of what to do
The deck is peeling and cracking both of our decks.
Marc Arneau
586-855-1401
Remove all and start over with a better brand is your best option.
Oh hell no I’m not starting over did that last year I’ll be looking in to a different brand for my outdoor shed up north very disappointed with the Behr product
Run do not walk away from this stain. I had the exact same issue as the video above, only after six months. What a disaster.
Same delima as the video. 2 years into an application and our deck looks similar to the one in the video but far worst in many places. I have about 1000sqft of deck that now looks like shit. My options? spent the next month trying to sand this stuff off the deck,hand rails and a couple hundred upright slats. Cant see trying to stain it because the “sealer” part will prevent penetration, cant pain over because most of it is peeling off. Frankly it would be easier to tear it down and start over with new wood and a quality finishing product. Disgusted beyond your wildest dreams. More Home Depot, AKA Chinese home improvement center garbage.
Some places it won’t stick and yet it’s hard to completely remove. It is horrible stuff and should be taken off the market. After two professional contractors have tried and failed to fix it we are having all the decking and stair treads replaced!
This is a deck, siding and fence stain. I have used Behr solid on my fences and it has worked very well. The only wear, of course, is from rain. There was no issue of greying because we purposely chose Boot Hill Grey which looks like weathered cedar to start with. The fences were done 8-10 years ago and, still, any dirt washes off with a hose.
Fences always wear much better than a deck so it is not a true comparison. This review is also for their semi-transparent stains.
Berh stain is awful! Using restore a deck remover and starting over.
You may need the additves as well as Behr can be hard to remove: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-booster-thickening-gel-review/
I think the problem with a lot of people leaving negative reviews is that they don’t know how to apply stain correctly.
After one week surface is still tacky. Advice,?
I used Behr Premium Waterproofing Clear Wood Finish. It was a new deck that was about 7 mths old, not been sealed yet and was dry. It has been 11 days of sun and in the 80’s and the finish is still tacky. I put one medium coat on it. Will this eventually dry?
Hopefully. If not you will have to remove and start over. If it does not dry in another week then probably never will.
Why won’t it dry? It’s been in the 80’s with no rain for a couple of days before I put it down on Aug 1st up and till now. Will soap and water or some type of mild cleaner (not mineral spirits or a deck cleaner) take some of it off so it dries? I have stained decks for years and have never had a product stay tacky for more than a few hours. I’ve read many of the negative reviews on line and agree there must be something wrong with the wood sealer.
Crappy product, over-application, not prepped correctly, etc all could be reasons. Since it has been 11 days I doubt mineral spirits will do anything but you can try. Soap and water will not do anything.
Unfortunately, it sounds like it was applied too thick. I have made the same mistake. I found that the best results came from using a Shur-line Deck Pad and pushing it real THIN. A little goes a long way. Also, this product, in my opinion, looks best when used on cedar, red wood or pressure treated lumber. Pine, white ash, it looks so-so. Be sure to sand even new lumber, this stuff needs to soak into the wood and not just sit on top. I’ve had excellent looking and long lasting results even without using the recommend preparatory products. My best word of advise is to read and follow the back label. Best of luck.
I used this Behr solid acrylic stain on all vertical surfaces 5 years ago on all vertical surfaces on deck and it still looks great.That being said I used Behr deck over on surface and it sucked after one year. Started to peel and raise up.
Dan Pittsburgh Pa.
this is the worst product sold cleaned as directed looked good for (one) year then started peeling. talked to other people they have the same problem . there is no place where you can contact the behr company. also home depo where they sell this junk will not help you so beware of the false advertising. very poor product
This was the first time I stained a deck. Horrible application! I thought it was just my inexperience until I read the reviews. The ratings and comments are absolutely true! I wish I would have known where to look before buying a deck stain. I absolutely love Behr’s interior paint, but the wood stain is awful! My dogs have already scratched up the stain after two days of having it on (it was the fast-drying stain). I have posted this site on my personal Facebook page as a warning to all other DIY-er friends not to use Behr deck stain. I’m still baffled at how BADLY it turned out (and I applied a 2nd coat!).
We have Behr stain on our deck. some mud footprints were tracked on the deck. We have been unable to clean the footprints off the deck. We have used household cleaners and even power-washed the deck, to no avail. Can anyone offer a solution to our problem, ie, ridding the deck of the muddy footprint residual.
It is most likely embedded in the stain now and cannot come off unless you remove all and start over.
I contacted Behr Customer Service. They recommended scrubbing the deck with Dawn dishwasher detergent. We actually used the Kirkland brand environmentally friendly dish soap and it worked!
Bob Reed
Is there a semi stain for decks that last more than one year?
Yes: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Worst product I ever used. Coverage is uneven after application and get worse with time. Used three times the product because It doesn’t cover anywhere near what the label claimed. Bought the clear and found out it is far from clear. It dried sort of a baby sh– brown. Not the look I wanted
Behr stain is the worst I’ve ever used. At over 40 bucks a gallon Behr owes me a refund . It didn’t last 1 yr and started peeling.
Replaced not one but 3 decks. All new wood. One winter with Behr waterproof semi transparent and the wood has so many cracks stain peeling etc. Wood is not waterproofed. Thousands spent and 100 for stain was suppose to protect. Terrible product Don’t use
How is techniseal stain rated?
It has not.
Worst stain I’ve ever purchased.. started peeling after 3 days.. Will never purchase again and going to take back to Home Depot..
A terrible product. Need answers on how to fix. Peeling, dark areas and inconsistent adhesion. Looks awful after 2 years. Home Depot is of no help.
Probably need to power sand to fix it.
Indoor paint–love Behr products. Favorite. 5 stars
Outdoor stain– yikes. The product we used was Behr Quick Drying. Like many “transparent”, “clear” stains, it wasn’t. It was an extra strange mottled yellow. (Maybe b/c it went on unevenly), it looked like a pet had urinated on the boards! 😯
We used the quick drying also. Terrible product, ours was an ugly orange in spots and other areas it disappeared. Redid the entire deck with the regular Behr stain and half the deck is still tacky after a week. All I can hope is that it doesn’t last and we can start over next summer!
IF I could rate this stuff a zero I would! it peeled severely after first winter, my coworker had the same experience.
I will not buy another behr product. I had a similar problem with a shed and behr paint. do not buy this crap
Must I remove all previous stain before I restain with the same product? I have used your stripper to remove most of it but there are still some spots left. Will the stain cover those spots? Or must I sand them clean?
If you are using the same brand and color of stain, you do not have to remove 100%
Old finish was transparent weather proofing all-in-one wood finish Natural #500. No longer available but I was told to get transparent waterproofing wood finish. Clear #500N is suppose to be the same. Is this true?
Sorry but no idea if the same.
No, #500-N is lighter in color. If you purchased #500 in the past and want that same color again ask the Home Depot associate to add 6 drops of red. I had to find this out the hard way. I was about 75% finished with my deck. I must have purchased the last gallon before they restocked with #500-N. I am very pleased with this product when applied properly, HINT! read and follow the back label.
6 drops of red to 1 gallon or 5 gallon
6 drops for 1 gallon.
This is Horrible weatherproof stain. Used it on my brand new deck and by 7 months it was all faded to gray, peeling, rough. looks awful! there went thousands of dollars on a new deck
Unfortunately I applied Behr Deck-over and am absolutely disgusted with the product and the terrible customer support of Home Depot. After much communication Behr offered to give me a credit for more Behr product. Like I am going to replicate my previous efforts with a known terrible product. Why Home Depot continues to sell this as a quality product is beyond me. I have now refused to purchase anything at Home Depot
Why is my paint peeling off after a year and a half. I followed the instructions and made shure the deck was dry. I would understand if small areas were peeling but I’m getting 3 x 8 inch strips
This product is a filming stain that will not soak in fully, resulting in the issues you are having. Happens to numerous people and is one reason we gave it a poor review and many consumers do as well.
This stuff is fine on redwood if not exposed to any moisture or constant sunshine. But the area receiving rain and snow begins to peal off in a year on my deck. Guess I will try your preferred picks. Somehow I thought the Behr had been determined to be among the best but have been very disappointed with it on redwood. It just peels off when exposed to moisture or sustained sunshine on a deck or table. On a table left out it is garbage in a year, and would need to be re stained at least once . The Behr I purchased claimed 4 to 6 year duration, I believe.
i wish i had read this before i put the ceder water proof stain on my wood dock..it was a mess of mold and it was grey..i used woodrich stripper and brightner and pressure washed between steps as described..the wood looked like brand new..then i put the behrs wood stain on it.
have to say it covered a 5×30 foot dock 2 coats with one gallon..did one let it dry and did another..it looks good..now after reading all these reviews and considering how much work went into getting the dock clean i am dreading what it will look like in a year.
This is the worst stain we have ever applied as a painting company. We stripped and sanded the entire deck, rolled and back brushed two coats and seven days later the stain hadn’t cured/dried/hardened. The adhesion/penetration is horrible. It did not appear as a semi-transparent stain at all but more like a cloudy solid stain. Nothing good to say here.
Used Behr solid color “Chestnut#SC110” on several decks and after drying, Sap came out of covered wood. Are there any cleaning or removal suggestions ?
Try turpentine and or sanding.
How long do I have to wait before putting your stain on a deck that was built a month ago. Treated lumber.
We would wait a few months and choose a better brand of stain over the Behr: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
How do you thin BEHR premium coating semi-transparent WEATHER PROOFING all in one wood stain & sealer? Mine is like thin peanut butter.
You cannot thin it.
I am very dissatisfied with the. Her product. I filed a claim with Behr and have been told they will give me the cost of the product (unfortunately I cannot find all my receipts, when I started the process, it was 1 yr and 8 myths -note to self-keep receipts for the time length of any warranty). And $250 for my trouble. I stained my deck two years ago this past June, last summer (1year) out it was looking sad, this February (1.8 months) it looked aweful. I sent multiple photos documenting the process. They basically are giving me $0.25 per square back. Would not recommend Behr wood cleaner, conditioner or stain products.
I recently power washed and used the semi-transparent water based on my deck and it’s still tacky after 6 weeks. I followed all of the directions exactly. I called Behr and they instructed me to wash the deck with a mild soap, no scrubbing just lightly wash the deck and if that doesn’t work then sand the deck and start over. I have washed the deck 2 times the second time I scrubbed it and it is still tacky. I paid someone to power wash the deck, so that I could apply the waterproofing I put on a very thin coat. I don’t have money to pay someone to come a second time to power wash my deck and reapply a product. I work full time and I’m a full time caregiver. I’m devastated by this, my husband is paralyzed from his neck down in a wheelchair on life-support and requires 24/7 nurses so I don’t know where I will find the money and time to address this issue. He doesn’t go outside much because of the cold snowy winters and accessibility issues and now he can’t even go out on the deck. With all of the complaints that I have read has anyone reported this to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection office. I live in Massachusetts and will be reporting this. There should be a Class Action lawsuit to have Behr stop selling this product and to have Home Depot remove this product from their shelves particularly since Home Depot recommended that I used Behr over Thompson.
What is the best solid wood stain to use on a deck that is in full sun?
Try the Flood Solid Stain Pro Series.
I have stained my beautiful cedar deck with this semi transparent stain and it sucks. I should have read before staining and both times after sanding I used Behr. Never buy it in the future and false advertisement saying they are good.
I just stained my deck. Finished up last step at 9:00PM. It started raining at 11:00PM. Will I have to do deck over again?
Most likely, yes.
GREAT REVIEW! My deck looks exactly the same as yours after 2 years. Trying to figure out to get this crap off.
Sand it off.
I have used the Natural Cedar stain on almost ever piece of wood in my yard. I loved the finished look of this stain. A couple of years ago I decided to use it on my wooden 6’ tall privacy fence that was at least 15 years old (unsure of age, but that is how long I have lived here). The fence had never been stained, but was still structurally sound.
The fence looked amazing once I was done, but for some reason less than 2 years after staining it the fence just rapidly deteriorated. It is just completely warping everywhere and is falling apart and falling down.
Has anyone else ever experienced this?
My hope when staining it was to not only make it look nicer, but was to preserve it.
After 3 years of use stain completely worn away in light traffic areas under covered screened deck.
Bher stain – We had the same experience, deck and stairs are peeling off, just done last August. This product is just awful. Do not waste your money, time and hard work. Should be taken right off the market.
We used Behr Deckover last summer 2017, this spring its nothing but peeling everywhere on the deck..DONT use it
used deckover in 2016 on new wood which is not recommended.the wood needs to dry out for at least one year.it should have been told to me that the wood needed to dry for a year befor using this product. needless to say it peeled up horribly,called behr sent pictures,got the runaround, told them to keep my money and they will never get any more of it.
i just installed a redwood fence, and would like to stain it. I want to stain the side that faces the road etc, to keep it’s appearance, but letting it go gray on the side that faces my house is ok. is there any downside to doing just the one side? the side facing my house side will get general doses of California central valley sun, and the street side also.
The stain will run bleed through the edges and have drips on the unstained side so you will need to be careful of this. Otherwise, you should be fine.
I applied a coat of waterproof deck stain and then a coat of penetrating stain. the penetrating stain needs to b e removed so I can recoat the deck with the waterproof stain. what will be the best product and or process.
Sand it all off and start over.
There is a special place in hell for Behr & Home Depot. If you buy this stain, immediately throw it in the garbage. That’s,the best application. Pictures & scathing bad reviews in this article are true. Rebuilding a 30 year old oil stained deck with cedar & redwood, prepped according to instructions, the stain fails as this website says. A pox upon this water based stain & those who foist it off. I shall bring my unopened cans & this article to Home Depot & be done with this atrocity.
I used the stain and sealer semi transparent that can be tinted. I will not apply unless you use a roller or brush. I tried to use it in an airless sprayer and it is just to thick. I had to thin (they don’t recommend) about 40 percent in order to get it to spray and then it runs if the product is not right flat. I have 1000 sq feet of deck that I have treated for 20 years and with several products. This is the worst I have ever used. This is really just a paint not a stain. I do not recommend this product it is the worst on the market.
There’s a special place in hell reserved for the creator of this stain. Inherited sloppily done Behr stained porch which was soon stainless in heavily trafficked areas. Now tasked with restaining. Impossible to remove stain with even multiple applications of heavy duty stripper. . Finally realized I’m better off just using my Makita belt sander rather than first stripping and then still having to sand off stain that stripper couldn’t remove. If the porch had any other stain, stripping it would have been a one day job. Instead it’s taken over a week. A nightmare.
I would never use another Behr product After 1 yr deck has significant mildew and has resisted 3 mildew cleanings. Terrible experience.
Just wanted to thank you for the review on the Behr Deck Stain – you saved us time, money, and probably a good bit of what’s left of oursanity… My husband had already bought 5 gallons of the Behr (slick Behr salesperson in the Home Depot one day), and after I read these reviews, and the customer reviews on Consumer Reports, I said we would have to take it back. He tried to take it back to HD, but they said no refund, because it was a “custom” mix. I printed out your summary, some of the comments, and some of the comments from CR. We took it back in to HD, and had the store manager come over to read them, and he kept the copy. He said to give us a refund… I told him that the HD reputation was being diminished by selling such a bad product. We just used the Defy Stain Stripper and Brightener, and will stain with Armstrong early next week.
Our home owners association put the Behr semi solid stain on our community dock and we have seen the same poor performance you have. I was planning to use the Deck Over product by Behr, but seeing the performance of their stain I looked up reviews on the Deck Over and was shocked to see so many unhappy customers.
I have a wrap around porch that has a variety of conditions from full sun all day to covered and shaded. Some areas receive a lot of traffic others very little. We have even added a new edition. I thought the deck Over would be my best option to blend all the surfaces, but now I just don’t know what to do.
I have used the Behr deck cleaner on the worst areas and followed up with power washing. I still have to sand and replace a few boards.
The cost of putting composite down is out of the question. I want to keep the deck color light because it gets so hot in the summer. We get a little of everything as far as weather goes. The wood is old pressure treated 2×6 pine. What product do you recommend?
Deck Revive by Guld will work: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
Stained our deck with behr premium stain 75% peeled up after one season very disappointed
Same here with my 1000 sq. ft. deck. What a mess…. Peeling up.
Stained our deck with behr premium stain pilled off after one season very disappointed
We used Behr deck stain on our 1300 sq.ft deck
Spring came and 90 % of stain has peeled off
Very unhappy with a well known product..we thought we were used the very best for our deck…turns out it was the very worse stain ever
Wished I would have read these comments before I stained with this product. Awful. Just terrible. I have used Olympic products for 17 years and decided to switch to this product. What a mistake. I will forgo the 2nd coat and likely strip and restain in a few weeks. What a waste of time. As others have written, buyer beware.
I would prefer to give this a -1 as my deck is ruined from this product. Half the stain washed off and the other half peeled at 2nd year mark. I am having to strip my deck and start over. Worst crap ever. The only stain left is in the knots and imperfections of the wood. That you can’t get off!
If there is somethibg worse out there. I’m yet to find it. Applies well, looks great for a couplenof weeks, begins to wear quickly no matter how good the prep. By end of season it is kiterally wearing in places. Within a year ots horrble. I’ve had better success with Wolman, Cabot, and Benji Moore.
what product really works? All the deck paints say it will last and it never does. they are all the same. any recommendations?
One of these will work: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Prepping correctly is key.
What would you suggest using instead to cover a deck. Ours looks like crap from sloppy application of a handiman.
Srip and or sand it off and start over. Try TWP or Arsmtrong Clark.
This product is absolute garbage. The application is tedious, and it begins to peel the following spring. Don’t waste your time considering it. Get an oil based product, which will penetrate the wood and don’t spend your time stripping it off your deck the following year. I’ll never use another Behr deck “stain” again.
Miss advertising, this product is worthless and a waste of money you have just lost a customer , I will never Recommend your stain , and will make sure my friends know this, I wasted a lot of time, now I have to redo my deck, I believe that Home Depot needs to take this product off there shelves
Same here. Barely lasted a season. Peeling off. What crap!
We used the same product last summer on our 1000 s/f pool deck. Followed all of the directions to the “T” and after one winter of rain and snow, it has been a complete failure! We spent hours and hours prepping the deck, and staining it as per instructions. Home Depot was of no help other than providing me a Behr brochure with a 1-800 number. When I contacted Behr last week (California), they simply suggested I use their product to strip the entire deck and re-apply the same stain. When I asked the rep what would be different a year from now, he could not answer. They have offered to pay for the cost of their Behr stain stripper and new stain. However, it is complicated by the fact that they want my original Home Depot receipt from last June (which I no longer have) I would not recommend this product to anyone.!! First picture is from last July, the next two pictures were taken last week. I live close to Vancouver BC where we mostly get months of rain during the winter, but this winter we had several weeks of snow. We used the semi-transparent for most of the horizontal surface, with solid stain on the perimeter boards. The solid fared better than the semi-transparent but there are several areas where the product has peeled off. The semi-transparent does not penetrate into the wood grain at all. Rather it simply “coated” the wood and the rain has caused it to peel off.
The vertical surfaces are in good shape. Either way, do not buy this product unless you plan on re-staining your deck every year. Not sure what product I am going to use, but I would appreciate any recommendations
Bruce
Abbotsford BC
Canada
Hi Bruce,
unfortunately, your first issue with fixing this is full removal as applying something else on top, will not fix the problem. Removal will require full sanding.
Ours looks exactly the same. What horrible stain. I just started pressure washing the old stuff off and it’s peeling right off. I will. Ever buy their garbage stain again.
just want to add my two cents. the worst stain ever! first show fall and its all peeling up. CRAP STAIN!!
DONT WANT THIER WARRANTY REPLACEMENT CRAP.
I don't understand the complaints here. Maybe it was the semi transparent version that doesn't hold up.
I stained my back deck 5 years ago with Behr solid color stain and it has held up great. I also stained my front porch (which is under a shed roof) and it looks almost new.
I did stain the porch again this month because we painted the wooden railing and dripped paint all over the floor. The solid stain covered the white dripping perfectly. I will probably redo the back deck next year..
By the way, we use the deck and porch all the time. including adult children and grandchildren on weekends. The only wear was this year , right in front of the door, and I spent 5 minutes touching it up
Maybe the problem is the semi transparent. type.
The solid colour stain failed on me the first year and is a disaster after 2 years – worse now that I have to remove it before I re-stain – It wont be with a Behr product.
Horrible results – lasted one year before incredible amount of peeling. Home Depot should be embarrassed to sell this garbage. I will now sand the entire deck before applying a different product. 10 years on decks – satisfaction guarantee – I don't think so…
I used deck over on my pool deck last year. It was not easy to apply and it took 10 gallons to put 2 coats on. When I opened the pool this year, 80-85 percent of all of it was peeling up! I am extremely disappointed in this product and would NOT recommend this to anyone. The whole deck has to be stripped. My deck is 8'wide around a 16×32' pool, so it's not a small deck.
After only 2 seasons my deck stain, Behr Premium Plus, peeled and wore right off the traffic area of the deck. Had to strip and restain this season and even though Behr did refund my purchase of stripper, cleaner and stain I don't care to do this again any time soon. If it happens again, no more using Behr stain!
I have used Behr 5330 Semitransparent "Redwood" on our back deck. The first time I used it, all we did was pressure wash the whole deck to drive off any loose peeling stain from the previous owner. The Behr applied very easily with a roller, and after 2 coats, it gave us a really nice, very uniform finish. In 5 years' time, we never had any trouble with mold, algae, darkening, etc.
BUT… adhesion was lousy on that first application. By the following year, there was severe peeling. The stuff would come off like you were pulling bandaids off of somebody, you could grab a hold of a little peeled/lifter spot and then pull a long strip/sheet of the stuff right off.
So second time around, I was much more diligent. I took a power sander to the entire deck, and really got off every darn bit of anything loose or questionable. A lot of it I sanded down to bare wood. It took the better part of a whole afternoon and lots and lots of sheets of 80 grit sandpaper. But in retrospect, heck, 5-6 hours to completely sand down a deck is not that bad. If you are expecting to just wash a deck, then slap on the stain, forget it. How could anything penetrate into the wood like that? You have to roughen it up and open up the surface.
Two coats after that sanding, and it held up tremendously better. It was perfect through two solid summers. This year, 3rd summer, we started getting some peeling in a few places. So I went at it with the sander again. It required much less work this time, as most of the deck has a firm coat on it that is not coming off. So I just sanded the problem spots bare, lightly ran the sander over the whole deck just to lightly roughen the surface, and then reapplied the stain. I have a strong suspicion that the problem areas are places that I just did not sand well enough the first time.
As before, it applied easy, and the finish is very good.
I am still on the fence about whether this stuff is crap like some people say, or whether it just really requires you getting it onto bare, clean wood to make it last. So far, I am seeing evidence that it can work really well if you take the time to seriously sand first.
Oh… and as to the tackiness issue – I am useing a semi-transparent, which is in reality pretty darn opaque (that's just how they make it, so if you don't want that, go with transparent). But anyway, I'd say with two full coats, it took about a week in warm weather for it to really get hard and completely tack-free.
But it was reasonably good enough to walk on after about 3 days. I wouldn't go sliding furniture across it for at least a week, though.
I used this product week ago ,2 coats it looked great came back several days later the color was good finish was dull now mind u the wood was old but bid the job at 2 coats and now have to apply another coat I'll stick with thompsons.
Terrible, horrible product. What a waste of time and money. I did all the proper prep and it peeled horribly after just one season. Behr warrantied it with more crap product. So disappointed. Thanks to this site I have ordered the Armstrong Stain and looking forward to a much better experience. Now that I have had to sand every inch of the other crap off! DONT EVER BUY THIS PRODUCT, EVER!!!!!!
A lot of you guys/Gail's probably aren't properly preping your deck prior to apply Deck stain. Preparation is the most important part of the entire process, all I use is Behr products and it never failed me nor have I had a customer complain after the job or years later. I have been doing decks for a while now and never had a bad review BEHR ROCKS!!?
We prepped our deck diligently according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Applied stain in 2 separate coats, with ample dry time between coats and also after final coat, again exactly according to Mfr. instructions. We stained our 1200 sq. ft deck last August, and it looked great at the time. Now in May of the very next year, it’s bubbling and peeling up in huge sections. Nearly $400 worth of stain and staining supplies later, many hours of labor later, and our deck is in worse shape than if we’d not stained it at all. Shame on you, Behr. Now we have to sand it all off and start over.
After only 6 mo. deck over stated peeling. cracks opened up. I made sure I cleaned deck well with brush. Was told NOT to use power washer as this would push dirt in. Went over entire deck taking out all nails that were up a little, replaced with deck screws. Next I used Behr deck wah and scubed deck then rinsed off entier deck twice . Waited three days until deck was dry (as was recommended by home depot ). Next i went through and hand brushed all the cracks. waiting agian a couple of days to dry. Went over cracks again that the wood soaked up product. After waiting a couple of days. I started hand brushing the entire deck after the sun was not directly on the deck. Then gave it a second coat using the same hand brush method. This of coause to a couple of weeks. It looked really good after I was done. Now i need to resand entier deck. Lots of man hours. Positive not Behr is replacing the stain and wash. Now if i can get them to help me sand.
The Home Depot sales people must be on the Behr payroll for recommending this so strongly. don't listen. This is the worst deck stain product in the world. Difficult application, poor penetration, tacky for weeks, gross flaking and peeling in less than a year. And I did the complete prep regimen as recommended before application. Anything else is better.
It has been only 1 year since application to our deck and it has peeled off of the deck flooring and top of railing. We have always used Behr paint and figured the deck stain would be just as good. Boy what a disappointment. Now we will have to power wash this stuff and do some sanding, and figure out what to use next. It won't be Behr.
Use a stain that soaks fully into the wood grain. They do not peel and will be easier to maintain every 2 years. Try Armstrong Clark.
Two years ago, I removed as much of the awful Behr stain as I could get off, and then used Armstrong Clark.I am EXTREMELY happy with it. This is the best stain I have ever used and the only stain I will ever use!
Will pile on ABSOLUTELY Do not use. Horrible peals up.. but here is the worst.. It wont come off cleanly. So its shoddy material that fails but sticks good enough in spots to be horrible to remove. .
HOURS and HOURS of repair.
Worst stain we have ever used…followed all prep..blotchy blotchy..1400 sq ft deck is a mess…
I have the same results your video looks like my deck. We followed the instructions to the T used the berh cleaner as well . My deck is all western red cedar and I just noticed that it looks like mould on the railing I installed . Did any one get reimbursed from berh for the product or labour?
Jim
Not me. They never offered ANY refunds or replacements
We used this prior to reading test result. It is truly a horrible product with some areas having darker color, some with wood- grain appearance and other areas solid. I stirred it frequently to insure even color and this didn't help. A good stripper to remove is about $60, and then light sanding as this stain is horrible, and then a good brightener is about $40. THIS IS ABDOLUTELY A BAD PRODUCT IN MY OPINION!
Jon Langbein Painting License # 13vh07127500.
June 17 · Edited ·
I stained a deck not 2 years ago using Behr semitrans stain. most of the deck was new cedar which was washed, dried for 10 days then sanded and blown free of dust. the stain was rolled then immediately backbrushed. the stain is now peeling off both the new and old sections. behr will only refund the stain price. it cost almost $2000. in labor to prep and stain this 3 tiered deck on a slope. no more behr for me. Behr won't even send a field rep out to diagnose the problem with their product.
A Behr rep in California stated that all problems are diagnosed from Cali and that their field reps are just salesmen that apparently just stock shelves. Thats a company that doesn't give a crap about its end user.
I recommended to my customer to seek legal advise.
update. Behr told me that since I did not use their cleaner that the warrantee is voided. I used chlorine bleach first followed by an oxalic acid wash then sanded with #80 paper. The oxalic acid is the same active ingredient in the behr cleaner. Behr is BS.