This post was updated on May 1, 2024
Best Behr Deck Stains in 2026: Reviewed by an Expert
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 comment reviews below.
If you have any pictures of your experience with Behr Deck Stain, you can add them in the comment area with a detailed description.
Note: See here if you need to remove the Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain.
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.
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.
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.
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
BEHR Semi-Transparent Deck Stain Photos
*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.
BEHR Semi-Transparent Deck Stain
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.
I tried the semi-transparent weather proofing stain on my deck, in the chocolate color. As suggested, I put two thin coats on the deck, using a flat paint pad for deck staining. I haven't experienced the same things everyone else here has experienced, and I had very good results. When it was drying/curing, we had some rain within 5 hours of completing the second coat (which was done two days apart). So, I had to give some positive feedback, considering so many of the comments here were a ad experience.
As a fine wood worker (furniture) im quite accustomed to using stains, more or less on a daily bases for the last 15 years.
First the color, we went with a redwood. If you have ever used a red stain you probability noticed all the "gunk" on the bottom of the can. its settled pigment and goes hand in hand with red stains regardless of the manufacture. Im fairly sure that this stuff has more pigment in it then the fluid it dissolves in can handle, as a result as soon as you stop mixing it starts settling. Lose a little liquid to evaporation and now no matter what you do the color from batch to batch will be off.
Second is the work time. I had to apply to a worm but not hot deck, say mid 70's. Dries on contact. The result is a "band" of dark where you first put your pad down that fades as you push the applicator away. This quick set also prevents any drips from being cleaned up with out leaving peppermint discoloration. Had i known that it was SO temp sensitive i would have gotten out the work lights and gone to town on it in the dead of night. There is no way i know of to successfully even out the discoloration that wouldn't involve tens of hours at best.
Third is the tack. Two weeks on and its still tacky. Tacky enough in fact that i don't want to use the deck in fear of grinding dirt in. Over the last two weeks we have had no rain, no dew, and day time temps in to the high 80's low 90's. My deck also gets about 5 hours of direct sunlight. If its still tacky now odds are it will never firm up on its own.
On the star review i gave it one across the board though i wish a zero entry would be accepted. I don't feel that it is misleading to give the longevity categories one star because i know with out a doubt that this stuff will not last two years… it wont last a month because my next trip to the hardware store will consist of three things deck stripper, gas for the pressure washer and new stain.
I spent my 8 days of holidays preparing and refinishing my deck. We are left with a tacky deck that cannot be walked on! It has completely ruined my deck and entry into my house. I do not want a refund for the product but a new deck – labour included they should be sued for selling this product.
4 weeks after using behr premium deck stain On my sceened in porch, it's still tacky! I washed it with mild detergent and it is still sticky to bare feet and tennis shoes? I know Behr will refund my money but I already have expended a great deal of time in prepping the deck as outlined by the company! Any ideas what to do to get rid of the tackiness? Very upset with this product!!!
Not much you can do to fix the Behr. Remove it all and start over with a better product.
What would be the best product to use to remove Behr? Heard it was quite hard to not only remove, but if you didn't get it all off, the next stain you tried to apply would not go on that well.
Which Behr stain and type? Makes a difference as to what is needed.
At work now, but let you know when I get home. Thank you
My desk looks exactly like the one shown in the video and its been 2 years. I will never buy behr deck stain again. Tried to even return – kept all receipts as they guarantee for 5 years – don't believe that. Refused to refund either the money and/or issue a credit.
I have 3 rental properties and my own home so I bought 15 gallons of Behr Deck Over last fall, and it is a terrible product. Home Depot has tried to be accomodating and have offered to replace the product @ no charge, and some deck cleaner, but the work involved to do it all again, is not worth it. Also, there is no guarantee that it will change anything. I will try again next year, with a different company product. Has anyone used a product that they have had a success with?
Just so you know, you cannot apply anything on top of the Behr Deckover. It will need to be removed fully first and that is very hard.
Wow…i can't fill out all the ratings because we just applied this TERRIBLE product. Unbelievably bad. We followed all the recommended application instructions. We sanded our cedar porch to beautiful clean wood, spent almost 100 hrs prepping the surface. Applied and it is awful beyond belief. Streaks, brush marks, uneven color…and still tacky after 5 days. I called Home Depot and was given an 800 # but told that they 'hardly ever' have complaints. Really? Surprising that they have that 800 number so readily available. I am sick. Really sick that after all this work the porch is a total mess. Don't ever buy this product (well, I'm done with Behr for life).
Over a two year period I stained three decks at my house. Each time I bought semi transparent cedar natural tone, the color was way off from previous purchase!!! What a terrible product now everything needs to be redone… and Behr couldn't care about your problems at all, they accept no responsibility and never admit its the product, always blaming the consumer.
I did my deck and by the next spring it was all peeled . It is horrible. When I contacted behr they said I must have put it on when it was to hot or the coats were to thick or the coats were to thin it was to cool or it must have rained the next day. It was one excuse after the other. Will not be reapplying this product . I have always purchased behr products but was sadly disappointed with the customer service I received from behr.
We used this last year. What a mistake we are so disappointed in this deck stain. We went by the directions and it still is cracking and peeling and looks awful. I will be calling Behr to complain.
I contacted Behr and they gave me a full refund for the DeckOver and the recommended deck wash. But what about the damage to my deck???? Where the DeckOver has cracked, water has been seeping in and laying between the DeckOver and boards. My boards are ruined. When I peel the DeckOver off, small pieces of the wood are coming up with it. It's gonna cost a fortune to replace all those deck boards. Worst decision I've ever made. I wish there was a class action lawsuit against them. This is a nightmare!
We used this product last year on our deck and this spring it had almost entirely peeled. What a mess. So beautiful at first and now it is ridiculous. Followed instructions for prep as well as application. Worst product ever and that comes from 40 years of owning own paint business!
Worst product I ever used.
Oh how familiar all your comments sound. I did the same thing. Highly recommended by Consumer Reports means that it should be good, right?? No way. the worst stuff Ihave ever used. I followed the instructions to the letter only to have it peel off terribly. Tracking in the house on shoes and dogs feet. I finally power washed it off and used Armstrong-Clark stain. The best stuff I have ever used. Very easy to apply and after a year and lots of snow shoveling it still looks great.
I applied solid color stain over deck that had poor surface condition gfrom previous transparent stain where boards were in poor condition it worked good where ther still was a good surface the first coat applied good Where surface was still the second coat had many small bubbles I spots what do I do
Sand it all off and start over.
This is not a penetrating stain, covers unevenly and is a bear (no pun intended) to fix after the fact. Initial application over a decade ago in some areas where it is applied vertically and I am still trying to remedy the mess that this product has made. It would not be considered as a transparent stain, but more as a lightly pigmented acrylic coating with ineffective protection. I have hundreds of hours into cleaning and stripping, and I am only about half done, the most disappointing product I have ever used. I have switched to a comparably priced product with much better results.
I wish I would of researched this more. This stuff goes on horribly uneven. I ended up apply with a brush on a 26×16 deck. I applied 2 weeks ago and it's still tacky. Called behr and they said they would send me more. I told them I didn't want anymore of this crap and they need to remove it from the shelves.
Would not recommend to no one. It is peeling of and where it has peeled off it has moisture underneath and has rotted part of our wood. Bought 2 5 gallon buckets plus our time of staining 3 decks, now having to replace decking boards. Very disappointed.
Ditto Kelly…With the exception of using up my vacation, I tried this product on recommendation from Consumer Reports.
This product is crap!!!
On all of my other wood decks over the years, I've always used TWP with great success. However, I can't find TWP for sale anywhere in Rochester, NY.
I have switched to TWP and love it, I buy it online at TWPstain.com and they ship 5 gal buckets.
Please, Please, Please DO NOT BUY THIS STUFF! I cannot complain enough about this product. I have a 16'x20' deck that needed stained. When I saw this product at Home Depot, I thought I found a great product to help lengthen the life of my deck. What I got was nothing but a nightmare. It took myself and 2 others a total of 24 hours (spread over 5 days) just to apply this awful stuff. I asked questions at Home Depot. I read the back of the container carefully. Prepped the deck exactly as directed even sanding it and using their suggested deck wash. Six weeks after applying this stuff, I started to notice little areas cracking and peeling up. Now 9 months later, almost every board is peeling – BAD. My deck looks horrible – like it is 10 years old and never been taken care of. I have no idea how I'm going to strip all of this off of the deck. So sick that I took a week's vacation, spent all that money and time to make the deck look nice and it was all for nothing.
Has anyone ever gotten a refund or had Behr pay for removal/repair of their deck?
used the redwood stain on deck.Peeled.Contacted behr sent pictures received credit.Used the product again with careful prep.Peeled after a year.Learned my lesson will never buy again.Buyer Beware!
Deck was completley stripped and prepped. After allowing to dry the product was installed exactly to manufacturer instructions. Applied last summer and this spring 75% of stain was peeled completley off and what was not peeled off could be pulled off easily. Very Dissapointed
We've used this twice and done significant prep work before application and it's terrible! We've had to stain our deck 3x in the 7 years we've had the house. Just ridiculous. Supposed to have a five year warranty, but good luck with that. I even took photos and videos of each step so we could prove we applied it correctly and did the appropriate prep work. Never again.
Nothing positive to say. After 24 gallons of original, tried using the premium (cost more – got to be better, right?). Will have to spend this year with more than the usual touch-up. Plenty of repair ahead. Should Behr be concerned?
A most expensive mistake.
Very disappointed with Behr Deckover, followed all prescribed instructions, including all pre-applications. It took me 2 weeks using a brush to apply. After the first winter some of the boards are peeling and chipping when lightly cleaning with low water pressure. I have used way less expensive products in the past with good results for at least two and a half years. Extremely unhappy. Highly would not recommend.
We used the Behr semi-transparent deck stain and it looked beautiful after we finished but it doesn't hold up to foot traffic at all. It looks terrible after about 4 months. We scrubbed and prepped the bare wood with all the recommended products prior to applying this. It was very hard to apply, taking hours upon hours to apply. Wouldn't recommend this product at all.
Behr stain is horrible …as is their customer surface. Three weeks after applying stain to very expensive tounge and groove stall walls it is still tacky. I was told I could either "paint it" or strip it….at my cost. No explanation as to why it will not dry.
Is there any chance that Consumer Reports reviewed a different version of this stain than this website did? I think CR reviewed a hybrid alkyd/acrylic version that is no longer sold. That would explain the huge discrepancy in the ratings.
Bear with me here. I know that we're tailing about a semi-transparent stain here. But take a look at this information about a similar product "Behr Premium Transparent Weather Proofing Wood Finish". The Home Depot website describes it as a hybrid "Alkyd/Acrylic" stain.
But on the Behr website, the product is described as "100% Acrylic" and it has had "All-in-One" added to the name. Otherwise the can looks exactly the same. There is no "Alkyd/Acrylic" product at all listed on the Behr website. And I couldn't find the Alkyd/Acrilic product at my local Home Depot store either.
It looks like Behr has quietly transitioned their Transparent product from a hybrid product to a 100% Acrylic product. Could the same thing have happened to their Semi-Transparent product?
Possibly but I believe Behr has just changed the name and description. Their stain has been water based and acrylic (water soluble) since they were sued in the 90\’s for their oil based version. That class action cost them many millions. Hybrid alkyd/acrylics are still water based and 100% acrylic (water soluble) based. It is just a play on words. As for the discrepancy in ratings, look at the actual user comments in Consumer reports. They are inline with our comments from actual users.
What a relief to know that I'm not crazy when it comes to this truly TERRIBLE product. I've spent a good eight weekends working to salvage a deck that was stained with this garbage almost eight years ago — and that looked awful just a few weeks after it was done.
I'll say this — it hangs on to the uprights. Everywhere else, it peels, flakes, cracks, and generally makes the deck look like it belongs on an abandoned house. Some say it doesn't penetrate, but I'd have to disagree — at least in certain cases. I don't know why, but in some places the stuff has soaked down 1/8 inch or more, while just an inch or two away it's peeling off like broken egg shells. Somebody who knows more about stains/paints might be able to tell you why, but it seems that the pigment sits on top, a layer of weird gray/white base layer develops under that, and you have to get through both layers to reach the bare wood. Oh, and the pigment — supposed to be redwood, I would guess — has faded out to a weird pinkish red.
Overall, just a huge nightmare. I power-washed the deck and then used Restore-A-Deck stripper, and after 15 min. it hadn't made a dent, so sprayed on another round and waited 20 min. more. That softened it up enough that I could scrub it with a metal brush and get most of the worst of it off, but I still had hours of sanding before I could neutralize it and stain it with something else.
Consumer Reports ought to be ashamed — and they ought to know better. Look on their site and out of 40+ user reviews for this crap, the average is LESS than 1.5 stars. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
I agree with your opinions about this product. It's like watered down paint.
Sure wish I'd seen this before trusting CR. First application lasted a year. Although it peals up where in the sun, It's tough to remove cleanly. Just rest your hands on year old stain and it comes off in big strips on your palms. Second application showed it's weakest point. You MUST get every scrap sanded off before reapplying. Creates big dark spots on any place with a trace of the previous application. Now in the process of sanding everything completely down and switching to another product.
I sent e-mails to Behr about their product being garbage. I was told I'd receive 6 gallons to retreat (Gee thanks, just what I wanted more of this crap). That was over a month ago & I haven't seen any replacement. I also wrote another review on their website last week & it hasn't been posted. I guess me telling them of my thoughts about contacting the Better Business Bureau wasn't something they wanted to post in their product review. I also said that I was going to go to Home Depot where I bought it & recommend that they quit selling it.
This product is terrible. We decided on it after reading the CS report and hearing several positive reviews on it from the Home Depot rep and a friend who used it. We did everything exactly as recommended to prep our deck for this stain. We stained the deck and loved it…for about 2 months. Then the cracking and peeling started. In year 2, we sanded away some of the peeling areas and started over. Same thing. This is year 3. We're hosting an event at our house and the reason I found this site is because I'm looking online for a better way to come up with a short-term fix. Once our event is over, I'm bringing out the heavy guns on Behr's customer service department. Their product has taken a beautiful deck and turned it into an eyesore. It's borderline embarrassing. Ironically, the friend who initially recommended this product to us is also experiencing the same problems with his deck. I'm still not sure what the RIGHT answer is in terms of finding a good deck stain, but I'm 100% confident in saying this product is the WRONG one!
you are right on. I had all new wood put on my deck. we let it dry out for 2 years then applied the behr stain. This stuff should not even be on the shelves. Paid good money as we all know then in 1 year 80% of the deck is peeling. Now what???? I also have a big event coming up(sons wedding) . This really sucks. No more box store stuff for me.
I agree on the poor results statements, I am one of the unfortunate people who purchased the same Behr stain, that is mentioned above, for my brand new fence and it is peeling. Every year I try to repair it to protect the wood it is nothing but a loss.
I agree with every negative review and I thought it was me I prepped exactly like they said it lasted 2 months tops and peeled and has looked horrible ever since – do not use this product.
I reside in Ontario and stained a large deck with Behr Deck Over last summer…it looked lovely at that time..after the first very cold and snowy winter..I was disappointed to see large areas off peeling….like so many of the responses…I.had picked the product because of the claims of lasting longer than most other deck stains and on older decks. Now I am faced with a mess and not sure how to approach it….Sooo disappointed in this product and tired.. just thinking of the work it will involve to fix….
Absolutely terrible product. Peels after first winter in Midwest and this was after complete sand and prep like normal. Semi transparent i used before that was only supposed to last maybe 4 years worked like it should. Should have stuck with that other kind. Went with this because of consumer reports and the 10 year oil based warranty.. There isn't anyway i can strip this 1000 sq foot deck now of this poop. Worst product of all time
Absolutely terrible product. Gave up after 3 minutes of attempted use and checked the review site to see other's experiences. Most were spot on. Quickly got out to Lowes for Olympic Semi-Transparent Cedartone and the deck looks absolultely marvelous.
Bought this product around a year ago… unfortunately have not gotten around to staining my deck yet (although based on the reviews I'm glad I didn't!). Wondering now if Home Depot will accept a return for the product… will probably brush me off as its been so long and tell me to deal with Behr directly. Customer Service is certainly lacking from many stores! I am amazed how many faulty products despite all the bad reviews continue to be sold in stores – the stores don't care… they just want to make money. We once saw our Home Depot store selling a hugely defective window we had special ordered… instead of returning it to the manufacturer they instead put it in their clearance section to sell!
Have an 18 x 18 deck that I had professionally power-washed and then I spent 2 days staining the deck 2 years ago making sure it was completely dry before I added a second coat. After all the snow melted this year, my deck is a total mess. Peeling and cracking terribly and they say it will last 5 years!!! Don't believe a word they say. Will NEVER use Behr DeckOver solid stain again and/or recommend anyone to use this product. Don't waste your money.
I used the Behr Deckover solid stain on my deck hoping to get a finish that would last 4-5 years. I applied the stain in late summer, early fall and when the snow melted in the spring, I got chipping and pealing everywhere. I am totally disgusted with the outcome of all my hard work because of an inferior product. Will not recommend this to anyone!!!
Wish I had read all these negative comments before I spent so much money and time on Behr Deckover. Because I didn't save the cans that cost $158 each and I don't have my receipt, they can only give me more, which I certainly don't want. It's horrible stuff. The peeling after only one year is awful. I followed the directions completely and spent many days of hard work on it, only to have a terrible mess! DON'T USE IT!
Used DeckOver last spring, looked beautiful. After a bad winter,the deck stain is dissolving in random spots all over the deck. Just sent email to Behr. Guess it only lasts for one season, sorry I spent all that money. I will get outdoor carpets to cover up . I'am a female who thought I was doing the right thing.
I had an $18,000 multilevel pressure-treated deck custom designed and built around the side and back of my home.
An absolutely beautiful thing, nicest deck I had ever seen. After a year to "cure", I applied 10 Gal of Behr
semi-transparent cedar stain. 8 months later it looked horrid, 50% peeling and blotchy. Figured I had done something wrong
so yup I did it again, pressure washing and sanding and stripping the old and yup, another 10G of Behr.
Next spring, same story. Where it adhered (mostly vertical) it was OK but the horizontal surfaces looked bad.
So I figured to even remotely improve the appearance I was now relegated to a solid so yup didn't I go and put another 10G of Premium Solid Cedar stain on. This was the biggest mistake ever. The colour was a hideous orange. OMFG I can't believe what I've done to my masterpiece. Next spring I could wash away half the stain with a hose, the rest wouldn't lift off with a pressure washer. Absolutely gutted at this point. I redid the verticals with a CIL solid cedar that was at least an acceptable colour. I've waited 3 years for the old crap to finish lifting off but I just can't look at the mess any more.
I am so disgusted that I have spent the past 8 weekends tearing up the deck boards and replacing them, many of which had rotted after only 10 years. An incredible nasty job but at over half done and $1K of new lumber I can see my original deck re-appearing.
I swear I will put NOTHING on this new surface, marketing BS aside a small 10×12 deck that was on the house when I built it 18 years ago with nothing ever done to it is down in a corner of the yard in perfect shape.
I don't think there is *any* product that will last more than a year on horizontal surfaces in Nova Scotia but Behr is the absolute worst. It will ruin your deck.
I have a 4,000' sq ft boat dock in northern Virginia close to Washington DC and in full sunlight with no shade. The dock is about 18 years old (in great condition) and it's been power washed and stained every 4-5 years. First time I had a contractor use the Thompsons Seal, next time a contractor recommended the BEHR semi-transparent with a light brown tint and 4 years ago a contractor used Sikens. I want to do it right this time and was planning to use the BEHR again because the more expensive Sikens really didn't last any longer than the BEHR and the Thompsons lasted only a short time. What deck seal would you suggest? The dock is about 1/2 the way power washed and will be complete today. Temperature is going to be 58 today but then dip down in the 40s for a few days but 56 on Friday, 60 on Saturday and 62 by Sunday, so Sat & Sunday is when I want to apply the correct stain. What deck stain do you suggest? Is a good solid power wash sufficient prep? How best to apply the stain that you recommend – brush, roll, spray, how many coats and at what minimum temperature?
Bill, for the prep you need to make sure that all of the old stain has been removed. I would look at the TWP 1500 or the Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color for the maximum UV protection. Both are best applied with stain pad applicators and should be okay to stain to with temps at 45 degrees or warmer.
We have been re-staining our cedar deck at 4 year intervals for over 20 years, with never a problem other than normal wear on the deck surface. We used Behrs Premium weatherproof stain last year on our home and cottage decks (both cedar) as well as our uncle's home deck (cedar). All THREE decks are now peeling at a shocking rate ….. I have actually never observed this amount of peeling on ANY deck surface I have encountered. This product is defective and will cost MANY hours of labor and materials to repair. Unbelievably bad product! And Home Depot still sells the stuff and pleads ignorance to the problems being reported. Also unbelievable and unacceptable!
I went with the $300 gas powered pressure washer. The washer is fine and I"m about 1/8 through the horizontals (I will not be able to strip the verticals). Fall is coming so oil based stains may not dry in time. I'm thinking of recoating with a stain that can dry in cold weather and somehow look good next to the Behr cedar stained (aka orange) rails. Its very important for this deck to look good for the next year. After that I'll likely replace the boards. But this year I need it too look good.
HD80 + scrubbing with a stiff brush seems to be working on my Behr acrylic semi-transparent (cedar style) treated deck, but yes, requires two treatments and scrubbing is pretty laborious. I'm thinking of buying the $99 pressure washer from the big box store and using that with HD80. The railings are still 90% covered, but the tops are bare. In the past, I find its hard to pressure wash the railings without damaging them. I just want to get this deck in shape sufficiently to look ok and survive this winter, and do the railings later.
Is there a decent stain that will match the Behr close enough that I can do the railings next year?
Is the big box depot pressure washer ok to use or do I need something else?
Northeaster, a pressure washer always makes the stripping process more effective.
I live in Tacoma, WA. In October 2009 I applied two coats of the Behr premium semi-transparent to both sides of my new cedar fence. The fence gets full sun on the days without clouds, and is rained on frequently with occasional light snow. On the south-facing sides the color began to fade after 1 year and was already peeling after 2 years.
Now after 4 years there are many areas of completely bare wood and I'm going to redo the whole thing with Amteco TWP 100 (color 101). The whole job is vertical boards, so a stripper that needs to stay in place to work won't work for me (or so I assume). The stain is in really poor shape almost everywhere (cracked, peeling, lifting) so I'm wondering if simply some careful and thorough pressure washing will get it off. Anybody had good experience with this method? I've read all the previous reviews saying just how difficult it is to get this stuff off, but I'm just wondering what success others have had trying to physically blast this stuff off of their wood.
Robert G, pressure washing alone without the stripper will most likely result in damage to the wood.
Behr has ruined my $10,000 deck. I spent countless hours building this masterpiece on the back of my house. Had a pro stain with Behr premium. Now, 3 MONTHS later, it is already peeling in areas.
I used kiln dried top grade pressure treated pine. These boards had no moisture in them. Painter said the product was impossible to work with, but he got it on with 2 very light coats. I will never ever again use a Behr product.
We used Behr Cape Cod Grey for 1000 ft of new decking and what a mess! Made all that decking look as old and worn as the 30 year old decking it had replaced. We are now spending a fortune to remove it and restain-hope this result is better than the last.
Behr is a piece of crap and so is Sherwin Williams's Deckscape. I have been looking at this site for just 10 minutes and I am ecstatic someone is finally saying it like it is. I am amazed how over and over pure crap products and often harmful stuff is sold to us thru advertising. You can find a lot of software for example that do not do jack and are touted as amazing stuff. I think it is time we reveal a lot of these useless products and stop the brainwash that they have done to us for years. Sorry for the digression, but for years they have been touting microsoft windows, McAfee, pc-cillin and Norton anti-virus as amazing products, but if you had never any ads on them and just tried them, you would puke and swear never to use them again. I bought PCcillin based on rave reviews on PC magazine and it wiped my hard drive's master boot record. As much as I love you, It is time to wake up America!