Deck Resurface Coatings: Behr Deckover, Olympic Rescue-It, Rust-Oleum Deck Restore – Do They Work?
Hi, I’m Scott Paul. With over 30 years of experience as a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner, I specialize in exterior wood restoration. My Deck Resurface Coatings reviews and helpful tips are grounded in decades of hands-on testing and professional expertise.
- Most deck resurface coatings from big-box brands like Behr, Rust-Oleum, and Olympic peel within two years, despite manufacturer claims.
- Deck resurface coatings are nearly impossible to remove once applied, often requiring heavy sanding or full wood replacement.
- Most resurface coatings trap moisture, preventing wood from breathing and causing dry rot from the bottom up.
- The cost per square foot is extremely high, averaging $1–$2 per foot, due to poor coverage rates compared to conventional stains.
Everything I share is designed to help you find the top product choices for your deck projects, ensuring long-lasting protection and a stunning finish. Let my experience guide you toward the best solutions for your wood restoration needs. See here for more info about me.
2026 Deck Resurface Coatings and Tips
Share Your Experience with Deck Resurface Coatings
Have you used products like Behr Deckover, Rust-Oleum Rock Solid (formerly Deck Revive), Olympic Rescue-It, Cabot Deck Correct, or any other Deck Resurface Stains? I’d love to hear about your experience! Feel free to share pictures of your project in the comments along with a detailed description of the product brand and your results.
A Word of Caution
If you’re considering a Deck Resurface Stain, keep in mind that many users report poor experiences with resurface coatings purchased from big-box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s. These coatings often fall short on durability and performance.
Notable Recommendation
While user feedback for most deck resurface coatings has been overwhelmingly negative, one exception has been Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive, which has received favorable reviews for its performance and reliability.
Your insights and photos can help others make informed decisions about which deck resurface coating to choose—or avoid. Let us know how these products worked for you!
Deck Resurface Coatings – Do They Work?
Homeowners are always looking for an alternative to deck replacement. When wood is neglected, it can be expensive to have it restored or replaced. Companies like Behr, Rust-Oleum, and Olympic are selling deck resurface products. They claim they are the smart alternative to deck replacement. They can be applied to wood surfaces such as decks, stairs, docks, composite decking, etc. So, is it a good alternative or just a waste of time and money?
Deck Resurface products are similar to an extremely thick paint. They are designed to mask the wood and fill large cracks or voids. Deck resurfacer coatings will not show any wood grain. Please note that this product is far beyond conventional wood restoration.
Why use Deck Resurface Products?
The one plus reported by deck restoration professionals is that these products have little sign of UV fading. This, however, is typical for most solid paint or opaque stains because of the high volume of pigment.
Another benefit of using a deck resurface product is the wide range of colors. Because these products are more like solid, thick paint, companies can offer consumers unlimited custom color choices.
My Pro Tip: Avoid very dark colors as they can become hot to the touch when in full sun.
My 4 Reasons to Avoid Deck Resurface Products
- Deck Resurface coatings peel
- Difficult to remove when they fail
- Cause rotting
- Deck Resurface coatings are costly
1. Deck Resurface Coatings Peel
My tests and seeing these coatings in the real world show that despite what the manufacturers claim, these products are prone to peeling. Peeling is always an issue with any film-forming product. It still seems to stand true that anything subjected to the elements will not hold up for more than a couple of years.
Olympic Deck Rescue-It Peeling Photos
2. Deck Resurface Coatings are Impossible to Remove
Another issue with deck resurfacing products is that they create many maintenance and removal issues. With conventional wood restoration, the ease of maintenance using a wood stain helps the deck look so good for many years. With deck resurfacing, maintenance is a chore. Good luck trying to remove such a thick, heavy product. Once the product is on the deck, you may be stuck with it or need to replace the wood. Conventional deck stripper will not remove Deck Resurface Coatings, leaving your options to remove with heavy sanding or scraping.
My Pro Tips: See this article on How to Remove a Deck Resurface Coating.
3. Deck Resurface Coatings Cause Rotting of Wood
The third issue is that most deck resurface coatings do not allow the wood to breathe. They coat the surface 100%, leading to dry rot and, eventually, deck replacement. When the coating cannot breathe, the rotting starts from the bottom up and traps moisture.
We suggest reading the comments below for consumers who have seen firsthand how their decking rots away, causing the need for a full replacement of the wood flooring.
My Pro Tips: Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive is breathable and has had no complaints of rotting.
Rust-Oleum Rock Solid (Deck Restore) Peeling Photos
4. Deck Resurface Coatings are Costly
The cost per square foot for a deck resurface product is extremely high. This is mostly due to the poor coverage rate of these product(s). The average cost is around $1-2 per foot, which is astronomical compared to conventional wood restoration stains.
So, despite the manufacturers’ claims that the product lasts many years, I see firsthand that these products fail and peel within two years. They are expensive to apply, have a horrible coverage rate, create rotting wood, and are hot to the touch in direct sunlight.
My Pro Tip: A class Action Lawsuit has been filed against Rust-Oleum Deck Restore 10x: See Here
Still Looking for a Deck Resurface Coating?
Please read my article on Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive Review. If you’re looking for products that work, this product has real value.
Disgruntled Rust-Oleum Rock Solid (formerly Deck Restore) Customer on YouTube
Deck Resurface Product Reviews
Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive Review
Rust-Oleum Rock Solid/Deck Restore Review
If you have any questions or experience with these deck stain products, please post below
Hello, I am in Florida on a freshwater lake. I have used Behr and Sherwin Williams water based stains which have both held up in color but the wood has deteriorated in only 2 years. Now I have a mix match of old stained wood, old wood with no stain and brand new pressure treated unstained wood. Do I have to wait the 6 months before treating or is there a solid color stain or treatment I can use to clean this up now?
A solid stain will blend it all but you have to let the new wood weather for 3-4 monthss and then prep all wood.
How many Sq. Ft. Does a gal cover
Of what product?
Can I apply Deck Revive directly over Flood Pro Series Solid Stain?
Yes, but pressure wash first and you must use the Permabond before the Deck Revive.
Hi. Six years ago I covered our deck with Rust-oleum Restore 10x and have been relatively satisfied with it, but it’s a bit ragged in spots and there are a few very small areas (on the edges of the wood) where it has come off. Is there a way I can “restore” Restore. I don’t see the need to replace what I have, but it has reached the point where routine maintenance seems like a good idea. Any suggestions? Many thanks!
It will not blend if you spot applying. You would need to do a full redo.
Regarding the Rustoleum 20x deck resurfacer paint. Prior to using this product I tested a small amount on several types of substrates including plywood, dimensional lumber, galvanized sheet metal and several types of plastic. It fared poorly on the plastics and I found that it dried rather soft and chalky on the metal and could be peeled off the wood. So I mixed in 1/2 cup of waterproof wood glue with 10 litres this paint and then applied it as per the instructions. The results were quite different. It adhered well to all the products and had a very hard surface that could not be easily chipped or peeled. The paint was then applied to our worn and cracking wood deck in June of 2018. It is now September 2022 and the paint is still holding up well.
I have had Olympic rescue it on my deck for 3 years now. It’s finally starting to peel and I need to put another resurfacer down. I see you are a fan of the gulf synthetic product which I will try. How do I prep the deck that is now covered with Olympic rescue it. Can I pressure wash and paint right over it? Does it need to be peeled away and sanded?
Thanks
You should remove it but that may not be practical or easy to do. If you do not remove it fully, then your new coating will be at the mercy of the Olympic potentially failing under it.
I have a deck with red resurfacer over the top of it, just recently had an addition put on for the pool with the deck extended to meet the pool. Rather than sand the entire large deck could I just put a different darker color of deck paint over it?
Not paint but a Deck Resurface Coating like the Gulf should work: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review/
Can you use a deck stain over painted wood floors? What brand if so.
No.
I live in NW Arkansas. I’ve power washed my red cedar decks. A large job, 2 levels with wrap around decks.
Wood is in excellent condition and beautiful. I want to keep the natural color of the wood as much as possible with longevity.
What product would allow me the best results at a reasonable price?
Look at using one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
I have a question, we have a 20+ year old deck that is in rough shape but structurally sound. Even year or so we sand it down and re-stain it with a solid color stain (only because the wood is in such poor looking shape) but nothing seems to hold very long, it starts to peel and come off. We live in Washington state where the summers are hot and humid and the rest of the time its raining…alot!! Were just so frustrated with constantly painting and sanding the deck over and over again, I know it really needs to be completely replaced but its just not in the budget right now. Any recommendations on a paint/stain that will help restore the decks appearance yet last and not peel off? Thanks so much!
Post some pictures of the current condition.
So this is our decks current condition, obviously we still need to sand it down.
Pressure wash first, sand after. Try the Gulf Synthetics:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-photos/
I have a very large older deck that I just sanded down (removed Olympic mountain cedar stain) I never want to sand again. What would be my best option to keep it looking good? Thompson water seal? Could that be reapplied when needed without sanding?
Should I leave it bare and just use a cleaner when needed?
You want a penetrating stain that can be cleaned and reapplied as needed.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
We have new redwood posts (some wood still wet) and other areas on an open gazebo that has trex decking. We are in the Santa Cruz Mtns. in CA. Suggestions for these vertical surfaces? Semi transparent would show more wood beauty. South facing- so alot of sun. There is a l000 gallon tiled spa/hot tub in the center. Perserva Wood at the local paint store had a nice redwood and canyon brown color sample in the Premium Timber Oil. Just don’t want to make another mistake…
Looks at one of these brands:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Ask a local painter. Santa Cruz has a lot of salt in the air and that means products that work well in other locations might not work well for you.
I’m in eastern Canada (milder than New England winters but very wet) and I have a 20 year old deck that is structurally sound but has some cracks and is very greyed. I tried the Behr Deckover 2 years ago in August and it peeled up the following spring. I put in a lot of prep time. Is it likely that I would have the same result with pretty much any similar product?
You would have to remove the Deck Over to fix this and then apply the Gulf Deck Revive coating.
Thanks for the amount of work that you have put in to these reviews and bringing attention to the Gulf products. I am seeing on other sites the Rust-Oleum 10x is known for peeling but the 20x seems to not. Do you have any experience with this?
All the Rust-oleum products peel.
I resurfaced my deck with Restore six years ago.95% of the deck is in great condition. Can i reapply another coat Restore with out stripping the old off?
You should be able to afetr pressure washing and using the primer first.
where is Restore available? I had good luck with it and this year I decided to sand the rough spots and repaint, using a can I had left over from four years ago. Now I need more and I found that it’s unavailable. Any suggestions? (It was Restore light duty in Timberline but I’d use the heavier Restore if I could get it.)
I have a 27 year old deck that is in poor shape (cracking and splinters) but structurally sound. Wondering if you think I should try the Gulf resurfacer or just replace the deck boards?
Gulf would work great for this.
We have an above ground wood pool deck in the sun 12 hrs a day in the summer we were wanting to put something to protect the deck but provide anti slip and resist splinters do you have any advice
Try the Gulf Synthetics: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review/
My son used cabot’s deck correct and it has done wonderful around his pool.
Gald it worked for him as it fails for a vast majority.
A few questions here:
How can I identify a stain as a penetrating stain vs a film forming stain? Products don’t exactly spell it out it seems.
What is a good opaque/solid color penetrating stain to use on an old badly weathered deck with a few new boards in as repair to have a uniform and non-peeling finish?
Is there such a thing as a solid color penetrating stain? My parents have this on their house siding and has been great. It’s been a “paint” that rolls on and does not peel but only fades. It was an opaque decking stain they bought in coffee color but they used it on their wood siding. I want that or something very similar but cannot identify what they have.
You cannot just identify by reading a label. It is more or less based on experience. There is no such thing as a penetrating solid stain, they are all film-forming.
What about Cabot semi soild stain? It has “deep penatrating oil” on the can.
It dries on top of the wood, does not fully soak in.
Thank you. I’ll go with one of your recommended semi transparents.
Let me start by saying that your website is amazing, and extraordinarily helpful. I wish we had found it a little earlier in our laborious process to revive our 16 x 12 deck. We need some assistance with figuring out what product to use on the deck. Our location is Northwest Michigan where we live at the eastern shore of a very large lake. The deck is exposed to direct sunlight from about noon until sunset year round as well as the usual rain, snow and humidity. It is 27 year old, wolmanized pine with many layers of stain, solid stain, and solid deck coverings, the last of which is Cabots Deck Correct (CDC) applied 2 years ago. It had failed in a few places (due likely to inadequate prep), so we thought we would simply scrape down those areas and reapply. It soon became evident more work was necessary so we: applied a cleaner, power washed, scraped, sanded with a belt sander, scraped more, power washed, etc. I’ve attached photos of the current status. A few places resist further sanding, some places the wood has small splits, but it’s in remarkably good condition. The question now is what to apply. We have read many of your articles, but still left wondering if we can apply a heavy solid stain, or if we have to use a deck resurface product. The TWP is interesting, but the deck and steps (210sf) will require ?3? kits and gallons of paint. We could have replaced the boards for less $$. So, what product would u recommend to give the heaviest coverage on the deck as u see it? Note: the boards closest to the door have CDC which is completely intact. The steps still need a bit of work. Lastly I should say we hope to change color to lighter shade. Thanks so much for your input and advice.
Sorry but you have no choice but to remove 100% at this point. Nothing will work over the DeckCorrect and last. Your other option would be to replace all the flooring. Once you remove/replace all, wait until Spring to clean/brighten the wood and paint the sides white again and then use a penetrating stain for the floors: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
I live in Ireland. Where we live we expect rain 200 days a year but UV is less of an issue.
The leading brand for decking restorers and deck rescues is an English company called Ronseal. I haven’t come across the products such as Rust-oleum other than in reviews from your side of the Atlantic.
Ronseal deck rescue paint is very expensive at €65 for 5 litres. That’s about $60 for a US gallon. That’ll cover about 10 square metres with 2 coats. Our deck is 23 square metres so it costs about €120 ($140) a year to keep it in reasonable condition. We are pensioners, so this is a significant cost for us.
Decking in Ireland is always built with at least 300mm (1 foot) clearance from the ground to allow air to circulate. Nevertheless moisture seems to penetrate the wood from underneath and this is the cause of failure of the deck rescue paint.
How do you get the crap off the deck. A lot of it peeled but the rest wont come off. We’ve power washed, sanded….doesn’t work. This was the worst stuff ever…we wish we had never used it😣
You will have to power sand to remove.
We purchased a house in SC & the back deck has some splintering. Unfortunately due to the pandemic we were told we could not get any treated wood for a while to replace some of the boards. We were thinking of using the Cabot Deck Correct but now after reading some of the answers are quite unsure. The stain that is on the deck (the owner left some) is semi-transparent stain. Should we just use the semi transparent stain and then just have some of the boards replaced next year or should we use solid deck stain and not the semi-transparent. This is all new to us. We are native New Yorkers (NYC) and have a back yard sans a deck.
Thank you
Post pictures.
Are you owned and funded by gulf synthetics? Just curious, seems too one sided, No issues at all with gulf synthetics but all other similar brands are terrible? Hmmm
No, we do not own the Gulf products. Gemini Coatings does. They do not fund this site in any way. We do not get paid by anyone for the reviews of products.
I used Olympic Rescue It at my House that I sold in 2017 and it looks awesome. I used primer on the wood first even though it told me that I did not need to. I always use wood primer before painting ANYTHING. I could not be happier on the results. Wish I could find it to use on my current house. Its sad that so many people are complaining and therefore Lowes and Home Depot stopped selling it which is the only place in town that carried it. I love it.
I have used Rescue Ir paint not the stain on my island hone and it’s held up great now my River home dock needs to be rescued but not sure whose to use since Rescue It is not so available Most available is Behr-DeckOver and Cabot DeckCorrect
Whose is best for a dock and walk over to try and extend life of wood?????
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
I covered older Trex decking that was in good shape but faded with Rust-oleum Restore Solid Stain 6 yrs ago. Accidently spilled paint on it and had to
repaint. Used Rust-oleum Rocksolid Solid Stain in a Cedartone Color. Looked great when finished but finding that I
am getting like black marking from shoe soles that doesn’t wash off. Any suggestions how I can get them off or if I have to recoat what type of sealer can I use to protect from happening again.
You can never top coat a deck stain with a sealer. Not sure about the black marks or on how to remove them. Post pictures.
What’s your experience been with Cabot deck over? Reviews and specs promise better results
Have you used it yourself? If you have a negative view of it, can you please explain why?
Thank you!
Do you mean Behr Deck Over? https://www.deckstainhelp.com/behr-deckover-review-2015/
It is horrible. Cabot Deck Correct is about the same.
Sorry, I meant Cabot Deck Correct
Used 7 years ago and is a horrible product, it held moisture underneath and caused premature wood rot. Cost me thousands of dollars to replace decking.
It’s absolutely the worst product and cost us a huge amount of money and it looks like shit!
DONT BUY IT! They don’t stand behind there product or warranty!!!
What product are you talking about here?
We started having problems with the Restored Paint that We on Our Deck one one year to another. It looks horrible, We think we will have to put a new floor on our deck. We tried to stripp the paint with a solution we bought at home depot but it is impossible to do it, We even bought a new power washer machine but it didn’t work either. We really don’t know what else to do. Very dissatisfied and disappointed with the purchase.
You will have to sand it off or replace the wood.
Is anybody know what to use to get this off
You will have to sand it off.
What can i use to cover old deckover paint
You can’t cover it. You have to sand it all off to fix.
That guy in the video did not apply it right he probably didnt stir enough and the deck was probably wet and to cold out?
How do you get a deck surface that is smooth/
You cannot with a deck resurface type stain.
So Why is Cabot Deck Correct not here? I am interested in people’s thoughts comparing Cabot to the rest of the pack. Specifically Rustoleum vs Cabot. Is Olympic in the running?
Cabot is just as bad as peeling as the Rustoleum and the Olympic.
We used Restore a few years ago. Last year the deck was starting to peel. This year was worse and we tried to strip it with a power washer. No luck. Tried scraping it with a five in one tool. No luck. Watched a YouTube video suggesting pouring boiling water on it and then scraping. No luck. This picture shows the result of about three hours of work. We are in our 70s. We don’t know what to do.
You will have to power sand this to remove it.
Our house had Behr deck over on the porch when we bought it. It was just applied the summer before. Behr sent me 2 free gallons to repaint the deck. I sanded it, scraped it and it is peeling again (1 year later). Trying to decide what brand to paint it with after I pressure wash it and strip as much of the paint off as I can. I want to keep the color (Barn Red).
Customer used Behr Deckover about 5 years ago. Just removed, maybe, 50% by scraping and sanding using 60/80 grit on power sander. Customer wanted to put same product back over it. I told customer that this product is not recommended by most. He is open to anything. My question: would it be better to apply same product being that 1/2 is still covered with the Behr? If not, suggestions on trying to get the remaining 1/2 off? The 60/80 grit didn’t come close to removing some of the stain. Thanks.
Best to remove all and then use a quality product like the Gulf: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
You would have to sand it to get it all off. If you reapply the Behr, it will fail again.
My concern is the sun rises to the back of my house and the deck takes the brunt of it during the day (where deck is located). 12 noon id directly above. Will this product hold up to direct sun daily. I’m in NJ so snow will also be an issue but I never shovel the deck, just let it melt.
This product will work: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
A few years ago I originally stained my new pressure treated deck and it looked great but then the pressure treated boards began to shrink and split and so I ended up using Home Depot’s deck cover that ended up peeling. My deck is 20×30 and I pressure washed my deck to get up as much deck cover, then I’m stripping it and then I will use epoxy filler to cover large cracks and knot holes, but then I will use a good primer prior to Cabot’s deck cover and hoping that will work
I used the Behr product. I have experienced the same peeling problem. I’m a contractor as well and took my time on the installation of this product. Bottom line, my deck looks horrible. What’s the fix? I’m sure we are all asking this question!
You will have to remove by power sanding.
We have had the same experience as most of you. The other thing I noticed is it gets very hot on the feet you have to have shoes on. Its nice to know I’m not the only one.
Deck Location State: North Carolina (zone 7 in garden terms)
Shade to full sun to partial shade as the day progresses.
Wood Type: Pressure Treated 18 years old
Mold or Mildew Issues: yes
Reason for Previous Stain Failure: cracks still collected water. Wood split, splintered and in some cases rotted
Previous Stain Brand and Type of stain Semi-transparent brand unknown – redone by “professionals” three years ago.
I had assumed I would be completely covering the deck with an opaque resurfacing product (your article ended that plan – Thanks!) With that plan in mind I filled in knots, large cracks and areas that had rotted (after removing the rot and using wood hardener) with epoxy filler. The Epoxy (Abatron Wood Epox) says it can be stained but I suspect it would be completely visible with a semi-transparent stain. There are still extensive but sound cracks, nail holes and splits that are vulnerable to future water retention and rot.
So now that I will be taking that Olympic Restore It back to Home Depot, is there anything I can do that 1) will not show the epoxy 2)will do something about the cracks and other rot prone areas 3) and yet not be likely to start peeling within a year?
There is not a lot of deck traffic so wear is less of an issue than protection and appearance.
And does the deck need more prep? ( Cleaned with Olympic Premium Deck Cleaner. Almost all the deck stain is gone. the vertical posts retain almost all the stain.)
Thanks
Use a solid color stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
I will cover your filler.
Pressure wash again for prep.
Why do you have to pressure wash after applying the stain?
Pressure wash before applying stain.
Restore…total waste of money. We did all of the proper cleaning and prep, within 2 years it was pealing off and 4 5 years later we don’t even go out there, trying to scrape it off and figure out a cost effective solution , what a mess!
I used the Rustoleum Deck Restore Product in the smooth texture. I prepped the deck 1st with power wash and stripping, then belt sanded the entire horizontal surface. I applied the coating and it is still in great condition 6 years later. I think that people get into too much of a rush and skip steps in the prep. The deck is in Michigan and does experience a lot of harsh weather and temperature changes. With regard to color, we selected a lighter color so as to be able to use the deck in full sun without burning bare feet.
Used Behr deck over on our deck. The parts that were not exposed to the weather ( under overhangs ) look great. The parts exposed to the weather started peeling off within a year. We prepared the deck according to instructions. its been a couple years now are we looking at replacing our whole deck as the we do not want to sand off the deck over under the overhangs as its tremendous amount of work to get off. The parts of the deck that were exposed to the weather on a lot of it you can peel off the deck over in strips and pieces for the most part or pressure wash off. So the only way for our deck to look good again and get the same color is to replace the whole thing. We wished we had just replaced the old looking decking and never used the deck over that way the deck thats undercover which is in great condition could have been kept. Very disappointed it this product and waste of time and a lot of money.
I have a handyman venture & have used OLYMPIC RESCUE IT on several decks. I followed the instructions to the letter,
but am now having to face unhappy clients due to peeling & fading. I understand our weather in the northeast U.S., the flat horizontal surface (s) but, I’m being made to feel like “the bad guy” since I touted the “benefits” of this “wonderful”
“everything” product. Lots of labor, high costs and getting “call-backs” does not bode well considering the poor results in
a seemingly short amount of time. Seems that a good oil-based primer & good paint held out better in the long run. I’m most annoyed (to be polite).
You could do what our contractor did and just ignore us after promising to take care of it!
Anyone have any experience with NuDeck by UGL? Wondering if it performs any better or if Gulf Synthetics’ Deck Revive is really our only option? (We recently bought a house with a deck that’s at least 15 yrs old and had to replace some boards; given the difference between the old/new, we really have no choice but to go with a paint my versus stain). Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
Sorry but no experience from us on this product. We do know that the Gulf Deck Revive works great.
Pittsburg Revitalize
I live in Milwaukee, WI. After reading reviews, the one thing missing on 98% of them are what city/state are they located. Wisconsin has a variety of weather, which seems why these products fail. Of the positive reviews, the majority appear to be from warmer climates. I’ve used this product twice, the 2nd time being a major touch up after flaking/peeling. During the touch up I didn’t prime(as an experiment). The last 1.5 yrs everything was peeling/flaking, the primed and not primed areas. I applied Revitilize on my front and back porches, both cedar tongue & groove, some painted, some bare. Back porch, about 1/3 of them were new, the others were in good shape and planned down by my contractor. All were cleaned and dust free before application. No primer was needed, just 2 coats of the paint, applied thick. This porch gets sun/shade/weather, is covered by an upper porch and is facing west. Front porch is facing east, has an upper porch covering, gets mostly shade, and not much weather. During the 3rd season of paint being on(2.5 yrs), was when I had to do some scraping and touch up painting. The back porch was way worse than the front, probably because it gets the brunt of all our odd weather. I’d say I scraped off 1/3+ of ea porch. That touch up lasted about 1.5 yrs. In retrospect, a decent exterior paint would have been cheaper. Unfortunately stain wasn’t an option because I couldn’t get all the paint off. In the future, I’m not going to wash any decking, only scrap off old paint before repainting. I’ve also used other brands of paint, stain, and similar hi-end “repair” products like this…I’ve cleaned, primed, followed directions (I read them to a T and don’t like doing things twice!) and paint still deteriorates. I’ve come to terms that this is Wisconsin and having a porch/deck outside is MAINTENANCE. Every 2+ yrs the surface will need work. At least with stain that stuff blows away with minimal force of my electric power washer because by yr 2/3 it’s already flaked & weathered. I have 4 properties and all have porches so I’ve definitely experimented with products and techniques(insert Charlie Brown missing the football!). I could post pictures, but they look the same as everyone’s else, just different color. I feel everyone’s pain out there…although the paint store I stopped into for work today suggested Deckcorrect by Cabot(a Wisconsin product) or Timershades(Hallman-Lindsay), which I guess is a stain/paint that covers paint? I will be outside tomorrow again during 52 degrees to scrap/paint & beat the impending cold…The saga continues!
Cabot is the absolute worst!!! I followed the manufacturer’s directions exactly, just as you stated, I did not want to have to re-do everything again within a year. By the end of the summer, the deck was pealing and had mold/mildew in all the areas which had some shade. Horrible. I thought the Thompson’s deck stain was bad because it only lasted a year, the Cabot was touted by Theisen’s in Sparta WI [about the same as Farm Fleet] to be the best thing to ever happen to decks here in Wisconsin. Now I get to have the fun task of trying to strip all this junk off, re-sand the whole deck and put on a new sealant.
How can I file s claim my deck is a mess ? Don’t even know how to get it all off to repair ?
The lawsuit for the Rustoleum Deck restore has been settled. You will have to power sand to remove it.
I have a “California style” , Acorn designed deck house with a raised deck open to the elements and full sun in an Eastern exposure- in coastal Maine. This past July I replaced the 10×25′ area deck boards (of 2.5 x 5.5″ hemlock) for the second time in 4-5 years due to splitting and heavy rot and installed PT joists topped with 3/4″ western white cedar. I did not apply any sealer or stain at that time. Adjoining the deck is a smaller deck with steps & landing, also of hemlock, but older stock and clearly of better quality than new growth stuff. However that wood which 4 or 5 years ago I stained with a dark brown Cabot solid stain, and last year Thompson’s clear seal, is showing its age (more than 10, perhaps 20 years) with checks, cracks, etc. but structurally appears solid. Cosmetically and for durability, the older deck boards and steps need more than re-staining, they need restoration. The handrails surrounding both decks are mostly mahogany, except 2 pieces I replaced with WW Cedar,all stained Cape Cod gray.
Question:
1. What is the best restorer for this deck and climate, and covering over old Cabot stain? I read your review of “Deck Revive” and noted your recommendation.
2. I noted some comments in the forum that indicate bleach prevented adhesion of top coatings; simple pressure washing apparently worked better. Depending on the restore product, what do you suggest?
3. Cosmetically, both the old and new decks should match in color. I see no sense in paying the extra cost for a restore product to cover the new cedar. What stain (presumably solid) would you recommend, that could be color-matched to the restore product that will be used on the hemlock?
Thanks for your advice!
1. Gulf Deck Revive: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
2. They suggest pressure washing only for the above product.
3. Flood Pro Series Solid Stains.
Before RPM bought the Restore product line, well over 5 years ago, I applied the product to my boat dock under the hot sun of North Carolina. Seeing the product dry so quickly, I had the idea of spraying the boards with water with a simple pump sprayer allowing the product to flow and get “sucked into” the wood surface as it dried. More than five years in the hot North Carolina sun, 18 inches above the water and every square inch is stuck like glue. Sure, the color faded but the coating was was “Stuck Like Chuck” to the old PT wood. I did not use any bleach cleaner prior to pressure washing, just the Olympic Deck Cleaner.
I also had the Behr product applied by a contractor about three years ago to another deck, again in NC, 100% sun exposed, and it is now just starting to peel. Examining the underside of the peels, it is slick as glass showing no signs of adhesion. I found out later that bleach was used during prep.
I’m not defending any product here, but surface prep is key to ANY coating project.
I am replacing some boards now on the dock as the wood was not the best quality PT available when I built the dock 12 years ago and the ends are curling up. As I tear up a board, each board is coated and again, the coating is Stuck Like Chuck!
Did you spray with water before or after painting?
In the summer of 2013 we applied Deck Over to brand new, aged, steps- 2 sets, our front porch, and garage door frames. We spent days preparing the steps, our front porch, and the framework around our garage doors as Behr directed. After the first year in full sun and heat from the concrete driveway we noticed the row of sap perking through the Deck Over. Behr and Home Depot said this was impossible and refused to discuss remedies. We didn’t ask for refunds or damages at this point, I just placed potted plants on the steps and installed a walkway through the lawn to the front door. Months ago we had a contractor come to provide an estimate for a project at the back of the house. He touched the step with his pen and it disintegrated, so did my front steps which are mainly shaded, floor boards of the front porch, and my garage door frame is peeling and rotting. DO NOT USE THIS TERRIBLE PRODUCT!!!!
Why are you using an aggressive“resurfacing” product that’s meant to be a rescuer of decks that the only other option is to tear down on new wood? This is way overboard for this application. You should have just used a solid stain with a coat of latex primer under it and it’s bullet proof.
Olympic Deck rescue. After replacing part of the deck to support a new hot tub, I used the medium sand version to match new wood to old. The new wood is fine after 3 years, but the old is terrible. I strictly followed the cleaning and application directions (cleaned with deck wash pressure spray, wait 3 days to dry, etc) but the part that needed Rescue began to peel the next year. I had some leftover paint so I patched the peeling places. It peeled more the next season and looks like crap. Even the new deck that didn’t peel is badly stained with mold/mildew. Lowe’s no longer carries it and no wonder. No alternative but to replace the deck.
I painstakingly prepared my deck per specifications and the product failed in 6 months. Now 18 months later I broke a deck board walking on it and many others are rotting out. Deck needs to be replaced. 100% the fault of this defective, horrible, nightmare of a a product.
Behr Deckover is horrible. Don”t buy. I am in the middle of sanding, scraping and power washing the peeling paint that only lasted a year. The sales person at Home Depot told us two years was max for this product. Nope, we did not listen. Save yourself some time, money and frustration and DO NOY BUY!!!!! Can anyone suggest something better to paint or stain my deck ?
You cannot apply anything over the Deckover. You will need to power sand this off fully to fix.
Rocksolid from Rustoleum is supposed to replace Deck Restore. Company says it addresses all old problems. I am still skeptical. Any feedback on this?
I highly doubt it will not work.
Any reviews on the Kilz Over Armor deck restore? That’s the one I’ve been looking into, but I think it’s a newer product and haven’t been able to find much as far as reviews
No. Never used it or seen it.
I’m about to do our deck and am between the Killz Over Armor and Cabot Deck Correct. Did you end up using the Killz product and if so, how was your result? Reviews appear to be pretty good from what I’ve found.
what were the results? Would love to hear what is that you used and how
I ended up using Cabot Deck Correct and so far am happy with it. We used the Deck Correct for the base of the deck and stairs and matched the solid deck paint by Cabot to do the railings. It’s only been a month, but we have 3 dogs and have had some crazy storms with bad wind/rain/hail and so far it’s doing great!
I’d love to hear more about Kilz Over Armor if anyone has tried it!
I’m very curious about this one as well. There are so many brands out there, someone has to make a good one for less than gulf synthetics.
Not many reviews mention if primer is used. I’m not experienced but seems like a primer made for this would help
Update after about 14 months:
Deck Correct has held up well on the main portion of the deck and the solid deck paint on the railing is still good. The stairs haven’t held up well with the Deck Correct, but as mentioned above we have dogs and humans utilizing those often. I’ll likely repaint the stairs annually, but otherwise have been happy with my choice.
Is there any reviews on Rustoleum Rocksolid Deck Resurfacer?
I used the Lowes rescue paint for on my bannisters and it was a total disaster! The paint just peels off the wood. My bannisters are ruined! Do not use this product.
My experience is not consistent with your review. I removed the wooden floor (2 x 6 redwood planks), which were in rough condition. I sanded and cleaned them before applying Coating th underside with 2 coats of Behr solid color stain. I reinstalled them and coated the tops with Behr Deckover Textured solid color stain. It filled in all of the cracks and other flaws. That was 5 years ago. It was still in great shape.
In SoCal we don’t get much rain and don’t have the extremes in temperature changes. The deck is on the north side of the house, which may also be a factor.
I also applied 5 years ago. Check carefully at the edges for rot. If I hadn’t had a contractor out for a completely different project who saw it someone would have gotten badly hurt when my stairs collapsed.
I hired a few guys to work on my deck. Not their forte but they do work hard with a bit of my guidance. They are also fixing many spots.
So, process so far is they rented a sanding machine and went over 3 times with different grain paper to clean it up. After this winter my deck looked bad. It is only 7-9 years old though.
Now they are sanding the rest of the deck. Afterwards I will have them use Behr Premium All-In-One Wood Cleaner. Then we will wait 24 hours for the deck to dry and use BEHR Premium 1 gal. Solid Color Waterproofing Exterior Wood Stain and Sealer
Now, I have no idea what wood my deck is made of and if you have any other tips, suggestions, anything, I would really appreciate it. This is their 2nd day sanding the deck and fixing it where it needs to be fixed. No power washing.
Only advice is to use a better solid stain. The Behr has many issues. Try Flood Pro Series Solid Stains.
Thank you.
Would you still use cleaner after sanding the deck?
Yes.
Curious what for. They took out the finish that benefits from the cleaner, won’t this just add more hours to the job? What will this cleaner clean if all the surface has been sanded off?
Thank you.
Sanding reduces the porosity of the wood while the cleaner will open the porosity so the stain can soak in better.
You removed my last comment? It was not to argue with you but to get clarification. A bit disheartened to see such moderation here.
No idea what you are referring to.
So, my guy used this cleaner on half of the deck that was sanded and on some part of the deck that was not sanded … it did absolutely nothing visually to both of those parts. Sanded part did not visually look cleaner and non sanded part of the deck (sides of it) even after brushing it, did not remove paint or even discolor it.
We’re waiting now 2-3 days for the deck to dry before he stains it.
I live in a brick house so my porches are concrete. I stained the front porch with behr concrete stain and really like it. I prepped the porch out the wazoo because Im 61 and NEVER wanted to have to redo the porch again, because I know I can’t. So far, so good. My screened in porch is another matter. I used the Behr deckover, and it is a nightmare. NEVER will I use it again. I have spend over $200. trying to get it to look right, and have followed all the directions, but when it rains and comes in through the screen, it leaves puddles that end up leaving very obvious stain marks on the finish. So frustrated and upset that Behr sells a product professing to be the answer and is not. The power of advertising.
We used the Pittsburgh Wood & Concrete Resurfacer about 2 years ago. It went on beautifully. But now the color has faded, the product has bubbled up and is cracking and peeling. Not pleased at all with the look. Our deck wasn’t that bad before, but just a little rough after Power washing. Now the deck is ruined. Any way to get all this crap off and bring it back to the original wood? this product wasn’t cheap and cost to replace will be immense.
The only way to fix is to remove and that requires sanding.
Previous homeowner applied Benjamin Moore Latex Floor and Patio Enamel to our elevated exterior wood deck, railings, stairs just before selling the house to us (see first photo). It is described as epoxy-reinforced latex enamel with low sheen. It is a paint, not a stain. For use on concrete or wood “sun porch or breezeway” floors. (I guess porches and breezeways typically have roof overhead for protection, whereas my deck does not!) Q: Are you familiar with this product and would it be similar to these resurfacing products?
It lasted well in our Pacific Northwest (rainy) climate for 3.5 years but is now flaking off extensively. I did some manual scraping and then belt sanded the horizontal surface of the deck. Have removed about 90% of the paint, as well as what appears to be an older stain underneath, but some paint remains; the joint areas between the boards are a real pain to get at. I am deliberating 3 options:
1.) Many more hours to fully remove the paint and then start fresh with a penetrating stain.
2.) Halt my sanding operation and recoat with an oil-based primer and this same BM latex enamel paint product. (i.e. surrender to the paint).
3.) Halt my sanding operation and apply a Flood solid stain, colour-matched — it won’t penetrate the areas where existing paint remains, but those areas will eventually flake off and then I can reapply solid stain. I’m assuming a solid stain will be easier on maintenance in the long run compared to this latex enamel. Would you agree?
1. Is the best route.
2. Only if you want the same look you currently have.
3. This will not work. You cannot apply a solid stain over this. It will fail.
Thank you – great website!
Used restore from home depot two 5 gallon buckets. It just peeled so I put more on top a year later. The color never matched and it just keeps peeling. I finally chose to start over with new wood but in sections since it cost so much. I can’t afford to replace all at once so might use more just to make it look decent until I can RIP it off.
we put deck over on our porch a few years ago and now it is peeling awful in some spots and actually led to some wood rot where rain has hit it….seems that it does not seal like they claim. Has anyone figured out a way to either cover this stuff or strip it off without having to replace all of the wood painted with this stuff?
Rustoleum Review:
I had a VERY old deck – at least 20 years. Wood was curling, cupping, split, dryed beyond belief, split, etc. Could barely walk on it because of splinters, etc. Should have been replaced. I applied Rustoleum that advertised it would fill cracks and seal the wood and restore the deck. While the wood sucked up the paint, it performed as advertised. Filled the cracks, sealed the deck, made it look 100% better, was easy on the feet (only access to the in ground pool). I had it for perhaps 4-5 years before I sold the house, and it was as good after that time as when I first applied it. Only drawback was some loss of color due to UV, but other than that it was terrific.
We used Behr deck over and within a year any of the deck that was exposed to the weather bubbled and peeled off. The parts of the deck that were under porch overhang have held up very well. We prepped our deck and it was very clean when we applied the deck over, and it has held up very well in the areas not exposed to the weather. BUT where the sun and rain hits it it bubbles and peels. Really mad that we used this product and very annoyed that are still selling it. We now have a mess to deal with and may just end up ripping up part of the deck and replacing. This product is a big headache and we regret ever using it.
Same exact experience. Paid 1000 to have it applied by my contractor, who I love btw. But, the product is cra and I wish I had that 1000 bucks back.
The condition of the wood, the prepping, weather, and the application process makes this product work as advertised. The texture isn’t for traction, its for filling cracks and covering imperfections in the wood. The “smooth” DeckOver shouldn’t be sold. Use solid paint stains, oil based (for bare wood) and you’ll have no problems when applied correctly. Like all stains, transparent, Semi, or Solid, the application process is the key. I have a 2 tiered deck, in rough shape when I purchased the house. I knew I wouldn’t be replacing any boards soon. So I scrubbed it with a deck brush, scrubbed and scrubbed until I broke the handle in half. I let it sit for 3 days in the sun, no rain. It dried out completely, no moisture, no morning dew, nothing. I purchased two 5 gallon buckets of DeckOver textured espresso color for the decking and sprayed the spindles white. I also purchased a solid paint/stain (espresso) from the top rail to match decking. I took a paint mixer to it for a solid 5 minutes. I noticed the viscosity was ultra thick. Not wanting to purchase anymore product, I had an idea. I knew thinning was a no-no and I didn’t prime either as label advises against. Instead, I placed the 5 gal buckets in my SUV, which heats up to about 140 during the day in the sun. This remarkably thinned it to a manageable level to roll and achieve maximum coverage. The sun wasn’t shining directly on it, no humidity, slight breeze and ultra dry thirsty wood. 14 inch roller, 3/4 inch nap, a well mixed/stirred 10 gallons of textured DeckOver from Behr. I went to town on this deck, evenly rolling it to a perfect finish. The wood was so dry, it soaked it up, almost drying it within minutes. I painted the steps with a mini-roller to a textured finish as well. I removed the spindles prior to rolling the decking. This allowed me to keep rolling continuously. That can be a major issue if you’re trying to avoid getting paint or product on the spindles. Less product is usually applied when trying to slowly avoid areas in that circumstance and could explain many issues I’ve read about on this review site. The other problems in the reviews (especially with pictures) is the wood conditioning. Home Depot employees are trained well in the paint department, MOST OF THE TIME. You also need to research, read reviews, and learn how to “restore” your deck. EVERY picture of peeling decks ON THIS REVIEW SITE shows the perfectly conditioned wood decking that needs staining, not restoration products. Even stains, with or without color fade after a couple years. Paint companies advertise products that they’ve tested, and in some areas of the world these products could last that long. Should you expect this in Florida on a beachside home, no. I live in Minnesota, for ten straight days the temperature was -1 degree or colder. Thousands of pounds… Read more »
Why can’t something like Gulf Synthetics Perma Bond or similar product be applied before using Behr’s Deckover? Wouldn’t this help with the peeling issue that all of these type of deck restore paints are experiencing?
It would probably help but it would no fix the issues of the Behr Deckover. The Gulf is a completely different product.
Have you had any experience with Flood’s Pro Series Deck Resurfacer?
We have never tried it but there have been a few comments from consumers. Seems it peels like many of the others.
I would like to paint my deck railings white and was going to use one of these products – is there one you would recommend over the other for this purpose or an alternative acrylic paint brand?
The deck on my home was painted with Deckover before I bought it. I’m currently going through hell trying to remove the peeling mess. I didn’t know your only option, was sanding, to get it off, and only figured it out, after several expensive coats of Citristrip, pressure washing & cleaning failed. As far as sanding goes, this stuff peels but you practically have to sandblast the rest of it off!
We had a fence installed a year ago and a new deck installed in March. We have purchased Behr TSP Oil WD STN 4001 Cedar Natural and have started on the fence only and are about 20 boards in. We haven’t done anything on the deck yet and I think I really want to do a different color then what we have. I don’t have access to these product where I live and would have to order online only (Fort O, GA 30741). Is there something else you would recommend that I could go look at before having to order online? Thank you for taking time to read my question.
I am not sure what your question is? We have no affiliation with Behr.
Im sorry, I guess my question is do you recommend any other product besides the TWP or the Restore Stains?
Is the Behr product I currently have ok for my fence?
We like these brands best: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings
The Behr is not a good product but it should be decent on a fence since it will have a lot less chance of peeling.
Behr only has 3 colors in the oil that they sell at local retailers. They have chocolate , cedar and a clear . I not sure if the color will cover well because it is designed to sink into the wood and be semi transparent. You might have to replace the wood that you have stained to get a constant color throw out the fence. I would take one the boards to a local Home Depot and do a test to see what the color will look like when you cover it with a darker color. What you might want to do is finish the color that you have them go back an do a second coat of a darker color on the fence.
Deckover and its like are absolute garbage! UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES PUT A PRODUCT LIKE THIS ON A ANY SURFACE! Myself and many others have learned a VERY EXPENSIVE LESSON! I have 500 plus sqft of deck that I put Behr Deckover on and is absolutely ruined. I am thrilled to see that there are numerous class actions against these products. I am lucky I saved receipts and have plenty of photos. I also have expert testimony from a licensed contractor stating the cause is an inferior product that in no way can come close to what it claims on its packaging. I hope to recoup most of what it costs me to replace my deck. I also regularly go to the two big box stores and stick flyers all over the place about these products. Lowes sells Deck Restore which has already lost a multimillion dollar lawsuit. I have been asked never to return to the Home Depot because I was handing out flyers to customers who were purchasing or listening to lying employees who were recommending this actively to customers. I still frequent the parking lot at Home Depot and hand flyers to people as they exit the store with this product. Most turn right around and return it, but some are Behr fanboys and just walk away. I feel bad for them because there is no way they will be satisfied with the results.
Witch product to replace rust oleum restore 10 x thank you
We used Behr Deck Over after prepping our deck summer of 2017. Within the first month we started noticing it flaking off, touched up those spots. These photos are from May 2018. If we get a good wind, you can watch it fly right off. They did give us a full refund, but the time wasted doing the project and now undoing the project is ridiculous. After talking with other, this is so common I can’t understand why they are still selling the product.
How do you clean this product I have pollen and mildew from moisture .
We have Behr Deck over on our deck. It was applied by the previous owners prior to purchasing our home two years ago. It is in horrible condition (Peeling) but we do not have the money saved up to replace the deck. What can I do to salvage this? Put more Behr Deck over on? If power washing or stripping does not work, what are my options? I was thinking a solid stain would work better but it looks like I cannot put that on top since I have what is considered a deck resurfacer.
The only way to fix this is to sand it all off or replace the wood. You cannot cover this with another stain or product.
Grind it, only option.
Ugh….We were thinking of using Behr. I am so frustrated with trying to find a good product. Either the stuff peals, or it fades in a month. I have a 600 sq. ft. deck to redo. I ruined it two years ago when I used a High Quality Solid Stain. It pealed….. I have a beautiful deck that just needs some TLC as far as color!!! Over all its in good shape. Everything I Google…. is crap!
We also were talked into the Restore product purchased at Home Depot. We put it on the top planks that goes around the deck (which we are currently replacing currently) and on the floor of our deck. Our deck is doing exactly the same thing. Product is flaking. I have scraped and peeled for hours not accomplishing anything, sanded (which didn’t work) and power washed, to no avail to remove this inferior product. When I went to talk with Home Depot, they claimed it was supposed to be warranted for life, however, they no longer carry it. As the man said on, option is to replace the flooring. No way to get it off. We have a problem!!
We used the Rust-Oleum Deck Restore product and it never lasted 1 year! It is peeling and looks terrable! Went to show pictures at Home Depot where I bought it and told them and said many others had similar problems, needless to say we are VERY Unhappy, because now requires alot more work to strip the rest off and put new product down…hopefully better than this!!!!
We had the same experience
From RPM International Inc.’s (Parent Company for Rust-Oleum) 2017 Annual Report:
“During the third quarter of fiscal 2017, we identified certain
factors that we considered important in assessing the
requirement to perform an interim impairment evaluation
for our Restore indefinite tradename asset. First, sales of our
Restore product line during the three-month period ended
February 28, 2017 were below historical and expected operating results and significant downward adjustments were recently made to sales projections for Restore products. In the quarter ended February 28, 2017, we became aware that it was highly likely that Restore’s largest customer would discontinue sales of the Restore product line in its retail stores, which was evidenced by this customer’s significant reduction in future orders based
on its historical order pattern. We determined that this was
significant to consider for the purposes of impairment testing,
as sales of Restore products to this customer accounted for
over 60% of total sales of Restore products for fiscal 2016. After
considering the magnitude of the loss in sales volume from this
key customer, we determined that it was necessary to perform
an interim assessment for our Restore intangible assets.
Accordingly, for the third quarter of fiscal 2017, we recorded a loss totaling $4.9 million for the impairment of the Restore
tradename.
I am quite surprised to see so many negative comments on these products. I used Behr Deckover approximately 4 (or more) years ago on our deck. We had some rough wood, splinters and cracks. This is the first year I have had problems with it peeling. I came to this site to get suggestions on how to recover it… Areas that are protected are still in excellent shape. The railings and steps are peeling quite a bit now.
I am hoping to replace the railings with something else and hope I can attach to existing deck.
In the areas where the surface is not peeling can I simply paint over it? I plan to use this same product again. If it doesn’t work well, we might need to get a line of credit to replace the entire deck.
I doubt it
Why would you use the same product after reading all the negative reviews. It’s costing us thousands of dollars to replace our deck now because of this product.
We used Behr’s Deckover a few years ago (2 1/2) to prepare our deck for a family gathering. Initially it was good and true to advertising. Unfortunately, after a few months it started peeling in large, long pieces. When I mentioned it to someone in Home Depot they basically told me that there was nothing to be done since I did not have the receipt even though I had photos. To say the least, we (my wife and I) are extremely unhappy with this product after spending $150 for a 5 gallon bucket.
The WORST Paint of any kind, I have Ever used !!!!!!!!! After a Class at the store about How to use the stuff, and Special applicators and Making Sure there was NO Rain in the forecast for at least a Week, We put on the paint. It looked really nice for the rest of the summer. Then it Happened, it started peeling, popping and just Flying off in the wind. UNBELIVEABLE !!! OUR DECK LOOKED DISCUSTING. There is no more paint left now, BUT, the repercussions Are still there. What was Supposed to fix the deck and make it stronger, left us with RUINED boards !! We can’t afford a new deck. They did refund me for the paint after a long back and forth ordeal. They wanted to replace the paint.. WHY would I want to do this TWICE ???? I won’t Ever buy Any Paint from Home Depot again. As a matter of fact, I rarely shop at Home Depot at all anymore. Only if there is something I Have to have , that Only they have. (Very Rare !!!)
No matter if it is this product or ANY paint product that is applied to a deck surface, if the deck boards are smooth which most decking boards are, the product has nothing to adhear to… This is also why all directions on spray cans also tell you to lightly sand between each coat of spraying… The more you ruff up the surface, the better chance of it NOT lifting.. As long as there is no moisture in the wood from rain etc..
The product is crap even when the deck is properly prepped. Costing us thousands of dollars to replace our deck after two years.
I have been using the Behr textured deckover paint for 3 years. Each year I have to redo many sections. Even on newer replaced boards. It chips and bubbles like it never stuck to the boards which I prepped. The only reason I keep going with it is because it’s already on there, don’t want to try and remove it and replace it with something that’ll give me the same results. I have a very large deck and redoing anything would take forever and cost way too much. So in the end I continue to clear out the damaged areas and buy more paint and fill them in. The only pro is I use a very light color for my deck so even with the hot summer sun it’s not completely unbearable. And when it’s done it does look nice with the dark color spindles. In the end I guess it just is what it is unfortunately.
I used Restore back in 2012 using Restore deck cleaner and followed the directions. This was right around the time the company was being purchased by Rustoleum. It was sold at Home Depot. I have not had any peeling or flaking issues whatsoever. This stuff wears like iron. I do need to do a few touch ups over the nail/rust bleed thru and Home Depot doesn’t carry it anymore. Not sure if the current products out there will be as good.
My initial feeling, I loved how it looked. It has only been 9 months and it didn’t make it thru the winter!
My story is similar to most. I used Behr Deckover two years ago and it started to chip before it had been down a year. Just had my contractor here to give an estimate to redo it and of course, it is another 3,000 dollars! I am looking for alternate solutions, but removing this finish is going to be a pain. Has anyone heard of Armor Poxy Renew Resurfacing for wood and concrete? Supposedly, a higher end commercial product. I am researching it.
How did your research go?
I used deck restore 10x on a deck that was built in 1995, installed 5 years ago in the florida sun and it still looks great. Yesterday i put cedartone 10 x on a neighbors deck, used a cleaner prep, restore primer and 2 coats of 10x. 10x is like glue excellent adhesion. If there is adhesion problems do not blame it on the product, surface was not prepped right, no bonding primer used or previous coating will not let any product other than itself to adhere to it.
From RPM International Inc.’s (Parent Company for Rust-Oleum) 2017 Annual Report:
“During the third quarter of fiscal 2017, we identified certain
factors that we considered important in assessing the
requirement to perform an interim impairment evaluation
for our Restore indefinite tradename asset. First, sales of our
Restore product line during the three-month period ended
February 28, 2017 were below historical and expected operating results and significant downward adjustments were recently made to sales projections for Restore products. In the quarter ended February 28, 2017, we became aware that it was highly likely that Restore’s largest customer would discontinue sales of the Restore product line in its retail stores, which was evidenced by this customer’s significant reduction in future orders based
on its historical order pattern. We determined that this was
significant to consider for the purposes of impairment testing,
as sales of Restore products to this customer accounted for
over 60% of total sales of Restore products for fiscal 2016. After
considering the magnitude of the loss in sales volume from this
key customer, we determined that it was necessary to perform
an interim assessment for our Restore intangible assets.
Accordingly, for the third quarter of fiscal 2017, we recorded a loss totaling $4.9 million for the
I have used Deck Restore in multiple states, Wisconsin, Iowa and Texas. When I used it in Wisconsin and Iowa, it was before they came out with the primer to use before hand and adhesion was pretty good, but it would flake up in spots, especially in Iowa where my deck was exposed to late afternoon sun. In Texas, my deck is much larger and needed staining so I gave it one more try, this time prepping it with the primer. It’s been over 2 and a half years since I used Deck Restore and I couldn’t be happier. I used the 1oX formula and I can honestly say it hasn’t come up at all in the Texas heat (close to San Antonio). There is absolutely no flaking and it looks great.
Good to know. I appreciate when people post their state. I’m in WI and what works for me, may not work for someone else. I can honestly say……I still cant decide on a product!!!
What a mess. I used Rust-Oleum Deck restore 4x 3 years ago. I followed instructions to the tee, having taught Kindergarten, I follow all rules and instructions. We had installed a new section of deck adjacent to an older section, and waited one year for the new wood to age. We also applied to another small deck. I power washed, cleaned with their deck cleaner, waited for perfect summer weather over a period of two weeks. Allowed both decks to dry completely.
The first year wasn’t too bad, a little peeling on the newer deck. The second year, it got worse, this third year it is awful. Big strips peeling up on all sections. There are shards of this stuff everywhere -in our pool, gardens and tracked into the house. Sticks to bottom of shoes and feet. There is wood rot both in the older and new deck boards. What a mess.
Now I am supposed to strip and sand all this stuff off? I power washed and was able to get a lot off. I am too old to be on my hands and knees dealing with this situation.
I don’t what to do, we don’t have the resources to have all 3 decks replaced.
You will have to sand to get this off. Strippers will not remove it.
Olympic Rescue-It does not live up to any of its product claims. I did contact them and they refunded me without much resistance telling me they are aware of all its issues. Plus it is very expensive and labor intensive to apply. I do not recommend this product and PPG is currently under a class action lawsuit as well.
I had my front porch, landing and steps painted with Deck Over two years ago – it is cracking, peeling etc. and allowing water to go under it, causing boards to decay. The house is 6 years old and now needs help!
Did you clean and apply primer before applying product you are having trouble with??
Used Behr Deckover…in Kalamazoo, Michigan on my deck that happens to be on the north side of the house, hence the section closest to the house has responded differently to the application. I too followed the manufacturer’s preparation and application expectations; as noted in the picture, there has been excessive peeling where the sun hits the deck. The attached image was taken after I started to scrape it. I came across this website as I took a break and to let my temper simmer down. Mind you, this was after 1 winter and summer…and was the third time I used the product after having done the initial application 3 years ago–I have had to do annual “summer maintenance” to the deck each summer, specifically scraping and sanding sections/boards that peeled and reapplying the product. Having committed to it the first time, I feel like I have no other recourse outside of replacing the entire deck. I would not suggest using a deck resurfacing product to anyone that I like. Stick with traditional stain, it gives you more options down the road. I wish that I had never seen the product and regret it each day I step on it.
I had my heart set on Behr……No more!!! Thank you for posting!!!
Used Behr Deckover on exposed deck. Absolutely horrible. Peeling everywhere. Nightmare to cover with another product. Used it on deck that was covered and it has held up well. Bottom line – don’t use where there is exposure to the elements.
Did you prime the deck before applying the product that you are having trouble with.. I’m a contractor.
It’s says not to apply primer for the behr product.
Just used Olympic Rescue-It and my results were awful.. That’s why I’m on here now. Barely did anything. So pissed off right now. But I have a question as well. Had to replace a lot of boards that were rotted. After stripping and restoring I will let dry at least 48 hours. When I sand entire deck do I need to sand down the new boards as well?
I did my Sister in Laws 25 + year old deck with Rust-Oleum Deck Restore back in the early summer of 2015. Power washed and cleaned the deck down to the wood, made sure that all old paint was removed, let it dry for 5 days of 80 + degree weather then did 2 coats of Deck Restore. It’s now been two and a half years of Michigan winters and it still looks as good as the day I did it. No peeling or other problems. I do have a little over 30 years of painting experience and will say that the deck cleaning is a lot of work and it must be dry all the way through, you need no less then 5 days in a roll of sunshine and 70 to 80 + degree whether to dry it out. My friend who is also a professional painter has done 3 20 + year old decks within the last 3 years and so far no problems. The preparation is a lot of hard work but the end result is a better looking deck.
I used Rust oleum Deck paint first, it did not last 1 month, started chipping and peeling immediately. I dealt with it for over a year, and just repainted with Behr Deck Over Textured. I power washed, scraped, sanded and used the required Behr Deck Over Deck Wash. I let dry and painted, this stuff dries fast so you have to move quickly once you open a gallon. It did not cover well, I ran back to Home Depot 3 times getting an additional gallon each time. I did it this way as it has to be shaken well or it does not apply well. It dried for 2 days before rain, it bubbled up immediately. I am very disappointed so far.
It sounds like you were painting in direct sun which is a sure killer for this type of coating. That causes it to flash over on the surface and it never dries properly underneath or adheres properly to the deck boards. It needs to be applied either early in the morning or late in the afternoon where the sun cannot get to it for a few hours to give it time to properly dry.
I used rust-oleum deck restore and in 2 years, the deck looks worse than it did when I first bought my house. It’s expensive garbage. I would not recommend to anyone for any reason.
Used Rocksolid Floors wood coating ,started peeling in 6 months now sanding and grinding off most of it . Bought at Menards
Worst product that we have ever seen! Please don’t waste your time or money on this! Followed instructions to a T in October last year, by April the following year it was all peeling off, 7 months later. We had a 5 gallon pail, unopened from October, I just opened it today and the whole container has turned to a thick jelly and unusable!! Waste of a lot of $ because this is not cheap! So upset with this product! Never again!