This post was updated on June 24, 2024
Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My Behr Semi-Transparent Wood Stain Review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top deck stain choices. See here for more info about me.
BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer Review
This is our 2nd Review of BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer.
See here for our first Review: Behr Deck Stain Review
BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer
Behr Premium Deck Stain Manufacturer Description
Enhance your wood’s natural patterns while providing increased protection from the elements. This 100% acrylic formula seals out the elements and the sun’s harmful UV rays for up to 6 years on decks and up to 8 years on fences and siding. It’s available in 60 custom colors to help you create a look that’s as beautiful as it is durable.
BEHR’s best semi-transparent product, this advanced 100% acrylic formula, penetrates deep into the wood to deliver complete protection from the elements for up to 6 years on decks and 8 years on fences and siding. The silicone-fortified formula delivers excellent protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Wood Stain is available in 60 custom colors that add beauty while allowing the natural wood grain to show through. The alkyd/acrylic formula combines the benefits of an oil-based finish and the convenient clean-up of a water-based product.
How I Rated BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Wood Stain
My BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Wood Stain review contains an 8-step process and the final average score. Each step is on a scale of 1-10.
- The appearance of BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Wood Stain after Application
- Preventing UV Graying
- Peeling or Wearing
- Cost Per Square Foot
- Preventing Mold and Mildew
- How Easy was the Application
- Color Shifting
- Ease of Reapplication
- BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Wood Stain Final Score
8-Step Review of Behr Premium Wood Stain
1. Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 2
Applying the Behr Premium Weatherproofing Stain was a repeat of our first test. We found that the Behr does not penetrate the wood like the product claims it should. It dries on top of the surface like paint. It looked semi-solid, with much of the wood grain masked by the pigment. The Cedar color on the deck made it look like a pumpkin.
2. Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 8
The one positive about the Behr is that it has excellent UV protection in the areas where the stain had not failed. Unfortunately, this was only half of the deck floor and most of the railings.
3. Wear/Tear and Peeling: 1
The cedar porch was “Behr” of stain on over half of the flooring. The stain had peeled or worn in large, uneven patches. Vertical rails did not have any issues.
4. Cost Per Square Foot: 4
Behr Premium Weatherproofing Stain costs $39 per gallon. We used 5 gallons for the 300 square feet for the 2 coats applied.
$.55 per foot.
5. Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 7
Behr Premium Weatherproofing Stain had mold growing on the flooring near the home and on top of the rail cap.
6. Ease of Application: 2
Applying the Behr Premium Stain is like painting your deck, except it does not apply evenly. We have stained 1000’s of decks and have never found a stain to be more challenging to apply than Behr. It dries extremely fast and will show overlaps if not careful. We used a paintbrush and hand-applied the stain to the entire deck, as that seemed to give the best results.
7. Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 8
Behr Premium Weatherproofing Stain does not darken in color much or at all.
8. Difficulty of Reapplication: 2
This is how we fixed the Behr Premium Wood Stain. We applied a heavy dose of the Behr Stain Remover and tried to pressure wash off the remaining stain. It did not work. We then used the RAD Stain Stripper at a very high concentration and repeated it. This removed about 85% of the stain. We were left sanding off the rest, then cleaning and brightening the wood to even out its porosity. Prepping took 12 hours and needless to say, the customer switched brands.
Overall Score Behr Premium Stain at 2 Year Period: 4.625
Rated #1 by Consumer Reportss. I’m not sure why, but feedback from most of our users agrees. Consumer Reports’ own website has a user rating of 1 out of 5 stars. Thirteen out of the 14 user reviews gave it a 1 star.
This stain should be removed from sale to the public.
Buyer Beware!
Product Information:
Behr Deck Stain Home Depot
Where To Buy: Home Depot
Cost: $39.99 per Gallon, $199.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Premium Semi-Transparent – Water Based
Available Colors: 60 custom 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: 1-2 Hours
Cleanup: Soap and Water
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in all States
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Cedar Porch
Deck Square Footage: 300 Square Feet
UV Exposure: Full sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used:Â Cedar
*All products tested and results are from our hands-on experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Consider that results may differ widely due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.
BEHR Semi-Transparent Deck Stain Photos
BEHR Semi-Transparent Deck Stain
Disgruntled Behr Customer
The stuff traps water under the stain. I would scrap up huge pieces of peal and under it would be very damp wood. This is on a south west facing deck on a hot sunny day. Dont use.
My whole deck was destroyed. We stained last summer 2020 in August and we were walking to the deck to begin cleaning the pool May 2021 and this is what we found. So frustrated. Time, effort, and money spent only to have to do it all over again.
Stained new cedar deck following all instructions. Like others I found it stayed tacky for several days. Home Depot was confounded. It finally dried but after less than one year the deck is totally peeling and needs to be redone. Absolutely useless product!! How can this be sold??
Strip and sand to remove. Brightener after. Use one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Apparently this stuff hasn’t changed much over the years. I had the exact same problem in 2004 with my cedar deck. Waited 6months, followed all the instructions for prep, removing tannins etc. Stained in Sept. and started peeling in March of following year just like all the pictures you see in these bad reviews. I thought I did something wrong or I didn’t get enough of the tannins out but thank god I found this site because I almost bought more for my newly rebuilt deck. You would think that Consumer reports would look into this to see why they continually rate this #1 yet no one in the real world has the same results.
You didnt’t do anything wrong, Behr sells poor stains.
April 2019 built a 500 square foot cedar deck. I applied the Behr semi-transparent stain as per the. Instructions on the can. The weather conditions were “perfect” . A week later, most of the deck was still tacky. Customer service at HD said that this was very unusual. By October, the color had faded and most of deck was peeling or showing bare wood.
Threatening a law suit, HD reimbursed me for refinishing the deck. It had to be completely sanded to remove all of the stain.
Another complete weekend wasted in Toronto, where the summers are relatively short.
That is exactly how my cedar deck looked the following season after staining it with Behr…..peeling all over the horizontal surfaces. The vertical surfaces, however, looked great for many years.
So, for the past 10 years, I’ve been doing a clear coat every year.
This year, I’ve decided to give Behr another try. I’ve done all the proper prep work, just like I did the first time. The stain doesn’t seem to penetrate at all, it stays on top and is tacky…which is weird, because when I shake the can, it seems so watery.
Since I’m getting too old for this, I’ve decided I am never going to do my own deck again and will hire someone, I figured I’d give it another try anyway, so we’ll see what I end up with next spring, and if it doesn’t hold, its going to be done by a professional anyway next time. It looks great the year you stain it, so at least it’s nice now.
But based on my original experience, this stuff is crap.
This is the worst thing I have ever have happened to my deck. I have been a professional painter for over 25 yrs. and have been happy with other Behr products. This stuff started peeling within weeks of application and after one winter is peeling everywhere. While it is holding up well on my fence DO NOT USE on any lateral surface. Now the nightmare of the guarantee begins.
I read the warnings and thought naw, it can’t be true! Well folks! It’s true. Colors are gorgeous. However! Stain doesn’t penetrate, stays tacky and peels! Behr will come on the threads and say user error, was applied too thick, I am here to tell you not the case. Their internal testing is done on a roof not a deck, so it is not a fair comparison. Hours of wasted work, time effort and cost for nothing! Expensive lesson. Buyer beware! Do your homework, other sites say the same thing. Run. Do not use on decks.
I read the warnings and thought naw, it can’t be true! Well folks! It’s true. Colors are gorgeous. However! Stain doesn’t penetrate stays tacky and peels! Behr will come on the threads and say user error, was applied too thick, I am here to tell you not the case. Their internal testing is done on a roof not a deck, so it is not a fair comparison. Hours of wasted work, time effort and cost for nothing! Expensive lesson. Buyer beware!
Same as most reviewers here, Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Stain ruined my new deck!
The stain was applied on a brand new deck as per manufacturer’s instructions.
However, after only a couple of years of clement Californian weather, the stain started peeling off. My deck looks terrible now (see attached picture).
Now I have to spend a more money and a LOT of effort to remove this stain, and apply another brand.
VERY UNHAPPY WITH BEHR!
Are all these rotten reviews about behr water based or oil based semi transparent stain? I bought oil based but haven’t opened it yet and am thinking of returning it since it was a stock color.
The oil based Behr is definitely a superior product for decking, as are oil stains in general. Oils penetrate and leave no film on the surface to peel.They allow moisture that gets into the wood to exit without causing damage.
Stain is not hardening – Day 4 and still very tacky. Complete junk.
This stain is not drying how can you help me
Strip and remove might be your only option.
DO NOT BUY THIS- GARBAGE! After one season on a pool deck, all is peeling on horizontal surfaces. Luckily a power washer was able to strip this off without too much trouble. Bought this at The Home Depot- they need to do a better job of researching the (quality?) of products they sell. Going with TWP 100 series! As the (spot on) review says, BUYER BEWARE.
Its like any other waterproofer/stain, need to prepare deck correctly and and paint with brush, 2 light coats within an hour works for me, about 3 years of good to semi-good looking on floors and 5 to 6 years on rails, I have redone deck 5 times now and if you don't spend time on it and do it in rush, the results will be poor – been there, done that. No sanding ever just the Behr deck stripper, power-wash, Behr wood brightener, power-wash again, let it dry 2 days (a day in full sun is ok) and apply.
new deck – looks like crap after the 1st year
I just applied Behr transparent cedar on a newly sanded deck. This was the hardest stain I have ever used and it does all those thing wrong that the review says. Dries to quick, looks like paint, shows brush strokes and if a drop hits the deck it is there forever. I did one coat and I'm asking if there is something else that I can use for the second coat. I would be looking for a clear coat. Any help you can give me would be much appreciated. I wish I read the review first.. Thank You
You cannot apply anything else over it. You will have to remove the Behr to fix.
Horrible product. In the process of removing it after 1 yr. Coating was patchy and uneven. Peeled off after just 2 months. As bad as it was to try and put on, it's going to be twice as hard to remove. And time consuming.
I with I had read these reviews before we bought this product . I stopped applying the stain halfway through the job , because it looks so awful , my husband is out there doing it the rest alone . The result looks nothing like the sample of wood in the storeroom . It look like watered down paint. The application is splotchy and just plain ugly ! My husband is a general contractor and he will never buy this again ! And yes , it is very tacky ! My porch looks worse than before we started .
I just spent several days and almost 2 GRAND on Cedar planks for my 600 sq. ft. deck. I was told by the incompetent sales rep at "The Home Depot" that the natural #500 weather proofing WILL NOT darken the wood although it did. I do like the pumpkin color after the second coat but it was VERY difficult to work with. DO NOT use a roller for this product..YOU WILL HAVE LAPS !!!! I switched to an applicator pad. After sanding 1/3 of the deck and adding another coat it is obvious there were mistakes made. I am not at all pleased with the Dry time, 1 week later and still tacky.I have foot prints all over and am walking on cardboard boxes…..can you guess what that looks like ? I also noticed where I used the pad after the 1 st coat there are little tiny black specs ( probably mold) forming and the wood is graying already ! WHAT A WASTE OF $$$$ and time !
I agree with the negative reviews. Before reading these I thought perhaps I had done something wrong in my application process. Stain fails in three years or less on flat surfaces, deck railing, that get sun during the day in eastern PA. Shady areas may not need restaining for five years.
Horrible stuff
I applied Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Stain and Sealer to a large multi-level deck. Prior to doing so I meticulously cleaned, stripped and sanded the deck, an enormous amount of time and effort! Although we live in a warm climate I applied the product in the evening when the temperature was not above the mid 80's and the deck was shaded by the house. The finish after 2 weeks is very sticky and I am heart broken, angry and disgusted. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. Since I have a multi-level deck, I had done a two-tone finish where one level was done in a different color with the Behr Premium Solid Color Stain (not DeckOver). Curiously, the solid color stain is much less sticky than the semi-transparent portion and is liveable. Has anybody else experienced this? Can I "save" my deck by putting a third coat of the solid color version of the stain over the semi-transparent version?
Part 3 (last part)
>> Now I'm ready to stain again. I removed 95% of the stain from the horizontals using just a pressure washer – came right off. No sanding. No stripper. Just a wide stream of water at about 1200psi. Power washing removed maybe 20-30% from verticals which still had 80-90% full coverage of the original stain – except once again on the wind side. So here I am – do I buy yet more Behr stain to continue this cycle, or spend days stripping and sanding to start over with a new product keeping in mind I still haven't found any locally available stain that lasts more than 1 to 2 years regardless of the wood, prep and application method as long as label directions are followed. This conclusion based on reviews and locals who have used the various competing products. My deck gets used maybe 10 times a year so traffic is not an issue. I'm actually considering using a rubber or similar deck tile right over the horizontals and just stain the verticals. Much more costly up front but perhaps less so in the long run – but it lacks the look of wood. Synthetic wood decking is another alternative but is prohibitively expensive for majority of homeowners, including me, particularly when the existing deck is still in great condition minus the stain. One comment stated the manufacturer's product is rarely at fault when it comes to staining. I think the power of numbers disagrees completely with that statement and the majority of stains available in Canada simply don't work here.
>> BOTTOM LINE: Behr Premium Deck stain with a 6 year deck and 8 year fence warranty falls well short of it's advertised and guaranteed coverage and durability, especially on horizontal surfaces. DO NOT BUY – that said – what's the alternative? And Behr knows that which is why they'll gladly refund or replace the product used but not what it was used on if damaged in the process. As with other companies (including Behr in the past) only a class action lawsuit will remedy this and possibly result in this product (and arguably worse products like deck over) to be removed and at some point better products like Defy and Armstrong may be carried locally. There has to be a chemical formulation that will last a minimum of 3-4 year in Canada that's still acceptable by all regulating bodies. If you find out let us all know! Ordering from the US is simply not a viable option. << Good luck to all.
Part 2
>> I have a 12x14ft back deck and 6x22ft front deck for a total surface area of just under 800 sqft including the uprights. Despite the label stating 2-coat coverage estimates, I required 4.5 gallons of this stain, as I did the first year I used the product. I was not applying too thick or too thin, and followed directions on the label as well as from HD associate who had spoken to Behr. I applied using a stain pad for horizontals and verticals as well as a nylon brush for detailed vertical work and between all boards. Requiring so much stain I thought is a complete oversight of the manufacturer's estimates, but given differences in wood type, porosity, and humidity as well as application method I didn't worry too much about it but seemed to be a reddish flag in any case.
>> It could be said we have some of the worst weather for decks here on the east coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Rain, drizzle, and fog throughout the year. Wet snow and rain during winters with freeze / thaw cycles and moderate to high winds not uncommon year round (east coast). UV protection not really a consideration given the low amount of risk here of actually seeing sun for prolonged periods! 🙂 For example I've been waiting for 3 days of sun/cloud without rain above 10 degC and the next three days (Aug 2-4) is the first time this may happen since this past winter! However, the label clearly shows icons as well as text stating it provides protection in ALL weather.
Part 1
>> I used this product (on a previously non-stained pressure treated deck) as per label directions back in 2008 or 2009 (can't recall without looking up receipts) and it was peeling the following season on horizontals but 90% good on verticals except for those facing predominant wind side of weather which were down to about 40-50%. 3 summers later I stripped and sanded remaining stain (wearing a mask as the potential for lead dust was indicated on label) to get back to original wood. While it's best to not sand these stains or pressure treated wood, strippers alone didn't do the job. Once back to the original wood (and the deck looking amazing!) a brightener was used. Ready to stain again.
>> Not satisfied with the product, I researched stains again, and once again Behr was still showing up as the preferred choice for locally available product when compared to alternatives. HD had difficulty matching the color this time given the tint color code I chose the first time I stained was no longer available. I left without the stain to check around for alternate products and HD said they'd contact Behr. When I returned a few days later, an HD associate said he was informed by the BEHR rep the base formula had changed (as well as some of the tint formulas even if they had the same color code) so it would be trial and error to get the same color. This formula change was reportedly in response to complaints of the stain not lasting more than 1-2 years for majority of customers who took the time to let HD or Behr know. Should have walked away at that point. After a few tries adding the tint, it came out nearly identical to leftover stain I had from the previous application (which was stored air tight in normal humidity and temp range). Not having a clear alternative, I proceeded to purchase the Behr Premium semi-transparent again.
This stuff is crap. Did exactly what the can said and it will not dry. After 2 weeks put rocking chairs back on deck and it pulled the stain right off. Called Behr and they had the nerve to tell me I could get 2 cans of any kind of their product. I said no thanks and that they should have a contractor come out and fix this mess. They said they don't do that so I said give me my money back and I will never use Behr products again.
Did you sand your surface before applying the stain. Many wood materials need to be sanded before applications of stain because of chemicals they use when cutting the lumber. I am not a Behr product fan period myself.
I have stained my deck using Behr in the cedar color. It has been two weeks and the deck is still sticky. I do not know what to do about it.
Very disappointed in the product after spending the money and time.
I used Bhar nwf waterproofing stain! It's been on3 wks and dtl tacky ' I clef beer and they told
Ego mop with warm soapy water then rinse! Doesn't work ! Now what??
You will probably have to sand it off and start over if it never dries correctly.
Interesting review of Behr in that Consumer Reports rated this #1 just under TWP in the latest 2014 deck stain report. What explains the disagreement? Reformulation?
Hi, after reading this section I actually subscribed to CR. The Behr they actually give best rating to is the non-premium solid color. Not sure if I want to jump down the rabbit hole and try it though. We're in Nova Scotia and not many choices available.
It has pealed every year now half of my cedar boards are rotten want a new deck but cannot afford one trying to fix my self but am 72 and having hard time
I've painted for 30 years and this is the worst product I've used. I lost a few clients after using this on jobs. Used it on my new back deck and is was peeling in a few months and looks like it's been there for 20 years. Don't buy this.
One of the worst products I have ever worked with! I wonder why Home Depot sells this junk to millions of people and ruins their decks. They must being in a long term contract or getting a massive kickback on all sales.
Of course they are making money on all sales. They are a store. The stores job is to separate you from your $. ??
I painted my cedar fence with BEHR semi-transparent wood stain 5 years ago. I wished I had read the reviews before doing, but live and learn…Is there a better quality stain/paint I could apply over the existing BEHR? I don't want to strip and/or sand off the existing one. Am I forced to apply BEHR wood stain on top of BEHR wood stain or is there at least a better quality or longer lasting alternative?
Thanks, Diane
Diane, you cannot put anything on top of the Behr and have it work properly. Most will not even adhere. Either start over by removing or clean, reapply the Behr, and hopefully you will not have too many issues.
@Admin
the youtube link is dead.
Thanks. Fixed
In Canada we do not have very many options for stains. something in the the good stuff Canada will not permit.
I'd like to see a review on Transparent rather then the Semi-transparent. I'm sure they are different.
That said, I ended up getting the Behr transparent natural.
I chose this for 2 reasons.
1. I took in a sample of wood and tested it out on a piece of cedar i had. They took a cloth and wiped it on the board, waited a few and did again to give it a look of two coats. this looked pretty good in store.
2. Warranty. They stand behind the warranty. My father used their stain and in 2 years it started to peel, he wrote them a letter and showed pictures, and they offered to pay for all the materials it would cost to have it cleaned and painted again.
My Observations so far with:
Natural #500 – Transparent – applied to new Cedar – Wester Red – Fence – Toronto
cloth versus a brush or pad… puts on less stain. it looks better when it goes on really thin, and drys faster.
goes on a little thick so spreading it out is slow, but give you time not to over stain the first spot you put the brush down
not quite as transparent as i'd like… almost [but not quite] looks like a semi-transparent
tacky to touch more than 24 hours
kinda wish I went with the red cedar tone 501 colour. this one seems a bit too yellow. but the neighbours wanted natural…
Ugh. I am about to apply the second coat on my deck in Michigan after a week of lovely dry 70 dgr days, but it's still tacky. The part I did 2nd coat is even stickier. So, has there been any success by waiting a whole season before applying a 2nd coat. Thinking I will wait til spring now.
I would not apply now and wait until spring. That way if is fails over the winter, it will be easier to remove.
I just finished cleaning and applying 2 coats of BEHR Redwood Transparent stain. As everyone stated, it is more like a paint and is very sticky for a couple of weeks. Dust/footprints show, scratches easily and after 3 weeks since the application, we have rain today. The deck is absorbing the water. I did my front porch at the same time but with Thompson's waterproof redwood color and even though the color is miles different than BEHR's, at least Thompson's is beading water like a freshly waxed car. I will have to wait out the BEHR paint… I mean "stain" …and strip/clean the decks in a few years. It is just too much work with the railings to do this again so soon on 3 decks.
I tried Behr semitransparent redwood stain on a porch. It goes on unevenly with darker blotches of color in some areas. It did not penetrate the wood at all. It is like a paint. It wore off quickly in traffic areas. It night be good for something but I cannot imagine what. Maybe a really old unsalvageable fence. It is not for a deck and not any fence with usable wood. It does not act or look like a stain. And interestingly enough despite the recommendations of CU the comments there are not good. I ended up using on a fence TWP 1500 which is great and also Preserva-Wood which is also excellent.
Ok I used this an just like many of you I have a sticky deck that shows every overlap. The stuff sucks. I think we need a lawyer.
Continued from last post- Even tho this is a small deck, it would be a nighmare to strip. The other areas still look good but if I coat over them again, I won't see any of the original woodgrain.
Yeah, I used this product on my front porch deck about 4 or 5 years ago that faces north and gets NO direct sunlight. A darker red color that covers about 75% of the natural wood grain and is about 7'x16' . It looked pretty good after it was applied and it mostly still looks good now, except on the steps where there is no overhang and we do have to salt and shovel. The thing that ticks me off is that they call it a penetrating stain but it really is more like a paint as it's not very translucent and it does peel off easily like a paint. A true stain should penetrate the wood and not be scraped off easily or flake! I felt lied to. A real stain would not peel like that. Also, this stuff is a very dangerous slip hazard and should be applied with sand if you will be walking on it in the winter. I would be shocked if no one has broken some bones on this stuff. A light dusting of snow on this PAINT and you can skate on it with regular shoes! Anyways, I guess I have no choice but to lightly sand the peeled areas, and hope a 2nd coat (with sand) will cover the worn areas without looking too weird.
I was recommended Behr Premium Weatherproofing Stain for our deck, was told it's simply the best. Wish I would have read the reviews first. After two weeks, it's still too sticky to walk on and will leave footprints if I do. The dog has already left footprints and the deck is covered now with dust which I'm certain will not come off because of the stickiness. Will the stain EVER cure and be completely dry? I want my outdoor space back! I paid hundreds of dollars on stain for a large deck and overhang. I live in a very dry climate with almost zero humidity and cool summer temperatures. I can't afford to redo the entire deck!
what do you do when the stain will not cure. It still sticky and the out side temp 80f. Will in ever get to the point of not being sticky Is there a way to get it off my new deck out. I have the feiling that I am up shit creek
It should dry/cure eventually. It will need to be removed eventually by sanding and stripping.
Recommended by our contractor, we used Behr Simi transparent weather proofing stain in cedar (#146). I came home from work and was shocked to see our deck looking like it had been white-washed. The color was horrible. Looked like mocha coffee had been poured on my deck. So for the second coat we changed the color to Behr transparent weather proofing all-in-one wood finish (#501) Cedar Naturaltone. That helped the color a little. However, it has now been six days and we cannot walk on the deck because it is sticky. I'm just sick after reading these reviews. Wish I hadn't taken the word of my contractor and looked at some reviews myself before starting this project. Will call Behr to see what they have to say.
My deck was just completed a month ago and the color actually looks good. My issue is that dirt "sticks" to this stain and doesn't wash off. So my brand new deck is already filthy and nothing seems to clean it off. Any thoughts/experience around this? based on these reviews I'm guessing I'll have to re-stain it after winter.
Strip it off and start over with a better stain.
I was going to use this stain on my 6 yr old cedar deck (stained previously with another brand's product) based on CR's recommendation until I read the comments here. I am wondering now which product to buy if one cannot trust CR … Who wants to go through this work to learn the hard way? Any suggestions based on good experiences? Too many brands and "flavors", next to the impossible to pick.
Applied to 3 decks of new wood at new house. Based my decision to use Behr on Consumer Reports. Three weeks later ithe semi transparent stain was a non transparent pumpkin color. Three weeks passed and it was still tacky. All footprints showed on it. We used Behr stain remover in conjunction with a 3400psi power washer. It crackled up like paint and thankfully came off pretty well. This product is a total waste of money and needs to be taken off the market!!!
Besides the peeling, etc. we find this product has made our deck dangerously slippery when wet. Has anybody else experienced this?
Lauren, any deck stain that \”films\” on top of the wood can have issues with being slippery. Behr advertises itself as a penetrating stain but really is not. It dries on top creating a barrier between the wood and ice/snow/rain. Best to use a deep penetrating stain that soaks into the wood so this is not an issue. For you to fix you would need to remove the Behr 100% and start over.
Given the huge numbr of angry behr customers, is there a preferred remedy to remove the latex behr "stain"?
I am in the middle of sanding the bejeezus out of my deck flooring with a band sander to remove the behr, and want to nail the coffin shut with a stripper after sanding. Is the RAD stripper the most compatible for this (It seems nothing is truly designed for the latex stuff)? Also, for the restaining of the deck, what is the best compatible stain over top the latex?… I am not sanding the verticals.. they are actually in good shape. I was thinking defy extreme, per the site review here.
Pro guidance on how to best do a full and proper Behr to Bare and restain appreciated!
The Behr is a pain to strip off. Powdered stripper like the RAD Stripper and the HD80 are more effective since you can mix them stronger. Once removed make sure to brighten. You can use the Defy on the stripped areas but you cannot apply the Defy or any brand on top of the Behr verticals.
First off – this is an excellent site. really really appreciate the 'telling it like it is' and the professional experience you all bring. About the Behr:
Nothing at all ever on the Behr verticals? water based on top of water based – what's the issue? I should clarify that I do plan to sand the verts lightly (just not 1,000% to full fresh wood like I am on the decking surface and also plan to hit the decking plus Verts with RAD or HD890 + appropriate brightener. will that be sufficient to prep?
Thing is just that the verts are a bit intricate (previous HO was a builder), plus are actually in really good shape. Sanding them might take a couple of weeks (at least). Also – what is an appropriate amount of time for the deck to be bare wood exposed to weather before I stain? I am OK with "re-brightening" the wood if I need to. I just don't want to get surface into a state where it wont accept stain well.
I have also done the 'water test' on all the verts and NOTHING beads up on the surface – just sits there and seems to soak in. so – I assume another water based stain on the (now after light sand and a strip) ~70-80% bare verts will also soak in. Perhaps this is hubris?
You should never put a different stain brand on top of an old stain. It just will not penetrate or adhere. Even worse when it is Behr. Behr is a filming forming acrylic stain that does not absorb into the wood. Adding a different brand of stain on top will cause issues:
It will not penetrate, It may not adhere, and it will be prone to the failure of the Behr.
Do not sand it off. Best to strip it a few times and pressure wash. You will probably get off 95% this way if patient. We never sand rails, what a PITA!
Thanks for the advice. Will strip the whole thing bare. how strong would you reccomend the RAD mix to go… Or is it better to stay normal strength and give it a couple passes? I am also planning to run a big orbital with a pad on the horizontals as well after the strip. Like the day it was born.
How about the bare wood though… Any concerns leaving it to the weather until I am able to find a day to stain? It is pressure pine.
Mix at 10-12 oz of powder per gallon. Strip a few times to get off as much as you can. Brighten after the sanding. You can wait a couple of weeks to stain.
I applied this Behr product to a deck that had been stained 4 years ago with another Behr product. Deck was cleaned and allowed to dry per instructions. Deck was sprayed with an airless HVLP sprayer six days ago. As of this afternoon it is still tacky. Simply will not dry. Anyone else have this problem or know how to remedy this situation?
Jim, sorry but you will probably need to remove and start over to fix. Might want to contact Behr.
I used Behr 3 years ago and after the second year it started to badly peel and now I am finding rotted wood. I have used Behr in the past with good success but the formulation appeared to change the last time I used it. At that time it went on like "paint" rather than a sealer. This product should be removed from the market. I has cost me a lot of money in unneccessary repairs.
We had problems also. Dust stuck to it and it peeled. What a mess. Of course, when I called them, they claimed I did not apply it correctly or the temperature and humidity were not right. Do not buy this product.
I used Behr waterproofing on my decks for a number of years and it worked out pretty well. However starting 2 years ago the product starts peeling as described by others here. Did they change the formula or something?
I wondered about this also as I had used it several years ago and had pretty good results.
Does anyone know if this issue is potentially going to a class action? I have been in negotiations with Behr on these types of problems with my deck and they have offered me a settlement if I sign a release. Seeing all of these exact same issues with others makes me think that I should wait and see where this goes legally…
Upset, years ago they lost a class action on their semi-transparent oil based stain. They switched it to water and it is worse. I have not heard of a new suit. They really have no clue how to make exterior wood and deck stains.
I spent several hours today sanding my cedar deck clean of this product. It peeled quite badly after less then one year of light use (I might use my deck twice a week when I'm having a cigar). I just hope my back pain doesn't come back after today. I'm extremely disappointed. Yes, they offered to reimburse me for a new can of the same product (along with conditioner, etc…), but I can't see myself using this product again. I'm looking for alternatives as we speak.
OMG I just had to do the same exact thing !
Hi Vince , I feel your pain . We are in the process of using this as I speak . Thank God we only did the rails so far , I just told my husband to NOT put it on our deck floor . I hate the look of our rails , we used chocolate and it looks nothing like the sample did . It is terrible ; looks like we hired first graders to come do the work. I will purchase a different product for the floor . But now we are out a lot of money and time , and my very large wrap-around porch is hideous .
I used this stain as well. what a joke. it started peeling in patches after the first month. after the winter it was just a complete disaster with patches peeling all over the place. it was such a waste of time and money and one year later i have to do all the work all over again plus try to remove whats left of the old. terrible, terrible product.
I used the Behr Premium Weatherproofing Wood Finish on our deck and it started to peel and flake off the deck boards as well as the rails. We are very upset and were told by a Behr salesman that we could get our money back for the product. What about all are labor cost? Very unhappy our new deck looks horrible!!!!!!!!
They told me the same thing. Lot's of labor involved. I was told they don't have a program to fix it. They did tell me to mix Dawn Dish washing liquid with water and apply that all over the deck. I did it twice. It still feels like syrup has been spilled on your shoes when you walk on it. The stuff sucks.
I had the same experience with this product – it started peeling off our deck almost immediately and by the end of summer I had to sand the entire deck (except the rails), and purchase new stain to re-finish our deck. It was horrible! After all the work of building a large deck and staining it, to have to re-do the whole thing months later was a terrible experience. Never again!
My experience with this product was at least as bad as described above. Complete failure in one year or less.
Do not buy this product , complety ruined our new deck because of the peeling !! If I could sue behr I would !!
Will never purchase/use Behr Deck Stain again! The review from the above product review is an accurate description of our experience after using this product. This stain goes on more like paint, did not cover evenly, and the stain began peeling on flat surfaces (deck floor, railing top/bottom) soon after application. The upright rails were not affected and held the stain. Small consolation as now we have more work ahead removing the stain from the uprights before redoing the whole deck with a product that lives up to its claims!!
I came to this site to see why my Behr semi transparent stain is still tacky. Well I guess I found out by reading all the comments here. AND I am mad as hell!!! Two years ago I bought two 5 gallon cans of Behr Deck OVER, and I followed the instructions carefully. This product had a 10 year warranty! The following summer 75% of it was bumbling and peeling off.
I called Behr and they sent me 8 gallons of paint remover and two new 5 gallon cans of Deck Over. However the paint remover could not remove the remaining 25% of the paint! So I contacted Behr again and they agreed to pay for a floor sander. Even with the sander it was difficult to remove it all.
I refused to use Deck Over again and told them. So they sent me 5 Gallons of their Semi-Transparent Stain and two gallons of deck prep.
After following all the directions a I applied the stain. After a