This post was updated on June 22, 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 Benjamin Moore Deck Stain reviews are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top deck stain choices. See here for more info about me.
Benjamin Moore’s Arborcoat is a 100% acrylic exterior wood stain that provides water repellency, mildew resistance, and UV protection. It is waterborne and available in various colors. This wood and deck stain is marketed as a good solution to help you protect and beautify your outdoor furniture, deck, and siding. However, our testing told a much different story.
Please note that this is our initial review of this product. You should also look at our follow-up review, in which we re-tested this stain on different deck materials in different locations.
I love to hear your reviews of Benjamin Moore Arborcoat deck stains. Please post your rating below if you’ve used this product, and if you have any pictures of your experience with Arborcoat stain, add them in the comment area with a description.
How I Rated Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Deck Stains
All my Benjamin Moore Arborcoat deck stain reviews contain an 8-step process and the final average score. Each step is on a scale of 1-10.
- The appearance of Benjamin Moore Arborcoat 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
- Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Final Score
Detailed Review of Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Stain
1. Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 4
After it dried, the Arborcoat stain gave the wood a “plastic,” unnatural look. The finished result was a film-forming stain, similar to varnish. These stain types are definitely prone to peeling in cold-weather states, such as Michigan, where our test deck is located.
Some Arborcoat users have noted better results when applying this stain to a dry 12% non-PT wood deck. While most comments and user experiences have been negative, the application is a factor in the results.
2. Preventing UV Graying at the 1-Year Mark: 9
We only tested this Benjamin Moore deck stain for 1 year, but it did very well with preventing UV graying. The nanotechnology seemed to fully halt the graying effect. We noticed no color change after 1 year.
3. Wear/Tear and Peeling: 1
Arborcoat Peeling on Deck
We applied this stain in the summer and got a call from the homeowner the following spring to look at the deck. On inspection, we were extremely disappointed. The Arborcoat had peeled significantly on the brand-new pine deck. Patches of the finish had peeled off the wood in strips. You could peel back large sections of stain with your fingers. The product did not seem to have penetrated the wood at all.
4. Cost per Square Foot: 5
Arborcoat retails for $59.99 a gallon. Nine gallons were used for the 1,000-square-foot deck at a cost of $0.59 per square foot.
5. Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 10
At the one-year mark, no mold or mildew was present. The zinc oxide in the formula definitely helped.
6. Ease of Application: 4
We found the Arborcoat to be challenging to apply. As with most water-based formulas, the Arborcoat dried fast and displayed overlap marks. The stain applies like paint and dries on top of the wood. I was skeptical about the appearance and whether the stain would make it through the winter (it did not).
7. Color-Shifting (Darkening) After 2 Years: 8
There was no visible darkening of the stain except for some dirt that accumulated on top of the finish.
8. Difficulty of Reapplication: 1
After less than a year, the customer was so displeased with the deck’s condition that they requested that the Arborcoat be removed. A traditional deck stain stripper did not remove the stain or topcoat. Power-sanding was needed, which cost the unfortunate consumer a substantial amount of money.
Final Review Benjamin Moore Arborcoat: 5.75
Benjamin Moore’s Arborcoat did not perform well in a cold-weather state and on a newly built deck. The unnatural appearance was reason enough not to use the stain, but the peeling and difficulty of removal really were tough to swallow. We’d suggest choosing from our top-rated deck stains instead.
Buyer beware!
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Stain Photos
Arborcoat Stain Details
- Where to Buy: Benjamin Moore paint outlets
- Cost: $69.99 per gallon
- Stain Type: Semi-transparent, water-based
- Available Colors: 75 custom colors
- Application Temperature: 40-90 F
- Coats Required: Two, a stain coat and a top clear coat
- Coverage per Gallon: 150-200 square feet in field tests
- Application Tools: Sprayer, pad, brush, roller
- Dry Time: 24-48 hours
- Cleanup: Soap and water
- VOC Compliant: 250 compliant in all states
- Manufacturer: Benjamin Moore
About Our Test Deck
- Deck Wood Type: New pine decking, ACQ
- Deck Square Footage: 1,000 square feet
- UV Exposure: Mostly shade
- How Many Years Tested: 1 year
- Stain Color Used: Cedar
All products were tested, and the results were based on 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Deck Stain
How Long Does Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Last?
We found that Benjamin Moore Arborcoat stain didn’t even hold up for a full year: Less than a year after application, we saw severe cracking and peeling of this Benjamin Moore exterior stain.
Is Arborcoat a Good Stain?
No. While Arborcoat stain scored well in keeping mildew and mold at bay and preventing UV graying and color-shifting, it performed poorly in all other areas, such as application, durability, and appearance.
What Sheen Is Benjamin Moore Arborcoat?
Arborcoat stain comes with only a flat sheen option.
Is Arborcoat a Paint or Stain?
Arborcoat is a Benjamin Moore exterior wood and deck stain.
Is Arborcoat Oil- or Water-Based?
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat we tested is a water-based stain.
Does Arborcoat Solid Stain Need Primer?
No. Arborcoat solid stain is self-priming, so adding a primer layer is unnecessary before applying it.
How Do You Apply Arborcoat Translucent Stain?
First, make sure there will be no rain for the next two days. Then, use a roller or paintbrush to cover each board on the deck completely. Ensure thorough coverage. Then, allow the stain to dry completely.
How Many Coats of Arborcoat Do You Need?
Arborcoat uses two coats.
Is Benjamin Moore Arborcoat a Sealer?
Yes: Arborcoat is considered a sealer and a stain.
Arborcoat is a terrible product with terrible customer service, both from the retailer and Benjamin Moore. These photos are from about 5 months to 12 months after application in Madison WI. That was a lot of money and time down the drain. I’ve NEVER had a product fail like this.
It’s the same as mine I put it on last year, and it peals off in large strips and the wood under does not even look like it had anything on it. Terrible
The Arborcoat semi transparent is the absolute worst product I’ve ever used. I pressure washed the deck, and then followed all directions carefully, used the two prep products, and two coats of stain. It was very hard to use and looked like a mottled mess when completed, showing all back brushing intervals, etc. It didn’t even make it a year. I did it early fall ($800 in materials and 8 days of hard labor) and by the end of winter is was peeling off where ever any runoff hit it. I’m not an inexperienced, first timer. I’ve built entire houses and have painted for over 30 years. I know what I’m doing. This is expensive garbage, that left me with a real mess. I have to figure out how to remove all of it, on a 1,000 square foot deck, and apply a product that actually adheres to wood, and lasts a while. I have never written a review of anything before, for or against, but this crap is “special”
Here’s my No2 cedar deck one year after ArborCoat. Terrible.
I am beyond upset about the Arborcoat solid stain that we applied to our deck. We have stained the deck numerous times over the years with other products and never had such a bad problem as we are now. We did everything right from application to letting it dry properly. It has been nothing but a horrible experience ever since. My dog’s paw prints stick to it and cannot be washed off. I’ve tried everything. And even a representative came out to look at it. I need some recourse!
Sheila, EXACTLY our experience. Sanded 700 Sq Ft deck on lake & EVERY footprint/pawprint sticks out. The deck looks filthy. The rails are peeling. Rings End, Danbury CT came out to inspect & gave us a gallon of Krud Kutter to clean. That’s not the problem. this is NOT a stain. it sits on top of the wood & attracts dirt. Any suggestions?
No stain pigments of any kind penetrate wood, All stains ARE film forming. You folks having issues with this product should really leave it to professionals. Did anyone of you do a moisture test before you applied it? I didn’t think so. SMH
You are wrong about this. Not all deck stains are film-forming and yes, they can penetrate into the wood.
I agree, and I’m a pretty experienced DIYer. And I used my moisture meter before staining, and the stain failed miserably.
I have the same problem, wondering if you found a solution.
Do NOT use Arborcoat over Benjamin Moore clear wood preservative no matter what BM or the BM dealer tells you. I’ve been using Benjamin Moore clear wood preservative on redwood siding for 35 years without issue. BM discontinued the clear wood preservative and recommends Arborcoat. After 2 years of New England weather, the Arborcoat on the south facing side of the house has a chalky, milky appearance. I’m going to drop BM and use Cabot clear wood preservative instead. I hope I’ll have better luck.
Use daly’s teak oil. Uses the same type of phenolic resins the old BM clear was using
Applied this to my deck September 2019. Didn’t last the winter – it peeled/flaked off all over the place.
Today, I was attempted to clean grime off the surface to start prepping for another coat and the stain peeled off from the pressure from a garden hose. So, I bought a pressure washer to strip it all off and I’m now looking for another stain to spend a few hundred dollars on…
IMO 5.75/10 is far too generous.
this product totally failed. Peeled after 1 year. Difficult to remove. Cost me $500 to strip and sand the deck. Benjamin Moore rep took no responsibility at all. Blamed the wood, the construction etc. I will never use a Benjamin Moore product again.
As I said to Pizzed off Customer above: I HAD THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE with BM, they blamed me for wood condition and poor prep even though I followed the instructions to the tee! BM is well, BM. (get it ? nudge nudge) on decks, (holds up well on Vertical surfaces, though. )
Laugh of the day: when I was talking to the BM rep, he asked my if my wood had "cracks" To which I responded, "well, yes. of course it has some surface cracking, it's a ….DECK! (as if decks don't develop surface crack) "Oh, well, then our product won't work on that type of surface". To which I replied "really so you're product ONLY" performs on new wood decks, then?" Crickets………
I have never been so dissatisfied with a product as Arbor Coat. We live in Michigan, our cedar deck is only 2 years old and it looks terrible! We did all the prep work as recommended. Last year we touched it up 4 times and this spring there is bare wood on traffic path and the rest has areas of flaking. I don't know what to do next. The Benjamin Moore rep has been out and said to sand it more which we did with no improvement. I do not recommend this product! I can't believe Benjamin Moore still sells it after all the negative reviews.
Can I apply arbocoat solid color on top of exterior primer white?
No that would not work.
Actually if you read the tech data sheet, you can apply it over both Fresh Start Acrylic Primer and BM's Exterior Alkyd primer. It's recommended for woods with high tannin content.
Can I apply arbocoat solid color on top of exterior primer white?
Please help both are Benjamin Moore
Don't try to paint or stain decks. Take all the money you will spend on stain, sandpaper, your time(yes it is worth money) and spend it up front on REALLY good quality wood and just let it weather. It will cost 4 or more times as much for the wood but it will be cheaper in the long run. Bleach it once a year to keep it from getting slippery. It is not possible to get a finish to stay on exterior horizontal surfaces so don't even try.
New pine ACQ wood requires a drying time BEFORE any finish can be applied. This could be from 30 days to 6 months. I suspect this wasn't the case.
Arborcoat was applied as per directions and I was not advised to apply a sealant? This Spring following application to a new cedar fence last summer, my fence looks terrible. Many of the boards are black. The Benjamin Moore dealer told me it was because of our wet winter and this was mold. I was advised at the store that this was the best product on the market for our wet climate and that no prep was needed. I am most disappointed as I have used many BM paints in the past and always been very happy. What a mess and now to try and make my new fence look presentable I am looking at a lot of expense and work!
Arborcoat was applied to my new cedar deck six months ago in August 2014 by a professional painting company. It is already peeling in random places and the deck looks a mess. The company is prepared to remove the product. This was applied in Washington State and the BM rep says well it is very wet there. So why is the product not sold with a disclaimer that it is useless in wet areas of the country?
The issue is not the climate but the product. It fails everywhere it seems.
anyone have a problem with bm arborcoat when applied to verticle cedar siding?
It is probably fine on verticals. The issue is that since it is film forming, it will be prone to peeling and blistering on horizontals.
I had my deck prepped & stained with Semitransparent Arborcoat and applied a coat of clear sealant on to of it. It looks beautiful. Of course it was done by professional painter which raises the question of how many of the negative posts are by do it yourselfers who are not doing it right and blaming it on the product.
Sure prep and application makes a huge difference but that goes with any stain brand. Let us know if it has any issues after a year or through a Winter as that seems to be when it starts to fail.
I did the same the thing. The two tiered deck was beautiful. But now a year later it seems the clear coat is failing. It looks like dirt has actually been rubbed into the clear coat. I am still researching but would love to know if anyone else has had this experience.
Worse product in the world and BM says it is made to do this- went from new and beautiful to old and weathered in 60 days later. JUNK
Junk- my mahogany deck went from beautiful to old and weathered in 60 days. Worse product ever made
Two coats of BM ArborCoat circa June 2014 on 1 year old yellow pine deck. Admiral Blue solid color.
Very disappointed for one and only one reason so far: Horrible stain marks appeared from just about any imaginable cause, such as footprints, legs of tables and chairs, fallen LEAVES! ETC. ! Sliding anything, no matter how light, produces these stains.
The stains are greyish, and do not "clean" off. Accordingly, the deck reminds me of a 19th century photographic plate: EVERYTHING seems to leave an impression !
Could the water-based nature of the stain be the culprit?
It is the stain itself, not the base.
I would like to address the negative reviews found here in regard to Arborcoat. I am a professional painting contractor with fifteen years experience in high-end and custom painting. We do many western red cedar decks, rails, etc in a very demanding northern Canadian environement. Lots of insects, dirt accumulation, pine trees, and standing water. The Arborcoat 640 (Solid) is an exceptionally good product, contrary to what people here are saying. As a NACE CIP (Coatings Inspector) I can tell you that 75% of failures are due to insufficient preparation, excluding applicator error. How many people test the moisture content of the wood before coating (make sure your wood has 15% or less)? How many people understand freeze/thaw cycles and dimensional stability? Are you checking the dew point, relative humidity, surface, and ambient temperatures before coating? Too many people blame the coating and not the manner in which the surface was prepared or system installed.
It is absolutely true… A lot of factors at play for sure. To achieve true quality is not easy, contrary to a popular belief.
But hey…. Painting is so easy every one can do it , NOT
Many of the failures are result of poor prepwork , pressure washing decks not letting it dry completely for one.
Oh my goodness. I just bought two cans of BM Arborcoat Solid Deck & Siding Stain yesterday. I'm scared now…needless to say. It is so much work to do do it in the first place. I live alone, I have have tons of fencing and deck that needs staining…it is a nightmare to have so much upkeep. Now to read all of these negative reviews and I haven't even started the painting part yet.
Save yourself now, return it to the store. Or use it on a fence, my fence looks great 2 years later (transparent teak) but my deck is a disaster even after full reapplication last year. Twice I've covered it, twice it's failed. (Natural transparent) Do not use this as a deck stain! Especially in a rainy or cold climate like Vancouver BC You will regret it.
Return it now!
I used it on deck furniture, two coats. Lots of work since it has to be constantly stirred to avoid separation and it gets thick fast once applied. Fast drying is good feature and nice colors, but it shows every mark and stains from newsprint (soy inks!). Cup rings and table must be wiped after every use. Easily scratches off. Olympic or duckback works much better. I am so glad it is not on my deck.
Applied Arborcoat semi-transparent silver gray followed by the 636 clear coat on a 2500 sq. ft deck complex on the water in Northern California. Massive failure. We are now in week two of a month long three man deck restoration project during which extreme measures must be taken to keep the Arborcoat peels and streamers out of the landscaping and more importantly, out of the water. This product has resulted in thousands and thousands of dollars in labor and materials most of which I have had to eat. Buyer beware. I have to admit that it was ultimately my responsibility as that little voice was screaming at me not to use a clear coat over horizontal decking next to water. Anyway it is a nightmare. Sanding starts tomorrow after two weeks of stripping, brightening, and using filter cloth and pool skimmers to corral the demon stain.
For whatever reason (mill glaze or just a bad product or both) it didn't work. Good news is that a Metabo paint stripper (4 carbide cutting heads with vacuum pick-up) cleaned up 400 sq ft in a couple of hours. Four hours more with Bosch random orbital sander (with vacuum) and we're ready to try again. But definitely NOT with Arbor Coat.
This B Moore Arborcoat waterborne staine is a bad product. It did not hold up over winter on 3different job sites. Store didn't have enough of my usuall, thought I'd try this. Please do not use this product even if it's given to you. You will have to resand and scrape what didn't peel off. Which is about half. Still beating myself , I know better, or should've. OK for siding but not decking for which it is labeled.
I have been a big Ben Moore fan for years. Won't use anything but for interior. I built a new cedar deck last summer and tried the Arborcoat and was deeply disappointed. Very bad milky, streaked and yellow finish. It mildewed quickly and like crazy all year long. Just sanded entire deck and plan to try Defy Clear.
I just redid my five year old deck switching from an oil based to a low VOC water based Benjamin Moore Semitransparent Stain and transparent top coat. Based on what Benjamin Moore advised I not only scrubbed down the wood, but I also sanded the surfaces. It was a lot of work, but I love the results. I picked California Rustic color and it blends well with my light red brick exterior. I did the work during our mild dry fall days and with a recent rain the rain just beaded up with no milky color. Time will be the test. I'll post later if I have any misgivings.
We had someone apply Arbor Coat to 2 very large decks, an upper and lower. The lower deck and the upper deck areas that have some cover over them look fine…but the decking exposed to the sun all day started peeling within 6 months in patches. We used semi transparent and it darkened the wood quite a bit. I tried redoing the areas that peeled and they just peeled again and look worse. I would never use this product again….I agree that it would be rated about a 5 or 6 max.
I dont agree. Live in Rochester hills, Mi and this product outperformed anything I have used before. It lasted an easy two years and into the third. Power washed up nicely this year and yes a few small areas peeled.I applied agian and it looks great. The peeling was far less than anything I used before, Behr(terrible),Sikkens, OLympic(not even one year),Penofin (one year strip and do it again). Sherman Williams DecKScapes were professionally applied and peeled within year one, redone and peeled again. .
I cant figure why my experience is so different but this product works for me.
correction to prior comment… “do NOT use third party prep products, only as recommended by stain manufacturer.
Cedar Fence – Colorado front range. Most comments are based on wood decks and wet/humid climate issues. My experience for researching fence stain in intense sunlight dry climate left me guessing as hardly anyone discusses fences, only decks! I completely understand the frustration of many comments above regarding a failed outcome and mess left to clean up. However, I am suspicious not all issues with the Arborcoat product are only the product and many complaints may be associated with not following the preparation process appropriately which is not difficult (every major stain manufacturer has similar requirements). I say this because three years ago when I researched and selected this product (new at that time), I found similar complaints regarding other manufacture’s products as well. Regardless, I experienced some maintenance problems. In the summer of 2010 installed new custom cedar fence approx 140 LF. We are 5,000 feet up in Denver, very dry environment, very intense sun. Concern was UV protection and sealing new cedar wood look so cedar “greying” would not occur. Mold is not a problem here, dry rotting is. This was virgin (unstained) new wood. Used Brightener (#317), Arborcoat transparent natural color stain (#637), and clear coat (#636). Consulted BM dealer, did the 317 brightener wash to clean and prep – looked beautiful. Allowed several days to dry (we have less than 20% humidity often less; tested wood moisture for verification). With any fence and lots of angles/corners/edges, sprayed, rolled, and brushed in the stain which applied quite well and coverage was as predicted with a planned 1.5 gallon left over stain for touch up. We have received many compliments of the fence that was custom style and not the typical suburban pickets with rusting nails so often seen. In 2012 did a light clean/touchup/clear coat. There was some peeling by then in random pieces of wood. I am speculating it was related to the wood natural oil content or extensive breathing of the soft wood (shrinkage/expansion) as it was not pervasive on the fence, only spotty . It is now 2013 and after three years anywhere the snow may have accumulated or near ground, 2×4 cedar stringers randomly peeled stain coating with no residual stain left underneath the peel. Top 2×6 plate and pickets appear fine for most part. It seems that if wood has any moisture exposure or may have excessive natural wood oils, this stain fails to penetrate and adhere (or as noted above maybe if the wood “breathed” extensively – expand / contract). The overall fence, including the top flat 2×6 that has brutal sun exposure and winter brief snow pilings, shows good results (and this is rough cut cedar). The peeling is random but more than I would expect from a performance after 3 years and touch up. I am disappointed it has not performed better in our brutal dry intense sun environment, however I believe soft wood like cedar will always be difficult with alkoid/water based products that compromise on chemicals that… Read more »
I had the same problems. Applied semi transparent Arborcoat to new pine pt in spring 2011. In spring 2013 the stain was rubbing off – not peeling but rubbing, and there were black spots under the stain (mold/mildew). I rented a floor sander for HD spent 1/2 day sanding then touched with a palm sander. Then I applied a deck cleaner to address any remainin mold/mildew. BM store was actually v helpfull. Comp'ed me a few gallons of new stain. My out of pocket expense was only 50 bucks or so for the sander – but the biggest expense was the PITA of redoing my 600 s/f deck.I've had good experiences with BM but the lesson i've learned is not to be the guinea pig for new products.
Just did my small deck with arbor coat looks like crap been a painter for 37 years stay away from this product
We applied this last year and I loved it right after I applied it, and it still looks awesome after one winter. Out of our huge deck there is maybe a one inch square that the stain has lifted but it wasa bad piece of wood. ( I specifically recall how this board held water and was discoloured from all the rest.
Truly the color is gorgeous!
I just finished a fresh, new redwood gate and pergola, and need to seal it. Obviously am not going to use either Thomson's or B/Moore. What DO you guys suggest? Do not want to stain, like the redwood natural look. Thanks
I LIKED THE COLOR OF THE REDWOOD TRANSLUCENT. 400 S.F. DECK WAS SANDED AND WASHED WITH A BRIGHTENER. I AM HOPING THIS DOOM AND GLOOM IS NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE. THE B.M. PRODUCT IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR 2 YEARS MAX AND THEN WASH AND RE-STAIN. IF THIS WORKS , I'LL BE HAPPY ENOUGH. THE PREVIOUS APPLICATION WAS A BEHR PRODUCT WHICH FLAKED AND PEELED AFTER 3 YEARS.
I have to agree with all of the bad reviews of Arborcoat and I wish I had found this earlier. We used the Mahogany Arborcoat Stain on a cedar deck last year after hand sanding to get prepare the wood; this spring the deck looked horrible – parts of the deck (mainly footpath areas) the stain was gone. We contacted the rep who must have gotten in touch with the store; they gave us a free gallon explaining that they have had some trouble with the stain. So we reapplied and it's not uniform – some parts dark, some light. The worst is that a film forms on the deck now and looks so dirty. We washed with soap and water and it comes right back. I'm never using a deck stain again – I'm going with a Valspar porch paint. We've had luck with that product at another house. Note to Benjamin Moore if you are reading: If you are going to have a product on the market like this (that is clearly difficult to use and only works with complicated preparation), DO NOT sell it to consumers. Take this product off the market. It is going to ruin your brand.
Sorry to hear about your experience. I am now about 2 years out and I had to buy a $500 power washer to try to remove the rest of the peeling stain. It partly worked after several hours and will need more attempts. My deck now looks like antique barnboard with old peeling paint, which I guess is a plus. It should only be installed by professionals.
I am about to reapply bmoore semi transparent stain ( oil base)on my 19 year old house and deck. if anyone has had a better experience with other product please post. it has two coats of Pratt and lambert and two coats of b moore.
problem is with the house it builds up and it will be less semi than before.as far as the deck its like everyone else here says these products are hard to keep on vertical surfaces so it will need to be stripped again.the last coat only lasted 1 year before peeling,and its a semi! theres not much else out there now ,cabots..and sikens but they say it should only be applied on bare wood.
Alan, you should allways remove the old coatings before you reapply with a different brand.
I have sanded and re-stained my six removable deck panels. One has since been re-installed and is now covered by snow. The other 5 are inside pending re-installation.
After sanding (palm sander, grit 60, and detailing by hand, grit 80) the stain was penetrating well — the surfaces were getting dry as I was brushing the stain in (the stain was initially applied with a roller). I stained within an hour after sanding at ~60F. Humidity was low (I guess).
The color now is a bit darker and does not have "plastic" appearance — it is deeper now and without a shine. I'll report how the panel exposed to snow and low temps did.
al from MA, thanks for your review,
I am in MA. From the start the Arborcoat transparent stain (Cedar 623 40) on cedar deck (12×8, exposed to full sun) produced every one of the problems described by others: "plastic" finish with grayish-blackish blotches and spots, unevenness, quickly loosing water-repelling properties, and now, after the winter months — peeling. However, the areas that were covered by planters during
summer were holding up color well and were not peeling. Food for thought 🙂 BTW, the wood didn't turn dark, as others noticed too. Perhaps Arborcoat blocks the UV effectively.
I am not pissed with BM — it happens. I am now sanding my deck down and re-applying that same Arborcoat transparent stain. Call it the "Idiots-Я-Us" experiment 🙂
I didn't sand my new deck before applying Arborcoat for the first time. I remember noticing that wood penetration was not that I'd expected. Comments by Lorna and Markb are instructional for me as far as the wood prep goes: washing (with the right stuff), drying (thoroughly), sanding (by hand). But so are the comments by others (fare warnings). Thank you 🙂
A year ago I was more interested in finishing the 'building' stage of my deck project (and starting my container garden 🙂 rather than taking my time with prepping the wood for absorbing the Arborcoat deeply 🙂 I'll give it another go. I'll report if it is true that a cheapskate pays twice 🙂
Agree with all comments. Awful product. I linve in Southern California near the ocean and have a 1600 sq foot deck. Used to use mineral based Cabot product but no mineral based products are available in quantity any more and I have given up driving to Arizona to pick it up. I am very maintenance conscious and I get four to six months before I have to reapply a topcoat over my stain. Plus, prior to applying originally, I sanded the deck down to bare wood and leached the old Cabot out as best I could. Even with all that effort, now my deck is blistering and it seems that is might be time to sand it again. What a waste. Does anyone have a better product ? I don't want to leave it raw.
Dave, sorry to hear but it does not surprise me. Our test showed similar results. California has low VOC restrictions but there are still good oil based stains in your area. TWP 1500 and Armstrong Clark can both be bought and used there.
hi, Thanks for all the great info.
Is the BM conventional exterior,semi-transparent stain a good product(not the arborcoat)?
Sean, the regular BM exterior oil based deck stain is better then the Arborcoat but still not a high end stain. Average in our opnion.
This site/ratings/comments helped tremendously! FYI, BM has discontinued Arborcoat and most colors of BM stain. I have over 2500 sq. ft. of redwood decks. 9/2011, tried Arborcoat. Decks prepped/sanded to remove old stain (Cabot). Didn't like plastic look of topcoat. 7months later, stain peeling on 1 deck. BM inspected, agreed to pay for refiniish .I had read about the problems reported. April 2012, another deck started peeling BM covering that, too. New Contractor is one BM said has done multiple Arborcoat removals. BM rep. haggled on cost, but we "settled". Major sanding on horizontal boards, looks ok, but painter used Flood stripper. It didn't remove all. Then overdid with pressure washer on rails and pickets. Now I have same nightmare posted on this site's Arborcoat review. My "heart" redwood rails/pickets gouged, layers of wood stripped off, "corrugated" spindles. I have stopped the job. Another contractor coming to look at how we can save my wood. I had just received a "settlement check from BM…the day before all this nightmare occurred! BUYER BEWARE! Now to deal with the painter!
Woodloverlady, Where did you see that it was discontinued? It is still on their website. I hope they do as it is an awful stain.
I'm having same problems you experienced. The rep that came out said they would only replace product. Are you getting them to pay for labor too? I'm sick over this.
Woodloverlady,
I am a contractor in Colorado who unfortunately found this post a year to late. I too have a deck that has failed.
The BM rep offered me more product. This is not acceptable. How did you go about receiving a settlement check.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Dan Heinze
I don't know who told you that BM had "discontinued" Arborcoat.
Rebuilt a 37' x 26' cedar deck this summer that I "flipped" the boards after cleaning off mold and mildew using a solution of commercial bleach, TSP and water and a scrub brush.
Got to use 50% of the original boards and the rest were purchased new.
Purchased a moisture meter to ensure that both old and new wood had less than 8% moisture content.
Sanded the entire surface with 50, 80 and 120 grit paper using a 24" commercial vibrating sander.
Used BM Semi-transparent Arborcoat Oxford Brown that I purchased from a local hardware store in July and then purchased and applied clear coat as directed.
Only problem I encountered was the product seemed to "set up" too fast a high temps. (just about at the high limit of application specification). Found that coating would stop flowing at high temps before running down edges of boards when using a roller so switched to regular paint brush so that I could brush the stain down between the boards to ensure complete overall coating. I "back brushed" all applications using a stain applicator pad that screwed onto a broom handle. The resulting finish came out excellent! Deck surface came out looking like a dance floor! One thing I did notice though, was that whenever it rains and water sits on the clear top coat, it turns the clear coat a "milky grey" similar to what you get if you leave a cold drink on a piece of furniture. However, when the surface finally dries off, the cloudiness that was there with the water, completely disappears with no apparent lasting affects to the overall finish.
There is something wrong with this stain. Its 6 months since my post. Our deck is now 50% bare from peeling and blistering. the good news is that by next Spring we won't have any difficulty powerwashing/ sanding the remaining stain off.
We are not professional applicators but we followed the instructions given and used the BM cleaner, allowed it to dry, etc. We were not careless as we wanted a good result. Maybe staining a deck is a specialist's job that should only be left to professionals, as there is advice that its the fault of the owner, not the stain. I could not disagree more. A consumer product should be possible to buy and use without these "catastrophic" results. If you have to be a pro to apply it, BM should say so, or warn that any failure in prep can result in the need to remove the entire application. They don't nd they do not stand behind their product. Our dealer simply blamed us and offered to replace the stain. Why they thought we would reapply this product is beyond understanding. Anyway others should be warned, you are on your own. If you hire a pro, and the application fails, at least you have that avenue to pursue.
I have been in the painting industry for over 10 years. I started using the Arborcoat solid stains last year and not one of my jobs had failed. Most failures are do to surface preparation. You must wash the deck with the proper cleaners and allow to dry a couple good drying days. After it is dry you must give the deck a light sanding to remove any dead wood fibers from the washing. Do not use a machine sander it creates a mill glazed, hand sand with a drywall pole sander lightly and sweep off after. I did 2 decks with 2 coats of the arborcoat solid stain and about 15 with a coat of the benjamin moore fast dry alkyd primer with 2 coats of benjamin moore arborcoat solid. All decks look great. I'm in upstate new york so we do get some harsh weather changes. If you have a problem with any benjamin moore product call the store and request a manufacture rep to look at your problem. Benjamin Moore stands behind there products and they will tell you how to fix your problem areas and give you product to fix it.
Solid stains are not discussed here, they are completely different animals
Can I apply solid arbocoat on top of white exterior primer Benjamin Moore product ?
I do not think you can do this.
I basic do the same way you do. Sometimes we go over a light pass with drum sander no pressure in the drum 60 grit and finish the same way you do. And never have any problem. We use the translucent. We are in the tropics no winter. We always apply late afternoons.
We just stained our deck with Arborcoat products and happy so far. We used a semi transparent stain, brushed on-wiped off with rag. It brought out just enough grain in the Fur deck (yes Fur). The clear coat went on a couple hours later and was easy to work with. we applied a second clear coat and now giving it 24 hrs before walking on/using deck
We had the exact same experience — after 1 year — it is peeling horribly. The Benjamin Moore rep came to see the problem, and his comment after seeing the peeling deck and railings was, "this is catastrophic"!! However, they will only pay for the replacement stain, not the cost of removing the bad stain. We chose this product because it was environmentally safe and we have never had issues with BM in the past. We have a beautiful new deck that looks horrible now due to this product. Considering the cost to repair, a class-action suit should be filed against the company on this product!! I cannot believe that they actually continue to sell it!!
Please include me if a class action law suit comes to be!
How can we start a class action suit? I too had a rep come out who offered only replacement product — no labor costs. I had the Arbor Coat 2 step process done on a 700 sq. ft. deck with railings and huge pergola covering 400 sq. ft. of it and it "shredded" in the exposed areas of the deck and the total top of the pergola.. I'm so angry I feel sick when I think about it. A gorgeous new redwood deck and pergola that looks like crap 18 months later. I'm going to post photos when I figure out how to do that.
Tom you can post pictures in the forum.
Pics now posted — See Arborcoat Topic Posting.
Count me in on that class action suit!
We had Arborcoat Transparent Cedar applied to a small, new cedar deck two years ago and so far have been very pleased with both the look and the performance. The wood grain is not hidden at all, and the look is soft, and we dont find it too unnatural looking The deck is essentially at ground level so rising moisture could have been a problem but so far has not been. For nine months of the year, the outer boards are either exposed to constant runoff from the roof or frozen under a layer of snow and ice..After two winters they were showing some wear but were not difficult to recoat as per the instructions. There was no peeling.the coating had just worn away and the wood was quite wet. I should have re-applied the clearcoat after the first winter, to save myself some trouble. The rest of the deck is quite protected by roof overhang and looked as new, however the topcoat did need to be re-applied this year. I hope the good results continue. Our winters are long,wet and snowy but rarely colder than -10C, and the deck gets no direct sun …perhaps these conditions suited the Arborcoat. The wood was sanded to remove mill glaze before stain application, and only one coat of each product was applied.
I'm just wondering which product everybody actually used.
There is a transparent which comes in Natural, Redwood, Teak, Cedar, Mahogany, Silver Gray as well as a semi-transparent which comes in 75 mixable colors.
I just finished the transparent teak and I'm hoping that it doesn't peel next year!
I absolutely love the colour, and I don't feel it has a plastic feel to it at all.
Chris, this is for the Arborcoat which is different then their transparent stain.
Hi Chris
Sorry to bare this bad news but I had transparent teak applied last August (2012) to a well prepared Cedar deck and it's peeling now. After each snowfall melted more and more of the paint chipped away. Stay away from this product.
Only a nightmare in Riverside, CT.
I used Benjamin Moore Translucent Finish (natural color). Its a one coat process and the deck looks great. So far it is holding up really well and I am pleased with the results. No peeling or fading at all. I guess their arborcoat is a completely different product and does not work well at all. When i get a chance i will post pictures in a new topic.
Thanks Mark, the Arbor Coat is completely different then the Translucent finish.
Hi is your seck still holding up. Loking at doing mine in the next few days with the translucent finish
I just finished mine today, Translucent is a good product. This is my second application after two years, no peeling. Could have gone three, added 200 sqft last year. Make sure you pressure wash with a cleaner 5 days prior to application.
Good luck,
Dave
I used too, great results and would certainly recommend.
i found this forum unfortunately too late, just after i applied semi-transparent arborcoat on my old deck. the main reason to use this product wa