This post was updated on January 30, 2023
What is Best Stain for Old Wood Deck
We appreciate you visiting Deckstainhelp.com as we continue to be your go-to source for the latest in deck restoration news and trending topics through 2023 If you are looking for honest deck stain ratings, look no further. Below, we mention some tips for restoring an old neglected wood deck. Feel free to leave a comment below with any pictures you may have.
Best Stain for an Older Wood Decking
Wood decks can be a beautiful addition to any property but when neglected they can also become an eyesore. When a deck goes too long without being maintained sun and water damage occur. The wood loses its natural oils and becomes very dry and porous. Cracking, splitting, warping, and graying are all signs of an old deck that has not been protected against weathering.
Here are the steps needed to make your old tired deck look new again:
Repair First
Do a thorough look over for any rotten boards and replace them. Check for loose boards and railings and tighten these up as well with decking screws. Check the foundation for any structural damage.
Clean and Brighten Deck
It is not impossible to bring old wood back to life. A little care and maintenance can revive the most neglected decks. If the deck is still in a good structural condition the grayed wood can be cleaned using a wood deck cleaner.
Use a scrub brush or pressure washer with the deck cleaner to remove unwanted mold, mildew, dirt, and graying. The transformation of washing an old deck back to clean again can be amazing. After using a wood cleaner it is important to use a wood brightener. While the wood is still wet, apply a wood brightener to the surface to enhance the wood’s beauty and open the wood pores for better stain penetration.
Apply Penetrating Stain w/Non-Drying Conditioning Oils
Once the deck dries choose the best stain for an old deck. Because old wood decks are extremely dried out, a wood stain the conditions the wood is essential. We use stains like Armstrong Clark for an old deck. This type of wood stain contains non-drying penetrating oils that help rejuvenate the wood cells. These conditioning oils stay deep in the wood to replace the wood’s lost natural oils.
The stain also contains drying oils that separate from the conditioning oils. These drying oils remain on the exposed surface to cure locking in the conditioning oils and providing a layer of protection against weathering. This conditioning of the wood’s cellular structure and weather protection are the keys to reviving an older wood deck.
Maintain Every 2 Years
Repeat the cleaning and staining of the wood every 2 years to keep up the look and extend the life.
Many deck owners think an old deck may have to be torn down and a new one built to replace it. This is not always the case. Old decks can be cleaned up and coated with stains specifically designed to rejuvenate old wood. It may just be possible to bring your old wood deck back to life and get many more years of use out of it.
Questions? Please Ask Below
Deck Stain Help & Questions
Stain Reviews & Comparisons
As an article and comment contributor to the site, Scott has been around the pressure washing industry since attending college. In 1993 he started his first company called Oakland Pressure Wash specializing in exterior pressure washing and deck staining. That company evolved into OPW L.L.C. shortly thereafter concentrating more on exterior wood and deck restoration. Scott and his Deck Cleaning Michigan company have restored over 10,000 decks in the Metro Detroit area since the early years. He has become an authority in the deck restoration industry and has contributed to numerous wood restoration forums and informative sites.
All the products he suggests through this site are sold through online sites and in retail stores, allowing the consumer to choose their own means of purchase. Scott’s eCommerce sites do sell many top brands he endorses and if you appreciate any of the help he has offered then feel free to purchase from one of them.
Thank you for the encouraging words! Is there a penetrating stain that also protects against both water and uv rays?
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-semi-transparent-deck-stain-reviews/
Re: redwood deck restore in CO: forgot to mention that I used diluted orange degreaser to clean. Wet first, sprayed on orange cleaner, then pressure washed.
Restoring a 30+ yr old deck and 20 yr old railing/spindles, all redwood. In Colorado, part sun, part shade. So far just pressure washed – photos attached show before & after side by side, and railing + deck after. Deck still shows some wear, railing is better. What do you recommend for next steps and finishing coat(s)?
Finish prep of all wood with the Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener kits. Stain with Restore A Deck Stain or Armstrong Clark Stains.
Hi Scott, I live on the west coast of Canada (lots of rain) and my vinyl-coated deck is 20 years old. My question has to do with under the deck. Although not directly exposed to rain, the dampness over the years has cause the wood to grey and become very weathered. What is the best stain to apply under the deck to extend its life. The joists are and plywood are still in decent shape.
Make sure to clean and brighen wood first. Stain with TWP 200 Series or Restore A Deck Stains.
We don’t have those brands in my Canadian city. We do have Minwax, Olympic, Behr, Varathane, Penofin and Watco. Any of these a good runner-up to your recommendation? {I prefer not to order online.} Thanks Scott.
No, they are poor deck stains. Varathanr and Minwax are interior products and cannot be used on decks.
I am a handyman by trade. Sometimes I do charity work as well. In my case, There is somone with a very limited budget whom I would like to help out. It is old pressure treated 2×6. A bit weathered with some moss, and that, but in otherwise good condition. She wants an oil based stain, and something light in color… What is the cheapest of the best that is affordable to do this? Thanks
Try TWP 100 or 1500 Series.
Thanks! She had a little to spend, so we got the modified oil hybrid Cabot brand, semi solid bc it was readily available at the local Ace hardware stores. Great product, but a little more expensive than something from home depot…
Hopefully, it works out for her as it is not the best brand or product.
my deck is 20 years I maintain it every two years I painted it two years ago with regular paint what should I put on it now to maintain it because the pain is coming off
You can only use a paint over a paint, never a deck stain. It is not suggested to ever paint a deck as it peels. If you want to fix this, you would have to sand it all off.
I have an 18 yr old pressure treated deck that I just sanded down to bare wood. I’m looking for a semi transparent stain. I’m looking for a product that I don’t have to take down to bare wood when it comes to re-applying in a couple years. What do you recommend?
Try Restore A Deck semi-transparent stains.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-review/
or Armstrong Clark Stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/armstrong-clark-wood-deck-stain-review/
We have a 20-year old deck, half of which gets a lot of sun and half of which is mostly in the shade. The deck planks and handrails on the sunny side are showing some cracks, and the parts in the shade tend to get mildew. Deck was last stained in 2020 using Behr semi-transpartent stain and sealant penetrating oil (color 4629, chocolate). Am looking to re-stain this summer. Would like to use a stain that will protect the wood better than the Behr (in terms of water repelling and retaining color) and ideally not require the use of a stripper when reapplying moving forward. Am considering using Restore-A-Deck cleaner and brightener, followed by an Armstrong-Clark semi-transparent stain. Would I also need to use a stripper to remove the existing Behr penetrating oil stain? And do you think we’d be better off going with a semi-solid or even a solid stain, given the cracks? (If we use a solid stain, we’ll probably go with Restore-A-Deck solid in brown oak.) Thanks in advance for your advice and thanks for this forum. This information enables much more informed decision-making and subsequent headache avoidance.
You have to remove the Behr first if switching brands of semi-transparent. Post some pics for help with this.
Weird. I went through the motions of attaching a picture to my post. Let’s try again…
Nothing. Your pics are probably too large in size.
I reduced the resolution by 50%; I see it below the text field so presumably this resized picture will come through. Fingers crossed…
Use the Restore A Deck Stripper/Brightener kits but will both additives for the stripper: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-booster-thickening-gel-review/
Got it – thanks! We’re considering a semi-transparent Armstrong-Clark or TWP 1500 stain. Do you think we’d be better off using a semi-solid or even a solid stain, given the cracks?
No, you can use a sem-transparent stain.
Thanks again. Much appreciated!
I have an old deck. I last used Behr solid waterproofing stain and sealer. It looked great until after this third winter it started peeling. Ive power washed. Most of the deck is ok. Should I use the same product again?
No, try one of these solid stains. The Restore A Deck Solid is the best.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
I’ve looked and looked on your site for the 2 questions I asked 7 or 8 weeks ago, but can’t find them. Please tell me again what is the lowest pressure I can use to pressure wash the cleaner and brightener off my deck? Thank you again.
1200-1500.
Have a 17-year-old pressured treated pine deck on a freshwater lake in Florida. Full sun and humidity year-round. Was treated with Olympic Maximum clear oil-based sealer 2 years ago. We wanted to go with a semi-transparent or solid stain. What’s the best products/process to restore? Does it need to be stripped, or just pressure washed and cleaned?
Strip and brighten for prep. Try the Restore A Deck Stripper/Brightener Kits. Stain with one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-semi-transparent-deck-stain-reviews/
Thank you for the quick reply. The wood is very dry and it doesn’t appear there is any of the previous sealer left. Do we still need to strip it?
There is definitely stain in your pictures on the wood so yes, you must strip it off.
Thanks – what sealing product do you think will give us the longest life with least maintenance on a Florida lake with full sun? Semi transparent, solid, or a deck sealer?
TWP Stains or Armstrong Clark in semi-transparent or semi-solid colors.
Thank you. I appreciate the advice
Good review you gave me just what i was looking for with out all the bull
Photo for review.
Pressure wash for prep and use a solid stain for the rails: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
I have a 15 year old trex deck with wooden spindles. Spindles stained once about 13 years ago. Now some peeling and cracking in the larger pieces. What should I do?
We have an old pressure-treated deck that has never been painted or stained that we can tell (bought the house 2 years ago). Pressure washed about 20 years’ worth of gunk off the entire thing and getting ready to apply semi-transparent stain (light grey). Having never done this before and reading your recommendations, it seems using a deck brightener would be best next step before staining. Do I need to use a cleaner (before brightening)?
Is there a reputable semi-transparent deck stain product you recommend that doesn’t require an online purchase? I’d prefer to buy in-person. Crazy, I know.
Thank you for this website! Very helpful!
All stains we suggest can be bought at stores, you can just ask the manufacturer as to where to buy and available locally. Clean and brighten for prep.
We have a lot of cracks and some splintering, will the deck stain act as a glue for future splintering, we of course would need to sand the really rough spots but wondered if the product you reccomend would help us fo minimal sanding or do we need to go with a deck coating product thats thick and more like a paint? Id rather have a more natural look than what the thicker products produce, but don’t want future splintering. Deck was very neglected when we purchased.
Deck stains will not prevent splintering unless a very thick resurface coating like this. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
Thanks for the quick response and recomendation
Our deck is approximately 20 years old. But still in good shape ever year it seems we have to stain it again.We live in southern Ontario and once winter is over the deck looks like it had never been done
We have been putting Thompson honey gold stain on it every summer.
What would you recommend this year.that would last longer.
You will have to fully remove the Thompsons first. Once done, use the Armstrong Clark Stains or TWP 200 Series.
Can semi transparent stain be used on a worn deck?
As long as you prep correctly and remove all previous coatings, etc.
Photos
Hi our deck is around 15 years old however we added an extension 3 years ago and the deck was painted. This year we decided to sand it down and instead stain the deck, however we found some rotten planks which we replaced. We stained the rails semi solid chestnut color, originally wanting to have the floor lighter but we can’t decide on a color because my house siding is white. Could u recommend a good stain color type and brand. I appreciate the help thank you very much for your time.
Look at Armstrong Clark: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/tag/armstrong-clark-deck-stains/
I live in Iowa, partial sun (trees), rain, leaves, and snow, winter cold (-10) to summer (90), deck 20 yrs old, used TWP every 3 yrs (just soap & water with scrub brush), was getting to where new application wasn’t looking good, boards are in good shape (not splintered etc), last yr Menards was having a sale with a Cabot company paint expert to answer questions,he sold me on Cabot Australian Timber with a bleach cleaner. I did that and the deck looks terrible, about 80% of the stain took and the other 20% looks terrible.
What do you suggest, I am 78 yrs old and getting tired of doing it.
thanks
I may have given you the wrong e-mail to my above question
Strip and brighten all wood for prep: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-injectable-deck-stain-stripper-review/
Restain with the TWP or try Restore A Deck Stains.
Armstrong Clark is offered in 3 different versions: Trans parents, Semi-Transparent, and Semi-Solid Colors. How do I chose which version. I stained my deck about two years ago.
That’s a matter of your color preference but most use the semi-transparent or semi-solid.
What is considered a “old deck”? We built our deck 2 years ago (third summer with it). We just assumed it shouldnt be stained or sealed because it was pressure treated lumber. Our deck is causing splinters for our kids and definately needs a huge breathe of fresh air. What do we do???
Clean and brighten for prep and use one of these stain brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Help please. I used Thompson timber oil teak. I wanted Armstrong-Clark but as we live in Ontario canada I didn’t want to order as only available in the US and was concerned it would be stuck in customs for weeks due to covid 19. I stained half the deck in Sunday. It looked great, rich in colour. Monday it rained and yesterday heavy storm. Now it looks patchy, horrible and I hate the colour. What do you think of this product, will it be hard to strip, should I sand the patchy bits and restain.
Post a picture.
Photos as requested
You should remove all and start over. Strip off what you can and then sand if needed to remove all. Make sure to brighten all wood when done.
We just received an very old cedar kids playhouse and want to fix it up. We sanded it and would like to use something to stain it and protect it from the elements. Any suggestions?
Try Armstrong Clark Stain.
How to restore tops of old deck joists that have nail and screw holes from at least 3 deck floor replacements? Is there a finish to paint on tops of joists to help preserve?
Not that we know of.
We tried getting all paint off deck there is still some. Can we use a darker stain over this deck? If so what kind? And If I just decide to paint railings do I just use any exterior paint?
Use a solid stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
Solid stain on railings too? So there’s no way to use a regular darker stain. Solid stain looks like paint right? I kinda wanted a wood look on the deck that’s why we tried getting all the previous off.
You cannot use a semi-transparent stain unless you can fully sand off the current paint from the deck floor.
Do I use solid stain on railings too
Yes.
So the few speckles of paint will mess up regular staining? We’ve used stripper and tried to sand is there anything else we can try to get the few spots off?
Regular stain will not work over a paint. It will look bad and not adhere.
What is not only the best stain for an older deck, but also the fastest drying stain.
Thanks for your help.
KSW
Use the Restore A Deck Wood Stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-review/
my deck is not old [5/6 yrs] but i painted it with the wrong stuff and it peeled and blew in the wind….. i power wash it and did some sanding now i need to do something to get it too look better… there is some residual paint that won’t budge what should i do ????????
Replay with some pictures.
Water based vs oil based stain for an old deck
Try Armstrong Clark oil-based stain.
We have a four-year old redwood deck that has weathered natural gray ( which we like) but we are concerned the the wood is drying out. What is the best product to nourish the wood while keeping the weathered look and color?
You would need a clear coating. Try TWP 1500 Clear.
Our deck is about 24 years old. We refinished it in 2012 but can’t remember (and kept no record!) of the product used. Based on pics taken during that application I’d guess it was a semi-solid, and the color is fairly dark.
My husband just power washed the entire deck and railings, with better success on the deck floor than the verticals in removing the previous finish. I’d prefer to go with a lighter / medium color this time, and am ok with some of the darker previous stain showing thru.
I rather impulsively bought TWP 100 Cedartone after reading lots of great reviews and comments here. Was that a mistake?
The power wash, done with water only, also raised the grain a fair amount.
How would you suggest we proceed: 1) since we don’t know what the previous product was; 2) in terms of the color change; and 3) given the roughed up grain?
Thank you!
Post some pictures.
After pressure washing, there is still a lot of old stain left on railings. Does this need to be stripped off before using your products? Do I have to mask around deck to protect siding, doors, etc. or is it washable?
Yes, it should be stripped or sanded to be removed before using a different brand. No need to mask, just pre-wet and rinse any overspray right away.
What is the best stain for a 20 yr old deck
Try Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color.
Hi here is a 22 year old treated wood deck. The deck was stained after one year with a redwood stain. Obviously that is completely gone. There was a Thompson light stain application ~5 years ago soaked right in, a few dark spots. Other than these couple of stained applications I’ve maintained the deck by cleaning every year with diy cleaner. Now I would like to properly stain. What type of sanding equipment/grit and cleaning/staining methods and products would be recommended? Need start to finish advice. Thank you!
Strip and brighten for prep, no need to sand. Try one of these brands of stains:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
We recently moved in to a house with an old deck (assume 20+ years?). The deck looked unfinished and had many splits and a few damaged planks. I sealed the larger splits with polyurethane and replaced the damaged planks. A year later, I stained it with a solid-color stain using a sprayer. Looked great. A year after that, most of the stain starting flaking off. I wanted to start over so I quickly (one-pass) power washed off the remaining stain, though some bits did not easily come off. (Please see attached pictures, to see the deck in this current state).
My question now is: can I re-apply solid-stain without removing the little bits currently on the wood? Also, I have not cleaned the deck with any chemicals (I imagine I’ll have to fully remove all stain before I attempt to clean?) I plan on applying the stain with a brush/roller instead of a sprayer this year- hopefully that will achieve better results?
Thanks.
You still have loose and peeling solid stain on the wood. Sand that off and then you are good to use a solid stain again. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
I have a 30 year old deck in fair condition. I have used Thompson clear deck sealer in the past, most recently last season. I want to apply a color to hide the imperfections of aging, but do not want to use paint. After power washing deck, can I use an oil stain ? What would you recommend? Is sanding necessary? Thank you
Use a deck stripper while pressure washing to remove the Thompsons. Brightener after. Stain with TWP stains or Armstrong Clark.
After wood cleaner & brightener, is there a good CLEAR stain I can use? This is for exterior redwood shelf that I have sanded…but it still shows gray lines in it. Thanks!
Clear will not offer UV protection from graying. Must be tinted.
OK…pics below of how redwood counter looked after built & sealed May 2018, last week looked gray, then I sanded, but still have light gray stripes. Good and smooth…do I have to use BOTH the Defy Wood Cleaner and Brightener..or, can I just use the Cleaner? Then which brand of sealer or stain should I use?
Thanks sooo much!
Use the Cleaner and the Brightener for prep. Use the Defy Extreme Stain after.
Hi all
I have a pressure treated deck railing that was installed two years ago. About 5 months after that is was partially stained using a white solid stain. I have the stain that was used originally and want to finish it, but am wondering if i can just finish staining. I was just going powerwash. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Use a deck cleaner while pressure washing. Brightener after to neutralize.
Thanks. Any brand you recommend?
See this: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-cleaner-system-review/
When can you not stain and seal old deck, temperature wise?
Not below 50.
An old deck that has some old gray stain .I need to preserve the wood. What can I use to cover .??.
Depend on the type of stain that is on there and if can be covered or if it will need to be removed first. Best to post a picture.
I have had my deck steps repaired so now I have old and new pine. What can I stain with and do I need to wait before staining?
See this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
As for that to use, that would depend on what type of stain is currently on the wood if any stain? Best to post a picture.
Sorry about posting incorrectly below.
This is where I need help. I have an old weathered deck in good condition. I have power washed it. It appears it has not been stained previously. It is treated wood about 12 yers old. I want to apply a solid stain. The paints store has recommended I apply Fresh Start, a sealer prior to applying the stain.
Anybody have an opinion on this approach? What about using a brightener too?
Thanks for any thoughts on this project.
You cannot seal before a stain. The stain will not be able to soak in. A brightener would have no effect. Try Flood Pro Series Solid Stains.
Anyone us Fresh Start sealer on their deck?
Never heard of it.
I just bought a cabin in Crestline, CA with an apparently 30 year old deck. The owner who owned it 5 years ago (he lives down the street) said he used to use Superdeck 1906 oil based stain, but after reading the reviews I’m going to go with something else. There’s extreme weather as it’s on a really windy ridge that gets snow, rain, and sun. Any recommendations? It’s redwood and brown in color but pretty faded. It seems the owner of the last 4 years didn’t do anything with it. I’m leaning towards the TWP 500 or 1500, but I’m wondering if a semi-solid Armstrong clark would be better to cover up the battered quality of the wood. Any input appreciated!
Strip and brighten the wood for the prep to remove the Super Deck. The TWP 1500 would work very well but som would the AC. Go with your preference. A semi-solid would give better coverage for the old wood.
Hi, I hired a laborer to work on my deck. He’s replaced about 15 boards with new pretreated boards. We’d like to stain the entire deck with a transparent stain. However when we started the color on the new boards was very light, and the color on the older boards was very dark, so my deck is looking like a stripped zebra. I made some inquiries and getting a lot of conflicting information. I’ve been told I should wait 6 months before staining to allow the new boards to cure which will give it a more uniform look. I’ve also been told that I’ll never get an uniform color across old and new boards and should use a solid stain (which I don’t care for). Your advise please.
You will need to let the new boards weather for 3-12 months and then prep. Even then, the new boards will still be a shade lighter than the older boards since they are less absorbent.
To obtain the best uniform look, should I try a semi-transparent stain?
Semi-solid by Armstrong Clark.
Big mistake.should either replace all the boards on your deck or go find old weathered deck boards if he was a painter he should have known this you will never get it all looking the same
I have a two level old wood deck that I want to stain. It was previously painted. I am sanding the deck down to bare wood as much as possible. I would like to stain it with semi-transparent stain. I like the reviews of both the TWP 1500 series, and Armstrong Clark. The Armstrong Clark has two types of oils, one that penetrates and one that drys. Would this cause the flooring of the deck to become more slippery when wet from rain? Also, should I use a semi-solid stain? I am under the belief that semi-solid does not hold up as well as semi-transparent.
Thank you for your help with my project.
No, the AC is not slippery when wet. Use a semi-transparent or a semi-solid. Both hold up well in the AC as they are penetrating stains.
Have a deck that was put down in 1979, have sanded it completely and put down Sikkens stain which has pealed. Want to know what the best deck over product is out there.
remove the Sikkens fully and then try one of these stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Hello , what brand of the semi-transparent stain would you recommend for 15 years old pressure treated deck? The deck is in ok condition. Striped, cleaned, power washed and brightened but the wood is very dry and by the pool. I live in zone 5 where winters are brutal and summers hot. The deck gets full day of direct sun and is exposed to rain and snow as well. In previous years I have used Sherwin -Williams due to their yearly sales. Is it anything better/new on the market that you recommend? Thank you.
Try the TWP stains or Restore A Deck Wood Stains.
I have 3 buckets of olympic deck paint never opened. Its 3-4 years old. Is it good?
Depends on how it was stored and if it frooze or not. Open one and mix thoroughly. If not skinning or clumping, it should be okay.
Hi! Thank you so much for taking my question. We moved into our house about 4 years ago that had an existing deck built in 2006. They had a solid cedar stain that they might have just slapped on over something else before they sold the house and it started flaking off soon after. I stripped and sanded as much as I could with some tough spots still visible, plus the railings undone. We really didn’t like the solid color that had almost a pinkish hue and would love something darker, but aren’t sure what could look good other than another solid stain which may not be ideal for walking on. Please let me know your advice when you have a minute and thanks again!
You will need to use another solid stain unless you sand the rest off. Try the Flood Pro Series Solid stains.