Exterior Wood And Deck Help, Reviews, Advice, & Tips

  Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My Deck Restore™ review is 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. My Pro Tip: The Deck Restore™ is not the same product, manufacturer, or brand as Restore-A-Deck branded products. Note: Rust-Oleum bought Synta Deck Restore in 2012. It is now called Rust-Oleum Deck Restore or Rust-Oleum Rock Solid. Deck Restore™ is the smart alternative to deck replacement. It revives and protects wood surfaces such as wood and composite decking, stairs, docks, etc. …

Bakers Gray Away Review Baker’s Gray Away wood stain from Texas Wood Products is a premium, long-lasting, easy to apply stain, sealer and wood preservative perfect for Fences, Decks, Roofs, Siding, and Log homes. Special UV stable pigments, resins and heavy-duty penetrating oils make Baker’s stain is the first choice of professionals for deck staining, fence staining, deck sealing, fence sealing, staining cedar shakes and siding and any other exterior wood sealing project. Bakers Wood Deck Stain Rating (1-10) Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 7 – The Super Cedar Gold was used for the test deck. The color did not highlight evenly throughout the decking surface. The knots in the wood had a much lighter tone of color while the …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood cleaning. My Gemini Restore Kit review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing. See here for more info about me. 9.0 Overall Rating Gemini Restore-A-Deck Kit The Gemini Restore-A-Deck Kit is a complete wood restoration system that includes a cleaner and brightener designed to properly prep exterior wood before staining. This system is widely used for removing dirt, graying, and old stain residue while restoring the wood’s natural color. From my experience restoring decks since 1993, proper prep is the most important part of any staining project. A system like the …

Stain a Deck Without Cleaning First? The correct answer is – not if you want the deck stain to last as long as it should. The number one reason a deck stain fails prematurely is that the wood surface was not prepped correctly. Even a high-quality deck stain will not be as effective or protected as it should if the wood deck was not been washed first using the right deck cleaners. A good deck cleaner should be used to remove gray wood fibers, dirt, mold, mildew, and other pollutants that are deep down in the wood. In some instances, a deck stain stripping agent is required to remove an old failing deck stain. It’s vitally important to remove all …

Not to be confused with Cabot Australian Timber Oil Timber Oil Brand is a deep penetrating paraffin oil-based wood and deck stain. This stain dives deep into all exterior wood to condition the wood cells while preventing UV fading and water damage. TimberOil Brand is strongly suggested by the manufacturer for all new wood. Many wood and deck stains have difficulty with penetrating new exterior wood such as cedar, redwood, and especially pressure-treated pine. Timber Oil Brand promises ease of application and proper penetration into new decking. Note: We tested the TimberOil Brand on a new cedar deck three weeks after installation. Only prepping was a light cleaning to remove the dirt. TimberOil Brand Stain Rating (1-10) Appearance After Initial …

The Types of Wooden Decks Wood is the most accepted choice for decks. It’s gorgeous, strong, durable, and easy to work with. A downside to wood is it’s vulnerability to moisture damage. Deck boards should be checked frequently for splits, cracks, splinters, or raised nails which may point to a potential moisture problem. The best way to prevent problems with your wooden deck is to have it stained, sealed, and maintained. The following are some different types of woods that are commonly used for decks.

Ready Seal Wood and Deck Stain Review 2026 We would love to hear from you if you have used the Ready Seal Wood and Deck Stain on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Consumer reviews below in the comment section have shown mixed results when using the Ready Seal Wood and Deck Stain. If you have any pictures of your experience with Ready Seal Wood and Deck Stain, you can add them in the comment area with a detailed description. Ready Seal® Stain and Sealer for Wood is a Professional Grade wood stain. Ready Seal® Wood Stains may be used on fences, decks, arbors, gazebos, log cabins, and any other outdoor wood project. …

SuperDeck Stain Review for 2026 Share Your Experience with SuperDeck Stain Have you used the SuperDeck Stain from Sherwin-Williams on your wood or deck? We’d love to hear from you! Please share your thoughts by posting a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Consumer Feedback: Reviews in the comment section have shown lower-than-average results when using SuperDeck Stain, with concerns about performance and durability being common themes. If you have any pictures of your experience with SuperDeck Stain, feel free to share them in the comments along with a detailed description of your project. Your feedback helps others make informed decisions about their deck restoration projects! The DuckBack company is the original manufacturer of Super Deck and was purchased …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood. My RAD Guard Mildew Protection Review is 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. 9.5 Overall Rating RAD Guard Mildew and Algae Cleaner and Preventer We would love to hear from you if you have used the RAD Guard to clean or prevent mildew on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. If you have any questions about using the RAD Guard, please ask in the comments …

  Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood prepping. My Defy Wood Cleaner review is 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. Defy Wood Deck Cleaner Review We would love to hear if you have used the Defy Wood Deck Cleaner on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. If you have any pictures of your experience with Defy Wood Deck Cleaner, you can add them in the comment area with a detailed description. …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking cleaning and prep. My 30 Seconds Outdoor Cleaner review is 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. 6.75 Overall Rating 30 Seconds Cleaner 30 Seconds Outdoor Deck Cleaner is a ready-to-use cleaning solution designed to quickly remove dirt, algae, mold, and mildew from exterior surfaces. It is marketed as a fast and easy option that requires minimal effort compared to traditional deck cleaning systems. From my experience restoring decks since 1993, products like …

  Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My EFC-38 review is 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. EFC-38’s unique formulation provides the strength necessary to clean gray wood, mold, mildew and heavy accumulations of grime. EFC-38 contains sodium percarbonate and additional surfactants that boost the overall effectiveness. EFC-38 was designed to clean and prep all exterior wood.  EFC-38 is safe to use and makes an excellent tool for wood preparation prior to applying a wood coating. EFC-38 Wood …

Hello, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior deck cleaning. My wood deck cleaning help tips are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing. See here for more info about me. Pro Deck Cleaning Tips for 2026 Thanks for stopping by Deckstainhelp.com! Below, I will discuss Deck Cleaning and offer some advice and tips I have been using for the past 30 years. Feel free to leave me a comment below with any pictures you may have. Wood restoration can be among the most misunderstood and challenging projects for do-it-yourself homeowners. One thing to remember is that a new deck sealer …

Bleach or Oxygenated Deck Cleaners Welcome to Deckstainhelp.com, where deck staining experts come to share their knowledge and insights. Water-based stains have come a long way as far as quality and longevity go in the last 10+ years. In this article, we highlight the difference between bleach wood cleaners and oxygenated wood cleaners. As always, comments are encouraged. Wood deck cleaners are used to clean and prepare exterior wood prior to staining or sealing. Wood cleaners can contain different ingredients and come in different concentrations. The goal of a deck cleaner is to remove natural pollutants like dirt, grime, graying, fungal growth, and sometimes an old failing stain. Most deck cleaners contain caustic detergents that help break up contaminants making …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My Cabot Australian Timber Oil Stain review is 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. 7.19 Overall Rating Cabot Wood & Deck Stain Cabot Wood and Deck Stains offer three-way protection for exterior wood and decking. They offer maximum durability from water damage while penetrating deep into the wood. Containing linseed oil and Trans-oxides, Cabot Stains will reflect UV damage, giving long-lasting protection. Cabot has traditionally been one of the leaders in the exterior …

Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain Review 2026 Note: Defy Extreme Clear had a label change in 2019. We would love to hear from you if you have used the Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Consumer reviews below in the comment section have shown good results when using the Defy Extreme Clear Wood Finish. Defy Extreme Clear Wood Stain is the premier “crystal clear” decking finish on the market. The Defy Extreme Clear utilizes nanoparticles of zinc oxide into their formula. This is the same product that is used in sunscreen. These zinc oxide particles filter the UV radiation from the sun, prolonging the oxidation (graying) …

Cabot Deck Cleaner Review Cabot® Ready-to-Use Problem Solver® Wood Cleaner is specially formulated to remove mildew stains, mold, algae, dirt and other foreign matter from all painted, stained, unfinished or weathered wood surfaces. Use for routine cleaning and for properly preparing all surfaces prior to staining or painting. Cabot Problem Solver® Wood Cleaner Rating (1-10) Removal of Graying, Dirt, Grime: 6 – Cabot Problem Solver Wood Cleaner is a sodium hypochlorite “bleach” based cleaner. It removed the mold but did a poor job of removing the graying and dirt. Cost Per Square Foot: 7 – In general, we are not fans of liquid-based wood cleaners. You are mostly paying for water in a bottle with a small number of chemicals …