Update 2019 for Why Rinse a Wood Deck Brightener Deckstainhelp.com remains committed to being your number one reference for deck restoration professional tips and industry news. It is important that when done applying a wood brightener that your rinse the wood well with water to achieve maximum results. As always, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below. Exterior Wood Deck prep is key to the longevity and appearance of the deck stain brand that you choose. Prior to staining the surface needs a good cleaning and or stripping of previous coatings. A properly prepped surface will ensure proper adhesion and stain penetration into the wood grain. Cleaning or stripping a wood surface prior to staining will also enhance the beauty of the wood and give you a better end result. The downside to a caustic cleaner or stain stripper is that it raises the pH level of the wood and makes it appear darker in color. The way this darkening of the…

Update 2019 Are Deck Finishes, Stains, Sealers, or Both? Here at DeckStainHelp.com we continue to be your go-to source for 2019 on the latest in deck restoration news and trending topics. See below for an article that answers the question, are Deck Finishes, Stains, Sealers, or Both? We appreciate your input. Feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.   One of the more popular questions asked on DeckStainHelp.com is what is the difference between a deck sealer and a deck stain and do I need to apply a sealer over a deck stain? Some might think that a deck sealer and a deck stain are basically the same things but in all actuality, they are two different products when it comes to appearance. They both share the same purpose in general, to preserve and protect wood but there are some major differences. Deck Sealers A deck sealer is typically a clear…

Update What are the Best Solid Color Deck Stains in 2019 Some new solid color stains have been introduced in the last few years and are better than previous brands due to enhancements in technology. Less wear and peeling when tested. We always appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below with pictures of your solid deck stain projects. Solid Color Deck Stain Reviews for 2019 Our favorite deck stains have always been the penetrating semi-transparent stains. These stain types allow the wood grain to show and if they truly soak into the wood grain, reapplying is easier down the road. Solid color deck stains have always been a “last resort” coating in our opinion. We have not been huge fans of the appearance or performance of solid deck stains but do understand that there is a need for them. That being said, there are some really good solid color deck stains on the market for 2019. See here for tips…

Update for 2019:  This is our initial Review of the Defy Solid Color Wood and Deck Stain.  This review will be updated through the years. The Defy Extreme Solid Stain is an excellent choice for a solid color wood and deck stain. As always, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects using the Defy Extreme Solid Stain. Defy Extreme Solid Color Wood Stain Review Summary: DEFY Extreme Solid Color Wood Stain is a synthetic-resin, opaque wood and deck finish that helps protect against water, mildew, mold, algae, and UV radiation on exterior wood surfaces. This V.O.C. compliant water-based product provides a beautiful finish, fortified with transparent “oxide” based Nano Particles. There are over 30 TRILLION nano-particles per square inch that provide extreme protection for your wood by blocking out the sun’s harmful UV rays, moisture and fungal growth. Defy Extreme Solid Wood Stain Scores (1-10) Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 9…

Update for 2019:  This is our initial Review of the Flood Pro Series Solid Color Wood and Deck Stain.  This review will be updated throughout the years. As contractors, we have been using the Flood Pro Series as one of our top solid stain choices for the last 10 years when a solid stain is needed over a semi-transparent. There are new and better brands of solid stains coming into the market, but the Flood is a decent choice. We appreciate your input. If you have used the Flood Solid Color Deck stains, feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects. Flood Pro Series Solid Color Stain Review Summary: Flood Pro Series Solid Color Stain is an advanced stain and sealant in one that protects wood from moisture and sun damage while adding rich, opaque color. 100% acrylic formula provides excellent adhesion and durability. Urethane-fortified to resist cracking and peeling. Rain resistant finish within 12 hours.…

Update for 2019:  This is our initial Review of the Behr Solid Color Wood and Deck Stain.  This review will be updated through the years. As always, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects using the Behr Solid Stain. Summary: BEHR PREMIUM® Solid Color Waterproofing Stain & Sealer Protect and beautify with BEHR PREMIUM Solid Color Weatherproofing All-In-One Wood Stain & Sealer. This 100% acrylic formula seals out the elements, and the sun’s harmful UV rays, for up to 10 yrs. on decks and up to 25 yrs. on fences and siding. It’s available in more than 1,600 custom colors to help you get just about any look you can imagine. Behr Solid Color Deck Stain Review Behr Solid Color Wood Stain Scores (1-10) Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8 – The Behr Solid solid stain color we used was custom mixed to a red. The two coats applied to our…

Update Best New Deck Stain for 2019:  In 2018, our first full year if using the Restore A Deck stain, we had zero issues with performance and saved a tremendous amount of time with the ability to prep and stain in the same day. We will continue to offer the Restore A Deck Wood Stain as one of our go-to decking stains for the 2019 restoration season. With more than 20 years’ experience owning and operating our own deck staining business, we have tried pretty much every brand of deck stain out there. We Q&A with thousands of contractors, homeowners, and project managers about their projects, what works, and what does not. Last year we tested the Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain. The RAD stain completes the line of the RAD Cleaner, Strippers, and Brighteners that have been around for 15+ years. Restore-A-Deck wood stain utilizes the latest advancements in wood stain technology to properly seal and protect the wood in 4 beautiful…

Update for 2019:  This is our initial Review of the Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain for Exotic Hardwoods such as IPE.  This review was one on IPE sample boards and was tested for 1 year from date of application. The  Restore A Deck Wood Stain showed excellent color retention for the Ipe and had no signs of wearing or peeling. This test was on brand new, unseasoned IPE and was done the same day as the prep. We waited 1 hour after prep to apply the RAD Stain while the wood was damp. Note: Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain is one of the only stains we have tested can be applied to dry or damp wood. Applying to damp wood allows you the ability to prep and stain on the same day, saving you a tremendous amount of time. Restore-A-Deck Stain Summary: Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain is an advanced, water-based, semi-transparent stain formulation designed to penetrate deep into wood pores for maximum protection and longevity. Restore-A-Deck…

Update 2019 for Latest Consumer Magazine Reports on Decking Stains Please read this article and post any questions you have in the comment are below. Latest Consumer Magazine Reports on Decking Stains is out again this year and we have been getting some questions as to why our ratings differ so much compared to their highest rated products. We have compiled a list of reasons why we believe our reviews and ratings are more realistic and honest examples of how a deck stain actually performs. Contractor Restoration Reviews and articles are posted from our experience as contractors who specialize in exterior wood restoration. We are experienced in the trade of prepping and applying a stain to an exterior deck. Real World Testing vs. Individual Board Testing The stains are tested on actual decks with normal exposure to weather and traffic. Consumers use a test on an individual board that sees no traffic or use. This board is not exposed to normal everyday…

Update 2019 on Behr Deckover, Olympic Rescue-It, Rust-Oleum Deck Restore – Do They Work? We would love to hear from you if you have used the Behr Deckover, Rust-oleum Deck Restore Olympic Rescue-it or any other Deck Resurface type stains. If you have any pictures of your experience with the Deck Resurface Stains, you can add them in the comment area with a detailed description of the product brand and your experience. If selecting a Deck Resurface Stain, keep in mind that most users have had a bad experience with products from Home Depot and Lowes.  While the majority of comments and user experiences reported are negative,  the Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive has been favorable. Deck Resurface Stains like Behr Deckover, Olympic Rescue-It, Rust-Oleum Restore – Do They Work? Homeowners are always looking for an alternative to a deck replacement. When wood is neglected, it can be expensive to have it restored or replaced. A few companies like Behr, Rust-Oleum, and…

Update for 2019:  This is our initial Review of the Cabot Solid Color Wood and Deck Stain.  This review will be updated through the years. Cabot Solid stains have been around for 20+ years and used to be one of the top brands. We have found that since Cabot was sold to Valspar, their quality has fallen for all their different types of deck stains We appreciate your input. If you have used the Cabot Solid Color Deck stains, feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects. Cabot Solid Color Deck Stain Review Summary: Cabot® Solid Color Decking Stains are extremely durable exterior stains for use on all wood decking, outdoor furniture, and fencing, as well as cement patios and walkways. Series #1800, 100% acrylic finish is also water repellent and fade resistant. Oil Series #1600 and #7600 contain all-natural pigment with 100% alkyd resin. Solid Color Stains provide excellent adhesion to new, previously stained or…

Update for 2019: This is our initial Review of the Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Solid Color Wood and Deck Stain.  This review will be updated through the years. We appreciate your input. If you have used the SW SuperDeck Solid Color Deck stains, feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects. Summary: SuperDeck Solid Color Stain provides durable, opaque protection for many exterior horizontal wood surfaces. Featuring Cool Feel™ Color Technology helps reduce the surface temperature by up to 20°F when compared to conventional color technology. SuperDeck Solid Color Deck Stain Review Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Solid Stain Scores (1-10) Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 9 – The SuperDeck Solid Color Stain was applied with an airless sprayer, roller, and brush.  The two coats applied to our decking wood had no issues with appearance when finally finished. Tags: Best Opaque Deck stains, Best Solid Color Deck Stains, Best Deck Stains 2019, Opaque Deck Stains, SuperDeck Wood Stains, Sherwin…

Update for 2019 on Why a Two-Toned Deck Two-toned decks are becoming more popular every year. With a solid color (opaque) deck stain on the verticals and a semi-transparent stain on the horizontal, two-toned decks look great and can ease the maintenance down the road. If you have any questions or have done a two-toned deck restoration, please post the pictures below in the comment area with some tips of what you used and how you prepped the wood. There are several visual and maintenance advantages of having a two-toned deck. Here are a few of the main reasons consumers have been switching to the two-toned look. The ability to color match the railings and vertical wood to blend with the color of the house by using a solid color stain. The most popular solid color stains are White, Taupe, and Gray but most brands can be tinted to any color. The deck floor/horizontal wood is stained with a semi-transparent stain so it still has that natural wood appearance. However, solid stains…

When to use a Solid Color Deck Stain in 2019? There are many different types of coatings when dealing with decking stains. Before searching for a deck stain, you should determine the look you want. Some stains (solid colors) will completely hide the wood grain similar to paint. When is the best time to a solid color opaque deck stain? This article will help with this topic. It is important first to understand the different opacity levels of deck stains. Semi-Transparent Deck Stains – A semi-transparent deck stain allows most of the wood’s natural color to show through will soaking into the wood grain. Semi-Solid Deck Stains – Most semi-solid deck stains will almost completely hide the wood grain and natural color. Solid or Opaque Decking Stains – These types of wood stains hide the grain completely and provide the most UV protection. Solid color stains will “film” on top of the wood, masking the grain while looking like paint.  It should be…

Update 2019 Best Deck Stain Strippers Those who are familiar with the deck staining process are aware that you must properly prep your deck before staining for beautiful results. In this article, we discuss the best deck strippers on the market. We always appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below with pictures of your deck stain projects. Note: See here if you need to remove a Difficult to Remove Deck or Wood Stain. Prior to staining a wood deck, it is necessary to properly clean the wood for the best results. Removing all the dirt, mold, mildew, and graying will help the new deck stain to penetrate better and last longer. When dealing with a deck that has an old failing deck stain on it, a simple wood cleaning is not enough. In this case, a deck stain stripper must be used to emulsify and soften the old stain so it can be removed more easily. Wood…

Update for 2019: How to Stain Deck Spindles We appreciate your input here at Deckstainhelp.com as we continue to be your go-to source for the latest in deck restoration news and trending topics through 2019. See below for an article about How to Stain Deck Spindles. Feel free to leave a comment or ask questions below. How to stain deck spindles and balusters. Staining deck spindles and railings require a detail-oriented mindset. Although staining deck spindles are considered more difficult than staining the floor, we have some tips that will make this step go smoothly for a flawless, even stain application. First, clean the deck spindles. Wash the railings with a spray nozzle attached to a garden hose to remove dirt and debris. If there are any stains, mild detergent mixed with water should remove them. If there is mildew, use oxygenated bleach. Rinse well with water. Tags: Staining Deck Railings, Stain Deck Spindles, How to Stain Deck Railings, Deck…