It can be difficult to determine the right color for your deck stain when there are so many options available. Semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid deck stains all look different depending on the brand, coverage, and type of wood. Find links to all of our deck stain examples including our 3 favorite brands TWP, Restore-A-Deck, and Armstrong Clark.
What are the Different Types of Wood Deck Stains? In this video, we’re going to cover what actually is a “Deck Stain”. We will compare the many different types of deck stain options available and what are the positives and negatives of each. Deck stains are used to protect and preserve your exterior wood. They offer UV protection, water repellency, mold, and mildew resistance. And deck coatings come in many different types of opacity and bases. Deck staining can be a “chore” for residential homeowners and unfortunately walking into your local store may produce some of the worst options available. Not all deck stains are created equal and there is not a perfect stain type or brand that will outperform …
What are The Best Deck Cleaners Review Video Exterior wood and deck cleaners are designed to clean and prep your exterior wood prior to an application of a wood stain. These cleaners come in many different concentrates with different ingredients. In this video, we’re going to review the Best Exterior Wood and Deck Cleaners and cover what actually is a “Wood Deck Cleaner”. We’ll compare the different types of deck cleaning options available and the positives and negatives of each.
Solid Color Deck Stain Picture Album 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. For more info, see our article: The Best Solid Color Deck Stains
Rust-Oleum Rock Solid Coating Video Review This video will review our experience with using the Rust-Oleum Rock Solid (formerly Deck Restore) on a Wood Deck. Well, Rust-Oleum is back at it with a newer, relabeled version of their Rust-Oleum Deck Restore. The Deck Restore version has failed miserably in the last 6-8 years, and they settled a Class Action lawsuit in 2018. This recent version is marketed slightly differently. It is a Deck Resurface product that uses a primer first. From what we have seen and from consumer reviews, the Rust-Oleum Rock Solid is not any better than the Deck Restore and continues to peel and fail.
Behr DeckOver Coating Video In this video we will review our experience with using the Behr DeckOver on a wood deck and how it performed after 2 years of exposure to the elements. Overall Score Armstrong Clark Stain at 2-Year Period: 5 If you took away the UV protection of being a 100% solid coating product, this product’s ratings would be much less. There are many complaints on the internet about the Behr Deckover peeling, even on their own website. Use at your own risk as there is a good chance it will peel and create a huge mess for you to fix.
Why Have a Two-Toned Deck Video Review Two-toned decks are becoming more popular every year. With a solid color or 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. In this video, we’ll go over why a two-toned deck works well and the best deck stain options to choose. Advantages to Choosing a Two-Toned Deck There are several visual and maintenance advantages of having a two-toned deck. Here are a few of the principal 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 …
What are The Best Deck Stain Strippers Review Video How to strip your old deck stain is a very popular question that we get here at Deck Stain Help. Those who are familiar with the deck staining process are aware that you must always properly prep your deck before staining for beautiful results. In this video, we discuss the best deck strippers on the market. Looking For a Better Stain Stripper? 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 stain strippers are …
Why deck stain bubbles? If the deck stain bubbled it means you used a solid deck paint or a solid deck stain while the wood was still wet. Film forming deck stains like solid color stains must be applied to a completely dry surface so that they can adhere to the wood properly. If you leave the bubbles in the deck stain it will fail quickly and almost immediately begin to peel. What do you do about deck stain bubbles? The best thing to do when your deck stain bubbles is to strip the stain and start over. There is no way to fix the bubbles without removing what you have laid, cleaning the deck, and reapplying the solid stain …
Why is my Deck Stain Not Drying? There are a variety of reasons why your deck stain may not be drying properly. First and foremost you want to consider which type of deck stain you are using. Water-based deck stain may dry as soon as 1-4 hours, while oil-based may take anywhere from 4-24 hours. You want to give enough time to ensure that the stain dries and that it is not exposed to rain or other moisture sources. Deck Stain Drying Issues You may also find that if the deck stain is not drying, that you may have overapplied. If you put on a coat that is too thick, this may influence the feel and appearance. If you put …
Stripping A Deck Stain Video How to strip a deck stain using Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper with Thickening Gel and Booster Additives. This is Step 1 in the Restore-A-Deck Deck-In-A Day restoration process. DeckStainHelp.com is a help and review site with the goal of offering advice to homeowners with the difficult task of restoring their exterior wood. Over the past years, we have used many exterior wood stains, cleaners, stain strippers, and wood brighteners. Our Help, Reviews, and Ratings are from our experience as contractors.
Deck Stain Pictures Album Deck stains have not changed much in the past few years. Many brands have gone away from oil-based stains to water-based, but you are still able to use oil-based stains in all US States and Canada. We currently restore about 300-400 decks annually, and our favorites are the penetrating semi-transparent and semi-solids. You can read the full article here on the: Different Types of Deck Stains
Semi-Transparent Deck Stain Picture Album We have been using deck stains now for 25+ years and reviewing them on DeckStainHelp.com since 2012. Our favorite stains have always been the penetrating semi-transparent stains as they last for 2-3 years, do not peel, and can be cleaned and reapplied without the heavy lifting of power sanding and insurance scrapping. For more info, see our article: The Best Semi-Transparent Deck Stains
Semi-Solid Deck Stain Picture Album We have been using deck stains now for 25+ years and reviewing them on DeckStainHelp.com since 2012. In the past 5+ years, we have used more and more of the semi-solid stains and colors. The major reason is that the higher the solid content, the better the UV protection from fading. Semi-Solid wood and deck stains allow the wood grain to show slightly and if they truly soak into the wood grain, reapplying is much easier down the road. For more info, see our article: The Best Semi-Solid Color Deck Stains
Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain Picture Album Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent 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 Wood Stain protects the wood from harmful UV rays and damage caused by water penetration. Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain is safe to use, has a low odor, and is easy to clean up with soap and water. It is ideal for all wood types including pressure-treated pine, cedar, fir, or redwood For more info, see our article: Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain Review
TWP 100 Series Picture Album Hearing from consumers who have used the TWP 100 Series wood stain, their decks have held up to the test of time and weather after this harsh winter. TWP is one of our top go-to stains as deck restoration contractors and we have been using it for 20+ years. Overall Score TWP 100 Series Stain at 2 Year Period: 8.5 – TWP is one of our most commonly used stains. We have applied the TWP 100 Series to many 1000’s of decks and rarely have an issue. Easy to apply and easy to reapply when the time comes. There are a few other stains that are as good, but as of yet, no other product has …
TWP 1500 Series Picture Album TWP 1500 Series is one of our top go-to stains as deck restoration contractors and we have been using it for 20+ years. Overall Score TWP 1500 Series at 2 Year Period: 8.5 – The TWP products like 1500 and 100 Series Stains are known to produce a durable, long-lasting finish. They have always been a favorite of ours and are consistently one of our top choice stains. We use the TWP stains on 300+ deck restorations annually. Ease of application, a beautiful finish, and easy re-coating makes TWP 1500 an outstanding professional-grade stain for all exterior wood projects. For more info, see our article: TWP 1500 Series Review
Can you use deck stain on concrete? No, you cannot use deck stain on concrete. Deck stain is engineered to penetrate into wood, not concrete. It can be tempting to use deck stain on concrete if some stain was accidentally applied and you planned on sealing the concrete. However, concrete stains designed specifically for penetration and sealing of concrete should be used. What can deck stain be used for? Deck stain can be used in places other than your deck. Deck stain can be used on railings and spindles, as well as fences. You can also apply deck stain to outdoor wood furniture. It is still important to get the best stain for the job based on the type of …
Armstrong Clark Stain Picture Album Customers who have used Armstrong Clark wood deck stain continue to be satisfied by the appearance and longevity of their deck stain projects. If you have used Armstrong Clark wood deck stain, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them. For more info, see our article: Armstrong Clark Wood Stain Review
