Ready Seal Wood and Deck Stain Review  3.8/5 (53)

This post was updated on February 25, 2024

Ready Seal Wood and Deck Stain Review 2024

Ready Seal Stain Review

Ready Seal Stain Review

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. Developed for contractors, Ready Seal is now available to homeowners. Ready Seal will not run or drip and will always apply evenly. It is a unique blend of paraffin oil, quality resins, finely ground trans-oxide pigments, and algaecide.

Ready Seal® Stain Rating (1-10)

Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 7

– The Ready Seal® had a nice even application on the wood. The Gold color enhanced the older pine decking similar to as if wet with water. We did notice that the stain color faded significantly after a few days.

Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 3

– There was no color left after two years. Very poor at preventing UV graying.

Picture of Ready Seal losing all color after 14 months. Picture from DeckStainPro.com

Ready Seal Stain Fail at 14 Months

Wear/Tear and Peeling: 8

– Ready Seal® penetrates extremely deep into the wood. It does not peel.

Ready Seal Gold

Ready Seal Gold

Cost Per Square Foot: 5

– Coverage for the Ready Seal® is not very good. We got only about 75 square feet per gallon and needed to apply 2 coats. The Ready Seal® is less than many stains per gallon but you need much more stain than normal. The stain absorbs so well into the wood that you get very poor coverage. We needed 10 gallons to properly cover our 600-foot test deck with two coats of stain.

Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 7

– Containing primarily paraffin oil which does not promote mold growth, Ready Seal® shows promise. 30% of the decking floor was covered in green algae, though.

Ease of Application: 9

– We agree with the manufacturer’s claims here. Ready Seal® is goof-proof in that it will dry evenly and will not run or drip. When we looked at the deck 24 hours later, the finish was perfectly even. 3 days later though it had faded significantly.

Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 9

– No darkening was noticeable. Ready Seal® fades in color instead. Better for reapplication.

Difficulty of Reapplication: 8

– Easy to reapply. Just clean/brighten the wood to prep. No need to use a stain stripper.

Overall Score Ready Seal® Stain at 2 Year Period: 7.125

– Ready Seal® contains paraffin oil which is a non-drying oil. This means that it does not cure or seal the surface of the wood but dives deep into the wood cellular structure. The positives to Paraffinic stains are:

  • Extreme ease of application
  • Deep penetration into the wood
  • Even coverage

The negative is the poor UV protection and proper sealing of the surface. If you want a stain that is easy to apply then Ready Seal® might be a good choice for you. Just remember you will need to redo every 9-18 months if you want to retain the color.

Ready Seal Deck Stain Customer Photo Issues

Product Information:

Where To Buy: Ready Seal® Stain
Cost: $44.99 per Gallon, $199.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Paraffin Oil Based Transparent
Available Colors: Gold, Natural Cedar, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Medium Red, Dark Red
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 1-2 Coats
Coverage Per Gallon: 75-100 sq. ft per gallon as tested
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 48-72 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in All 50 States
More Info: Product Data
Manufacturer: Ready Seal® Stain

Test Deck Stats:

Deck Wood Type: 8-year-old Pressure Treated Pine
Deck Square Footage: 600
UV Exposure: Full Sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: 
Gold

*All products tested and results are from our experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Take into consideration that results may differ due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.


Please Rate This. You may also post comments or ask questions below.

author avatar
Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993
#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.

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Trish
Trish
1 year ago

The Ready Seal did not last and will not use it again. New larch dock, waiting one year before applying.

Dan
Dan
3 years ago

All of this was my experience as well. Older deck absorbed so much stain I had to acquire more – twice. When wet, the color was beautiful. After a few days of curing, it was much lighter and had a flat finish. Many of my boards stained different shades even though they all received two coats. Ultimately, the job looks like “meh” rather than “wow”. I don’t know if people will even know I refinished the deck.

I chose the mahogany for its deep red color. It doesn’t look like the pictures at all. Its dark brown. This is on older pine pressure washed to a light gray.

I tried the product becomes the Thompson’s wouldn’t last one season. Every spring the deck looked like camouflage. That stain sits “on” the wood rather than soaking into it.

I wish there was a win-all for deck stain. I guess its called composite

Toni
Toni
4 years ago

Just posting a review, and I agree 100% with your review. Ready seal is very easy to apply and is very forgiving. It looks great after application, but in full sun, it only lasted about 6 months before needing to be reapplied. It completely fades.

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Sharon
Sharon
3 years ago
Reply to  Toni

What color is this?

Dave seals
Dave seals
1 year ago

I put one coat of Ready Seal Pecan on my 2yr old treated pine deck a week and a half ago.
Wanted to put a second coat on but it has unexpectedly rained every other day and finally has been dry for 48 hrs.
Should I do a second thin coat now or has to much time passed?

terry
terry
1 year ago

My contractor uses it, so he said use Ready Seal…tho I have only used Ace deck stains before. I was excited to think it may be worth the 2 x price of ‘Preserve a wood’, redwood color.
It was a 95 degree today, so he figured last nights pressure washing and bleach clean would be dry. I did NOT completely strip the old oil deck stain.
Usually I would only use less than 1/3 gallon of Ace oil on my 300 sq feet of redwood deck.
I sprayed the Ready Seal and my contractor used a high quality painters roller type looking thick plush pad to back brush each piece.
Normally…since the Ace oil says on the can, “AFTER APPLICATION, REMOVE ALL OIL THAT HAS NOT PENETRATED (SHINES), WITHIN 15 MINUTES”, ..I figured the very wet looking deck would be tacky, if left like he had suggested, so I re-read the Ready Seal can and it did not say to use rags nor did it even mention removing any wet (shiny) surface oil.
Contractor said it will be dry by tmrw. but after 5-6 hours, it looks exactly the same…’wet’.
I am so fearful that even it will may eventually dry, it will be sticky…like the Ace oil, if left standing on the surface.
Hopeful to get someones feedback before the heat of the day tmrw.
ANYONE HAVE ANY FEEDBACK / EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA?
Thanks much.
terry

terry
terry
1 year ago

Thank you.
The next day warmed up, and it started to dry in many places…so I wiped what had not yet dried, and it looks pretty good…but not as good as the 1/2 ythe price, Ace brand Preserva Wood

Kristen
Kristen
1 year ago

Sorry. Adding more to my question! I live in South Carolina near the coast and TWC and RestoreADeck are not sold here. What other suggestions do you have? This is a photo after I used deck restore and sanded.

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Kristen
Kristen
1 year ago

Hi. I am getting ready to re-stain our back screened in porch wood floor that was previously stained with Cabot Timber oil. I went to Sherwin Williams and got their restore and applied that to the deck, scrubbed and rinsed it. I then went over it with a sander. I was going to restrain with Ready Seal because I am definitely not a professional and looking for ease of application with good results. Do I need to apply a brightener first? Would love your thoughts and suggestions.

Nate
Nate
1 year ago

Hey what chemical or brand of stripper did you use? I can’t find a stripper that removes it. The oil is too deep.

I doubt blasting will draw out the deep oil either.

Thanks!

Last edited 1 year ago by Nate
David
David
1 year ago
Reply to  Nate

I have the same problem. Did you find something to completly remove it ?

Nate
Nate
1 year ago
Reply to  David

No I have not. I’ve tested several strippers. So far I’m just having to wait for the oil to burn off. It’s been 5 years….

David
David
1 year ago
Reply to  Nate

I used Restore-a-deck stripper with the additive and it removed the color completely but the wood is still slightly oily.

Marvin Linton
Marvin Linton
2 years ago

I installed a new cedar deck in June of 2020 and applied a product called Ready Seal. This was recommended by my local lumber company and was an oil penetrating product but not strictly petroleum based as it could be cleaned up with warm water if not allowed to dry in brushes. The product has now grayed with a hazy film on my deck which ruins its appearance. I have a hot water commercial pressure washer that I cleaned a portion of the deck with and the color and beauty of the wood is still there under that nasty film. I want to clean the entire deck and and reseal it with your best oil/stain penetrating UV protection product. I live on the Missouri/ Illinois border near St. Louis so summers are very humid here. What would you recommend in my situation? Is that TWP sold in Missouri? It got your best rating overall. Please advise. Thank you.

Erik Beauchamp
Erik Beauchamp
3 years ago

Hi, very useful article, thanks. I was just about to purchase Ready Seal – Pecan because there are many great pictures showing the results when applied on cedar. However, seeing on this review that the color fades so quickly, it’s not so interesting finally.

Which other product performs best in your reviews, when applied on a white cedar deck, with a similar Pecan color and available in Canada? The deck is 6 months-old, almost through its first winter. Thanks in advance!

LeeAnn Dunch
LeeAnn Dunch
2 years ago
Reply to  Erik Beauchamp

After applying Pecan ready seal this spring 2 coats it simply looks beautiful, I don’t live in an area that gets excessive wind and dirt flying all over.but in Ohio so far its been crazy with rain and thunderstorms! I would recommend you reconsider your decision..Just because someone may not have used enough stain or stained when the moisture level was too high…does not mean it will happen to you.. read the product info and follow their directions you should be just fine! There is a utube video on how to apply with a garden sprayer..and not a paint sprayer that might work better and reduce over spray mist..that’s what I’m going to try painting my fence when it drys out some.But my Pavillion looks awesome..

Anita
Anita
3 years ago

Oil Stain for deck – seems whatever we use, continues to peel after the winter, and so annoying. This past spring, we washed the deck with a hose (did not spray hard at all) and the stain that was peeling came off easily. Live in Canada and the deck sits in full sun. We are going to re sand the deck and reapply stain again. We have tried diff stains over the year. The deck was built in 2012. I have read the reviews and only 1 person mentioned peeling but everyone else, says easy to apply or it fades after a year. We want natural oil stain, I would rather it fades than to peel as it is very annoying to have to do this annually. I want to enjoy our deck. Has anyone experienced peeling using this Ready Seal Oil Stain for deck? We use the same oil stain for fence and experience zero peeling so what the heck! Look fwd to replies back re peeling from those living in Canada as apparently because of environmentalist, our oil stains have changed. Very frustrated.

Anita
Anita
3 years ago

thanks for the answer…so you never use RS….what do you recommend then for Canada? that doesn’t peel and last long? cause I am so tired of doing this every year.

Mel
Mel
4 years ago

I stain a cedar table base with Ready Stain & Sealer in “Dark Walnut”. However the color was a more golden brown color. Can I use a darker Ready Stain & Sealer “Mahogany” over the existing stain? Im looking to darken the Wood and give it a red tint.

deb
deb
3 years ago
Reply to  Mel

Spoke to manufacturer about just this issue. They suggest a quick clean of 25% bleach and 75% water. Rinse well, Let dry completely like you would a deck and apply a coat of next color darker. The cleaning reopens pores and kills any mildew etc that might be hiding in the grain.

S Thomas
S Thomas
5 years ago

I’ve got 3 gallons left of a 5 gallon pail. Can the stain/sealer be saved? If so, what is the best way to store and at what temperatures?

TOM CASEY
TOM CASEY
5 years ago

Should I apply a second coat with this product on the first application?

TOM CASEY
TOM CASEY
5 years ago

Just as I thought. The 2 different people at the paint store recommended a light second light coat on outdoor furniture I made and some of it took 48 hrs to dry. Lesson learned but I will use it again. Thanks.

Andrew
Andrew
6 years ago

I have previously used transparent Behr products on our deck, but cannot completely remove the Behr product from all the crevices of some redwood shingles that we have as a part of the railing. What can I do if I want to make the switch to using Ready Seal, because I am worried that the new coats may not be absorbed through the Behr product that lingers.

Thanks for any tips.

Andrew
Andrew
6 years ago

Doing both, hope it turns out OK!

Andrew
Andrew
6 years ago

My deck (mahogany/redwood color) is weathered, and has many small cracks and splits. Unfortunately, before i know this site, i have applied wood filler (dap plastic wood) to fill those cracks. Now my deck has a beige colored filler scattered on tje mahogany/redwood colored deck. It seems that the ready seal is semi transparent? Would 2 coats of ready seal still make the beige area noticeable? Would you rather suggest using solid stain?

Andrew
Andrew
6 years ago

Thank you…… It seems that i am stuck……. well, would thin paimt spray on the filler area followed by applying ready seal eventually result in peeling in a while? Thank you.

Andrew
Andrew
6 years ago

I now own a 25 year old home with 25 year old magogany/redwood colored deck, which now has so many small cracks and splits. Unfortunately , before i recognize ready seal, i applied beige colored wood filler (dap plastic wood) in sealing the cracks and splits. Now, would two coats of ready seal on the deck hide, at least more or less, bright colored filler marks? Or would you recommend using other solid stains?

Dayle
Dayle
4 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

no

James
James
6 years ago

Our builder delivered new green (wet) cedar to our home, but it also rained on the wood for two hours that day, and then he built our fence with the very wet pickets. He returned just 36 hours later and stained with Ready Seal dark walnut. Of course the stain job is completely uneven and four different colors, but the worst part is that all of the defects in the wood turned very dark brown – black and the fence looks horrible; I suspect this is because the tannins never had a chance to dry and cure before being soaked with oil stain, but do you have a reference that I can read to understand this better, and at this point what can / should we do?

James
James
6 years ago

I will post three images. One of the new “wet” stained fence, one of a 17 year old gate that was power-washed and stained, and one of a two month old fence that was never stained until now; all three were stained the same day with Ready Seal.

image.jpg
image.jpg
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Russ Newberry
Russ Newberry
6 years ago
Reply to  James

It looks, to me, like the left side of your fence (in the picture on the left) was sprayed with dark walnut and the lower right portion was sprayed with the pecan stain. The door and the non rail side of the fence both look like walnut. I’ve used Ready seal for years and have never seen that kind of color difference. This is purely speculation, on my part, but it sure looks like two different colors of stain were used…

tim
tim
6 years ago
Reply to  James

it appears as if the product wasnt mixed well the lower was the mostly solvent “top of the pail” and the upper was the “bottom of the pail” where all the colorant settled. as for the photo on the right soft woods need conditioner directly before staining to take stain evenly

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  tim

Thanks for your insight Sherlock. The fence builder stirred the stain, he’s not very bright but he’s not that stupid!

Ready Seal is just a really crappy product designed for ease of use by DIY’ers and fence builders with little professional continuing education; read the reviews by the professionals here at Deck Stain Help.

I had the crappy Ready Seal chemically stripped off and then restrained with Bakkers, no more black knots and defects, just an even single tone and single color of high quality stain that will last for 5 years.

Do your research, Ready Seal fades 50% within 18 months and has no UV protection, just garbage.

Nate
Nate
1 year ago
Reply to  James

Hey what chemical or brand of stripper did you use? I can’t find a stripper that removes it.

Thanks!

Francisco
Francisco
5 years ago
Reply to  James

Can you please tell me what is the name of the color of the first picture on the lift

James
James
6 years ago

Hi, I replied this morning and included three images, but for some reason I don’t see that reply as posted. Did you get it? Thank you.

Tariq Suseyi
Tariq Suseyi
3 years ago
Reply to  James

Cedar has to dry for a whole year pressure-treated 90 days before you apply any paint or stain

Hugh Coatwood
Hugh Coatwood
6 years ago

Ready sesl gets loads of love from verified purchasers. This fact influenced my purchase decision.

steve fung
steve fung
7 years ago

Does Ready Seal works well for walking deck that already had an old coating that was from more than 10 years ago? Any recommendation? Thanks.

Jason M.
Jason M.
7 years ago

I've used 20 + gallons of this stain on decks over the past 5+ years and have found the Ready to hold up very well. I have also used Defy (older mix) and Ready Seal applied easier and lasted longer on a full sun deck in Maryland area. I do think the overall review score on this site seems low and believe the UV rating should be higher. The ease of reapplication is also a major plus. Stains seem to only last 2-3 years on most full sun decks, but this stain has outperformed others in my experience. Overall I would rank this as the best possible stain for the money, and given other aspects of a good quality stain. As others noted, you can also 5 gal. at Home Depot right to your house with free shipping.

Michael
Michael
7 years ago

I am very familiar with the Ready Seal products and wouldn't use anything else. The Texas heat/sun can be relentless, but Ready Seal has held up beautifully on the fences around here for years. I agree with those who say that the darker colors will have a longer "staying power" than the lighter shades, so your review of the Gold color is a little misleading about the brand as a whole. Pecan is the most popular color choice in our area. Some other key points that some are not mentioning– the age of the wood, the type of wood, and the condition of the wood can all affect how any stain works. Experienced contractors will know this, but DIY homeowners may not. If you are applying stain on a brand new fence or deck, it won't last as long as an older fence because of the porosity of the wood. Older wood is more porous and will absorb more stain. That is just the nature of wood– it can take months or years for it to open up completely. So after that first application on a new fence, you may have to re-stain after a couple years, but beyond that, you should be getting years longer life. Also, if an older fence or deck is grey and oxidized, or if it has been previously stained or sealed with another product, there are some easy but necessary steps to prep the wood. Power washing is not always sufficient. Sanding not always recommended. And if there is any moisture left in the wood at all after cleaning or rain, the stain won't absorb properly. You absolutely have to let it dry sufficiently before applying any product (should be less than 15% – you can get a moisture meter cheap at HD to be sure). I've found very helpful information just by calling the company (Ready Seal) to describe the condition of a particular project and to get their advice on the best way to prep. I personally recommend Ready Seal to all our customers. I think it's an excellent product and was pumped to find it available at my Home Depot last year.

brian
brian
7 years ago

Is the information on this site applicable to staining wood on Log homes?

Glen
Glen
7 years ago

Readyseal Is the best stain I've ever used will always use it. itlasts The longest and goes on the easiest it is uniform with great color

Kendall
Kendall
7 years ago

Ready Seal is easy to apply but does not last very long. We do many decks in PA and tried the Ready Seal a few years ago. Color fading was significant after one year, but that was not the biggest complaint we received. Our customers really did not like the oily residue that would rub off on clothes after the first week or two of applying. I guess this would be the nature of having the paraffin oil as it does not dry at all. We stopped using it because of this.

Jeff
Jeff
8 years ago

So basically, you've got a 3-4 year old review about a product that isn't even made anymore (Ready Seal Gold), and you're basing your evaluation off that? I have no connection with the company nor do I care which stains are rated highly, but the point is your review is too old to be valid any more, yet it doesn't mention anywhere the date of the review, nor what has changed with the product. It certainly doesn't cost $27.99, and it definitely doesn't come in the colors this review claims it does. I believe, like another poster said, that the Gold finish, specifically, didn't contain UV protection. So while you claim you were trying to compare apples to apples, you definitely weren't. Time for an update, or even a retest?

MaryBeth
MaryBeth
8 years ago

Very disappointed in this stain. Very expensive & does not cover with one coat. Fades quickly if fence is in the sun.
Color varies significantly from can to can. Will never use again.

john
john
8 years ago

"Ready Seal Stain and Sealer for Wood is an oil based semitransparent stain and sealer in one. It is a unique blend of oils, quality resins, and finely ground transoxide pigments that penetrate deeply into wood to protect and preserve it from the elements."

all brands say this, and the "oils" are subject to change and also unlisted. i personally would not rely on rumor and assume the product contains no natural oils that mold likes to eat. you'd have to keep it clean, like (%99 to %100 of products i can find that are not synthetic; like urethan)

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