This post was updated on May 1, 2024
Rust-Oleum (Rock Solid 20X) Deck Restore Review for 2024
Here at DeckStainHelp.com, we have worked hard over the years to become your trusted reference for deck stain opinions and consumer reviews. We thank you for your continued support. Our customers who have used Rust-Oleum Deck Restore (Now Rock Solid 20X) continue to give scathing poor reviews about the appearance and longevity of their deck restoration projects. Numerous issues with peeling and a class action lawsuit as well. If you have used Rust-Oleum Deck Restore, we would like to hear what you think, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.
Important Note on Label Change for Rust-Oleum Deck Restore (Now Rock Solid 20X)
Even though they have settled this lawsuit, Rust-Oleum Deck Restore is still sold to unsuspecting consumers and has not been pulled from the shelves. Rust-Oleum has changed to a newer, relabeled version of their Rust-Oleum Deck Restore. From what we have seen in the field and heard, the Rust-Oleum Rock Solid is not much better than the Deck Restore and continues to peel and fail.
Why repaint when you can revitalize your deck—with Rust-Oleum® Deck & Concrete Restore ®? This liquid-armor resurfacer forms a tough, resilient coating over existing decking. It lasts for years with minimal maintenance! Limited lifetime warranty.
- 10 times thicker than ordinary coatings—fills cracks, locks down splinters, hides imperfections
- Non-slip, barefoot-friendly texture; water- and weather-resistant; durable
- Economical, environmentally safe; easy to apply and clean up
Note: Class Action Lawsuit has been filed against Rust-Oleum Deck Restore 10x:  See Here and Our Article
Rust-Oleum Deck Restore Stain Ratings (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 3
–Â The finished appearance of this product is poor. It looks “clumpy” and dirt has a tendency to stick to the surface as the product cures. The color did not match the color on the chart.
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 10
–Â Does not gray in the areas where it has not peeled.
Wear/Tear and Peeling:Â 2
–Â Of all the “Deck Resurface” products the Rust-Oleum version peels the worst. It started peeling within a few months of application.
Cost Per Square Foot:Â 1
–Â Coverage is terrible. We did not get the 30 sq. feet per gallon for the 2 coats. Closer to 20 sq. feet for two coats. We spent over $350 on our 200 sq. foot deck.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae:Â 6
–Â About 40% of the deck had mold.
Ease of Application:Â 1
– This product is not easy to apply. It splatters and we had to constantly back wipe to ensure an even appearance. The roller that comes with the kit is useless and does not last. It feels like you are applying a coat of tar with sand in it.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years:Â 10
– The Rust-Oleum Deck Restore does not darken in color.
The Difficulty of Reapplication: 1
– Be prepared to sand this off for switching to a different brand. It might be easier to fill deck boards or replace the floor.
Overall Score Rust-Oleum Deck Restore It at 2 Year Period: 4.25
– The Synta Deck Restore started the craze of the “Deck Resurface” products. Synta’s version was bought by Rust-Oleum and the formula may have changed. Looking at the online history of reviews for this product, it seemed to work better prior to the acquisition. We cannot recommend this product based on our testing, numerous poor online reviews (check Amazon), and the class-action lawsuit.
Rust-Oleum Rock Solid (Deck Restore) Customer Photo Issues
Product Information:
Where To Buy: Home Depot, Walmart, Select Stores
Cost: $45 for a 2 Gallon Kit
Stain Type: Acrylic Solid Stain – Water Based
Available Colors:Â 60+colors
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 2 Coats.
Coverage Per Gallon:Â 25-30 sq ft per gallon with 2 coats
Application Tools: Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 8-24 Hours
Cleanup: Water
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in all States
Manufacturer:Â Rust-Oleum
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type:Â Pine Treated Deck
Deck Square Footage: 200 Square feet
UV Exposure:Â Full sun
How Many Years Tested: 1+ Years
Stain Color Used:Â Cedar
*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.
Update Spring of 2024
Please read our article on Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive Review We believe this product has real value if looking for these product types that actually work.
Rust-Oleum Rock Solid (Deck Restore)Video ReviewÂ
I can’t say enough how unhappy we are with the 10x. While it looks great when it first applied after 2yrs it has destroyed our deck boards to the point that, we will have to replace all the floor boards, It peeled off like wallpaper and then rotted the boards. There should be some compensation for this mess.
DO NOT USE ANY of the restore products for wood decks.
Does rust oleum restore 10X go bad in the can after 2 years? Thank You Kim
We would not use it.
I’m VERY well satisfied in the original restore 10x. I wish I could find somemore. I’ve had it down on a porch over 5 years now & have been 100% happy with it. The only reason I would like to have somemore of the original is because I had to replace some of the boards. I’ve tried the newer version & it isn’t near as good as the older version. Yes it’s hard to put down but if you do like your told on the instructions it works great. Maybe all the people that whine about it didn’t do it right & cut corners.
This product is complete Garbage. Followed manufactures deck preperation and installation was completed in 2017, after in 2019 blistering and large prices started to peel off. Not recommended
I used the Rust-Oleum 10X on my deck over 5 years ago and have been very happy with it. I power washed the deck before applying it, put two coats on it and then painted it. It has held up wonderfully and now after more than 5 years and two hurricanes it is needing some touch up. I am trying to find some more 10X because the lower portion of the deck had to be replaced after the 2nd hurricane. I could not find any 10X and used 6X which did not give the deck the texture I wanted and has not held up well at all. Admittedly, the 10X is a bit of a pain and is expensive as it takes a lot of it and takes a long time to cover any sizeable surface, but once it was on, I have been very happy with it.
Same here, Used 10 x twice and it was great for 10 years, tried 6x over it and peeled off. Did you get an answer?
Used their 6X Deck Restore after their recommended wood cleaner and primer. Looked nice until it rained 2 days later and ripples, bubbling and peeling appeared. That was 2 weeks ago. I am still scraping, sanding & trying to end this nightmare product. I found out about the class action suit and horrible reviews after the fact. Shame on me. More shame on Rust-Oleum for a clearly terrible product. Changing the name of the leopard doesn’t change the spots, obviously. Or the peeling. Avoid at all costs!
We applied Rustoleum Deck Restore 10X more than 15 years ago and we are just now needing to touch up 2 small areas. Very saddened to find we are unable to purchase this same product. We were VERY happy with it, applied it myself on this 90 ft long deck. Primed it first as directed and applied as directed. I suspect that a majority of the lawsuits are from people who used contractors or did not properly apply the product.
You do realize that this product has not been around for 15 years? Closer to 8 years, so your comment is incorrect. It has an extremely high failure rate, hence why they had a class action lawsuit and they lost.
Used 20X and it peels and the wood underneath it has started to rot. The product does not prevent moisture from getting underneath the coating.
STAY AWAY FROM IT ! ! !
I now have to replace ALL of the wood decking.
Sanded my 8 year old deck with an edger, ( mostly 36 grit), vacuumed, then filled the cracks and checks with loctite pl premium ( might try LT pl max if i ever do another project like this.) Dont teave the LT too thick on the surface(scrape it clean down), or it will bubble as it cures. Scraped the excess off(expands) of the cracks after a day or so, then a light sanding with a shoe sander on a pole. Sherwin superdeck solid covered but a second coat was needed (according to the missus) I rolled it one in small patches then brushed it for a grainlike finish. It went really far on the smoother surface.
And finally ! I used some garnet-red art-sand mixed into the stain to top coat my new stair treads. Brushed it on. It was a very fine sand grit, even finer then the sand in the restore product. Deck looks great. High confidence in the sanded finish. Very slip-proof.I’d used the sand before ( and tried restore product before that, so I knew.
All the bad reviews I have read mostly deal with wood decks. I used the 10x about 7 years ago on my sidewalk and back patio. Both are concrete slabs. I followed the directions and prepared it as it says and after 7 years it is still in excellent shape. I have no peeling or chipping and it still looks the same as when I painted them 7 years ago. The back patio does get a little mold but my back patio gets very little sun light and we have high humidity. I clean it with armor house wash and the mold comes right off and it has not damaged the coating at all. We just poured another large slab on the side of the house but can’t find the 10x anywhere so we are going to try the 6x. If it is like the 10x I am sure I will be happy.
This is a wood restoration website, not concrete. Results will not be the same on wood.
im painting my deck for the first time using rustoleum rock solid deck coat 6x and it is the thickest hardest to apply product ever ,, but ive bought 2 gallons so i have to use it ,, one gallon is suppose to cover 80 square foot but i will be lucky to get 60 square foot per gallon ,, and there is no way to thin it down and you have to use the roller that is made for it,,, needless to say im not satisfied with this product at all,
Not many people are.
We used this product on our deck and are very happy with it. Our deck gets a lot of wear and tear from traffic, direct sunlight, snow and ice. It went on well and held up very well. A few minor areas of peeling, and that was in places of extra usage, for example where everyone hangs wet pool towels to dry, ended up bubbling and pealing. Stairs with heavy traffic just has minor flakes after over five years of sun, ice, shoveling etc. Color has maintained very well, except in a small area that gets wet but does not get sun, a small amount of mildew grew. Looking to touch up spots and all I see are bad reviews. If it didn’t work for you, then you likely did not prep the area correctly, or assure the area was clean and dry, let it get wet to soon after etc. Great product.
Hello, the product is not very good and peels in many or most cases. Are you a spokesperson for Rust-Oleum? You are spamming the comments.
Absolute garbage spent over 2 grand last year with this garbage and the deck looks worse then it did, major peeling issues. Don’t do it.
We used it five years ago and deck is still in great condition with just a few minor peels in high traffic areas. Are you sure you followed directions correctly?
The product is not very good and peels in many or most cases. Are you a spokesperson for Rust-Oleum? You are spamming the comments.
This product has rotted our deck boards. It was great for the first 2 years. We followed the painfull directions by the book. In 2 years it cracked and 3 years peeled and in 4 years rotted the boards and 5 years the rotted boards are now holes. This product should not sold and should be recalled. It has been about 6 or 7 years and we have spots that are rotted right thru. When it cracks it holds the moisture in under it and causes rot.
Odd. We are five years into our application and just a few minor spots of peeling in areas of high wear and tear. Not one sign of rot anywhere on our deck. Its probable that you wood was already wet and rotting when you applied this. This wont fix wet and already rotting wood.
I highly doubt the issue was the rotting wood. The product is not very good and peels in many or most cases. Are you a spokesperson for Rust-Oleum? You are spamming the comments.
I was puzzled by the negative comments until I saw the part about being bought by Rustoleum. We used Deck Restore in 2012 and it held up well. I’m finally planning to re-cover this year (2020).
Here are pix. Most of the deck still looks fine, after almost 8 years, but the steps have peeling spots as you can see. We’re in Maryland, so the winters are not too bad.
You have the old Synta brand formula before they sold it to Rust-Oleum. It is not the same product anymore.
can rustoleum 20x be brushed on instead oa rolling on?
Rolled on.
Bitterly disappointed in this product. Even contacted manufacturer for application advice. Followed directions to the letter. Deck that is partially undercover (little or no rain) is passable after approx eight years. The major portion exposed to rain totally failed after the first Winter season (Western Washington state, sea level, mild winters) We tried once to make some ‘Restore’ repairs, gave up when repairs also failed and have lived with it since. Now ready to sell and have a major problem. Product was applied over new decking and older stained decking. Now is it cheaper to replace good sound decking, or try to scrape off the remaining ‘Restore’?? There is simply not one plank that is not badly blistered, cracked, peeled, or exposed in several hundred feet of decking. 😡
Strange. Our deck is in direct rain, sunglight, gets snow and ice and tons of traffic. After five years there are only a few peeling spots in the very high traffic areas. Even the areas we chip ice and snow off of held up almost 100 percent. You likely did not prep correctly.
I highly doubt the issue was the prep. The product is not very good and peels in many or most cases.
I painted three decks one two houses with Rust-Oleum Restore 4X the paint started to peel Within 4 months of application. I’ve painted two decks now with a different product and have understood that there was a class action lawsuit for the deck restore 4X. I would like to be reimbursed for at least the cost of the rustoleum deck restore. I used two 5 gallon buckets. Sincerely Geri Bogart
541 519 0026
Same here. My deck is rotted right through.
My husband and I love Rustoleum 20x Resurfacer. Used 10x Restore around pool deck many years ago and it is still holding up. It gave new life to old rough wood. My problem is my choice of color.
Yesterday used 20x Resurfacer, from cedar tone to Navajo red. Can I apply 2x stain over my poor color choice….or will we need to apply primer again?
You would have to ask them.
we are preparing to redo our deck and have been using pressure washer and water to remove rustled deck restore. A lot of work!! Are there any recommendations for a chemical to use on this stuff for easier removal?? Terrible Product!!!!!
It cannot be stripped. It has to be sanded off.
Yup. Really bad product. Thank you
Agreed, terrible product!
Just spent 3 days sanding this product off our deck, it was peeling after only 2 1/2 years.
I used Restore deck and now it is coming off. Why weren’t consumers notified, that there was a class action suit again this product? I went to buy more from Lowe’s store and they told me they didn’t sell this product anymore. This is when I was told the product was bad, and there was a class action suit against this product. How do I get information on this class suit? I had purchased 5 gallons of this product. Daniel Castillo
The lawsuit is over. You can read more info here: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/class-action-lawsuit-against-rust-oleum-deck-restore/
If you can’t back up your product or notify consumers of a bad product and a class action lawsuit, You shouldn’t be in business in the USA.
We stand behind our quality in the USA.
Agreed. They sold a poor product, knew about it, and they are still selling it to unknown consumers at Home Depot and other places. They obviously do not care.
Our experience is similar to the others. Purchased 2 – 5gallon buckets in Sept. Of 2016. Followed preparation and application directions. 1st year showed some signs of failure. This year rinsed deck with pressure washer and majority of flat surfaces were peeling. We used the cream or light tan color. Leaves or anything with any color will stain the deck. Ours is a very large deck around a pool. I am not looking forward to redoing this deck again already. Have sent a complaint to rust-oleum. Waiting to see if I get a response.
This stuff is awful! Trying to figure out an easy way to get it off my deck!
i am in the same situation, this product is terrible i called and they sent new product but cant get anyone to do the job they will not use the product
Failing to understand….. this is the BEST thing I have ever put on my deck.. at 5 year mark just noticing minor peeling and failure
Me too
I used RustoleumDeck Restore 3-4 years ago. At first, I was very pleased with its appearance. After about two years, I noticed the product was cracking. Then, soft spots appeared in the deck. The cracks in the product had allowed water to seep in and become trapped. After Peeling away the product, I found many deeply rotted areas of decking. Some were 3/4 in. deep and 6 in. in length. I covered an upper and lower deck with Rust-Oleum Deck Restore, and regret doing so. The decks had no areas of rot prior to using this product.
I used the 10X 3 years ago On my deck 12’X40′ I can’t be more pleased Preparation is the ultimate key to success. I used a mixture of 4 Qts water to 1 qt bleach with 2 cups dawn dish liquid in my pressure washer twice, then let the deck air dry for 4 days before I applied it.