This post was updated on June 22, 2024
Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My Rust-Oleum Deck Restorereview 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.
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. There are 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: A class Action Lawsuit has been filed against Rust-Oleum Deck Restore 10x: See Here and Our Article
How I Rated Rust-Oleum Deck Restore
My Rust-Oleum Deck Restore review contains an 8-step process and the final average score. Each step is on a scale of 1-10.
- The appearance of Rust-Oleum Deck Restore after Application
- Preventing UV Graying
- Peeling or Wearing
- Cost Per Square Foot
- Preventing Mold and Mildew
- How Easy was the Application
- Color Shifting
- Ease of Reapplication
- Rust-Oleum Deck Restore Final Score
8-Step Review of Rust-Oleum Deck Restore
1. Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 3
The finished appearance of this product is poor. It looks “clumpy,” and dirt tends to stick to the surface as the product cures. The color does not match the color on the chart.
2. Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 10
It did not gray in the areas where it has not peeled.
3. Wear/Tear and Peeling: 2
Of all the “Deck Resurface” products, the Rust-Oleum version peels the worst. It started peeling within a few months of application.
4. Cost Per Square Foot: 1
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.
5. Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 6
About 40% of the deck had mold.
6. Ease of Application: 1
This product is not easy to apply. It splatters, and we had to constantly backwipe 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.
7. Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 10
The Rust-Oleum Deck Restore does not darken in color.
8. The Difficulty of Reapplication: 1
Be prepared to sand this off when 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: 60+colors
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 2 Coats.
Coverage Per Gallon: 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: Rust-Oleum
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Pine Treated Deck
Deck Square Footage: 200 Square feet
UV Exposure: Full sun
How Many Years Tested: 1+ Years
Stain Color Used: 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 Review
Pretty much the same story as everyone else. After sending these photos to customer service I was told, “Based on the photos, it appears there was a moisture issue present prior to coating the surface.” Oh, ok.
I painted two decks (front and back) with the original Deck Restore. I have herniated discs in my back, so this was a to really big project for me. It didn’t cover nearly as much as they claimed, so I had to go back to purchase more. It looked beautiful the first year! Now, two years later, it looks absolutely awful! It’s peeled up in several places places, but I can’t seem to remove it. Some deck boards are rotted now and will need to be replaced. I wasted my money on 7 gallons of this. I’ve used many different kinds of paint in my lifetime. This was by far the worst. I can’t say enough about how bad my experience with this paint was.
I did a huge deck in 2010. The only places I experienced any peeling was where my dogs had urinated in certain spots and the peeling didn’t happen till 5 yrs later. It’s now 2024. That’s 14 yrs later and just now having to redo whole thing. Only down side I could see was yrs when the pine pollen hits heavily some years. Hard to wash off is all in those instances.I used the original Deck Restore. Worked at Ace Hardware then. Had 2 German Shepherds whose nails would scrape any other regular stain off. I didn’t want to have to stain every year at my age.
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.
I also have this on my front porch and have had for over ten years. I love it so much I want to do the back patio the same way but unable to find the product.
The original Synta product was sold to Rust-Oleum and then they reformulated it… for the worse.