SuperDeck Stain Review for 2026
Share Your Experience with SuperDeck Stain
- SuperDeck Stain scored an overall 6.69 out of 10 after two years, with major concerns around application, durability, and appearance.
- The stain turned a dark blackish color after two years, with dirt sticking to the finish, making reapplication difficult and requiring full stripping.
- Mildew growth was significant after two years, likely due to linseed oil in the formula, which is a known mold feeder despite mildewcide additives.
- Available at Sherwin-Williams stores and lumber yards, SuperDeck Semi-Transparent Stain costs $45.99 per gallon, covering roughly 250 to 350 square feet.
Have you used the SuperDeck Stain from Sherwin-Williams on your wood or deck? We’d love to hear from you! Please share your thoughts by posting a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below.
Consumer Feedback:
Reviews in the comment section have shown lower-than-average results when using SuperDeck Stain, with concerns about performance and durability being common themes.
If you have any pictures of your experience with SuperDeck Stain, feel free to share them in the comments along with a detailed description of your project. Your feedback helps others make informed decisions about their deck restoration projects!
The DuckBack company is the original manufacturer of Super Deck and was purchased by Sherwin Wiliams a few years ago. The Super Deck brand has gone through numerous changes since. Sherwin Williams has kept the SuperDeck brand but has added their old Deckscapes formula into the Super Deck lineup. They now have an oil-based and water-based version. This review of the Super Deck would be comparable to the current oil-based formula of the new label of the SuperDeck, under the Sherwin Williams paint brand. The current Sherwin Labels Super Deck, which is water-based, would be comparable to our review of the Sherwin Williams Deckscapes.
Super Deck Review Sherwin Williams
SUPERDECK® Semi-Transparent Stain is a 70% solid, pro-grade, wood deck finish developed to give superior protection and enhanced color to exterior wood. Superdeck Semi-Transparent Stains uses iron oxide pigments to prevent UV damage. Containing tung and linseed oils that provide superior protection with mildewcides that inhibit the growth of mildew. Superdeck Semi-Transparent Stains contain Carnauba for a durable finish that is scuff resistant.
SUPERDECK® Semi-Transparent Stain Rating (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 6
– We used the Superdeck Stain in the redwood color on a newly built redwood porch in Northern California. The final appearance after drying was a sticky uneven finish on our porch. The stain did not penetrate very well into the wood even though the Superdeck cleaner and brightener were used to prep prior to application. Only one light coat was applied.
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 8
– 80% of the initial color was left after 2 years of exposure to full sun. The Superdeck did score fairly well here.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 8
– The was no peeling of the Superdeck Semi-transparent stain but there was wearing in the high traffic areas. This porch is the entrance to the home and the Superdeck was completely worn from the stairs to the door.
Cost Per Square Foot: 7
– Superdeck Semi-transparent stain costs $40 a gallon. The 800-foot porch needed 5 gallons to cover. This included the deck and the railings.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 6
– After 2 years of weathering, the Superdeck Semi-transparent stain had a significant amount of mildew spots growing in the finish. Containing linseed oil (known feeder for mold), the Superdeck seemed ineffective at preventing the mold even though it contains mildewcide.
Ease of Application: 8
– We applied the Superdeck Semi-transparent stain with a staining brush to the entire surface of the porch. The stain had issues with penetration into the wood and did not dry evenly. It took nearly 8 hours to apply the stain with two people.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 4
-Very disappointed with the Superdeck Semi-transparent stain turning a dark blackish color after two years. It seems that dirt sticks to the stain. There was a tree above the porch that may have contributed to this issue.
Difficulty of Reapplication: 6.5
– Unfortunately, the Superdeck Semi-transparent stain will need to be stripped and brightened prior to reapplication since the stain had turned a very dark color after the two years.
Overall Score SUPERDECK® Semi-Transparent Stain at 2 Year Period: 6.69
SuperDeck Stain Review: A Disappointing Experience
We were not impressed with the performance of SuperDeck Stain. The most significant issues we encountered were related to its application and overall appearance over time.
Key Concerns
- Unsightly Discoloration: After just 2 years of exposure, the stain turned a dark black color, which is both unattractive and problematic. Wood stains should enhance the wood’s natural beauty—not degrade into an unsightly finish.
- Reapplication Challenges: The discoloration makes reapplication difficult, requiring more prep work to achieve acceptable results.
Our Verdict
While SuperDeck Stain may work for some, our experience suggests it falls short in terms of durability and appearance. A stain should protect and beautify your deck over time, and this product simply didn’t meet those expectations.
Have you experienced similar issues with SuperDeck Stain? Share your thoughts and photos in the comments below—we’d love to hear about your project.
Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Stain Photos from Consumers
Product Information:
Where To Buy: Lumber Yards and Sherwin Willaims Paint Stores
Cost: $45.99 per Gallon, $229.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Semi-Transparent as tested
Available Colors: Cedar, Redwood, Weathered Gray – Tintable to 60+ Colors
Application Temperature: 40-95 F
Coats Required: 1 Coat
Coverage Per Gallon: 250-350 sq. ft. Actual coverage was 175 sq. feet as tested
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 8-24 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in All 50 States. 100 VOC for LA Area
More Info: Product Data
Manufacturer: Duckback
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Redwood Porch
Deck Square Footage: 800
UV Exposure: Full Sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: Redwood
*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.
Used Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Semi Transparent Water Based Stain. Initial application failed. A second application the following year after sanding and refresher failed even worse. The product goes on like paint and has no penetration. I used this product many years ago before the initial manufacturer was bought by Sherwin Williams.
We have used SuperDeck for many years & been loyal to the product…until now. I was informed the formula was thinner than previous years but that it still was just as efficient with filling in small cracks & going on smooth. I found anything but! The dries uneven & is thinner than regular paint. It did fill in any cracks whatsoever. I will not be buying this product again, in any form. SuperDeck went from being best to worst In one season.
What a huge disappointment. Paid over $3000 to have our 500 sq. foot deck and railings stained with super deck. Stained in the fall and was peeling by spring. Darkening and mildew accumulated as well. Huge disappointment. Do not recommend.
I will never use this product or S.W again! Was stained one year ago and peeling off😫! They said wood needed to be primed. Thought this product took care of that. Bad stuff all around. I used my savings to get my exterior painted and decking finished.
Sherwin Williams Superdeck Waterbourne stain is a huge disappointment! Does not penetrate the wood, and because of no penetration, the brush marks will drive you crazy. It cannot tolerate much foot traffic. Wear areas, with exposed bare wood, will result after a few months; not only on the floor but on the edges of your steps. Since it is really just a surface treatment, it will peel off it you are not careful. How can this be called a stain when there is no wood penetration? Complete waste of time and money. It will also darken within the first year.
The only positive point is that you can clean your brush with water. Stay away !!
Disappointed with this product. After having used deckscapes by Sherwin Williams on my deck and porch since 2007 ( redo every 2.5-3 years) Sherwin Williams discontinued it and sells Superdeck . It was supposed to be improved but I prepped and applied as directed and am greatly disappointed. It took days to dry, looks really dark and has not held up, turning black in big areas after about two months. I gave the remainder of product away and am now planning to sand and paint to be done with the cycle of stain and repeat
After only one year, the stain is peeling and overall my deck looks filthy. My house is only three years old; I waited until the wood had cured, as directed, and had it professionally cleaned before staining. I get morning sun only where the deck is located. This was disappointing for as much as I paid; after reading the other reviews, I’ll probably wait until next year and have someone come out to strip this and use a different brand of stain to replace.
I have the same problem as many others. My deck has an oily film that attracts dirt so it looks filthy all the time. We spent the whole day today stripping it off. A very expensive lesson. The worst thing, when I called SW regarding my frustration, they acted surprised.
Anyhow I’ve used this product for about 10 years…I have had some pressure treated lumber “go dark” after applying this product, on other pressure treated lumber It has looked great for years.
The stain is intended to be applied with “thin” coats, then another “thin” coat within a few hours, over applying (one thick coat) will cause an incomplete drying and will attract dirt, dust, and pollution to stick to it.
Contractor for many years…built and power washed and stained over a thousand decks…MANY products do not hold up well…never use a solid color…only semi-transparent…always use an “oil based” product…if you can clean it up with water…leave it at the store!
Super unimpressed with this deck stain.
I treated the wood exactly as instructed and it peeled a year after application.
After it peeled, I painted it again and decided not to use the deck at all throughout the winter.
Sure enough, it peeled in a bunch of places again.
This has been an absolute nightmare.
I’d recomment burning down your deck and building a new one before getting involved with this deck stain.
I have two decks, almost same situation. “This stuff sucks” May I ask what if anything have you done to try to correct the problem.
I am a little disappointed in the Superdeck stain. At first I thought my deck was just dirty but to find it getting dirty relatively fast was just crazy. Last season I had to scrub the deck down at least 4 times just to remove the dark grime that was accumulating on the surface. Like the review above, this stain attracts dirt and stuff like crazy giving it a consistently dirty appeal on the top. I’ve attached a photo of my deck, this is after all the snow has melted and you clearly see the difference between the top of the deck and the sides where the sides don’t seem to be affected as much as the top surface. Keep in mind that last season, this is how my deck looked mostly with the dark dirty grime on the top. I highly do not recommend Superdeck, I’ll now have to spend extra expenses to strip, clean and use another stain in hopes it better than this crap I used.
I had a new deck stained 2 years ago with the same stain and have the exact same issue – terrible, however this tells me that any other stain I put on top of this will likely adhere very well and plan on restaining with another solid stain (without stripping) from a different manufacturer. Any thoughts about doing this?
You should strip it for the best results. Super Deck is very easy to strip. Use the Restore A Deck Stripper. Brighten after.
I have exactly the same problem. My deck attracts dirt and won’t let it go. It looks like I never clean the deck. Very disappointing and the fix will be expensive to get this crap off.
I used Superdeck natural transparent stain on rough cedar cladding about 4 years ago. It looked fantastic for the first year but gradually it got darker until now it is a near a black brown. The cedar was dry and the cladding was out of the weather. I am now looking at having to paint or replace the cladding. Very disappointed with this product.
What semi transparent oil stain is best full sun Northern California
Doug fir post and beams
New
Hi Mike,
See this for new wood:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
After the wait and prep, try Armstrong Clark Stains or Restore-A-Deck Stains.
Superdeck solid. Looked great after application but dog made muddy footprints all over that are still there after vigorous scrubbing. Hard to see in pictures I’ve taken so i wont post them. Also has the oily blotches others have mentioned. Not too impressed over all and it’s only been a little over a month.
I used super deck semi solid over super deck, semi transparent which I did last year. Now the deck is all blotchy. Can I use a solid same color to even it out
You may make it worse. Best to remove all and start over.
I applied superdeck to a new deck and steps. The wood was allowed to dry for 9 month and then washed thoroughly with a deck wash. The surface started to peal within less than a year and continues to peal every time I wash the deck. I am now trying to figure out how remove the superdeck so that I can start over.
Use this kit to remove it: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit
Look at one of these stains after:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-semi-transparent-deck-stain-reviews/
Just applied semi transparent oil based, 5 gallons to an off the grid log cabin previously stained with a dark latex. Sanded all loose latex. Went on well. Will post again in the spring and in a couple of years. It seemed to me like it adhered very well to the old late. Solid stain, and the dark color blended in very well where I sanded down to bare wood.
Time will tell. Using Wolmans f&f oil on my cedar lap house. They all will get darker, better than gray.
Elected to not use the Wolmans because I was going over a previous latex application
Had a new deck installed with pressure treated wood. Waited a year as instructed and hired a painting company. They stained it with Super Deck transparent modified oil formula exterior wood stain cedar tone. The deck turned out dark in some spots (was not an issue prior to staining) and grey in others. I complained and withheld payment. They came back TWO years later and sanded and “blew” the deck clean. I asked if they’d be washing the deck to prep it and they said sanding and blowing was the same if not better. The deck looks horrible. It’s a mixture of areas of blackish dirty, random grey spots, unstained look in others, cracking, and sanding marks yet some parts look a beautiful honey color. They tell me that this is the normal wood grain coming through. They brought a Sherwin Williams rep to inspect it (in the rain) and said because it was beading it was doing its work. For your reference images 3, 4 and 5 in the comments section match the look of my deck. I don’t know what to do and feel bullied.
No pics and both the contractor and the rep were incorrect.
SuperDeck is my Go To Stain. I stained my decked in 2020 and only had to touch up 3 years later. It’s the best stain on thr mkt in my opinion. You have to properly prep: powerwash, treat surface for mold, and sand. If you don’t prep properly it will fail. However, this product rewards folks who properly prep. So easy to apply and reapply 3 years later. The cheap deck stains peel and flake. Superdeck does not. My Go to stain.
Sherwin Williams after they bought Super Deck changed the formula and it is not the same anymore. It does not perform nearly the same as the regional formula.
It’s time to re-stain my deck. (spring 2023)
unfortunately, Super Deck has been taken over by SW.
I’m switching to TWP as the next highest rated brand.
it is so unfortunate that excellent products and good companies are bought out by larger companies that want to instantly change the formula.
I loved Supedeck semi transparent oil stain……….but SW has decided without the input from their consumer base to change it to the same as their current product.
What ever happened to quality American products sticking to their guns?
Corporate greed and the belief they have to cheapen the product quality to be competitive in big box stores. Many great stain brands have fallen victim to this. SuperDeck, Cabot, Flood, Sikkens North America, etc.
Thank you for your thoughts……….I tend to agree. It just seems so un-American……….we used to be innovators………now we are just followers. No one ever wins a race by running with the pack. What do you think of TWP
We have been using it for 20+ years. Excellent stain and is better than the old Super Deck.
Thank you! you provide a great service…I wish more people where like you (us)
Have used super deck for over 10 years ..quite happy overall…always oil based…under Nevada sun stain holds up a minimum of 2 years ..Was quite sad when local hardware stores quit carrying it because of the high voc but found the Sherwin Williams stores still make and carry it. Proper prep is the solution.
SW changed the formula so it is not the same as what you used prior.
What is the cost of super deck cedar stain per gallon
Sorry but no idea.
Anyone uses Zar deck stain?
Not fans.
Last year I had to replace the back of my fence, and have used superdeck 1905 heart redwood color of stain for years on my fences. Last year I bought a case of this stain when I replaced my fence. I recently had to replace the side fence of my yard and had a gallon left over, but not enough to stain the whole fence. I go today to purchase some more and you can no longer get it in California, (Figures). So my question is, I stained half of my new fence and need a brand/color to match it the best I can. Any suggestions.
Strip off the Super Deck and then brighten and start over with a new and better brand of stain like Armstrong Clark or TWP 1500 Series.
Heart redwood transparent stain is no where near the same colour as previous. Previous this stain has a dark red. New stain or orange. Doesn’t take on wood grain as previous. Looking for different product to carry on last years staining. Not happy with this new product
Reviews of rodda rural manor stains? Trying to find a stain that will color match body of house.
Sorry but never used this stain.
Was so excited to put that stain ( natural semi transparent super deck ) on the new weathered and sensed cedar wood decking , the application and appearance went really good ,we stained it in the month of August 2020 in the spring of 2021 was shocked to see the decking it looks like old none stained deck , was hoping to get at least 3 years on it!!! So disappointed 😞!!!
Was so excited to put that stain ( natural semi transparent super deck ) on the new weathered and sensed cedar wood decking , the application and appearance went really good ,we stained it in the month of August 2020 in the spring of 2021 was shocked to see the decking it looks like old none stained deck , was hoping to get at least 3 years on it!!! So disappointed 😞!!!
Can I put super Deck oil base stain over the modified oil base stain? The modified oil stain SUCKS ?& looks like crap. Was a wast of time & money. The old one is MUCH better!
No, you will have to remove it first. Strip and or sand.
The new, reformulated SuperDeck Transparent Stain is a huge disappointment. The stuff looks like orange yogurt, and goes on with a plastic sheen. It doesn’t seem to penetrate the wood at all, and doesn’t show off the wood grain like the old formula did. This is “name brand engineering” at its most tawdry.
What is a good deck Brightener to use after cleaning?
Restore A Deck Brand for both cleaning and brightener.
I used Superdeck in Cedar Bark color on pine Siding with great results last year! First I washed and scrubbed all of the clear boards with water, let dry for 24 hrs and then applied the Superdeck with a rolller and after a few minutes, wiped it with a cloth. I applied two coats on the exterior side of the board and one coat on the interior. I am disappointed to hear that the formula has changed as, I have two more sides of my house to do. As it has only been up a year, I have not noticed any darkening issues and hope that doesn’t happen!
Worst stain ever started rubbing off after 6 months garbage even paid a professional to do it.
Can you apply a second coat? My deck does not look best with just one…
It may not dry or cure corectly if too much is applied Try a test board first.
First coat was applied two days ago… I have tried to apply a second coat in one area, but it doesn’t seem to adhere properly. Hence my question if a second coat application is OK to add to make the deck look better – now there is a lot of unevenness in colour.
No, it will not work.
Why every year?
Because it is not a very good brand. Try something better:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-semi-transparent-deck-stain-reviews-2020/
Super deck looks good for 60 days only if used frequently, marks easily, wear through easily, we have to recoat every year and they can’t ever get color close enough to spot in areas, Getting tired of sanding covered porch every year,I’m disabled.
My painter applied Woodscape to my deck almost 2 years ago. I called him after a year, and told him that it faded.
Question: Can you put Super Deck over Woodscape? I have 1500 sq feet of deck space.
I asked one employee at the Sherwin Williams store and he did not know.
I asked at another store he said sand it all down. (Sure 1500 sq feet)
One part of the deck now has been replaced with new boards, but it connects to an existing deck with Woodscape. Dark brown.
Please Help
Thank you
Paul
No, you will have to remove the old coating first.
I bought Super Deck Waterborne Exterior Deck Stain and Stain & Sealer Remover. When reading the instructions I see that Revive Cleaner is required after the remover. Is this cleaner really necessary? No one at the Sherwin Williams store mentioned it and, of course, I do not want any unnecessary work. It is pressure treated wood that I previously covered with Deckscapes.
Thank you.
You must use a brightener after stripping a deck to neutralize the stripper. The SW Revive is a brightener.
So, since I have already scraped and sanded the deck then I should be able to just apply the Deck Stain, right?
No, clean and brighten for final prep to open up the wood pores.
Ok, then it’s back to the paint store. Thanks for your help.
I used super deck solid stain on my deck on june 16th 2020 and it is now july 6th 2020. I have mildew forming on top of my deck and dirt will not come off. I called SW and the guy said he jas been there 3 years and never had problems with it. Well after some research I see he is full of it. They arr gonna make a decision and call me back about what to do. I’m not holding my breath. I will attach pics. Do you have any advice? The pics are after scrubbing it with Dawn and a hard brissle push broom
Try watered down bleach to kill it. 1 part Bleach to 4 parts water. Do a test spot first to see how it works.
Ive also used a commercial grade mold and milder cleaner it was just as effective lol. Sorry didnt note that in the comment
I have a 2000 ft IPE deck that is 3 years old. I live in N. CA so we get a lot of weather changes from 80 to aprox. 50. The deck gives out tiny splinters. I’m going to clean / scrub the deck using the sherwin William’s super deck wash. Can I/ should I also use the super deck exterior water borne clear sealer. Will this help prevent those little splinters?
No, it will not prevent splinters. You would need a solid stain for that.
Thanks. Recommend a stain that is close to the natural IPE color? Or at least a brand that I can use for IPE. I know you need a stain specifically for hard woods. What do you think of penefin? Or is Penefin the same as the sherman William’s water borne clear sealer I mention above. P.S. I know the minimum on this topic.
Thanks
Penofin turns black, do not use it. See here for the top IPE stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/ipe-exotic-hardwood-stain-review/
I did my deck in a oil based semi-transparent oak color. I don’t care for it. Too yellowish. Can I restain it in a different color
You will have to strip it off and then brighten the wood. Then you can apply your new stain.
Will mixing this product(SuperDeck oil based exterior Natural stain) in an “automatic mixer” for a few minutes destroy water repelling quality? Instructions on can say to Stir contents not mix. Was this product ruined by this mixing? After apply to wooden gazebo does NOT repell water.
Mixing does not ruin a product and deck stains are not designed to bead water but shed water.
I have used Superdeck transparent stain in Redwood and Heart redwood, in Nevada for over 23 years, no problems. Re-stain every 2-3 years. Having to replace some boards now from rot.The deck is around 30 years old. I can live with that. At our new house I used PPG timeless advanced transparent stain and sealer which is the same as Olympic Elite Advanced stain and sealer, according to this web site, and like it real well.Cant find either one of those on the web.. Used Sikkens, did not hold up as well as Superdeck. I am making my own deck stain now. Diesel, boiled linseed oil and tung oil and paint as color.The test pieces looks good. I will see how this does. Would go back to Superdeck any time.
Looking forward to any comments.
I have used the Superdeck Sealer (clear) on my two decks for the last 5 years. It works well, is easy to apply and keeps the wood(redwood) dry. I reapply yearly – cleaning, sand, clean again and apply. It takes me about 90 minutes per deck. Based on this experience and cost, when on sale, I will continue to use.
What stain can you use on a raised garden bed?
Any of these: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
I would not recommend unless you what the chemicals from the stain in the food your grow. Use Cedar or redwood for the bed and let it grey.
We have used Superdeck stain cedar 2001 for several years in our large board fence around our farm. Our supplier said they can’t get it anymore & substituted with a product we don’t necessarily like. Where can we order what we want? Thank You
Check with their website directly.
Hi Ann, your review could have been written by us! Have you ever found a suitable replacement? We too used Superdeck 2001 Cedar on several thousand feet of our wooden fence and loved it. We noticed over the years as we added fence or re-stained that the formula had obviously changed and didn’t perform as well. 20 years ago you had to keep stirring because the pigment settled. About 10 years ago (still called 2001) you didn’t really even have to stir any more and just didn’t look as good and didn’t last as long. We went around and bought up all of the 2001 we could find. The new formulas are terrible. The areas we stained 20 years ago look better than those we did just a couple of years ago. We recently tried the so-called “modified oil based” semi-transparent. Didn’t really like the way it looked so we tried mixing a few ounces of it with the same amount of the original transparent (same formula as 2001, but clear) as a test. Found it odd that the oil based floated on the new “modified oli based” stuff. We have given up on Superdeck and are trying to find something like the original Superdeck 2001.
TWP or Armstrong Clark would be options.
This stain peels after 3 months. Do not use
Yes this stuff is horrible ….. it is coming up on the stairs and walk way after 6 months. I want it gone
What about the hold up on a place in the ocean? Salt …
Try Armstrong-Clark in one of their semi solid colors.
I’ve read a few times where you’ve stated that you must strip in order to use another stain over Superdeck. However, I have two very large carved trees that have this deck coating and yes, like everyone else, they turned completely black. It took 6 hrs just to pressure wash them to remove the black dirt/mildew and there are many intricate patterns so stripping the old stain off to start over is out of the question. I have to believe there is another compatible stain I can apply over Superdeck–like another linseed oil based stain. If not, I will add a mildewcide (M-1 Advanced) to the Superdeck this time. Can you recommend a compatible stain to apply now after the wood has been thoroughly sprayed and cleaned with a pressure washer? If not, what are your thoughts of adding a mildewcide to a stain like Superdeck?
Stripping Super Deck is super easy. Just apply the stripper and pressure wash off. It would have saved you hours of pressure washing as well as it makes it very easy. You should still do it as applying something over it will not fix the issues and could result in more problems with adhesion or drying of the new stain.
These tree sculptures are 15′ tall each (there are two) and have all vertical surfaces with lots of detail. All washing/prep requires an extension ladder that has to constantly be raised, lowered and repositioned. Just applying the stripper (like applying the stain) would be a full day job and probably would not get into or come out of all of the crevices. At this point, since I didn’t strip (but did get all the black off), I don’t plan to go back to spend another day to do it. If there’s no compatible stain that’s better than SD, I will just try to add mildewcide this time and hope for the best.
I still would like to hear your thoughts on adding mildewcide to a stain. The packaging says it can be used in stains. Seems like it should prevent black mildew , however, there has been some talk about SD attracting dirt, so I don’t know how much of the black is from mildew and how much is from dirt. I’m sure people have added mildewcide to stain before…what do you know about the results when used with a deck stain? Thanks!
Adding a mildewcide will not fix the issue with SuperDeck turning black. It already has mildewcide in it. The issue is the product darkens no matter what.
Don’t use this product. It is really poor when it comes to mold resistance. I even added mold and mildew inhibitors and it still turned black
Which holds up better Rymar Deck or SuperDeck as a preservative to our deck?
Rymar Deck is touted to hold up for 3 years which is wonderfully amazing …
Please advise
Neither are very good and neither will last 3 years on a deck. Rymar is probably better than SD.
Ask a Question or Post a Review…
Thank you for your response. Which brand then would you suggest, where can you buy it, and about how much $ per gallon?
One of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Check with their websites as to where to buy.
Stained cleaned cedar deck a week ago and it’s still not dry!!! It’s been very humid and hot. What can I do? I’ve used superdeck before & never experienced this. What a mess.
If it does not dry you will probably need to strip it off down to the bare wood and start over. Give it another week to see if it dries.
Thank you. I am going to wait. 🤞
Exactly the same problem. Very tacky after one week. SW told me to wipe it down with paint thinner. I did. No change! Totally disgusted
I have used Superdeck for 4-5 years now and every spring my deck is black with dirt and stains. I have washed, sanded, done everything and same results every spring. I am going to try something different. It looks good when done but doesn’t last
Based on the suggestion of another website I used superdeck on my Cumaru deck last year, even though it wasn’t marketed for tropical hardwoods. I have used a different finish every year (including many of the higher rated ones here) and the Superdeck was by far the best. It was so good I considered letting it go for a second year as there was no graying at all. Application was easy as I felt I didn’t have to worry as much about soaking up any oil.
The color was blotchy but I think that was more of an issue with using their stripper & brightener which had poor instructions and no product knowledge at all from their store or help line – avoid those. AFter a year the color was pretty good and it didn’t collect dirt and darken like the other oils I have used.
This seems to contradict many of the other reviews here but I’m putting it on again after cleaning and power washing.
Forgot to note that this is a review for the semi-transparent stain. This may perform differently than the more opaque versions. Mine really doesn’t have any problems with trapping dirt / mildew and is actually much better than the other Ipe oils I have used in this regard. I just re-applied 2 days ago and application was easy once again. Highly recommended for Ipe or other tropical hardwoods.
I have found that if shoes have dirt on them and it sits for a day it is extremely difficult to clean. This has happened on more that one occasion. I like the look and coverage but think it needs some sort of sealing additive to prevent these dirt marks from penetrating and making it so hard to clean?
It is an issue with Super Deck. It embeds dirt and turns black.
I had a new deck stained 2 years ago with the same stain and have the exact same issue – terrible, however this tells me that any other stain I put on top of this will likely adhere very well and plan on restaining over it with another solid stain (without stripping) from a different manufacturer. Any thoughts about doing this?
You should strip it for the best results. Super Deck is very easy to strip. Use the Restore A Deck Stripper. Brighten after.
In 2016 Sherwin William’s sold us Super deck as replacement for Deckscapes since they no longer had Deckscapes. Super deck was tacky and took forever to dry. Had a rubbery appearance. It is lifting and peeling off. The original Deckscapes underneath is still adhering. Horrible product.
Don’t use this product. Cleaned my deck according to their instructions. Applied stain last summer, looked good.
The stain peeled off from the winter snow. Very dissatisfied with product.
What stain should i use on my deck? I live in Illinois. Made of pressure treated pins. Was stained with wolmans stain. Has algie and mold problem. Full sun/ partly shady. It’s 15 yrs old.
Pressure wash for prep and use the Restore A Deck Solid Stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-solid-color-stain-review/
Deck is stained with Superdeck Solid Color flat dark brown. It is impossible to scrub out dirt footprints.
What is the difference between DB-9603 and SC-9603? My deck is done with DB-9603 is SC-9603 the same color?
Sorry but are not sure on this question.
I used Suoerdeck for years and it was the best on the market. It looks like the formulation was changed after Sherwin Willams bought them and it doesn’t look the same or even hold up. Very disappointed in what they did.
I built a 15×15 patio cover a few years ago with 100% Redwood. I first used Behr water based and the sun destroyed it in no time. I decided to go oil base next time. I got the Superdeck 2300. I had to disassemble the entire patio minus the rafters and sand everything down to bare wood again. You can’t stain over existing stain or it won’t cure for months. The S.D. semi transparent went on great and glossy which I like but it drys to a dull finish. I can live with that but again the sun eventually bakes this stain right out of the wood, I don’t mean right away but i find myself having to do this re-do every 2 to 3 years and it’s A LOT of work sanding every single piece of wood. I see some buildings and cabins in the mountains that have this type of stain and I’m sure they don’t have to strip the whole thing to re-stain like I have to. I also have read forums where it just looks like no matter which brand you use this is just what happens and you have to re stain when it fades. I’m getting to old for this though but it sure looks nice when you’re done.
Add a top clear coat oil base and it will last for many more years. It seals the Superdeck and you’ll never need to stain again. Just add clear coat on top when needed.
You cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain like SuperDeck nor would it make it last longer: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/can-you-apply-a-clear-sealer-or-polyurethane-over-a-deck-stain/
Mick
At about 6200 ft above sea level, south exposure and lots of snow and hail, I have used SuperDeck semi transparent cedar color on my cedar fence more than once. Before the last application that had been on the fence for 6 years it was still beading water and no loss of cedar color, no graying either. I have used other products on previous fences and none hold up like this product. Fence is now going on 21 years old and still looks like a cedar fence-an aged cedar fence- but still cedar colored, no graying at all. Highly recommend this product
Verticals always perform much better. The issues we have seen and many others have seen with this stain have been on horizontal decking.
So for cedar columns and beams this product would be good?? Just spent a ton of money on cedar columns and want to make sure I get the right sealer in them.
It would work better for verticals compared to horizontals. There are better brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
I just used Sherwin Williams Super Deck “Sun Dried Tomato” on my deck floor. After several days of drying I notice as I walk across the deck a dusty footprint shows that is not easily sprayed off. Does this product need to be sealed and if so with what that will prevent shoe prints? Any help would be appreciated as footprints are ruining a nice look.
You cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain. The footprints are happening since the product has not fully cured. It should go away but if it does not, you will need to remove it to fix.
I purchased the super deck and dock paint for my deck. After a month and a half the paint is peeling. When I moved the umbrella stand there is a stain in the shape of the umbrella stand. I also have swing chair that had a stain the shape of the stand. The area in front of the door is completely filthy. This pain definitely does not live up to the hype and it is costly. DO NOT BUY THIS PAINT unless you want to scrub constantly and do retouched.
Very disappointed my deck looks filthy and now I need to take it off and start over. Stain did not penetrate wood. Now it is black with filth and mold that is getting worse by the day. Do not use this product.
Your wood wasn’t ready to stain yet
I have a 36 year old home sided with select grade redwood siding. Early on I used a couple different products that, until the formula was changed, work very well. However, since about 2000, I have used Superdeck. Mind you about every 3-4 years I have the entire house stripped, pressure washed and brightened prior to applying a single coat of superdeck Natural transparent oil based stain/sealer. Not an inexpensive venture. The finished product has always turned out beautiful. Prep is the key as well as being sure not to over apply. If one overapplies you will end up with a sticky mess. I have always applied only a single coat. But again, it is on a vertical surface with no foot traffic to wear the finish. The last time I did this was 4 years go and I’m about to redo again next month. Reading these reviews I’m concerned that since I last performed this, Sherwin Williams may have changed the formula since acquiring the product. Can anyone tell me how long ago did that occurred???
About 4 years ago. I would test it to be certain it is the same.
Mark, I started using the product the summer of 2016 and had a professional paint my home and restain my deck. The peeling started less than 6 months after several coats were applied both times!
This is absolutely the worst and most expensive product I have ever used, and I have submitted to be a part of the class action lawsuit… Steer clear.
Regards,
Seth
Was applied to a new, seasoned pine deck. After six months it started wearing off. After 9 months it would flake away when hit with the hose — not a pressure washer — just a hose. Considering the price, this stuff is garbage. I can’t say anything about a 2-year mark, cause it’s not never gonna make it.
What works for sure when putting latex over a oil based material that doesn’t dry? Have been told to pressure wash it and then cover with a latex product. Another said to pressure wash , then cover with a primer, then treat with a latex product .
Also what about pressure washing the oil based material and dirt ;since the other never dried; and, then recoating with another oil based material ? The applied material has finally dried (Super Deck ) after several years ;but since it was sticky so long I’ve got to get the dirt off.
Thank you ,
Strip or sand off fully is really the best way. Once removed, you can use any coating you like.
First application on our dock was uneven (2016), and colour faded. Not much praying though. Second application was this summer, and the dock is now quite slippery, even with shoes on. Not sure what to do with that problem, other than sand it off or wait till it fades again. Won’t be using this product again.
1 have some 3 oil stain left and it froze will it still be good
Probably not.
Question- Why does this stuff fail to perform ? . New deck completed 9-2014. The stuff just this year finally stopped being sticky. In other words it was misformulated and never dried. Was told by builder ” it was good stuff”; not so; will never use again SINCE IT DOESN’T FUNCTION AS INTENDED @ since deck was so sticky so long it collected dirt particles out of air. My previous deck lasted 29 years without this sealer and without any dirt etc. Deck now practically black in areas that were super decked. Please don’t reply by saying more things that I need to do. TELL ME WHAT YOUR COMPANY IS GOING TO DO SINCE YOUR COMPANY CAUSED THIS PROBLEM NOT ME & I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORK FOR YOU TO MAKE YOUR PRODUCT WORK FOR ME. ?
THIS MATERIAL WAS THE SEMI-TRANSPARENT VARIETY. Question # 2 . WHAT MATERIAL CAN I USE THATS SUITABLE FOR A RECOAT THAT WILL BE COMPATABLE WITH YOUR SUPER DECK DIRT THAT I MUST NOW PRESSURE WASH OFF ?
Thank you for your deck concerns .
We are not the manufacturer of Super Deck Ron, but a review and help site. Best to ask them directly as to why their stain has issues.
As for telling you how to fix it and to choose a better brand of stain, we can if you want?
After sending review I noticed that upon sending your web site came up.(After I went to theirs initially).
Yes , help by all means; I’m looking to discover suitable alternative without stripping it all. The material
was applied to the uprights and lower support 2 x 10’s . Its a trex deck – all but supports have the poor performing product.
Thanks for your timely response.
At has to be stripped. No way around this. The good news is the Super Deck is easily removable with the Restore A Deck Stripper/Brightener Kit and pressure washing.
I may have over-applied (via a roller) Superdeck on a 1 year old, cedar deck. I Superdecked it last year when the deck was new with good results. Now, 36 hours after application, its still shiny, tacky and slick. I dont dare walk on it at this point. And I am not going to strip it. If it doesn’t dry real damn soon, is my only real alternative hands-and-knees, thinner and a rag and eventual grit from the sky to knock down the slick? If so, I can handle that but I’m concerned about the uniformity of my “knock-down” using the thinner. Any input appreciated. Thank you.
You can try wiping it down but it may not work and that means you will have to strip. See this article for some tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/why-is-the-deck-stain-still-sticky/
Well, I did just spend the last couple of hours on hands, knees with thinner and a bunch of rags. My deck is 16’ x 14’. I hit very small sections, 2’ x 3’ dividing that area into sub-areas. I was wiping an area VERY gently with a small clean thinner rag. Maybe 3-4 gentle wipes of an area was sufficient to fully knock-down the ”shiny.” That was encouraging. Then I would immediately/gently wipe down the area with warm soapy water to flush the thinner so it wouldn’t keep working. I’m hoping that now the product left behind on the deck has a better chance of curing as designed. It looks a helluva lot better, not perfect, but I’m ok with that. Maybe my experience as described will help someone else. And thank you for your site efforts, your advice and the article.
Glad it looks better! As it fully cures, the overall appearance should even out as well.
What does one do if superdeck DuckBack still sticky after 4days from application
Leave it be. Hopefully, it will dry within a week. If it does not, you may need to strip and start over.
What product do you recommend after removing existing stain. Thinking of corn cob blasting, since sanding would be very difficult since the logs are not flat. They are D shaped logs. We live in Texas near Amarillo weather hot and dry. Do you have a phone number for additional questions?
Use the TWP 1500 Series or Armstrong Clark wood stains.
We have used duck back premium exterior wood finish, oil base on our log home on the logs. It is peeling after one year, we sanded and painted the bad areas again. They peeled again. We don’t know what to do. We live in dry weather the sun is intense and we would like to know if we have to remove the existing super deck product or can we go over it with another product. Because of the dry weather we have not had any mold, but color changes. We are concerned with power washing (stripper) as the logs may leak into the interior and some of the logs are cracked and filled with filler so will the stripper take the filler out? We have considered a solid stain, for coverage and possibly more UV protection? Would this work? In put would be helpful.
You have to remove it. You will not leak through the logs and filler should be okay. Solid stains will peel as well.
11 months. It started peeling within a month. I called my store in bay city Michigan. I was asked a lot of questions. I was talked down to and treated like I didn’t know what i was talking about. I take care of my entire house on my own. Trim floors paint finish and strip and finish antique and rustic furniture. I spent $119 on 2 gallons. I was told to bring in pics the brush I used before and after pictures. I don’t even want to go in the same store to talk to anyone. I have never been questioned and treated like that ever. I was going to let it go but I can’t. I am the one that has to power wash and sand it again.
Have you used or Reviewed
SuperDeck , Solid color stain, 9603 Deep Base. Self Priming Oil/Latex Hydride. Voc/Cov: <250g/L ?????
It seams ok to me but I'd sure like a professional review 🙂
No, we have not used or reviewed the SD solid stains.
I’m using it to protect the joists (Sooke, BC) so it will be covered. it should be fine but after reading the review of their semi-transparent not sure I want to use it out in the open. And, because you can sell the TWP 100 in the US but not in Canada, I bet there are ingredients you can have that we can’t. So, I’m not sure if you can even get this product there. If you can a review would sure be welcome. thank you
On the recommendation of a sales rep, we used the Super Deck oil base semi-transparent product on our dining room wood floors which were worn. We did the whole sanding & cleaning before applying the product but it’s taken 2-3 days for each thin layer to dry. Once it completely dries, Do we still need to use polyurethane clear coat over it or is it fine without it?
You cannot apply a sealer or a poly over top of a deck stain. When the Super deck turns black and dirty in a year (it almost always does), strip it off and go with a better brand like the TWP Wood stains.
Would it be possible to sand it off? Or is striping the only solution? Unfortunately, we’re novices at this
Stripping is substantially easier to remove with the Super Deck. It will come off with no issues.
This is the worst. After a year the deck looks terrible. Sales rep told me it wouldn’t be affected by the sun and that’s a complete lie.
can i use this on concrete?
No.
Applied for rebate and never heard another word since. At $5.00 a gallon i should been reimburst $30.00 Looks like a scam to me!!!!
I bought 4 gallons of the SW SuperDeck Exterior Oil-Based Transparent Stain,cedar tone. I tested it in a very small location and it looks good however, after reading most of the reviews I think I have changed my mind! I do not want to deal with the mold/mildew issue. Can anyone recommend a good translucent/semi translucent stain for a 5 year old yellow wood pressure treated deck? I have properly prepared my deck by stripping, cleaning, wood brighten, and sanded. Any information would be extremely helpful! Link below of me sanding the deck:
https://youtu.be/hncRt8LxEvM
Try TWP stains.
We had our large wrap around deck done by a contractor and used this product on his recommendation. Product looked so nice & held up after the first year that I personally did two more large projects myself with it. Easy to use and holds up well. The one deck (the large, wrap around front deck) I use a rubber paddle snow blower on during the winter & it has held up great!
I have used SuperDeck for 20+ years and have loved the results. We used this product on the deck of our cabin in the mountains where 13 feet of snow is usual, and the deck looked good after the snow melt. Our neighbors used other products on their decks resulting in the boards rotting and then, ultimately, replacing the deck.
Very disappointed in the product. It needed touching up after the first year at my seasonal camp . So it was initially put on in early July . We left it for a week before walking on it or putting furniture on it . Looked great then came the next summer .Areas needed to be touched up already after two months of little wear and tear the year before . Third year of my a long t more painting to be done . For the money I’m extremely disappointed in the product . I would not recommend it to anyone .
Terrible product!!
Also read some comments about dry time, when i did mine it was low humidity. It dried overnight, I walked on it the next day. I would do a deck in april or late September if you’re on the east coast. If you have the option. Humidity always effects oil products. Oil primer as well! The deep penetrating kind anyway.
I had a chance to use it last year on my deck. And price wasn’t really a concern for me. What I wanted was something that penetrated the wood, i feel oil is still the best application on a semi transparent finish. All stain needs to be stripped if your looking for a A1 job, so knowing that i feel most comfortable with an oil. I sanded the newly installed deck prior to painting. And ive got to say the open time lets you get the deck looking perfect with a china bristle brush. As far as the darkening people are referring too yes that will happen. But id rather that then waterbase breakdown and wear and tear.
Anyone know how to remove this stuff, just awful…flake and bubbled up. I keep hearing about so many problems with this product, I think I saw a couple lawsuits in the news, not sure if it’s for this or the previous stuff they sold DeckScapes…
Thx.
Are you trying to remove the SW Super Deck Oil Based or Water Based Stain? Makes a difference as to what will work.
It’s the SuperDeck Premium Oil-Based Semi-Transparent Stain, sorry about that…
That should be easy to remove with a deck stain stripper and pressure washing. Try this: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-injectable-deck-stain-stripper-review/
Just a heads up the deck stripper also removes paint . So if you have spindles ,posts or other trim. Use plastic to cover or you will have a headache. I know , i screwed up some paint last time I stripped a deck. Had to paint everything for nothing.
I used this (superdeck transparent stain)on my deck. I was wondering if this seals the deck too for rain and snow. Do I have to use a prodect over it?
Contractor said this is the best stuff, now I wonder is my deck is sealed??
You cannot add a sealer over a deck stain. No need to.
How do Flood Transparent Deck Stain for wood (not pressure treated) compare with Superdeck products?
Both are decent stain but we like the Flood better. Less chance of turning dark or black.
I strongly prefer Flood. Superdeck is crap (frankly speaking). Superdeck did not penetrate the wood (on two different types of wood) but sits on top, smears, and remains wet a month later!!! I will use Flood next year to stain over it. I can only pray the Superdeck will not make that difficult to do.
Ran out of the original Superdeck and found this at Sherwin Williams. I finished the remainder of my deck with the SW product and after 2 weeks it is still slick and tacky and the color (natural) was a lot darker than the original. Now I am trying to remove it. I assume the applications directions have changed or something because this stuff isn’t drying like the original product did. I haven’t bothered to read them. I assumed it went on the same as the original. It does not. It is horrible.
Where’s the original formula to be found?
I wish I had known that the formula had changed before my purchase.
this stuff is awful. The worst. Every scratch and mud mark mars deck permanently. I had it applied to my brand new deck-what a mistake!
I personally lover Superdeck Semi-transparent stain. My deck is cedar and is undercover. The screws are hidden and it looks like beautiful wood floors. The area around the outside that gets rain, sun and snow and a few cupped boards are the areas that have some graying and mildew. Every 2 years I lightly sand those bad areas and use a cleaner. I only refinish those boards as the ones inside look perfect and do not take stain without stripping first. The stain doesn’t penetrate unless you strip. I only use oil base stains.
What other product can I put over my peeling deck that I painted with your new Super Deck two years ago.
Must say that after seeing these reviews I wish I would have had them two years ago when I put superdeck on my deck after being very happy with Deckscape for over 20 years.
Now two years later I have a deck that looks absolutely terrible. Complained to SW and they came to look at the peeling. So just did a power washing last week and now there is a whole pile of paint peelings to clean up and the pressure washer did not get all the mildew off.
Oh how i regret not taking back this new product the ninute I put on the first brush stroke and #1 found it did not match the old cedar Deckscape and it looked like paint and covered all the grain in the wood.
When I used Deckscape every two years for over 20 years I had what looked like a beautiful piece of stained wood furniture with the grain showing.. The water would bead when it rained. Part of the deck has an awning and I guess that must be what you need to keep this product from peeling because that is the only part of the deck floor that is still not peeling.
I complained and they did give me my money back for the unopened can and pressure washed the deck. But now it is up to me to try to sand it and find a product that will work over the top of this bad product. I was told that SW bought out the company that makes this Super Deck and it was in California. I told him that well it may work in Calif. but not in Ohio.
So sorry to hear about all the problems this has caused for others. At least my dried and did not turn black. One would think that a company like Sherwin williams would have taken the time to test this product before putting their name on it. BRING BACK DECKSCAPE OR TELL ME WHERE TO FIND A SIMILAR PRODUT. THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE SW REP WHEN I AKSED WAS FLOOD OR CABBOT
After the stain dries and it rains,is the water supposed to bead up on the wood?
Or penetrate?
Mine does not bead up.
No bead but shed water.
We applied the water based redwood deck stain to our deck last year (2016). We used premium cedar wood building the entire back yard. We finished brushing the stain on by the end of August and it was beautiful. By April (2017) 8 months later, after the winter, the deck stain peeled and was unsightly. The manager at Sherwin Williams recommended this stain to us and he said it would last 3-5 years. We spent a long time building this cedar deck and then planking with top grade cedar to have it look this way…see picture. We would never recommend this product.
We have used super deck transparent 1907 oil based on our cedar siding with great results. Also just applied 1906 oil based transparent to oak siding and its beautiful. Goes on easy lets wood grain show I would compare it to minwax for ease of use. Last about 5 years in our climate with abusive winter wind.
Just recently applied stain to our 2 year old deck after pressure washing it. The stain went on very smoothly, love the color and the low odor.. As for the 2 year mark I will let you know. As for now I would highly recommend this product….
I applied superdeck stain (valley) on my deck! Before I did that I pressured wash all the old off! And left it sit for two weeks and it was. Ice and dry. I put one quote on and it sucked right into the boards. So we put another quote on two days later. Looks like a million bucks. But it is still tacky after 96 hours drying. What’s the problem what should I do?
You over applied. It may not cure correctly now. Let it sit and see if it dries in a week or two. If it does not, you will need to remove all and start over.
Had a Pro painter apply SuperDeck about 3 years ago on a new deck. We used treated 2x6s that I let set 1year before treating. I’ve used this man many times and always got quality work. He power washed, then sanded, and applied the stain using brush. Every thing went great.
3 years pass need re stained. Deck looked really bad. Called same man used same procedure, same product. He stopped after finishing just one part of deck, 200 sq ft. It looked so bad he had to stop. He was shocked. After a day some spots were shiny, some looked completely dry, some spots were sticky. After time on phone with SW local store where he has been buying paint for over 20 years, out comes SW field rep. Hour after talking, conclusion was SW doesn’t know.
Painter stripped deck, resanded, stained again, same results. 3 days have passed. He’s made more trips to SW, no help. He now resands remaining deck which is over 800 sqft. He stains again using different method SW told him to do. Same splotchy mess. He is one PPP person. I now have over 1100 sqft of a total ugly, horrible deck. Painter kept saying after SW bought that company that made that stain, they tinkered with it, just as mentioned above. He was told they didn’t change anything.
Hate to bother everyone with such a long story, but wanted to tell somebody to see if there’s anything I can do. Think SW should be held liable and responsible for fixing deck? Any ideas would really be appreciated
No mean to offend, I a painter and for about 25 yrs i have worked on this trade and I can say a know I little. If I was the original painters who performed the job for th first time I would’ve asked you what did you buy treated wood if you had the intention to treat it after all.
Product compatibility may have played a roll on this. You would be happier had you gone to the lumber yard you purchased the wood and asked them about the product the manufacturer used to treat the wood you bought. You should ídem to use the same product or to compare products to find what product wouldn’t work best. In order to re start a stained surface with a different product we need to use a real sanding machine ( like the one used to refinish your hardwood floor) otherwise you will be just spending money.
Thanks
Having similar story on older deck where I used to use their Deckscape and love it. This new super Deck belongs in the trash and I am sorry to see Sherwin williams put their name on it. Must be costing their customers users a lot of expense and heartache just like the problem I have now. I can’t afford to have it sanded and it looks like ^&(&) right now.
After the painter raised xxxxx with the Sherman Williams store where he buys all his materials they sent out a field rep to our deck and had a big talk after which the painter finished the rest of the deck and it also looked horrible. I called the store and they sent out the field rep to talk to me. They sent a sample of the stain to the lab to see if it was bad. 3 weeks later the painter called and SW will furnish him the product and $1700 to redo the deck.😀😀😀 problem is what do I put back on, don’t want same stuff. Anyway SW did help so we shall see. Good luck on your deck.
We have used Deckscapes for years, with no issues. However, last year and now 2 days ago, after being assured the product had no issues, we decided to give it another try. Huge mistake!!!!!! Last year, we used The old Deckscapes and then finished with Duckback. The old stain worked beautifully but anywhere the Duckback was placed turned to black mold like tar. It would rub off on your clothing and shoes. We were told by the store manager to clean it with a pressure washer and bleach/water solution. We did that and It stipped the stain off. Literally, the contractor trimmed in the old stain and it was fine and anywhere the new stain was put, it turned black with mold after waiting weeks and weeks before we could use the deck because it was sticky and wouldn’t dry. The deck was prepared properly, so don’t buy that line either. We did all the deck we could – we have a huge multi level deck, with the little remaining old stain we had. Contractor said it worked beautifully and no issues. The minute he opened the Duckback to finish the final flat service, he said it was awful to apply and it was splotchy. Now, 2 days later, the old stain we put on 2 days ago is dried and great. The Duckback is a sticky mess. And we have to wait now weeks again, for it to dry anticipating we are back to stripping again this year. We would highly recommend you NOT use this terrible product. PLEASE let our 2 bad experiences save you from making the same mistake!!!!!!!! DONT buy into the hype of what a great product this is. Sherwin Williams has lost us now and we were long term customers. They will use every excuse in the book as to why it went wrong. If that’s the case, then why does the old stain work beautifully on the same surface.
My experience with Superdeck has been terrible. It has been several weeks since application and some areas still haven’t dried.
I contacted Sherwin Williams and was contacted by a rep. He blamed everything from the painter to the pressure washing to the wood itself.
One rep was supposed to come to my house to see what the issues might be, but never showed up.
Wish I had read the reviews before I used this terrible product!!!!
I oil stained my deck about 14 days ago and still tacky did yours deck ever completely dry?
Did our deck with SuperDeck & cleaned w/ SuperDeck Cleaner. After 2 months it was peeling/ chipping of the deck. Very Unsatisfed with this product. Would never use again or recommend to anyone
Can SuperDeck oil based formula be used on cedar siding? A contractor has started using this on the siding, there seems to be a gloss in many areas.
It can but it is not supposed to be shiny. Could be due to improper prep or over applying.
How is it for cedar siding? I’m sanding sikkens off our siding down to bare wood. I want to use something clear …. was entertaining using super deck clear oil on the siding…. are there better options? I never want to sand the siding again … biannual maintenance is fine … any recommendation would be appreciated!
Use one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Thank you… what are you thoughts on painting cedar solid with acrylic paint?
It will likely peel.
We have a mountain home in Como Colo 9,000 + elevation were the sun is highly intense we installed Superdeck 7300 Autum Brown to the home when it was built 8 years ago, the home is restained approximately every 3 years it holds up well, always could be better, the knots in the pine shiplap siding fade out pretty fast so i agree a 7 rating.
90% of failures on decks are due to lack of prep period, you cannot expect a stain to look good much less last if you do not put the work in to prep your deck. Most people go straight to the pressure washer and clean their deck and think it is prepped… wrong! I work in the industry and I cannot tell you guys how many deck complaints I have walked up on where the contractor or homeowner has told me “well I prepped the deck, I pressure washed it clean” pressure washing is absolutely terrible for wood, it forces water into the wood that in most cases takes 3 to 4 days of full sun to remove. This is what causes most of tbe complaints I see. When water is trapped in the wood and you stain over, the water has to go somewhere so it either settles in between the coating and the wood causing mildew or mold growth, or it comes all of the way through causing the stain to peel. Makes sense right? Try soaking a peice of wood then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, sit it on your deck in the sun and see what happens… same concept when coating the wood with a stain. Of course there will be product failures hence the 10% left off at the beginning of tbis post, but they are few and far between. Now that my rant is over the correct procedure for staining a deck goes like tbis. 1. Determine the condition of your deck, new or old it is highly recommended that you use a wood brightener such as Superdeck Revive. For old decks it will revive the PH of the wood as well as clean it. For a new deck it will remove the mill glaze that is caused by saw blades when cutting the wood (may require a little scrubbing) best part about it is you literally put it on scrub if needed, let it sit for 10 min then hose it off. Thats it! Now your deck is prepped, no pressure washing needed. 2. After completing step one let your deck dry out for atleast 1 day. 3. Check deck to make sure it is ready to receive stain, drop some water in a few random places and make sure it soaks in fairly quickly, if it does not repeat step 1 4. Apply stain! Brush works best but if you want to use a roller use a 4 inch. Coat one board at a time evenly to ensure a uniform finish. 5. Sit back and admire your beautiful deck. Its that simple guys, Superdeck is a phenomenal product. Sherwin williams spent billions to aquire a few companies specifically for the right to sell this product exclusively… would it make sense for tbe #1 paint company in the world who has been in business for over 150 years to go to all that trouble to put out an inferior product? I dont… Read more »
Well thank you PaintguyD!
I was just about to go get s pressure washer yo “prep” the deck!!!
We purchase a home 2 years ago and I think the owners built a new deck and stained right away. The stain did not soak in and it is peeling. Can you give me tips on how to handle this situation? Also mold on ends and between boards that didn’t get coated with any stain!
i also heard sherwin williams bought out superdeck and changed to formula? now that could have an effect,but i am willing to try it on my 1 year old pressure treated deck
We are a professional deck restoration and power washing company and what Paintguy says is partially true. However if you don’t know how to pressure wash, then stay away from it. First off it’s not pressure washing, it’s soft washing. You provide this by using a pressure washer and changing the tips to provide much less pressure but still enough to handle to handle the cleaning process. Stay away from bleach when cleaning your deck and use a sodium percarbonate cleaner like restore-a-deck. After the cleaning process use a brightener as paintguy suggested. Always use a brightener to neutrilize the cleaning process. After 48 to 72 hours of solid drying time apply your stain. If youre brushing, ensure you are brushing into a wet edge. Never brush from a wet edge or you will leave brush marks and uneveness. Stain each board or 3 at a time from start to finish. Don’t stop or you will leave fan or brush marks again because it will dry too quickly. We recommend using an oil stain over water stains because the oil will absorb and wear naturally. Just a simple clean and maintenance coat every year to 18 months will make your decknnot only look amazing but will last for many many years to come. Water stains are only used for cosmetic reasons depending on your surroundings and weather conditions but do nothing to keep your wood looking healthy.
Pictures are reversed!
Found out our old stain, deckscape, was replaced by super deck. This new stain does not even come close to repelling water. Now I will have to completely redo my deck that I just refinished. Worst stain product I’ve used in years.
First picture is super deck. Second picture is deckscape. Pictures tell it all.
I use superdeck on a treated pine deck in central nh. I let them dry 2 seasons then apply the 1910 transparent natural. It looks beautiful even after 3 years. You do have to reapply for the high traffic areas. I also salt in the winter so that probably helps bleach it out. Just did 700 square feet using 9 gallons. It was 65 degrees in direct sun and I used a combination of Wagner power sprayer for the spindles and rolled out the deck flat surfaces. The stuff soaks right in. One misconception I read is that it doesn’t “dry” smooth. Oil based stains don’t dry they soak in. I apply until I see the wood not accepting anymore then wipe off. You should have a nice satin finish with no sheen. Then you know you have soaked it in. I use simple green and bleach to power wash then let dry for 3 to 5 days before staining. Oil based stains are better in my opinion compared to acrylic water based stains which create a “build” on surfaces instead of soaking in. Good luck and oh be sure to let the stuff warm in the sun so it this out a little before application.
Thanks for the reviews because I was about to buy 10 gallons and It’s for my high beam or tongue and groove ceilings that I wanted to keep the wood look. On Monday, was last day of 30% off so I ordered it to get sale price. Shelf price over $81.
.kinda get me thinking about the EMERALD exterior paint, still 30% off for 3 more days…..is EMERALD a very good paint? Gary and Brandy 2 Rokuta of Kaneohe Hi
You should not use paint on exterior wood and decks. Go for the semi-transparent penetrating stains.