This post was updated on May 1, 2024
SuperDeck Stain Review for 2024
We would love to hear from you if you have used the SuperDeck Stain from Sherwin Willaims on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Consumer reviews below in the comment section have shown lower than average results when using the SuperDeck Stain.
If you have any pictures of your experience with SuperDeck Stain, you can add them in the comment area with a detailed description.
If you have used the SuperDeck deck stains, please post a review and any pictures in our comment area below. A short description of your experience would help.
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 that 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
– We were not impressed with the Superdeck stain. Most disappointed with the application and overall appearance after 2 years. Wood stains should not turn a dark black color after 2 years of exposure. This is very unsightly and makes reapplication difficult.
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.
i recently recoated a clients Ipe hardwood deck with the Superdeck Hardwood 2501 Natural. I had initially coated the deck a year ago and the owners water to spruce up the deck prior to prime deck season. We applied the Superdeck wood brightner with a soft bristle brush, did a little scrubbing with a medium bristle brush then rinsed the deck down. We went back on day two to a beautiful dry deck did a little touch sanding with a soft sanding sponge then recoated with the same product Superdeck 2501 Natural. The deck looked brand new the owners were amazed at the ease of the project. No muss no fuss no extensive prep was needed. I HIGHLY reccomend the whole product line. Not only is the product the most natural looking of anything on the market but the reapplication is a breeze. Hardwoods can be difficult to treat and to have the first application last 12 months was astounding the deck sits 1 mile from the Pacific Ocean and gets a moderate amount of full sun mostly from 10 am until sunset. You can see the project on Facebook at Jim The Deck Guy.
I hate Deck Over!!! It turned out ugly, was horribly hot, hot,hot on the feet and its not even summer yet. Worst product I've ever used!!!
I will never use Duckback again!
We live an area of high fire risk. Is there anything in Superdeck stains that make the stained item more or less flammable?
No there is not.
The color palet is incredibly dull and the products themselves have half the weathering life of cabots or sikkens…this product doesn't perform nearly as well as its deckscapes counterpart and is being used as a more lucrative chemical formula by sherwin Williams specifically because it doesn't last as long so they can sell more product over the long haul.
I have been using Super Deck for over 15 years. When exposed to the power of the Suns Rays and the harshness of the environment of Northern Ontario – Super Deck can't be beat! I've tried others and bye far the most efficient and cost effective stain
Homeowner DIYer. Love Superdeck. Have used Superdeck for about 15 years on porch and stairs of a Chicago-area bungalow. Great beading action for at least a year. Love the "positive dry" during application. No darkening overall (Heart Redwood on pressure treated lumber) after 2 years . Does lighten a bit from wear on stairs and heavy traffic areas after 2 years. Slight darkening and algae or mold (?) on north facing side. No problems with reapplications (after using just a mild soap and light pressure washing) every 2 or 3 years, once let it go 4 years with no problems. Minor caveat: Any thick application areas tend to be sticky for a day or two – I just wipe with mineral spirits and lightly buff to blend those areas in with rest of porch.
Excellent product Exceeded all my expectations!
I live in Oregon with constant rain and the stain, 1903 series, has held up well for 4 years.
Don't know how you got superdeck to cover in one coat first of all. Secondly, I have never seen a product come close to superdeck as far as durability goes. Also, this is not a stain, as stated above. I applied 2 coats overall and made sure to fill in all cracks and crevices. The finish was tremendous and I have highly recommended this product to nearly all my customers ever since. The secret to a good paint or stain job is how thorough you are on all processes of the work. My personal rating would be a 8.5 when compared to anything else out there.
Jason, thanks for your review but yes this is a stain and no this Super Deck product does not fill in cracks and crevices. I think you are comparing this to a different version of Super Deck. This review is for their semi-transparent version.
i am a professional contractor and specialize in resurfacing. Sherwin williams told me this is a new product to them and is highly rated.
After using it on a very high end home I can only say that it is a poor product and will never ever use it again. I painted a deck that was originally white, white again and it had a terrible translucent appearance. after applying a second coat it was still showing through. I have had to put on a third coat.
This product is not worth the trouble and is over rated by sherwin williams staff
SW bought Super Deck a couple of years ago.
I live in Southern California in the mountains where we can get a lot of snow and rain depending on the year. I have used #2300 Superdeck for for many years and I love the stuff. I have never prepped or cleaned any of my decks prior to using it and I have never had mold. I have applied it to new and old Doug fir and redwood and it holds up great. I apply it about once a year right on over the old stuff, yes it does stay tacky for awhile, but I expect that from the oils. I have tried and used all the others, but I have found that this is the best for me.
Hi everybody . 12 weeks ago I finished my pressure treated deck . I'm not sure what to use to stain it .I'm thinking between sikkens cetol srd, twp or super deck . I live in Connecticut . 12 weeks is enough for drying?( from end of July ) . Any sugestions ??. I hear that sikkens change formula and is not good any more.Thanks
Please read this article about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Sikkens did change their formula.
Don't use sikkens it sucks to remove after fading. You want it to be easy to put on and easy to strip off for new application I recommend TWP products
I am a coatings retailer in eastern Ontario,Canada and have been selling Superdeck products for many years with great success and have had literally no problems with the product's performance when applied correctly.I have noticed in the past couple of years that there has been a marked increase in people's comments regarding mildew growth in a very short period of time after application.I have a client with a beautiful red cedar deck that mildewed 3 weeks after proper application,but only on the horizontal surfaces.Vertical was unscathed.I suspected poor ventilation may have been the culprit as the deck is 24" off the ground with large steps encasing a vast chunk of the deck and very tight privacy lattice closing off the rest.Upon taking up one of the floorboards(expecting to find mould/mildew on the underside)I saw that the wood was pristine.The mildew was only present on stained areas(including the edges of the boards and drips to the underside).Is it likely that the product being reformulated to meet VOC regulations in Canada has resulted in a loss of performance?The deck faces due south with no trees giving it full sun.I referred my client to the Superdeck customer service line as I was at a loss as to the cause ,and he was told the discolouration was tannin bleed(even after emailing multiple photos).What a load!It's green/black on the horizontal surfaces and slightly fuzzy.30 years in coatings and I have never seen black/green fuzzy tannins.Any insights as to the real cause?Is the mildewcide content insufficient for the linseed oil content?Why do the vertical portions remain intact?Any input would be greatly appreciated.
SuperDeck as far as we know has not changed their formula and has always been 250 VOC compliant since it is made in Cali. It has recently been bought by Sherwin Williams in the last year or two so maybe it has changed? It could be a cause of your local weather being wetter then normal the last few years? Linseed will always feed mold and while mildewcides will slow it down, it will not always stop it 100%. SuperDeck in our opinion takes a while to fully cure and can remain tacky for weeks. It also has a tendency to darken in color on the floors and we stopped using it many years ago. It could be that trees or bushes were pollinating at the time of staining. When this happens and the stain is not fully cured, the pollen will stick to the surface. This will feed mold growth once it rains.
In all likelihood it was not mildew but either tannin or iron staining.
I installed my cedar deck over 14 years ago. It is an entry deck and gets the sun, rain and snow. My wife sanded the existing glaze off and is just finishing up the stain job.. A beautiful deck with no problems, Superdeck is a super product I have used on my rear and front decks over the years. There is nothing I would replace this product with. If I could send you today's picture, I would…I live in Southeast Idaho where our weather can be nasty….
My deck is 20 years old now….For the first 6 or so years, I put stain on in early Spring & Fall….I am now 76 years old, so do it once a year….deck is made of Sunwood and that is what the dealer said to use…I live in SW Wa. near the beach…I also use to brush it on by hand and then got smarter and older and now use a long handled roller, but brush by hand near the house….wood 'still' looks good, and the color holds up except for the area exposed to the most sun and rain…..and 'that' isn't too bad. I notice other friends decks, and I am sure Super Deck outdoes what they use…I can SEE it!
We have used Super Duck for several years but since it was applied last year the railing has become very rough appearing almost dried out. The deck is very spotty some areas being dark other lighter. This gets very little traffic. Any ideas what to do with the railing?
Strip off the Super Deck from the entire deck with the Restore A Deck stripper and use the brightener after. Sand the top of the railings once removed to smooth it down.
Very pleased with my recent Superdeck application (Transparent; 1910 Natural). Heavily mildewed, very dirty, and weathered deck (pressure treated wood, with lots of direct sun, some shade (Hemlock trees) and high snow load (New Hampshire)) was pressure washed and cleaned. Stain went on easily and absorbed evenly (single coat). Dried well. Looks great , with nice color, and water beads uniformly. Simply followed the directions and adhered to straightforward application guidelines.
I recently paid a professional painter $1460 to stain my deck. He says he used your products. When they first finished, I told them I was very disappointed, it looked boring and crude and felt like walking on broken glass. They did come back and sand down some of the roughness but it still looks rough, bumpy, shaded and feels sticky on bare feet. I can't see wood grain like I expected and the cracks and nail holes are accentuated. He tells me I'm too picky and will never be satisfied. Am I wrong? What would I have to do to undo this and start over?
Same problem. How did you correct the problem. Thanks in advance for your suggestion,
Great site and dialogue! What would you recommend for a new western red cedar deck in the Vancouver, BC area? Constriction about to begin during our dry summer period then of course we get into a mild wet fall and winter in October and through until March/April. I need a product that I can buy here in Canada and any suggestions about application techniques/preparation.
Thanks.
What brands can you find locally?
General paint, Olympic, Benjamin Moore, Superdeck (which has poor reviews on this blog for our kind of climate), Behr, ICI/Glidden, Sikkens – a host of water-based products which i don't trust, but not so many oil-based. Probably more if i dug around, but these are the most common brands from the main stores and lumber yards.
Of those use the Olympic in a semi-transparent oil based formula.
Thanks!
We used Duckback Superdeck 1902 Red Cedar in Vancouver and have really liked it, has performed well except for in the most exposed spots, which faded after the first year. Because it was new wood we were told to go with oil-based for the first couple of stainings, then a water-based one at some point later.
Asked and answered! Many thanks – this saved me some serious effort this morning! I should add that I've used Superdeck on my wicker chairs for the last 20 years – it flows through the sprayer easily and has kept the chairs looking good (enough) for all this time. Thanks.
I use Superdeck transparent stain to spray my outdoor wicker chairs. I cover them in the winter but they're outdoors in the sun and rain all summer. I have extra product so I think I'm going to give them a second coat after 24 hours even though the can says it's a one coat system. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Only one coat. More is not better and will not make the stain last longer.
Do you have any reviews on Deck & Dock, Elastomeric Coating?
Sorry we have not tested this.
Does anyone have any experience with this product – Superdeck Elastomeric Coating?
No different then these stain types it seems from customers: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/behr-deckover-olympi…
We are building a western red cedar deck this summer. The yard where we are getting the lumber says to use transparent 1900 series duckback/ superdeck. I tested a sample of their 1905 "heart redwood" and we really like the reddish / gold color. They also recommend coating all 6 sides of each board before installing them. We are in central Alaska, and if we let the the deck set for a couple months before staining, the weather may be to cold and probably have snow on it. Would it be better to coat the hidden side of the boards before install and wait for spring to stain the rest? If we wait until spring the deck will be down for 8 or 9 months. Will a deck brightener bring it back before we stain? I am thinking TWP would be better, but don't know if I can get it up here.
You do not need to stain all sides and there is not really advantage to doing it. If you wait until next Spring you would need both a cleaner and a brightener for the prep.
I have done some more studying on this web site (fantastic site) and have some more questions. First, I need to build a glued up beam from hem-fir for this deck. My original thought was to treat it with pressure treated wood end treatment (brown) or the green cuprinol, then stain it. If I use twp100 or 1500, or AC on the cedar deck boards, would one of these protect the beam as well as the pressure treat products.
Secondly, I am replacing a 16 year old deck that was built from construction yard 2X10 lumber. The deck was treated a couple times with thompsons water seal. A lot of the boards have started to deteriorate, but the rim joists seem to be sound. If I reuse the rim joists would one of the above products seal them against rotting, or should they just be replaced.
No the AC and TWP do not treat internally like the chemicals used in pressure treated products that prevent rot and decay. Probably just replaced for the joists.
Had new redwood deck finished with Superdeck transparent stain. The deck was completed 2 wk before application. There are dark and light area, looks like not applyed evenly. What can I do?
You probably should have waited for a few months and prepped correctly before staining. i would not apply more. Either strip off now or wait a year and strip it off than to fix.
We just had a boat house built with a 12 x 24 deck attached, all out of brown pressure treated lumber. I live up in Canada, central Ontario where we get lots of snow (14') last year. What would you recommend to apply to the deck to seal it and help protect it? Thanks
Look at the Armstrong Clark for this.
Used this product, as it was recommended. I spent countless hours prepping all surfaces on my 1300 sqft deck, and was quite pleased with the finish prior to staining. I applied 2 coats and was very surprised at how much was absorbed, vs how much was left tacky and wet even weeks after application. Winter has come and gone, and I threw up when I saw the condition of my beautiful deck ( that I built myself) after the snow had melted. Every square inch of my pride and joy had darkened to black, and is covered in mold spots. I am in my tenth hour of cleaning, and still looks terrible. I would not use this product ever again and would never recommend it to anyone. The purpose of a stain and sealer is to colour and protect ones investment, ensuring enjoyment for maximum duration. Rather than sitting on my deck this summer and enjoying the sun , I fear i will be constantly trying to undue the results of super deck, and can only hope I will eventually end up with something I am happy with.
Sean, one of the good things about SuperDeck is that is is easily removable with a deck stain stripper. Switch to TWP.
Sean, I have sold Super Deck for years with varying degrees of success, but mostly good results. If you look at the label on the can, it states specifically to apply only one coat. What may be happening, by applying the second coat, it didn't penetrate in the wood, therefore it sits on top and because there is linseed oil in the product, it would have a tendency to mold and turn black. I live in a semi-arid region and don't experience the amount of rain and moisture that are common in other regions.but that is what I think is happening.
ONE coat. Two coats is a sticky waste. Had great luck with Superdeck. In Oregon, wet weather beats on cedar, but this product worked well, applied easily and still looks great 4 years later. So, use as directed and allow 3 days to dry-no rain. You'll be happy with the results. ONE COAT.
I have some Douglas Fir 6×6 timbers to install in the Gabled ends of my house. My local paint store suggested superdeck cedar as a coating. There is obviously no traffic there but I am looking for good UV protection that will resist water as it won't be easy to re-apply once installed. Also needs to withstand harsh Canadian winters. Any thoughts?
Darrell, since it is vertical it would probably work just fine with the SuperDeck.
Has anyone used a product called "One Time Wood"? Please let me know, as I have a 300 sq.ft. driveway / entry gate system to install, and am looking for a sealer, transparent stain. They claim a new technology, and up to 7 years of protection. I am trying to get more info. Thanks, Mac
Mac, we have and reviewed it as well. Does not work as warranty claims, takes forever to cure, turns dark in color.
Thank you. I have looked at the A-C website and like the description of their products. What is your reasoning behind using semi-solid instead of semi-transparent stain? The semi-transparent colors are more to my liking.
Better UV protection with the semi-solids. Most of our customers choose the semi-trans though when we do their decks.
Sanded and prepped about 2000 sq feet of 8 year old cedar deck and the railings per directions and applied two coats of Duck Back stain. Although the stain looked good for the remainder of that summer by the following spring all the life had gone out of it. The stain looked old, tired, weathered, and was completely worn away in places. Even the factory rep admitted it looked bad. The Duck Back stain appeared to not have penetrated into the wood. Inadvertently some good quality oil-based solid color stain was applied in one corner and penetrated very well. Even after sanding it to try to remove it, that stain was in great shape. Even though the rep suggested he would supply more Duck Back stain free of charge, why would I use it? I am *very* unhappy with the Duck Back product.
footnote22, strip it off and start over with a oil based stain that penetrates better.
Thank you for response. I'll do as you suggest. What is the best way to remove the old stain? Do you have a recommendation of a superior oil-based semi-transparent stain? Or would I be better off with a solid color (hate to cover up the cedar)?
ftn22, strip off the old stain with Restore A Deck Stripper and brighten when done. Try a semi solid stain that penetrates. Still shows grain but offers great UV protection. Look at the Armstrong Clark color.
I have a 6 month old yellow pine deck in suburban Pittsburgh. I received a quote to use the superdeck product. The contractor recommended applying approximately 15 gallons to the 3200 square foot deck plus steps. This does not include the underside of the deck, so he basically indicated that he would apply 3 coats of the stain. After reading some of the posts and reviews, I am a bit surprised at the 3 coat recommendation. Any thoughts on this approach?
Jimi, did he say three coats? If he applies three coats you will have drying issues. It will also turn a dark brown color.
If Linseed is a mold feeder, why do so many people that use this stain have no issue with mold? I know mold is everywhere in the air, its not likely the stain would come with mold spores in it. I own mulitple properties and rent two homes out, we stained both decks with super deck semi transparent stain, and neither deck had any mildew, until we had a really late rainy season here in northern California it rained into June. One deck started getting mold spots may of that year and just kept coming back up. where the other deck was perfectly fine. The color held up power washed and re stained 2 years after initial application. I guess my question is how can two homes a couple miles apart with the same stain have such different outcomes? Could it be more to do with the enviroment and less with the stain? Also I got rid of the mold by mixing Superdeck wood cleaner with bleach then power washing and re staining.
Julz, linseed is a mold feeder and many stain brands use it as part of the base. They do combat this by adding mildewcides into the stain. Eventually this may break down and the mold will overcome. It does have a lot to do with climate and the exposure to the sun. You will get a much higher chance of mold if in a wet or high humidity climate. If dry like say Phoenix, you will probably never get mold.
Installing a Brazilian Tigerwood deck at 7800' in a Dry climate. Suggestions of which product will work best for the snow/rain, dust and Sun? How long should we wait to stain/oil the deck? Thanks
Kevin, I would look at the Armstrong Clark in the Amber or Mahogany color. This deck will need to be redone annually. I would get one coat one now and another next year.
Have you had any experience with the Superdeck exotic hardwood stain ? If so, I was wondering if it performed any better than the semi transparent stain that you reviewed. Also, any exoerience with their deck stain stripper?
Steve, tried the stripper years ago with average results. Never used the exotic hardwood stain.
I have a 14' x 14' covered deck made with pt southern yellow pine. What is the best Superdeck product,but
Would like a little cedar tint. I live in Charlotte NC.
JC, try TWP 100 Series instead.
We have just applied the "natural" colour stain to our deck (lightest colour out there) . Our deck is pressure treated wood but it looks very dark…quite concerned as we wanted the deck to look like a new deck as far as the colour and it seems very dark…although we just did it today but we did…follow all the procedures prior to staining. How long will it take for the deck to lighten?
Wendy, not sure it will lighten as Super Deck has a tendency to darken.
I have sanded my old porch (house 1928- unsure age of porch, i have lived here 17 years). The wood is slightly red- ? cedar or a local told me alot of redwood was used in area ( syracuse ny). Question is what do I use on the wood to protect it? Stain/clear? It is on west side house- covered porch but exposed to elements, and no railings. Any suggestions most appreciated.