This post was updated on April 4, 2025
Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My Deck Restore™ review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top deck stain choices. See here for more info about me.
My Pro Tip: The Deck Restore™ is not the same product, manufacturer, or brand as Restore-A-Deck branded products.
Note: Rust-Oleum bought Synta Deck Restore in 2012. It is now called Rust-Oleum Deck Restore or Rust-Oleum Rock Solid.
Deck Restore™ is the smart alternative to deck replacement. It revives and protects wood surfaces such as wood and composite decking, stairs, docks, etc.
Deck Restore™ is water-based, low odor and fills up to 1/4” cracks.
Synta’s Deck Restore is designed to “mask” the wood, not show the grain. It is promoted as a product for wood that is beyond conventional restoration.
Note: Class Action Lawsuit has been filed against Rust-Oleum Restore 10x: See Here
How I Rated Deck Restore™
My Deck Restore™ review contains an 8-step process and the final average score. Each step is on a scale of 1-10.
- The appearance of Deck Restore™ after Application
- Preventing UV Graying
- Peeling or Wearing
- Cost Per Square Foot
- Preventing Mold and Mildew
- How Easy was the Application
- Color Shifting
- Ease of Reapplication
- Deck Restore™ Final Score
8-Step Review of Deck Restore™
1. Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 5
Synta Restore is basically a very thick paint designed to mask the wood and fill any large cracks and voids. To us, it looked very fake on the pressure-treated deck. We also noticed that the finish (after full drying) is very hot to the touch when exposed to direct sunlight, to the point that you would not be able to walk on the surface with bare feet.
2. Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 10
Being a solid, non-translucent product, the (Rust-Oleum) Restore shows no signs of UV fading. This is normal for solid stains and paints.
3. Wear/Tear and Peeling: 7
Synta (Rust-Oleum) Restore showed some wearing in the high-traffic areas and between the decking boards. The (Rust-Oleum) Restore did not seem to adhere to the boards as the finish curled up here.
4. Cost Per Square Foot: 1
Horrible. We needed 10 of the (Rust-Oleum) Restore 2 gallon kits. That is $600 for a 600 sq. foot deck or $1 per foot.
5. Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 10
Synta (Rust-Oleum) should have zero mold or algae on the deck.
6. Ease of Application: 2
It is very difficult to apply. We used the supplied roller and a heavy-duty brush for back wiping and to get between the floorboards. We followed all the supplied directions. The entire project for the two required coats took 12 hours to perform with 2 people. We had issues applying the stain evenly and between the deck boards. Full curing for the Synta Restore can take up to 3 weeks.
7. Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 10
It did not darken or attract dirt.
8. Difficulty of Reapplication: 5
Heavy scraping to remove the peeling stain would be required before applying another coat. Conversations with the manufacturer on product failure were difficult. They blamed the peeling on poor prepping of the wood, even though we followed their online instructions.
Overall Score Rust-Oleum Restore Solid Acrylic Stain at 2 Year Period: 6.25
We are not fans of this product. It is basically a “thick” paint that performs about the same as any other solid-color deck stain. Do some research online, and you will find there are more unhappy customers than satisfied customers. The appearance is poor, the application is difficult, and the cost per foot is horrible. To be fair, the Synta Restore did score extremely well in UV fading and mold prevention.
Rust-Oleum Rock Solid (Deck Restore) Customer Photo Issues
Product Information:
Where To Buy: Big Box Stores, Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, etc
Cost: $59.99 per 2 Gallon Kit
Stain Type: Acrylic Solid Stain – Water Based
Available Colors: 20 different colors
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 2 Coats.
Coverage Per Gallon: 100 sq. ft per 2-gallon kit for 1 coat. Need 2 coats for best performance.
Application Tools: Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 8-24 Hours
Cleanup: Water
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in all States
Manufacturer: Rust-Oleum
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Pressure Treated Pine Dock
Deck Square Footage: 600 Square feet
UV Exposure: Southern exposure. Full sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: Cedar
Looking For a Better Deck Resurface Coating?
Please read our article on Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive Review. We believe this product has real value if you are looking for product types that work.
Rust-Oleum Rock Solid (Deck Restore)Video Review
*All products tested and results are from our experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Consider that results may differ due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.
My husband and I have been working our butts off on our deck with this product and it looks good but we have this goo coming up like sap all over our deck! We followed all the directions, applied in low humidity, my husband even took off of work to do so. But now we have this nasty, sticky goo that is clearly coming from the Deck Restore product and I am just heart broken over it! What a mess! Has anyone else had this happen and if so how long does this go on for?
Shelley, we have the same thing happening with my parents' deck. It's been about two months since I applied the Restore. Were you able to get any answers on treating this? Thanks.
I have used this product but i have found one that I liked better DeckReform. Look on amazon also. I used DeckReform on my deck over 2 years ago and it still looks great. I tried DeckReform and Restore side by side on a test area of my deck before chose to use DeckReform.
I am planning on using Restore to finish my porch. My husband replaced several boards on the porch with non-pressure treated wood. Is it a problem to apply Restore to it immediately? Is it recommended to wait six months only if using pressure treated wood?
Vickie, it will probably peel quicker on the new wood.
I applied Restore to our 350 sf deck. The first coat was a bit splotchy, but that was expected (per the reviews). The color we chose was "Fern", since it matched closely to our house. Boy was I surprised when it looked more like gun metal gray!! Very disappointing, even after it dried. OK, so thinking the color will darken a bit with the second…no! Although the color of the stain matched the color sample, it looked very different when applied to the deck. I am going to attempt to change the color with an acrylic stain and hope that works. Quite expensive, but hopefully I won't have to stain for several years. If the stain spatters while applying, slow down..for sure. Taking your time does pay off. I like the texture, especially since my dogs won't slip but it is quite hot!
Have you tried any of the "competitor" products to this one? I'm interested to know whether some of the negatives you have found for this product are the same for Behr Deckover or Olympic Rescue It!. Both of these products seem a little thinner and so perhaps application is easier. However, I'm skeptical about whether they are as good at coating cracks and splinters as the Restore product. Any feedback?
I have 1,100 sq/ft of decking by and around my pool. I built last year and I bought my lumber from Lowes (big mistake – I hand picked all of the wood and it's splitting so bad). I'm drawn to the claims of this product however the cost to do so and the negative comments leaves me very hesitant. I live in Louisville Kentucky and my deck faces north.
what product would you recommend instead of Restore for a non slip surface and reduce splinters?
Dave, sorry but we really like natural grain stains. We have yet to see any of the Synta stains last like they claim. There has been numerous knock off stains of the Synta in the last couple of years. It is too early to tell if they work or not. I would suspect that Synta\’s would be superior though.
The thing that I don't really understand in the review or all of the threads is this: This is NOT a substitute for a stain. It is a "rescue" product for a deck where it is so badly worn that a stain will not be able to save it. The project I'm considering it for is a deck that requires either replacement of the boards or a salvage product. It isn't rotted, but has cracks and splinters and a weathered enough surface that it precludes regular staining. So, my big question is, when we're talking about spending >$3000 (and many days) to replace boards vs. apply a product like this for $400 (and still probably several days, but less than replacement), do you still not feel it's worth it? It's not really an apples to apples comparison to say that a stain is an alternative to this product.
so i went ahead a did my 384 sq foot concrete floor that is under my awning. my floor was old and the concrete had cracks and lines every where . i went by the instructions first coat look dull then i went with the second coat and and one side looked lighter than the other. to my surprise a third coat fixed all those issues all the cracks are gone floor looks brand new.
I applied the Restore on my boat decking, love the way it looks and I thought it was rather easy to apply. I put the Restore on new marine plywood after using a heavy wire brush to scratch up the smooth sanded surface. I followed all of the directions to the letter with 2 thick even coats and didn't add any water to it. I even stirred it with a drill paddle for paint before each use and in between filling the tray. After 2 weeks the surface was still rubbery and easily damaged. The boat decking was installed and has been kept inside a heated garage and moved out into the sun on nice days. I have this horrible fear that it will never firm up. Just the slightest pressure leaves marks in the product and soft tennis shoe soles even tear it all up. I can't imagine this product taking so long to cure as 30 days and having it on an entryway into a home. Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have to remove all of the decking and scrape it off, it will take weeks to have a usable boat again if so.
I used this product Restore on my deck last summer I follow the directions from the on line video and the direction that come with the material and now is cracking and peeling off in the high walking areas, I'm having areas turn white, I image that if I was walking in all the areas it would be doing the same, and its not like I have a big family its just me and my wife. Has anyone been reimbursed for there deck or product yet, I have not notified them yet but I figure I would get what everyone else is getting (you prep your deck wrong and didn't follow directions) or do we have report to the BBB.
It is the worst thing I used. over half my deck is peeling up after 1 winter. Basically flaking off in chunks. I prepped the deck twice and broke my back applying it. I wish I just spent the $$ on the fake decking I am for the time and $$ it would have been worth it.
I just finished doing my deck. A few points for those considering- First, this is a deck restoration product. If our idea of restoring your deck is spending an hour spraying watery stain on the deck and then playing golf, ths product is not for you. It is not paint, and must be installed as directed, slowly! Preparation is key, and I stripped my deck and pressure washed prior to using product. My 13 year old deck was in pretty good shape, and looked almost new after stripping. Coverage was as indicated or a little better and I thinned the mixture slightly with water mixing thouroghly with a drill operated paint mixer. A couple of hours before, I inverted the 4 gallon pail so that the sand would be at the top. If you hurry it is messy, if you do it as per instructions it is no worse than painting. The finished deck is great, and the color was about what the sample looked like. If you can't read and follow instruction, do not use this product. My 160 square foot deck required about 6 gallons of product plus a gallon of regular stain. I did the hand rails and facia boards along bottom of deck and it did great. I have 2 gallons left over, enough for another coat or touch up later- I didn't get the kits, but opted for two 3.75 gallon buckets (looks like 5 gallons, but there is only 3.75 in them due to shipping weight issues. This is April 29, 2013 and ill try to leave updates at ths time next year. I had previously used premium deck stains and found that after each winter the "look" deteriorated and needed to be done again every couple of years. I have 1 day total prep time, 1/2 day for first coat, and another 1/2 day for the second. Don't be afraid of negative reviews, as most are from people who didn't follow instructions or had no experience with this type of project.
Can Restore be used on a previously painted deck that is now peeling? If so, any special instructions?
Don, I do not think you can fix a peeling deck by applying the Restore. I would ask them to be sure.
Don, I had the same issue. I rented a drum sander and it took about 3 hours to sand a 325 sq-ft deck. I just applied Restore last week so I don't have any results to share but early indications are the sanding was well worth it.
I am a professional painter of 15 years…My home is always a guinea pig for new products…WHAT A MISTAKE! My deck is 5 years old and very dry. I waited for a hot week to make sure it was dry and applied it in the evening hours as it cooled. After 2 weeks, pitch started bleeding through the surface and discolored my deck. The product was brown…now it is white in many areas. I also tested it on the stairs and decided to use a 3/8 nap mole hair roller…it looks great! did not bleed through and looks much neater and used less product.
We are looking to start this project soon.My hubby and I are butting heads over when the ideal time to start would be,as it still gets chilly in the evening.Ive read a lot of tips and helpful ways for smoother application but haven't heard much on the ideal temps its recommended for.We want to start ASAP but I'd really like some "backing up" before I open my trap on this issue.We will be using a lighter brown tone so it will not get hot.Would it be ok to start now.Average temp is about 60s down to low 40s.Snow is gone but you never know up here in nh.Thanks
Nicole, we are not sure on the application temps but I am sure you can find that info easily at the Synta Restore website.
Yes I read that after I ask my question but was thinking maybe they have done something to prevent that. It's a bummer because it looks so good at Home Depot and Lowe's and it would really look great around the pool. The deck gets hot now but not the cool deck around the pool. If anyone knows that issue was fixed, please let me know!
It looks like a great product but I read somewhere that it gets very hot in the summer. I was going to use it around my pool both on wood and cool decking. Does anyone know about that?
Patti, we have had some people in the above posts say that it can get hot for their feet.
Just finished a job on my fathers deck using deck restore.It was approximately 1800 sq. ft of well weathered redwood. All went well with the application and the appearance looks great. What I noticed was If I applied on cooler days it definately took alot longer to dry.Application was very time consuming but that was to be expected from reading different reviews.Needed at least 25 percent more Restore to finish job as amount stated. Ill let you know in 8-10 years how its holding out. Bottom line: Very labor intensive applying,need more material than was stated,but am happy with results so far. Dan
Dan, thanks for the review.
Dan, 1800 square feet, UGH! I hope you have a good chiropractor! Mine was 325 sq-ft and I couldn't move for a day!
I have a brand new deck, but want to better protect it from sun, rain and snow, as well as give it that "composite" feeling. I liked the product when seeing it in Lowe's/Home Depot, but the fact that so many people complain, that it gets so hot in the summer, and that it is scored/ranked so-so here makes me think twice. What is a better alternative to this product if one wants the "composite" look, feel and protection?
Ali, I think any of these "composite" looking deck paints will have issues. They will retain heat and will peel eventually. Not sure if there really is a solution for you. Personally we do not like the look and would rather have a semi-transparent stain.
thinking about using this product on a plywood deck . the original homeowner put tile which will be removed . and possibly new plywood depending on the water damage. Will it work over plywood ???
Craig, if the plywood is free of all coatings then this should work on it.
This product is junk do not buy it. I spent over $500 covering my concrete patio. It took about 3 coats for it to look semi good. I have had this product on my patio all summer and if you set anything heavy on it, it will tear it down to the concrete. Now after a good rain today I have bubbles all over my patio where it has not bonded or swelling. I will probably end up scraping all this off eventually. Waste of money and time.
The instruction do tell you not to put it on smooth concrete. If your concrete was finished with a fine surface this maybe your issue.
We applied Restore to a client's front steps. These steps had been painted but we followed company's tech advice and sanded a good portion of the paint off or at least gave the paint some good "tooth". As is well documented in these reviews, the application was a bit tricky, but overall not difficult. We applied during a long summer dry spell. It seemed take forever to cure. We stayed off those stairs for at least 2 weeks. Today we had our first rain and on each tread, the material began to pucker and was clearly non-adherent. How incredibly frustrating. Such a waste of money and time. Although the company rep and the rep at Home Depot assured me that the product could be applied over a prepped previously painted surface, DON'T BELIEVE IT.
It is going to be 55F degrees today here in Michigan and we were wondering if it is too cold for application? We will have aboiut 6 bhours of dry time before the temps will fall into the mid 30's overnight, until reaching 60 again tomorrow afternoon. Can we still apply the product?
Craig, I would contact Synta to make sure.
My experience with Deck Restore hasnt been the nightmares described above, but i have to say, its seems like a lot of USER ERROR at play.
I live in Kansas and used it to totally refurbish a north facing,30 yr old 2 story Redwood deck (45'x10' with two staircases). After replacing the REALLY bad boards and reinforcing some sagging areas i made sure to let the NEW wet treated wood cook in the 100+ degree heat for a few weeks (they recommend 6 months!!!) Obviously Home Depot had to shape up their game from whats been reported above, because the clerk WAS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT HOW MUCH PREP AND ACTUAL WORK WAS INVOLVED. They made it very clear I would need to pressure wash the deck if i wanted optimum results. I also waited for the price to drop, which it did considerably after June. I found the directions somewhat confusing…what is really just the latex paint without the Polymer Substrate they call 'STAIN' which doesnt really make sense but whatever. After some experimenting i figured out how to work this stuff great and here's what i recommend doing.
1.Get a Drill and a PADDLE mixing tip (not an airplane propeller)
2.Mix one gallon of STAIN thoroughly, then Mix one gallon of RESTORE thoroughly
3.Combine both gallons in a 3 or 5 gallon bucket, adding the STAIN first and then mixing in the RESTORE. MIX VERY WELL AND OFTEN!!
Using a 4" wide 3/8"nap roller i was able to coat the entire top of my deck, which was again 45'x10' and used two more gallons of STAIN to do the 'vertical surfaces' along with the underbelly beams and such with a brush. It took me all afternoon. approx 7 hours.
After 24 hours i stepped out on the deck and it felt great, no tackiness and a nice even texture, i then waited a week before i put another coat on which really made it look even better, it really looks like composite decking!!
TOTAL PRICE less than $600 (including all the replacement wood, Restore and Stain, and misc)
So in closing, im about 2 months out and no peeling or anything, i chose Timberline (nut brown)for a color….id stay away from the 'grey' tones as you do run the risk of it looking like weird concrete or something.
SO, WOULD I RECOMMEND IT??
YES!
BUT….you must…
*Make sure you do the prep (i.e. POWER WASH THOROUGHLY!)
*And make sure you MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX IT VERY WELL and dont be afraid to cut the RESTORE with the STAIN for easier 'SMOOTHER' application/appearance.
thanks for this great forum!
PS DeckStainHelp… I noticed above that you told a person with 'untinted' STAIN she couldnt use that over the top of Restore, that is simply not true….it says so on the CAN! BUT, Id get it tinted BEFORE application. Good LUCK!
I'm confused you said to mix a gallon of stain with the restore. Home Depot put the tint into the restore at the store. Do you mean that I should buy additional stain to mix with the restore?
I used to put decks like these down in Arizona, the process was quite a bit different as we were doing it professionally. I was surprised when I seen this product and figured I would give it a try. I started with going to home depot and asking for a single kit of "Navajo Red"… got home and put the first coat down on approximately 40 sqft of boards that we had sanded with 60 grit to make sure they were nice and rough. After 24 hours the dry had complete and it was obvious there was no red what so ever, it was pure brown. After arguing with the home depot lady at one place she claims "we mix it according to manufacturer" I went to another home depot up the road which she attempted for hours to get the product to actually resemble navajo red. She finally did and I rushed off home and put a second coat on, again 24 hours later I check on it. Bingo the color was amazing. I see several reviews around the internet that with various base colors the product never comes out matching the in store samples. My neighbor took notice to what we were doing and asked if I would help them do their cement patio, so we went down and grabbed a light standard color for their patio. I started by doing what we did to prep concrete before applying any type of resurfacing concrete, so we acid etched then pressure washed then let it dry for 48 hours, then blew off any remaining dust with an air compressor. On her concrete we chose to only do a single coat because it applies better than wood, 600 sqft 12 gallons later we completed the project. It has now been drying in 75 – 80 degree sun for two days in Washington State. It seems dry to the touch but applying any pressure with the hand or foot reveals a tackiness about it. So I started googling and found that the 48 hour cure time as stated on the box is B.S. I found the manufacturer telling someone in a comment that it needs up to 28 days to cure. This is garbage talk about bait and switch, when we put decks like this down with resurfacing cement and a sprayer it took no more than 48 hours before we could put furniture back on. So I decided to go check the work I had previously done on my boards and found that I could still sink my nail into the product and if I put anything on it like a gas can it quickly sunk in and caused a ring. Mind you these boards had been drying in the sun, rain free for almost two weeks now. I dont find the product hard to apply most of the people saying so probably have only ever used stain and paint products, but if you have ever worked with concrete resurfacing… Read more »
I just used deck/concrete restore this weekend on my front cement stoop. I live in South Dakota so it will be subjected to extreme hot and cold weather (-20F to 105F). My deck is about 100 sq feet. The coverage was fine, with two coats I still have a gallon left.
As a former painter I think I can speak for the application of this product. It was a little difficult to apply as there is a lot of sand in the paint, but thorough mixing helps alot, If u are using a brush add a little bit of water to make it flow easier. The supplied roller was worthless, splatters paint everywhere. I applied the first coat by brush and the second by roller where possible, using a 1/2 nap roller cover. Everything went fine on the second coat.
After 24 hours (in 90 F heat during day) it was nice and dry. Looks spectacular!! If product holds up I will be really happy. I guess time will tell, I will try to remember to check back here in a year or so and comment on how it is holding up.
My oak tree drops a lot of debris onto my deck and badly leaves stains. Is the product easy to clean? I have some 2-part solvent-based epoxy clear coat left over from clear coating my garage floor, can I use this on my porch to make it easier to clean? maybe it would last longer too.
Thanks, Paul
Paul, you cannot put a 2 part epoxy on an outside wood deck. It will not work and will peel. Not sure if the Synta is the right choice.
It was very difficult to work with and I ended up using my hands has I found it impossible to brush where it was needed. I used it for the side wall of our sons half pipe and i do like the way it looks, better than the treated wood look! Unfortunetely, not an easy application and I only did vertical flat surface. Cannot imagine applying to a deck!
August 26. 2012
I have used deck restore a couple of times, and I just got done doing a 700 sf deck .( Tip#1) for every gallon add 8 to 10 ounces of water(no more)I poured deck restore into a separate plastic bucket add water and I used a
Little garden shovel to mix it up real good. (tip 2) brush on your first coat lay it on thick fill in your cracks and the side of the boards. And then brush back and fourth to level the product. (tip 3) wait three dry days to apply second coat. Then I used the roller to apply the second coat I poured deck restore into a separate 5 gallon bucket added water mixed it up. I also used a screen. (tip 4) dip the roller completely in the product, then roll it on the screen. Then apply. Go slow and find your grove. It's a little frustrating at first. (tip 5) after you roll it on, come back with your brush and smooth the product litely to get a smooth finish.
The decks I have done have came out great. Looks like new composite decking.
It is time consuming , but if this product last 10 to 12 years like they say. It's worth your time.
Jim, Orland park il.
Jim – How long did it take to do 700 sf of deck? Are you still happy with the outcome?
Does anyone have positivite or negative remarks on Restore Solid Ackrlic Deck Stain?
Mike, We have never tried that version.
I'm thinking about putting it on my concrete porch for a non-slip surface. The porch is in the shape under a oak. Is this product easy to clean with a squeezy? Does it stain? I have a lot of bird droppings.
Paul Ray, we unfortunately do not have any experience with their concrete product. Just the deck product.
My husband (an ex-painter) applied deck restore after watching the videos and reading the directions over and over. We pressure washed and scrubbed our covered deck and then let dry for 4 days in the summer heat. The product was incredibly difficult to apply. It took longer and triple our budget to complete. It was incredibly labor intensive.
It has been three weeks since the application. It is peeling in spots and it still feels tacky. We have not put any furniture on there and are only occasionally walking on it. I am skeptical of the cure time. Has anyone else seen longer drying times?
I applied this to my deck…I like it overall so far, but had an issue with small pockets of goo rising to the top and settling. It was only on a few boards. I scraped them off and reapplied two coats but they reappeared. Any idea what is causing it? oils in the wood perhaps? I cleaned the deck prior to application with bleach and a pressure washer…
Gene, might be sap?
I bought Restore the Summer of 2009 when it first came out – or at least available in Upstate New York.I have a 15 yr old deck that was stained once when new – not well maintained and had it’s fair share of good size cracks. There were no reviews about Deck Restore at the time because it was too new. I started to apply with supplied Roller but soon realized I would be putting more of the paint into the gaps between the boards than I wanted. I used a 4″ paintbrush and Yes it was time consuming and Yes a bit difficult – However I had more control using the brush and most of the paint went on to the flat surface and not between the board gaps. I only applied ONE coat to the consistency that I felt was adequate – using the brush to force paint into the cracks – Some Larger cracks soaked up the paint and a touch up needed to be reapplied to fill in those cracks. The sand in the paint seems to want to settle and is difficult to keep consistent within the paint. Constant stirring helped a little but the sand still came out blotchy in some spots – not a problem for me because the end result is that this stuff has lasted thru 2 winters. I also have 2 dogs that run across the deck year round. The Restore has NOT peeled, cracked, chipped or faded. I had previously used Behr deck stain on a different deck – Terrible results – see Behr Stain…Buyer beware! On You Tube
I just did a 750 square foot deck with deck restore. It was the worst project I've ever under taken. It's very hard to roll on, especially if you have a lot if cutting work around railings, pools, etc. Finally I finished and it looks awful- I picked granite to match my grey siding. The sandy consistency looks ugly and feels horrible. I would not reccomed this product to anyone!
I recently applied my first coat of Restore on my deck (20 X 30) I requested color match for a color that was not one of the Restore colors. It was a color i chose from a different paint swatch. The color was supposed to be a sage green and it came out like oatmeal. I purchased the 5 gallon containers and used 3 on the first coat
I want to try to get the second coat as close as possible to the sage color. Any suggestions regarding the color matching? and do you think it would make a difference if i used the one gallon containers instead?
Traci, I am sorry but we do not have any experience with color matching. I doubt one gallons would make a difference.
I went with Sage also and the color that came out after application was horrible. I wish I could get my money back, but even then I'm out the cost of the water and gas to pressure wash this garbage off of my deck. I think I would have saved money by just replacing the wood on my deck instead of having to use multiple large buckets of this junk.
I did my deck and the firat coat looked ok but splashed ALOT and we walked on and it was dry so did the second coat which was very hard to get right with no streaks and dryed to walk on and then it rained last nite and is already peeling and my color was not what I oicked and restore is aware there is a orblem with it because the guy at Lowes called and talked to them about it and said they thought it was fixed in April and he told them it was'nt and they were'nt helpful ,my cans and pics are going back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've done half of my small back deck and I cannot walk barefoot on it if the temp is over 80. It's crazy. My pets can't even walk on the deck it's so hot. I will not be refinishing the other half, instead I am going to have to replace all of the top boards and just stain regularly.
Kris, this seems to be a major complaint with the Synta products.
We just used the product for our deck. Like the look, but it's VERY hot in our Colorado sun. Any ideas?
Michelle, this is a known issue with Synta Deck Restore. I do not believe there is anything you can do about it.
Your statement about "many negative reviews" is incorrect in my research and in my experience, as well. The overwhelming majority of the negative reviews (which the previous commentors ratio of 3 to 1 Pos. to Neg. is really close) are from people who did not use the product correctly and blatantly admitted they didn't follow the directions. The only instances I found of "peeling" restore in reviews was from people applying it to vertical surfaces which was clearly not recommend by the manufacturer. It is not a conventional "stain" and is meant as a thick, 50+ mil covering over deteriorated wood, of which it performs its job well. Coverage was spot on with what was stated on the packaging (without watering it down) and I also used their hint of painting in between the deck boards with the matching acrylic stain so I didn't waste material trying to push heavy sand in the cracks.
I do agree that the surface is hotter than you would expect for the color (we used Sandstone) when in direct sunlight and I am sure that is due to the sand in the product. I installed this on my 400+ sq ft pool deck/stairs in Western PA and couldn't be happier with the results, so far. I installed it last summer. I used the supplied roller and back-brushed immediately and my surface was just as smooth as the store sample. Color is holding up well. The material saved me over $3000 for a composite overlay of the existing deck that was heavily splintered and degraded.
I put this product on in the srping/summer of 2011 in central New York. I spent months preping my 800 sq ft deck before opening a single can of Restore. I watched several instructional videos online several times over to make sure that I applied it correctly. After nearly $1000 and dozens of hours just applying the product I was very unhappy with just about everything about it. It was difficult to apply and just plain old looks bad. My deck gets so hot that you can't walk on it in bare feet during much of the summer weather. And after 2 years it is all peeling up. I'm frustrated and mad at the wgole experience. The product allowed moisture to get under it in certain areas that started to rot some of the wood. Next year I will be re-decking with composite. What an awful experience! And I know that others have had the same bad experience.
Try their own website everyone hated it you must work for the company
I recently used Deck Restore on my 12X15' pool deck. Home Depot has the product prominently displayed in their paint section and is really pushing the product. The curing time given by the manufacturer is definitely wishful thinking. It took 2 days in northern PA for the deck to be ready for the second coat. I also was of the belief that the surface would be more non-slip than it is. The overall look and finish are nice however. Like some of the previous comments, I had to buy about twice as much of the product to finish the job. On the other hand, I also used it on an old picnic table. I used a regular paintbrush and it looks much better than it was. All splinters, gaps and nail holes were filed and the surface has a nice, uniform texture. All in all, a mixed bag: expensive and tedious to apply, but can still work in some circumstances. Now I'll have to wait and see if it holds up under the weight of the winter snow.
I applied my first coat to my 10 X 13, 15 year old deck yesterday. I used 2 1/4 gallons to cover the deck and four 8' long stairs. I has not dried overnight and so the second coat has not been applied. I found it difficult to work with, but coverage was not as bad as reviews suggested. Once a can was "emptied", I put about 4 oz of water in it and scrapped the sides with a paint stirrer and ended up with another 2 to 3 inches of usable product in the bottom of the can.
My biggest issue seems to be with the drying time. It was cool, mid 70's and dry yesterday when I applied this and I finished around 6 PM. It looks like I won't be able to put a second coat on until sometime this afternoon.
Lastly, as a result of so many reviews online saying I needed more product, it seems I over bought and will have a full kit that I don't need.
My advice is to mix, mix, mix and before you begin, turn the cans upside down for about an hour to let the sand mix back in for easier mixing.
I haven't started my deck yet – but wanted to ask before I did since it seems like an honest assessment of the product is available here. My deck is above a concrete pad below (double deck, the top is covered with a roof with lighting/ceiling fan – the deck below is covered by the deck above [that I want to use this product on – that and the steps up]). The reason I'm researching this product is the "grit" for a non-slip surface when the steps get wet. From what I'm reading here, I might consider just doing the steps (which was my first inclination to begin with) – but the color would not match the deck above, the railings or the fence if I did. I do not want to use a solid color on the fence and had hoped to just use this product un-tinted and then apply a semi-transparent stain over it so that everything was uniform. Any suggestions regarding a better way? Again, I have not started this project – but have bought 4 gallons of un-tinted Deck Restore (that I can always take back since it has not been opened or tinted yet). Thanks for any advice you can provide.
Traci, you cannot put the Synta on then apply a semi-transparent over it. It does not work that way.
Any thoughts as to weather this product would hold up in Michigan (freeze/thaw). I'm concerned that it could peel after winter/spring here in Michigan.
Jim, it peeled on our test deck in NC. We are currently re testing in a cold weather state and after the first winter it did have a small amount of peeling. It does some to be holding up a little better then our first test deck.
We are in Northeast Indiana and I absolutely love this product!!! Have a huge deck, applied it 5 – 6 yes ago and still loving it!!!
Do Not use this product. It is not a good product. Would never up under weather condtions in your area.
I recently used it on a deck and it is okay, but I am not happy with the color. That is my fault. Can you paint over the coating to change the color?
Donna, that is probably a bad idea to paint over the Synta product.
I contacted the comapny and asked the same question. They said to use Restore solid Acrylic stain to go over the existing color. Another option is to use a different color of the Restore latex, they said you can put up to 8 coats on. I chose taupe and it is too light, I plan on using a stain to make it darker.
do you have any comparisons with Sickens vs this product? We live by the ocean and have issues with salt water on our deck. I've used sickens and like it but having to redo it every 2-3 years is a bummer. Any suggestions?
Matt, they are completely different types of products. Synta Restore is a very thick paint like product.
can you use on new floor board that you want to replace if really bad
Steve, not sure what you mean. Please elaborate.
Just used this product on our concrete porch. (July 2012) It was very hard to apply and splattered easily. I had to use a lot more than I would have expected. As to the result, it looks great. I hope it holds up. However, if I had realized the difficulty in applying this product I would NOT have used it.
Rick, thanks for sharing.
Rick,
Did you apply with a roller slowly? I read and reread the instrucions before testing on one of the 20+ slabs I needed to paint. The first time I applied, it splattered everywhere so I went back and reread the directions a 3rd time. After that. I applied very thick and went very slowly with the roller. It took much longer, but there was considerably less splattering and I was very happy with the results.
Today is July 5, 2012. Are there any further updates on this product? Your original review was in June 2009, but I don't see dates on any of the comments. We are considering using Restore on our cement patio, mainly to cover & fill cracks that are getting worse after each winter.
We have not updated but are currently retesting on a different project. It is performing slightly better but still some peeling after 1.5 years.
Hi I just used the product today July 9 , 2012 . Took me 3 hrs to do the first coat .. Definitely going to need a second.. Adding water to the product helped with the application for the second coat I will use a regular roller.. Good luck .
How did it work using a regular roller for the second coat?
I am using the product now on my 30 year old concrete pool decking. The product is harder to apply than paint, but I think its better than paint in the sense that it doesnt leave the streaks I had when I tried to rennovate with concrete paint several years ago I also dont have an issue of it being too hot. This may be because its on concrete instead of wood, but carefully consider color selection – dont pick darker colors if youre in direct sun (we chose "beach" and have 8-10 hours of direct sun in the summer in NJ).
That said, the product itself is a money pit – the product does not cover the square footage it claims to. I am on my 16th 4 gal bucket and have not applied a second coat (The amount of concrete in my yard is insane – no one putting in a pool today would use so much!)
I will try to post an update when more wear and tear occurs .
Hi Karen,
I just applied this product to my back patio on 5/24/13. Unfortunately, the color I chose, Saddle, looks orange once applied to the concrete. I was wondering if the girl mixed the wrong colors at Lowes, where I purchased it, but the color looks correct in the can, it's only when I applied it to the patio that it looks orange. Once applied it now looks like the Cedartone sample that is in the store and on the company's website. I understand that colors vary slightly, but to me, this is a big difference. I was going for more of a tan color as the Saddle sample shows. I have written an email to the company, asking them how I can get more of a tan color, without having to repurchase another 3 buckets of stain in a different color, that would cost me well over $100 again. I was thinking of spraying a stain on top of this to see if that would help tone it down. I have yet to hear back from the company and it has been 3 days. I was hoping to have this issue resolved prior to a party I am having the end of June, thus avoiding people asking me why I chose to paint my patio orange! It seems to have applied well to the concrete, best way is to dump a thick line of restore out on the patio, and spread it that way. Be sure to protect the areas you do not want covered, as it tends to splatter a lot. I also should have filled some of the small holes I had, as it did not fill those in as suggested. I believe they mean it fills small cracks. I only did one coat, and it cover decently. I was just looking for a quick way to refresh the old dirt stained concrete. I am purchasing more of the product to refresh my front walkway, I just hope I get the right color match this time.
We used this product after buying it from Home Depot last year. I could not agree more with this review. The deck was incredible hot around our pool. So much so that we cannot even walk on the surface without burning our feet. We have had numerous spots where the stain has already lifted. Mostly around knots and nail holes. We followed the directions precisely and used the correct amount of stain that was suggested.
Very disappointed in this. I may try to sue the manufacturer for ruining our deck.
How did that work out for ya?
very disappointed too. we spent $1600.oo and took about 2 good weeks to do the paint like they recommended. we pressured washed our deck and let dry in the hot sun before paint it. painted one coat and waited three days to recoat and waited four to five days to walk on it.. it is pelling all over after one winter. I used a light color hoping it wouldn't be hot to walk on, it still hot. I don't know what kind of job it well be to remove the rest of the paint or want will take it off,so we can redo our deck. its a mess not at all happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was like spreading peanut butter. Horrible experience….it still looks crappy. We will probably have to get an outdoor carpet to cover this mess.
I have researched this product extensively, and read all the reviews I can find. Where are the review of "most people haveing peeling issues"? It is not a perfect product and seems some people have had legitimate unhappiness with the appearance. However most of the negative reviews stem from people using the product incorrectly/not following the instructions, or just expecting restore to do something more/different than it is advertised to do. Currently, positive reviews outweigh negative about 3 to 1 (greatest amount of reviews are at amazon and buzzillion websites), and the statement in this review about "many unhappy customers with peeling issues" does not seem to accurately represent users experience.
It is easy to find comments on the web about how the Synta did not perform well. Our results were not very positive either. I am sure it does not fail in all scenarios but it did in our tests.
I wish I could import a picture here. I prepped the deck twice with cleaner and power washer it was backbreaking to apply and cost about $500. Over 1/2 the deck peeled up after the first winter. Not just peeled but came up in chunks.
Awful product!!!
You can post a picture in our forum then link to it from your post here. We would like to see the pictures.
I applied this product last summer after watching Rustoleums how to video several times and I know I applied it correctly, and it peeled in some places, and when I walked on it it stained my feel…
Contacted company sent photos the replaced product, so I'm scraping off all that didn't come off and waiting gor good weather to redo the deck.
Actually, after reading dozens of very positive reviews on this product, I had this installed yesterday on my 350 s.f. back porch. The porch was constructed fourteen years ago out of PT tongue-and-groove pine which had weathered horribly due to the effects of the intense summer sun and rain of the deep south. The first coat took 10 gallons, a quantity that didn't surprise me, as I had read several accounts which said to expect to use twice as much product as the manufacturer recommends.
Due to the wide gaps in the wood, the best method of application we found was to pour a puddle about the size of a dinner plate and pull in one direction with a roller. We did not use the supplied roller, as that leaves a rough finish that we just did not care for. A medium nap roller left a far smoother finish, and an almost wood like pattern. We found that the recommendations of several reviewers advising to add two cups of water per gallon of product was very effective in speeding up the application. It took one man about three hours to apply the first coat.
The preceding article complained about the cost. We are very satisfied cost wise, as I believe that this is the cheapest way to go. Remember it is NOT a refinishing product. It is a restoration project. It is about 1/4 the cost of the low-end Trek flooring which we had considered, and about 3/4 the cost of a quality water seal. Yes, it is not a simple brush-on and let dry product, but then again you won't be redoing the floor in one or two years. There are reports of five-year decks with no fading and no wear.
Wyatt,
Thanks for the review. When checking on the internet there seems to be many negative reviews and unhappy customers with Synta\’s Deck Restore. Most had peeling issues and complained about appearance. It seems many have these issues 1-2 years down the road so this product is not an end all solution but rather an expensive \”thick\” paint. In our experience this was the case as well.
If possible please reply in a 1-2 years if you have these common problems of Synta. BTW, where is your deck located? Certain areas may be prone to issues over others.
Another thing you mentioned was that Synta has reviews from 5 years ago. I believe it has only been around about 3+ years. If there are reviews that say this, they are probably false.
Thanks again, we appreciate any and all experiences with decking stains.
I applied this to my deck stairs which were about 15 year old and well worn, and to a three year old landing that was in great shape. I followed the directions to the letter. It went on far harder then I expected, and coverage was not as good as the can(s) indicated. Within 3 months it already was flaking off on the high wear edges of the stairs. After a cold Rochester winter, its bubbling up and coming off in sheets on both the older and newer sections. Until now I have never written a negative review on anything, but this experience inspired me.
My wife and I applied the first coat recently. Terrible to work with but we like the results. I understand the second coat will even everything out and fill whatever splits in the wood the first coat didn't fill.
The Deck Restore dripped between the wider gaps between our boards (about 3/8" or more). Not so appealing, but we are the 'artists' so we are more critical. Did you have this problem and if so, how did you resolve it ?
Thanks, Scott
Scott, our test boards were closer together so we did not notice this issue.
We are having the same problem. Whoever built our deck was an idiot. Gaps between boards are all different and we can see the original wood with drips down it. Our first application too 5 of the 4 gallon buckets….therefore our deck is huge. We cant find anything that will fit properly down in there to paint the sides on the boards that is time efficient unless we get 50 people out here to help. We used a paint edger that you would use on walls to apply it but it was taking too long and we gave up. There must be an easier way…….
The most common reason for failure is improper prepping. If water beeds up on the deck it will not take any product properly. I have had it down for 4 years with no problems.
Jim, that is correct but filming stains fail faster then deep penetrating stains as they are prone to peeling since they lie on top of the wood. We have seen numerous Synta deck jobs that have peeled and some that have not. We view Synta\’s Deck Restore, the newer Behr Deck over and Olympic Rescue-It as glorified solid color deck stains that are thickened up to create a thick film on top of the wood. They are sold to consumers as a way to salvage your deck but they really do not last any longer then a solid color deck stain, 2-3 years on average. Gimmick in our opinion as deck restoration contractors.