Armstrong Clark in Rustic Brown
Update The Best Deck Stains 2019
Please read our Best Deck Stain article and post any questions you have in the comment area below. Our newly enhanced website now offers the ability to upload and post pictures of your exterior wood or deck. This will help us determine the proper prep and overall condition of your deck, leading to better performance.
This is an updated version of our most popular article What is the Best Deck Stain? We have had over 18,000 Q&A questions for the first article, helping consumers find the best wood and deck stain for their deck and specific environment.
The point of this article and DeckStainHelp.com is to offer guidance in choosing a quality deck stain that works well and will not create larger issues down the road when it is time to reapply. We have updated our original article by including answers to some of the most popular questions that we receive.
Here are some of the more popular answers to the most common questions:
- No deck stain will last 5+ years. A good quality stain will last 2 or maybe 3 years on a deck floor (horizontal) and typically twice as long on railings, siding, etc. (verticals).
- Penetrating stains will have less chance of peeling as they soak into the wood grain and do not film on top of the wood grain when fully cured.
- Penetrating deck stains are easier to maintain by cleaning and reapplying after 2-3 years.
- Filming Deck Stains that dry on top of the wood can be harder to remove and/or reapply as they are more prone to peeling, wear, flaking, etc.
- Not all Deck Stains are penetrating. Even when they claim otherwise.
- Semi-transparent, Transparent, and Semi-Solids will show the grain of the wood to some extent. Solid stains, Deck Resurface Coatings, and Paints will not.
- Clear sealers without any pigment/color will not prevent UV graying. Lighter Pigmented stains that are Transparent, Semi-Transparent, or Semi-solid will have less UV protection than Darker Pigmented stains in the same transparency. More color/tint = better UV protection.
- Deck Stains are either Oil-Based or Water-Based. Filming or penetrating. Transparent, Semi-Transparent, Semi-Solid, Solid (opaque) Stains or a Deck Resurface Coating. See here for more info on Deck Stain Types.
- Oil-based stains can still be used in all States and Canada as long as they are compliant to local VOC regulations.
- When switching brands of deck stain it is always best to remove the old coating first. Do this by using a Deck Stain Stripper and/or sanding.
- Always apply a Wood Brightener after prepping with a Stain Stripper or Wood Deck Cleaner to neutralize the caustic.
- New Decks (less than a year) are treated differently than older decks (more than 1 year). New decks need to be prepped and usually cannot be stained right away. See this about Staining New Decks.
- Prep, Prep, Prep = increased longevity of a stain.
What is the Best Deck Stain For My Deck?
This is the top question by far that we have gotten on DeckStainHelp.com. Unfortunately, there is not a “best” deck stain out there that will outperform every other stain, every single time.
A better way to approach this common question is to ask, “what is the best stain for my deck and its environment?” A wood deck stain that performs well in humid South Carolina does not mean it will perform well in the snowy Midwest states. VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Laws come into effect for different parts of the country as well. This may limit what is available in your state or country. For example, TWP 100 cannot be used in 17 states and Canada that have a low VOC content of 250.
To understand a deck stain and its potential longevity, we should first look at why deck stains fail:
- UV rays from the sun will damage the wood resulting in degradation of the wood cellular structure. This will break down the stain while causing the wood to oxidize (turn gray).
- Water, snow, and ice will cause damage to the wood by breaking down the exposed cell structure.
- Freeze/thaw will expand and contract the wood resulting in the stain “bond” with the wood cells to fail.
- Mold, mildew, and algae will leave the wood unsightly/dirty and can result in rotting.
- High traffic areas will wear faster.
- The previous stain used was of low quality or applied poorly.
- The Stain was not applied properly or the wood was not prepped properly prior to application. Bad prep is the number one reason stains prematurely fail!
Once we figure out the main reasons for failure, then we should research what stains would better for your deck or exterior wood.
In our example deck, we will ask 5 questions. Based on these answers (Answers are in Red) we will narrow the choices to 2-3 stain brands:
Example Deck Questions and Answers:
- Deck Location State: Michigan
- Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade: Full Sun in Am, Shade in Afternoon
- Wood Type: Cedar
- Mold or Mildew Issues: No
- The reason for Previous Stain Failure: Dried Blotchy and Peeled after first Winter.
- Previous Coating? If so brand name and type of stain (Transparent, Semi-transparent, Semi-solid, Solid Stain): Behr Premium Semi-Transparent
Michigan is currently a high 550 VOC state, so all decking stains are currently available. If you reside in Canada, East Coast States, or California, then you may have different options. We would suggest a penetrating stain semi-transparent or semi-solid stain that does well with UV protection and fades evenly over time. Making future reapplication easier.
Based on these questions and answers we would suggest one of these stains:
- TWP 100 Series (TWP 1500 if you are in a Low VOC State)
- Armstrong Clark Deck and Wood Stain
- Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain
- Defy Extreme Wood Stain
Ask in Comment Section Below. Make Sure to Include Answers to the 5 Questions.
Feel free to ask what are “the best deck stains for my deck”? Just post a comment below and make sure to include the answer to the 6 questions.
Adding a picture or two of the current condition will help!
Feel free to include any additional information that would be useful!
We are having a new pergola and deck installed. What finish would you recommend?
1) location: Western Colorado elevation 5000’
2) west exposure: shade in early am…full sun at noon and in afternoon
3)wood: new redwood
4) no mildew or mold. Annual precipitation-8”
6) new redwood
See here about new decks: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
-East Tennessee…
-Pressure treated pine
-Morning sun, full afternoon sun, evening shade
-Had minor mildew after winters, pressure washed in spring
-13 year old deck with 2 previous applications of Behr Premium Semi Transparent stain. Have stripped the old, peeling stain, and neutralized the wood.
-Want to go with a solid stain in a different color this time. Any brand suggestions? Behr again?
Thank you
Use one of these solid stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
Behr makes poor deck staining products.
Where to buy these? Are they only sold online? Also, how to know what the colors look like?
You would have to check with each manufacturer as to where you can buy.
California…east of SanFrancosco Bay (Walnut Creek)
New redwood-no knots!! 990 square feet
Full sun
No mildew-no product failure
Issue: new deck, finished with Behr transparent penetrating stain; now to have additional coat as seems to get dirty; guy cleaned but now grain raised& “run patterns” down side of deck and on flat seating areas. I feel like the fabulous deck I had is destroyed!! Help!!
Strip it all off, brighten the wood and start over with a new stain. Behr is a poor brand and I believe you did not follow new wood tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
After you prep, try Armstrong Clark or TWP 1500 Series.
19 year old deck stained originally with Flood UV. Deck has been under 3 huge maple trees until a few months ago. Now deck will have full SSE exposure. I have stripped deck, planed and sanded all pickets and rails, and all other surfaces sanded. Deck looks new. 24×12 with 6×6 landing, and standard picket railing. Any recommendations on what to use? Cant be TWP 100 I am in MD. Guesstimate on how many gals?
You should treat this like new wood since you sanded: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
The TWP 1500 can be used here. We would need total sq footage of wood that will be stained to help with amount needed. The coverage also varies based on the brand you choose.
Since I heavily sanded and planed so that this treated deck appears new. I should wait until spring to apply Stain? This wood is all dried out being 19 years old.
Yes, that may be a good idea at this point.
Hello i just had a new deck built in the spring. I need to stain it for the first time.
It is located in Michigan.
It is in the shade about 90% of the time as it is in the woods
It is pressure treated pine
Clean and brighten for the prep. Stain with TWP 100 Series or Armstrong Clark. See this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Thank you for the info. One more question should I stain underneath the floor boards? If so on the first time I stain or evey time I stain?
No reason to stain the undersides.
I will be laying fir 1×4 boards on a south facing covered (but open) porch in southern MN. I’m hoping for the old fashioned porch floor look. The boards have been kiln-dried. Should I stain/seal right away? should I seal both sides of the boards? which stain has more paraffin in it- TWP or Armstrong Clark?
See this about kiln dried: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-kdat-deck/
Only stain exposed wood after weather and prep. AC would have more paraffin.
We have a new 2 month old pressure treated pine deck in a Philadelphia PA. There is sun for a few hours a day, then shade. Can you recommend how long we should wait to stain the deck and the best penetrating stain in gray?
Wait until Spring and then prep and stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Use the Driftwood Gray by Armstrong Clark.
I have a deck and dock located near Atlanta, GA that are each 4 years old. The decks were initially stained with Australian Timber Oil neutral stain by Cabot. The stain faded within a year and we cleaned and stained with Cabot oil-based stain. Both are transparent stain.
They both get partial sun in the morning and full sun in the afternoon.
The wood is pressure treated pine.
What is the best product to use? And which application method is recommended? I plan to strip and brighten with RAD with both additives offered.
Also, how soon can the wood be stained after cleaning? Does it have to be completely dry?
Thank you so much.
Try TWP 100 Series or Restore A Deck Stains. Only the RAD stain can be applied to damp wood.
Which TWP 100 color is most similar to natural? Is there a preference for the oil-based TWP or the water-based RAD stain? That really confuses me.
Thank you!
Honeytone is the lightest TWP color. Either stain would work well. One is not better than the other.
What would be the best stain?
Location: Northern Virginia
Sun: Full from 10 to 4
Wood: Pressure treated pine
Mildew: No, but part of the deck is less than 2 feet off the ground.
Reason previous stain failed: Time (it’s been 9 years since treatment)
Previous coating: Olympic Maximum Waterproofing Sealant
Deck is about 30 years old.
Prep well first and then stain with Armstrong Clark or Restore A Deck Wood stains.
New house near Madison, Wisconsin. I am looking for advice on what to use to stain (or paint?) the stairs in my garage. The stairs are untreated pine. They lead from the garage to the basement. They will get wet, snow and water. They are not exposed to the sun. They have not been treated with anything up to this point. I would just need to clean them for surface dirt and apply the stain. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
Try Restore A Deck Wood stains.
Deck Location State: Iowa (North Central)
Full Sun in mornings, shaded by mid-afternoon
Wood Type: Cedar
Mold or Mildew Issues: Yes
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: new deck
Previous Coating? None, new deck
Installed in summer 2018
Clean and brighten the wood for the prep and then stain with TWP 100 or Restore A Deck Wood Stains.
Deck location state: South Dakota
Primarily Partial sun/shade, full sun for short time
Mold or mildew issues:No
Previously had solid red on it which was in intact when we bought home and then in a month it was chipping everywhere as it appeared it had not been prepped properly.
Stripped, brightened, and sanded. Wood in excellent condition, looks like a newer deck likely in past 5 years.
Try Armstrong Clark or TWP 100 Series.
Deck Location State: Southern California (Los Angeles), inland.
Full Sun, southern exposure with no shade.
Wood Type: Meranti
Mold or Mildew Issues: No
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: turned (almost) black, then faded, looks dirty, lost water repelling properties
Previous Coating? If so brand name and type of stain (Transparent, Semi-transparent, Semi-solid, Solid Stain): Penofin transparent (ipe color), hardwood formula.
Installed in summer 2018
The Kreg edge fasteners used also failed, causing some cupping. I had to remove those and top screw. planing on sanding again. The penofin looked great for a month, then it started turning dark and splotchy. Now it is just faded and dull.
See this about exotic hardwood stain reviews: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/ipe-exotic-hardwood-stain-review/
Make sure to strip and brighten for prep.
Deck Location – southern Kentucky
Mainly sun with shade late afternoon
Wood – decking 20 years old
Little trouble with mildew; mild mold under railings
Used Armstrong Clark 2016, fading. Used the brown. 2-5 gal.containers
What do you suggest for next summer?
Try the same stain and color. Try Restore A Deck Prep Kits for prep.
Deck Location State: West Virginia
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade: Full Sun for most of the deck most of the day.
Wood Type: Pine
Mold or Mildew Issues: No
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: No stain applied, deck is approximately 3 months old. Applied Eco Wood Woodtreatment.
Previous Coating? I put on Eco-Wood as a treatment in the hopes that I would not have to stain, but I am not sure that will work so I am looking to put on a stain. It will probably have to be semi-transparent/semi-solid as the Eco-Wood speeds up the greying process of regular wood.
Clean and brighten for prep to remove the graying. Try Restore A Deck Prep Kits. Stain with Restore A Deck Stains or Armstrong Clark.
Deck Location State: iowa
half in sun, half shade most of daY
Wood Type: Cedar
Mold or Mildew Issues: Had some after not treating deck for about 5 years. Power washed and used clear+brightener and it is gone.
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: Untreated for about 5 years
Previous Coating? Unknown, home purchased 5 years ago, appears to have been a semi transparent stain that faded since home purchase, not peeled or cracked
The current stain will need to come off. Strip and brighten with Restore A Deck Products. Stain with Armstrong Clark or TWP 100 Series.
1. West Virginia
2. Half of deck and siding-Extreme mountaintop sun all day
*Remaining deck and siding – Partial shade all day
3. Pressure Treated Pine Deck, Cedar siding
4. Yes – blackish and greenish (partial shade side)
5. Extreme sun exposure cracked wood – Dried blotchy coverage and peeled after first year.
6. Builder grade, Semi-Transparent
We have 3,200 sf. of cedar siding and 350 sf of pressure treated pine decking. The entire deck and half the home are exposed to extreme sun. We built the home three years ago and re-stained the deck last year (really needed it). This year, it’ll need a retouch as the wood seems very dry, some bowing, does not repel water, and the stain color has dulled.
The sun exposed lapped cedar siding has dried, cracked, shrunk, and turned gray in some areas. The stain has dried, peeled off and/or worn away. I re-caulked last year, it has dried up, shrunk, fallen out and has left large gaps between the window/door frames and siding. Silicone caulk, used for windows and base of house butted to deck, remains intact but separates from the wood like long rubbery worms.
We’re just about to start staining our siding-for the first time after purchase and re-staining our deck. Based on reading your site articles and responses, and further internet research, we purchased Defy deck cleaner and brightener and plan to buy Defy Extreme Semi-Transparent stain.
Can you recommend a stain that will give us the protection we need and act as a deterrent to carpenter bees and ants, as well as termites. Also, would like to know what caulk I can get with enough elasticity and adherence to last as long as the stain. Any tips for maintaining my wood would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Sorry but no stain will deter bees, ants, etc. The Defy Extreme Stain would work well for this but make sure to prep well by removing all previous coatings. Sorry, but we do not have any caulk suggestions as we do not use it for our deck restorations.
Thank you for your prompt response.
Do you have any suggestions on how I can protect my deck in such harsh conditions after staining?
Sorry but nothing you can do. You cannot add anything over a deck stain. There is a product called Bug Juice that can be added to coatings that helps deter bees, insects, etc.
Excellent website…very informative.
Built a new fence out of very dry reclaimed redwood & cedar in the Tahoe area of the Sierras and put PPG Proluxe (Sikkens) Cetol SRD RE Transparent Matte oil based Dark Oak wood finish 1.5 years ago and it still looks great. We decided to use the same product except in the Natural color on a new redwood deck we built about a year ago near the coast (5 miles) in central CA ….waited 2 months for the wood to dry and applied the PPG Proluxe Cetol SRD RE Transparent Matte oil based Natural.
Now we are getting what we are thinking are black mildew spotting on most but not all of the deck…esp. on the horizontals that are in the sun.
1. Felton,California
2. Full sun, partial and shade
3 Redwood
4. Yes mold/mildew
5. black spotting and black discoloration
6. PPG Proluxe (Sikkens) Cetol SRD RE Transparent Matte oil based Natural wood finish
Tried pressure washing and most of the black comes off
So…..
* Is then product defective or me?
* Steps to redo the deck?
Thanks so much for your time, energy and very useful website.
greg
It is mildew. Best to strip it all off, brighten the wood, and switch brands. Try Restore A Deck Wood Stains or Defy Extreme.
Hey there, we are located in Memphis, TN. Our deck is in mostly full shade in the summer and no shade in the winter. Wood type is pressure treated pine, 15+ years old. Definitely have mold and mildew issues. Previous stain used was Behr Semi-transparent weather proofing all-in-one wood stain & sealer that did not penetrate into the wood but looked more like paint. It started to peel in some areas within one year.
You will need to power sand this off a stripper will not get it off if it looks like a paint. Clean and brighten for final prep after. Stain with Restore a Deck Stain or Armstrong Clark wood stains.
Hi
Our deck is in Omaha,NE
Gets sun from early afternoon to evening
Cedar
Some mold/mildew (try to keep snow off, but can sit for a few days when deep)
Deck is 17 years (‘newer’ half is 10 years) with a few replacement pieces
Past stains haven’t lasted past a year.
Have used semi-transparent almost every year and thinking of going to semi-solid so don’t have to do again next year
What would you recommend? Choices at Lowes and HD are pretty limited…
Strip and or sand off the current coatings. Brighten after. Stain with Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color.
Hello,
My deck is in north Georgia, near Atlanta.
Shade in the morning, Full Sun in Afternoon
Wood Type: Pressure treated pine
Mold or Mildew Issues: Yes
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: 2 year old deck was not properly prepped by contractor before spraying on stain. The appearance was splotchy. I added a second coat which looked great initially. Now there appears to be mold underneath the stain.
Previous Coating? Two coats of Cabot wood toned deck and siding stain in Natural (Transparent)
I plan to use the Restore-a-Deck stripper and brightened and adding both additives.
Which brand of stain do you recommend?
Thank you.
The RAD wood stain or TWP 100 Series.
Thank you, would I use one or two coats? And would I use the wet on wet application method?
2 coats wet on wet.
Hi,
I live in Southeast Wisconsin and our cedar deck is one year old. Previous stain was a semi-transparent Cabet stain that peeled horribly after the winter. We just power washed the stain off and it’s raining. But this coming week we should have 4-5 days of sun. We are looking for a semi-transparent stain which is easy to apply and will stand up to our weather for at least 2 years (fingers crossed).
Deck location-Lake Geneva, WI
Full sun until 4-5pm in the summer
Wood is milled cedar
NO mildew or mold
Just sun and snow damage on the vertical surface.
Is the picture the current condition? If so, you need to strip and brighten for prep to remove all the current stain first before switching brands.
Once prepped correctly, try TWP stains or Armstrong Clark.
Hi, looking for recommendations on which stain, when to do it, and what other prep I need to do.
Deck Location State: Anacortes, WA
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade: Full Sun in Am, Shade in Afternoon
Wood Type: Western Red Cedar 5/4″ x 6″ decking, cedar posts, cedar 2×6 rails
Mold or Mildew Issues: Not sure, there are weird black mildew-like spots showing up already, I’ve heard they could be tannins coming out. Wood has seen both rain and sun since installation. Also little specks from my roof shingles have fallen onto it, and I’ve heard these stains could be oxidizing metal. No idea if shingles have metal.
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: Brand new deck, less than 2 months old
Previous Coating? If so brand name and type of stain: No previous coatings.
Definitely disappointed there’s already “staining” happening, not even sure what it is. My plan was to rent a floor sander and hit the whole deck, then seal/stain it. I would also like to use two colors to highlight the picture frame or border design; one darker and one more natural cedar. Not opposed to cleaner and/or brightener if that’s called for with new wood.
Looking forward to your input!
See this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Deck Location State: Dallas, TX
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade: Full Sun in Am, Shade in Afternoon
Wood Type: Pressure treated pine
Mold or Mildew Issues: No
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: Negelect/too many years since last cleaning/restain. Have only been in house for a year, unsure of when previous owner last cleaned/stained.
Previous Coating? If so brand name and type of stain: Unsure what previous owner used, believe it to be Behr Premium Semi-Transparent.
Remove the current stain fully first. Strip and sand. Try these additives with the Restore A Deck Stripper: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-booster-thickening-gel-review/
Brighten after. Armstrong Clark Stain or Restore A Deck Wood Stain.
Deck location: Grand Junction, Colorado (near desert conditions)
South facing deck with full sun from morning through mid-late afternoon, then shade
New redwood (3 weeks old), the wood is very dry and seems to accept stain well on the samples we’ve prepared
No mold or mildew
We replaced the old, rotting deck by building a new deck a foot higher to bring it up to floor level of house
No stain on the wood now. We washed it with Behr All-in-One Wood Cleaner yesterday.
Too early to stain it. See this: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
We have a moisture meter and the wood measures zero in most places and all less than .15%. We opened up the wood with the Behr All-in-One Wood Cleaner deck prep that we’ve done. The sun is so intense here and humidity so low that we’re concerned that leaving it untreated through the winter would cause damage to our new 800 sq ft deck. We can probably wait another month tops but then won’t have temps above 50 until next spring.
Also, we were planning to use the transparent Behr Deck Plus, water-based but after looking at your recommendations, I’m guessing you would recommend a different product. We would like to see the beauty of the redwood with a transparent finish for the first couple of years before moving to a semi-transparent stain, if possible. Keep in mind that we live in a climate with annual rainfall of 8″ and summer temps near 100 degrees, winter temps below freezing with humidity nearly always below 30%.
Thanks for your help!
Susan
Deck Location State: Michigan
mostly shade, prone to mold and mildew
Wood Type: pressure treated pine
Mold or Mildew Issues: yes
staining for the first time, have power washed and cleaned many times. replaced two boards last week and want to get a stain on this week. Looking into TWP and Restore a deck after reading on your site. Wondering what would be the best for us to use
Either of those would work very well.
thanks for the response. We had to replace two boards, ok to stain those or should we do something different to them? Thanks again!!
Go ahead and stain them. Those two boards will need another coat next year though.
Deck Location: Hickory, NC
Shade morning and evening in summer; Full sun in winter
pressure-treated pine, 5 years old
semi-transparent water-based stain about 4 years ago
Not much mold or mildew.
Prep by stripping and brightening the wood. Stain with Restore A Deck Wood stain or TWP 10o Series.
Deck Location State: Southwestern Ontario
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade: Full Sun in winter, Full shade in summer
Wood Type: brown pressure treated softwood
Mold or Mildew Issues: yes – some sections very green
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: never stained
Previous Coating? none – deck is 3 years old
Clean and brighten the wood for the prep. Stain with TWP 200 Series or Armstrong Clark.
What is the best stain for our deck?
1. Kentucky
2. West facing, afternoon sun
3. pressure treated pine
4.no mold, no trees
5. new, 4 months old
6. first coat
Use Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kits. Stain with TWP 100 Series or Armstrong Clark.
What is the best stain for our deck?
1. Minnesota
2. Some sun about noon but mostly shade all day.
3. Cedar
4. Mold and moss, will need to replace a board or two.
5. Time to be redone.
6. Sikkens Cedar, one coat
Don’t mind a change of color to a dark brown. This is a very small deck/landing on the back of the house. We also have a front porch that needs treatment. This area gets some morning sun but is protected by the house so has no mold, moss or damaged wood. Would like to use the same product on both areas.
Strip and brighten to remove the Sikkens. Stain with TWP 100 Series or Armstrong Clark.
My deck faces the west with intense heat in Michigan. It currently has a solid stain (I cannot remember the brand) on it. The vertical spindles have some minor peeling which I have scraped and sanded down. The floor boards are fine. What would be the best product to use. I am hoping I don’t have to remove the existing product.
Look at one of these solid stain brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
I live in missouri. Deck sealer has been on deck for a week and it’s still sticky. Is it the humidity? We put on two thin coats and let it dry several hours in between coats.
No, probably an issue with over application or improper prep.
my deck was prepared and i applied two thin coats. what now?
Might want to call the manufacturer for help.
I have never used Behr’s before and I will never use it again. My store was out of CWF Flood which is the best. I should of waited instead of being talked into this “better” product.
Deck Location State: Missouri
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade: Full Sun in Am, Shade in Afternoon
Wood Type: Cedar and pressure treated
Mold or Mildew Issues: No
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: Replaced deck boards (horizontal), rails, stairs and risers last year, deck is seasoned, prepped now and dry
Previous Coating? If so brand name and type of stain (Transparent, Semi-transparent, Semi-solid, Solid Stain): Last Stain I used was CABOT Australian Timber Oil Redwood
Would like another oil based similar to Cabot, Cabot is very acceptable just seeing if there is anything better recommended by you.
TWP 100 Series. Better than Cabot.
Deck in Maine what product to use. ,am sun til 2 then shade, pressure treated wood built in 1990, no moldew, mold, previous coating Thompson water seal every 5 yrs but not done for the last 20+ years. Deck very dry,cracking.
Strip and brighten for prep. Stain with TWP 1500 Series.
What product should I use on my deck? Location Maine sun in am til 2 then shade, pressure treated wood, no sign of mold or moldew, previous coating was only Thompson water seal every 5 yrs but had not been touched in at least last 20yrs. Boards are very dry, cracks.
We recently stripped a deck that had a solid stain. We thought the prep was perfect. When we applied the semitransparent stain, it magnified every spot on the deck that the old paint was still on the wood. Any recommendations?
Strip and sand it all off completely is your only option beseide going back to a solid stain.
Location: virginia beach, va
Expodure: full sun facing south
Wood type: pressure treated
Previous coating: none
Mold: minimal on railings only
Previous stain: none
One deck is 6 mos old and one is about 3 years old. 3 year old is gray and needs a light sanding. Is there one product that is good for both or should we use 2 different products/procedures?
Same stain for both. Clean and brighten all wood. Stain with TWP 100 Series or Armstrong Clark Wood stains.
Thank you! I’ve never worked with oil base before. Is the oil significantly better for my application or is there a water base that would perform similarly? Thanks again.
A water-based stain will work well. Defy Extreme or Restore A Deck Stains.
Location: San Diego, California
Exposure: 100% in the sun all day all year
Wood Type: Redwood
Previous Coating: Super Deck Semi-transparent Redwood
Mold Mildew: None
Previous Stain Failure: Within months the color turned gray and became a powdery mess.
This is a deck around a pool, I pre-stained the wood prior to installation (recently learned via your site that isn’t good) but to date have only installed half the deck boards. I am starting the second half very soon.
The stain failed very fast; areas that have water contact failed quickly and areas that did not have water contact failed within months. I have washed the wood with a mild detergent and water to clean the wood. The stain came off very easy and looks much better without the stain.
Can you recommend a stain that will be long lasting, withstand a pool environment and tolerate the hot sunny weather of San Diego?
Thank you!
Try Defy Extreme or TWP 1500 Series.
1. Wisconsin
2. Full Sun
3. Treated Pine
4. No mold or mildew issues
5&6. Never been stained/sealed. Installed last summer.
Clean and brighten the wood for prep with Restore A Deck Kits. Stain with Armstrong Clark or Restore A Deck Wood Stain.
I appreciate your input. Thanks!
Location State: Syracuse, New York
Wood Type: Treated Southern Yellow Pine – YellaWood Company – Home Depot
Previous Coating: Behr Premium Solid Stain – 10 Yr. Warranty
Mold or Mildew Issues: No
Previous Stain Failure Reason: Did not last a year. Flakes off most every board easily. Performed the correct prep and wait period.
Prep: Sanding the entire 22′ x 16″ desk floor back down to bare wood.
Age of Deck: 2 years old
To fix this you would have to power sand to remove all of the solid stain. Once removed, use a penetrating stain like TWP 1500 or Armstrong Clark.
Would Defy Extreme be acceptable?
Yes.
Location: Norfolk, VA on a tidal brackish river. Full sun most of the day
Wood type: 6 month old 2×6 PT dock and a 3 year old PT 5/4 deck.
Previous coating: none on dock, we believe none on deck (second owner)
The deck has a little mold (railings) and is greying – it also needs a light sanding (scratches from dog nails and just a few rough spots after pressure washing.
We prefer semi-transparent. Is there one product that is best for both the dock and the deck or do we need 2 different products?
DECK LOCATION: Denver Colorado East morning sun and West afternoon sun
WOOD: Cedar
Deck is pressure washed and clean, previously coated with transparent Super Deck
NO mold issues
Will you please inform me if there is a higher quality transparent product available than Super Deck?
Thank you, eddie
All of these are better than Super Deck: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Thank you so much for your reply, it is much appreciated. We began the process of sanding our redwood deck down to bare wood. I have attached a photo. If the deck was yours and you resided in the mountains of Colorado with intense afternoon sun hitting your deck every day, what product would you choose? Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
eddie
Look at TWP 100 Series. Make sure to clean and brighten for final prep after the sanding. Just one coat since you sanded,
Deck Location: Ann Arbor, MI – East facing with direct sun in the AM and shade in the PM
Wood: Pressure treated pine – not sure on age but did replace some boards within the past 4-5 months
Deck is cleaned and sanded, needs to dry and then ready for stain. Looking for suggestions on semi transparent vs semi solid. Also looking for suggestions on brand of stain… current looking at Olympic Elite Semi transparent/solid but after reading all your reviews on TWP I am considering picking up that brand… bottom line i don’t want to have to deal with peeling down the road!
Thanks!
Use the TWP. Much better than Olympic.
Deck location: Harrisonburg Va. west facing with morning shade and direct hot afternoon sun. Gets too hot to stand on in summer. Snow in winter. Tends to mold.
Wood: pressure treated pine 5 yrs old
Previous stained twice with Benjamin Moore Arbocoat semi transparent waterborne exterior stain with mold resistance added.
Was power washed to get rid of mold. No longer beading when rain like when first done.
Treated with Remove by Benjamin Moore.
Would you recommend another coat of removal or sanding?
What stain?
You will need to remove this. You will have to power sand to remove. Once removed, use Restore A Deck Stain or TWP 1500 Series.
Deck location: Long Island New York- Sun in the morning until about 2:00pm and shade in the afternoon
Wood Type: The deck is new cedar
Reason for failure : none
Previous coating: none
Being in the north east we do get some snow in the winter
See here for new wood tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Deck Location: Tampa, FL – lots of rain and always humid
Partial Shade
Wood type: Pressure treated wood (will pressure wash)
Some mold and mildew issues in spots that always have shade
Reason for failure: its been at least 2 years (I bought house 2 years ago)
Previous coating: Behr Premium Low-Lustre enamel Porch & Patio Floor Paint (that’s the can I found in the garage)
I would really like to do this this weekend as we have a respit from rain for a few days so info asap would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks so much
If you already have a porch paint then you will need to use a porch paint again that is similar or the same. We do not use or rate these type of products as they tend to peel.
Deck Location: KY – winter snow build up
Full Sun in Afternoon
Wood Type: Pressure Treated Pine/ wood grain can be seen (obviously needs sanding after power wash)
Mold and Mildew Issues closest to house under the overhang
Has not been stained in years
Previous Coating: No info – reddish/orange stain (no peeling)
Make sure to remove all previous coatings of stain. Stain with TWP 100 Series or Armstrong Clark Deck Stains.
Deck Location State: Indiana— winter snow
Shade in Am, Full sun in Afternoon
Wood Type: Cedar
Mold or Mildew Issues: only in a small area, On side closest to house under the overhang
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: 3rd summer for stain. Deck is 4 years old
Previous Coating: Sherwin Williams Super Deck oil based transparent.
Strip and brighten the wood with Restore A Deck Stripper/Brightener Kits Stain with TWP 1500 or Restore A Deck Wood Stains.
We have started yesterday evening with a TWP 1500 Pecan. Is there anything we should do about the moisture/dew that has set this morning? It doesn’t seem to be dry yet. Will it just increase dry time?
No issues, it will be fine.
Pressure Treated Pine Wood Fences: 4ftx20ft, 8ftx80ft, 2yrs old never stained or painted
1. Live in Atlanta, GA
2. 4ft Fence: Morning Full Sun, Afternoon Partial Sun, Evening Full Sun
8ft Fence: Full Shade morning, Afternoon Partial Sun, Evening Full Shade
3. Pressure treated pine wood (yella wood)
4. No mold issues. Slight graying of some of the most sun exposed 4ft fence pieces.
5. Want to treat wood for aesthetics (like ceder tone orange/red and show some wood grain) and preservation
6. No previous coatings
Make sure to prep. Clean and brighten with Restore A Deck Kits. Stain all with TWP 100 Series or Restore A Deck Wood Stain.
Deck Location State: NJ
Full Sun in Am, Shade in Afternoon
Wood Type: Appears to be cedar
Mold or Mildew Issues: Incidental
The reason for Previous Stain Failure: No maintenance
Previous Coating? Don’t know
Prep well and stain with Armstrong Clark or TWP 1500 Series.