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deck stains

Deck Staining 101

The Best Deck Stains 2025

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Updated for 2025 – Best Deck Stains

Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain: A Top Performer

One of the newer, more impressive stains on the market right now is the Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain. It’s a water-based, synthetic resin, semi-transparent stain made with high-quality resins that bond firmly to the wood. A key advantage of this stain is its same-day application—you can apply it right after prepping your deck, saving both time and effort. While it may cost more than budget options, its long-term durability makes it a worthwhile investment.

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Deck Staining 101

How To Stain Your Deck Faster and With The Proper Tools!

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Deck Staining Tips 2023

One of the questions that I get asked as a Deck Restoration Expert is how long should it take to stain a 500 square foot deck? My typical answer is 2-3 hours which usually gets a blank stare or a laugh. The fact is that I can actually do it in half the time. The key is having the proper tools and a few tips to make the process more efficient.

These suggestions will make your deck restoration project faster, with less mess, and with a better overall appearance.

Equipment Needed:

  • Deck Stain Pad – These work better than brushes as they are more absorbent and they allow you to “push” the stain into the wood.
  • Deck Floor Mop – Same as stain pad but much bigger. This tool alone can save you a substantial amount of time while applying the stain perfectly even.
  • Pump Up Sprayer – Usually plastic. This applies the deck stain faster.
  • Large Plastic Tarp – Catches drips and over-spray on bushes and grass.
  • 9×12 Canvas Trap – Contains overspray when using the sprayer on the railings.
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TWP 100 Series

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TWP 100 Pro Series

The TWP 100 Series will now be called the TWP 100 Pro Series! See here for More Info: TWP 100 Series Label Change

When it comes to preserving any exterior wood surface, it’s important to know that the wood stain you use can make all the difference. For the do-it-yourselfer,. there isn’t anything more essential than getting good results. Whether it’s a wood deck, fence, cedar shakes, wood siding, or other wood structure, choosing the right deck stain will make or break the project.

When searching for the right deck stain for your situation you should consider many different factors – overall appearance, stain longevity, ease of application, price, and so on. What you want to avoid is using the wrong exterior stain. Many of the deck stains sold at the home centers are inferior in comparison to a contractor-grade stain.

Try to steer clear of deck stains that are heavily pigmented and color solid. Also, stay away from stains that are 100% acrylic and/or have silicone in them. These types of wood stains stay on top of the surface and form a film similar to paint. Climate and temperature changes cause these film-forming stains to crack, flake, and peel leaving your deck or other wood structure in worse shape than it was. Once this type of deck stain does fail, it’s extremely costly and labor-intensive to remove but a necessary evil to restore the wood. It’s best just to avoid these types of deck stains all together.

Most wood experts agree a better choice is a semi-transparent deck stain such as TWP 100 series. This non-film-forming deck stain protects against water and UV damage by penetrating deep into the wood. TWP 100 deck stain is mold and mildew resistant to prevent wood rot, decay, and structural damage. The TWP Stain is an easy to apply formula which makes it the perfect deck stain for the enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer looking for professional results.

With over half a dozen tones to choose from, you’ll get the look you want and the protection you need. See why the experts recommend TWP 100 series deck stain. Experience lasting results and protect your investment for years of enjoyment.

For a low VOC version visit TWP 1500 Series

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Is Staining a Pressure Treated Deck Necessary

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Pressure Treated Pine

Pressure Treated Pine

There seems to be some confusion on the part of consumers concerning pressure treated decks. This is one of the most popular choices for deck lumber due to its durability and fair cost. Through our experience, we have found that many homeowners are under the impression that pressure treated wood does not need to be stained or sealed.

The main reason that some homeowners think this is due to the word “treated.” Many people believe that treated means that it’s already protected from the weather. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

The chemical treating process that is normally done at the lumber mill, is to deter termites and other insects from eating the wood and nothing more. Similar to railroad ties and utility poles being treated with creosote, pressure treated lumber for residential use is normally treated with preservatives like sodium borates and chromate copper arsenate.

The wood is placed inside a locked cylinder then vacuum and pressure are both applied to force the preservatives into the wood, thus “pressure treated.” Again, it’s all to deter bugs and some types of fungal decay but there is no protection at all from the sun’s UV rays or moisture.

Therefore, like other woods used for deck construction, pressure treated lumber needs to have an aftermarket deck stain or sealer applied to it for sufficient sun and moisture protection. When pressure treated lumber is protected properly with a deck stain, and maintained every couple of years, it can withstand the elements for a very long time.

Pine Deck Stain

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Deck Stains – Water Based vs. Oil Based

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It’s highly important to protect your exterior wood surfaces such as decks, fences, wood siding, outdoor furniture, and other exterior structures. These surfaces are subjected to unforgiving weather conditions during all seasons. A quality wood stain will save you time and money spent on wood maintenance.

Unlike paint, which forms a film atop the surface, wood decking stains penetrate the surface providing better protection and allowing the wood characteristics to show through. Whether you want to make the wood grain pop out with a semi-transparent deck stain or hide it with a more solid color, it’s important that you provide some measure of protection. Another choice is whether to go with oil based deck stain or water based.

Water Based Deck Stain

Water Based Deck Stain

Water Based Deck Stains

Water based wood stains will normally adhere better to a surface that has formerly been painted or stained with an oil based stain. A water based stain will also retain its color better than oil. They are more breathable meaning they won’t trap moisture which can cause a stain to fail. Other factors worth noting with water based stains are fewer odors, a quicker drying time, are non-flammable, and they clean up with soap and water. Water based wood stains are usually recommended for woods that naturally resist rot and decay, for example cypress, redwood, and cedar.

Oil Based Deck Stains

Oil based wood stains are commonly suggested for wood decks, fences, gazebos, and other surfaces exposed to harsh weather. They offer better penetration than a water based stain and excellent durability in tough conditions. A longer drying time is expected, but this actually allows the stain to accomplish a more even finish.

Oil Based Deck Stain

Oil Based Deck Stain

Hybrid Deck Stains

Some deck stain manufacturers offer a hybrid wood stain consisting of both water based latex and oil. These hybrid type wood stains offer some of the benefits of both water and oil based stains.

Choosing an exterior wood stain should depend on the situation and the surface you are staining. Many factors can determine whether you should use an oil or water based stain. Ask yourself what you are looking for in a stain – durability over better color retention – easy cleanup over a more even finish and so on. Research the stain and see what others are saying about it before you make a decision and be sure you are getting a quality wood stain so you get the results you want.

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Why Paints Do Not Work on Decks

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English: IPE Deck Stain

Penetrating Wood Deck Stain

Wood decks have always been very popular. They add extra outdoor living space to your home, increase your home’s value, and provide a great place for family outings or just relaxing. Wood decks however, do need to be protected from the environment if they are expected to last many years.

To protect a wooden deck you have several choices. Deck stains and sealers come in many different textures, tints, colors, and varieties. Deck stains are certainly the best option for providing adequate protection from the weather and the sun’s harsh UV rays.

Many people ask if painting a deck is a good option. Most experts will agree that paint will not work well for protecting a wood deck. If you have ever seen a painted deck that has failed you probably noticed the paint was cracking and peeling.

Wood expands and contracts naturally with changing temperatures and weather conditions. Paint also expands and contracts but not at the same rate as wood. This indifference in fluctuation causes the paint to crack over time.

Because the bottoms of the deck boards are normally not coated with paint, moisture will still penetrate the wood. Unlike a more breathable deck

stain, paint traps this moisture in the wood which causes the paint to peel and flake. Normally the peeling and flaking is first noticeable near the edges of each board.

Reasons Not To Use Paint on a Wood Deck

  • Paint requires time and labor intensive methods to maintain.
  • Requires 2 coats to be more effective in the elements.
  • To have any duration of protection with paint, a primer should be used first which adds to the cost.
  • Paint will inevitably fail by cracking and peeling, and when it does, it’s costly to have it removed and replaced.

If you want the solid color look of paint, a solid colored deck stain is a better option. Semi-transparent deck stains can have tint and color added to them as well. Deck stains penetrate the wood as opposed to creating a film on top of the wood like paint does. Deck stains and sealers are a much better choice over paint for protecting your wooden deck for years of enjoyment.

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Deck Stain Help | Ratings and Reviews

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For most homeowners, restoring or maintaining an exterior wooden deck can be a difficult task. With all the available products for deck stains, deck cleaners, deck stain strippers, and wood deck brighteners it’s difficult to even know where to start.

To help homeowners with the enormous task of restoring and maintaining their wooden deck it all starts with finding the right information. DeckStainHelp.com offers tons of reviews and advice to get your deck done right.

With 5 years worth of reviews for all available wood deck stains, deck stain strippers, deck cleaners, and deck brighteners it’s easy to find the right products for restoring your wood deck.

The deck stain reviews are a collection of unbiased ratings of how different deck stains perform and hold up after a 2 year period. Specific deck stains and deck cleaning products are given an overall score on how well they perform. This makes it easy for homeowners to compare one product to another without a biased opinion or sales pitch.

Many deck product reviews and articles will also help answer the most common deck restoration questions. There is also a deck restoration forum where homeowners can ask specific questions and read a wealth of information.

Restoring and maintaining a wooden deck can be a difficult task. Being armed with the right information and the best products available will certainly make the job easier, saving you time and money. Check out DeckStainHelp.com for the latest up to date information for deck restoration articles, deck stain ratings, and wood deck tips and advice.

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Deck Stain Turned Black?

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We have had many questions as to why a wood deck stain has darkened or turned black in color after a few years. There are many reasons why this can happen to any of the wood deck stains that are on the market.

  • Stain did not cure/dry properly. This typically happens from over application resulting in pollen, dirt, etc getting into the stain while still tacky. If pollen from trees gets trapped in the stain, then mold and mildew can grow causing the stain to darken in color.
  • Very wet climate resulting in mold and mildew growing on top of the stain or even in the stain.
  • Inferior stains containing “cheap grade” of linseed oil without adding the proper mildewcides to combat future growth of mold/mildew.
  • Very High UV index can darken the stain. Many wood deck stains contain trans oxides. If there is a tremendous amount of UV then the stain can darken in color.
  • General dirt and grime from trees offering little to no sunlight.

Some wood deck stains are more prevalent to darkening in color then others but by no means is this common issue related to just one brand.

Here is a list of Wood Deck Stains that are not prone to darkening in color:

TWP Deck Stains

Defy Wood Stains

Armstrong Clark Stains

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Storm Shield Deck Stain at Guthrie Lake

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My home is a lakeside property on Guthrie Lake, which is a lake home community just north of Oklahoma City. I re-designed and re-built my front deck back in the summer of 2009 and once I had finished the re-construction work I chose Storm Shield as my exterior stain, wood protectant. I could not be more pleased with how Storm Shield Wood Stain applied, holds up to weather and wear and looks on my deck. I chose Storm Shield cedartone as my stain color and I get many compliments from passer-bys and neighbors about how nice it looks on the deck. My observation is that the Storm Shield cedartone goes on with a lot of  “vividness” which at first can almost seem too much, but once drying occurs the color becomes much richer and looks wonderful on the wood, see attached picture.

st

I use the deck often and have a good amount of foot traffic but the Storm Shield that was applied has held up very well. I will probably re-apply a new coat of Storm Shield next summer as it is finally showing just a bit of wear in the steps area but I will have gotten 3 full years of service from my application and that is better than I really expected given the challenging weather conditions of Oklahoma and my home being in a country environment.

Storm Shield customer
Doug Lacina

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Defy Deck Stain Dealer

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Looking to purchase Defy Deck Stains? Then visit one of the main distributors on the Internet at:

Defy Deck Stain Dealers

DefyStain.com is operated by The Sealer Store and is the single largest wood deck stain distributor on the Internet. They offer free shipping on all 5 gallon pails of Defy Stains and Masonry Saver Products.

DefyStain.com is now shipping to Canada as well. Duty Free!

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Best IPE Wood and Deck Stain

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IPE wood is an exotic hardwood that is the most popular of the “Ironwoods” out of South America. It is used extensively for exterior wood deck construction in the United States. It is an extremely dense wood and is natural resistant to rot and decay. When an exterior transparent wood stain is applied to the IPE , the result is a beautiful rich look of brownish red tones.

The problem is that IPE wood stains typically last only 6-12 months before all the color is lost and the wood starts to gray. This is not the fault of the stain but the fault of the wood and lack of penetration into the IPE.

Fortunately we have pictures of the Best IPE Stain to date as far as color retention! These pictures were taken in Arizona at 5500 feet elevation. The top half of the board is Armstrong Clark in Mahogany color. The bottom half is Cabot ATO in Mahogany Flame color:

Now here is a picture after 14 months in the Arizona sun. The board was placed on a roof top facing south. In addition the wood has been exposed to heavy snowfall and frost:

As you can see the Armstrong Clark Mahogany Stain has easily outperformed the Cabot and still holds color after 14 months in a high UV index. Here is another picture of comparing the Armstrong Clark Mahogany and the Cabot. This picture was take in the Sierra Nevada’s.

This is after 12 months of exposure:

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