The Dirty Little Secret About Solid Deck Stain

Earlier this past week I was watching a video of a Contractor, talking about how excited they were about applying a solid deck stain to a deck in the backyard of one of their Clients’ homes.

They could not wait until they applied it to the deck surfaces (which had previously been bare), to sew together the paint job that they were in the process of completing on the rest of the home.

[Joestacemazjojo]

Thank you very helpful. I am a painting contractor and only do a few decks a year. Almost everything I watch says solid or semi solid is way to go. This time the paint store( Purcells) who we have always used suggested semi transparent and then come back in a year or two and then go semi solid. I was a little lost with my client as to why but this makes a little more sense now.

[pcthayer]

Thank you for your video. I live in New England and my deck is about 25 years old. I've used Behr semi-transparent stain on it since it was built. It is showing its age and I first was thinking of the DeckOver product but saw disastrous reviews and videos, so was going to use a soild stain this time instead. After seeing your video, I guess I will stick with the semi-transparent stain and tolerate the imperfections. (I have to re-stain every year or two but at least it isn't pealing so the prep work isn't that bad.)

[cmcer]

I read some of the comments below and after having; listened too not watching anything I concluded that this was a complete waste of time as it don't tell you how to deal with anything when redoing your deck.

[jamesjoslin]

As a professional, Ive tried Everything! NOTHING holds up more than a couple years. My 30 yr old deck is au natural.

[rfcasey]

Even after using a semi transparent deck stain, you are going to have to sand and prepare at least every 2nd year. The only solution I use now is 3 parts Linseed Oil 2 Parts Thompson's Oil Based Water Seal and 1 Part Paint Thinner. On a yearly bases, I just clean, netruelize, and re-stain.

[awoodmann]

I live in south eastern Wisconsin. I would think the climate is similar to New England. I have a 30 year old treated wood deck. I reseal it with solid deck stain once about every six to seven years. It looks great. I don't believe a deck needs to be resealed every year.

[willletourneau]

very odd, my Home Depot soils stain lasted around 15 years. Stripping it back down now. I live in Ct. Deck on the North Side.

[andrewclark]

If you know what you're doing you have nothing to worry about

[tarynsanmartino]

Thanks. Have tried s few things and not happy. Used primer made just for this app. and both primer and deck paint just peeling to surface. Haven't figured out anything that works well or lasts. Was going to try the drum sander to even out the boards now at least 20 years old. I suspect thus won't work. Perhaps the only answer is composite. Probably cost prohibitive. Definitely need help getting this done right.

[burnafterreading]

They’re failing because you’re not prepping correctly. The stain needs to penetrate. The thumbnail here clearly shows a film built on top of the wood which of course will fail. Sanding doesn’t always work on pressure treated and same with power washing. Need to use oxalic acid to open the pores, do an absorption test, and then stain it when there’s no sun on the deck. Do that and you’ll have a good time.

[nunyabizz]

I use Sherwinn Williams Superdeck waterbourne SOLID deck stain and it always last a minimum of 4 years before it needs to be redone.
We live in the mid Atlantic states, 100+ degree summers, high humidity, pretty much never stops raining. Winter will get down to high teens but doesn't last long. The deck gets about 6 hours of direct sun although I do have two large umbrellas that I leave open alot to shade some of it.

[garcd]

Olympic max last me 2 years then I touch up.

[macc]

Acrylic deck stain does not penetrate wood. No matter what the claim on the can states as to how many years it will last on horizontal surfaces. It's a disaster. Even the water soluble oil deck stains don't penetrate like they used to. The government outlawed the good deck stains years ago because of the VOC emissions. And it is true that the original grain of the cedar being tight makes it even more difficult for even the best oil based stain to penetrate.
I even sanded with 60 grit Emory clothe to rough up the surface and put down acrylic. By the next spring you have peeling. If your deck is built from rough surface 2x6's you'll get a little more life out of the stain but it will not be lasting what the manufacturer states on the can. You can apply it in 100% the correct manner and it will still peel. It's an industry failure to come up with acrylic that adheres. Maybe they don't want to so we can all keep on shelling out 50 dollars a can, which some rob 27 ounces out of too ( not a gallon anymore). Break your back redoing it so it can peel again and you can buy more every Summer.

[antennawilde]

New deck: Let it weather a year then apply a transparent stain.
Aging deck: pressure wash and apply a semi-transparent stain.
Old deck with layers of peeling stains on it: Pressure wash, prime, and use solid body stain or 2 coats of paint.

[davondd]

Yeah this is shit! I bought a house and I never had a deck before so yeah I learned a lot😔.

[husher]

I did this to myself and its garbage for sure and then your only option is to keep going or belt sand lol sad days

[luigirizzo]

So wrong. The problem is you paint contractors don’t prep the wood properly. Heres a dirty little secret. If you are using a pressure washer you’re doing it wrong.

[josephlucas]

This is guy is very miss leading about what he’s talking about. This videos is completely false