Deck Stain

[Bonibelle]

Last year I listened to Consumer Reports and painted my decks with Cabot stain. It was supposed to be the best!! This year it looks really bad..already. It is all streaked and I am so disappointed. You can't put too much of this stuff on the wood or it will puddle and become slippery when it dries. I was very careful and  did everything right..according to the manufacturer's directions and it was a ton of work. My decks combined are about 45X 12 with lots of steps and railings..  I just spoke with a friend who had the same experience with Cabot. :-? :-/

Has anyone had better luck with another product? I can powerwash the deck, but the Cabot is a stain so I can't get it out of the wood. I would like to cover it over and darken the deck to a nice EVEN cedar color.

[brewski]

Bonibelle,

In previous years I have had good success with a brand called "Coronado". It was recommended to me by a friend who owned and operated a paint store in south central PA where I use to live. It worked well not only on my deck (52 x 14) but also on about 400 feet of cedar fencing around the yard.

Brewski

[Bonibelle]

thanks Brewski. I was able to find a dealer in Delaware, not too far from me but I think the stains are translucent or semi translucent so I don't know if it would help me since my deck is streaked from the Cabot stain. wish I could afford to completely replace the decking..

[Cdn HockeyPuck]

I had the same problem, did everything according to instructions and BAM spring comes and the stain is chipping off. Here in Canada I found a stain stripper at the Canadian Tire store that did an awesome job. I just put it on the deck, waited 15 minutes or so and then used the power washer on it and most of the stain came out. The best part was it was biodegradable. The worst part was it really stings if you get it on your skin. I saw some similar products in Home Depot as well.

[Bonibelle]

Thanks Dave, I guess that will be my first project. Ironically, I used the stain to try to make the decks all blend together. They were built at different time, so the wood appears very different in color. My husband is not great with doing any of this, so there was never anything put on the wood to protect it.

We just bought a new powerwasher, so I will check HD and Lowes for the stain remover and then start over. Maybe I will try the product that Stuart told Bosco to use on his cedar cabinet. Guess it would work for decks too..

[stuart]

Thanks Dave, I guess that will be my first project. Ironically, I used the stain to try to make the decks all blend together. They were built at different time, so the wood appears very different in color. My husband is not great with doing any of this, so there was never anything put on the wood to protect it.

We just bought a new powerwasher, so I will check HD and Lowes for the stain remover and then start over. Maybe I will try the product that Stuart told Bosco to use on his cedar cabinet. Guess it would work for decks too..

I rented a deck sander from Home Depot, sanded all three decks and power washed them ( you have to be careful and go with the grain using a wider nozzel) then put the Flood UV on waited 20 minuets and put on another coat. It looks great....The stain looked kind like a light pink wax as it was going on but once it soaked in became a deep rich brown. It also beads up water nice. For my privacy blinds I used my air sprayer...I just stapled plastic on the backside and sprayed away!

My decks are 10 years old, went without stain for a few years in harsh sun and heavy snow and now they look new.

I applied the stain to the deck with a broom type stain pad.

[spaman--]

I rented a deck sander from Home Depot, sanded all three decks and power washed them ( you have to be careful and go with the grain using a wider nozzel) then put the Flood UV on waited 20 minuets and put on another coat. It looks great....The stain looked kind like a light pink wax as it was going on but once it soaked in became a deep rich brown. It also beads up water nice. For my privacy blinds I used my air sprayer...I just stapled plastic on the backside and sprayed away!

My decks are 10 years old, went without stain for a few years in harsh sun and heavy snow and now they look new.

I applied the stain to the deck with a broom type stain pad.

I think we need to talk about your tardiness and the real excuses you use. It seems like you had to spend alot of time working on the decks. HMMMM? :-?

[Bonibelle]

Deck sander..is that like a belt sander? How tough is that to operate..that sounds like just what I need.  

[run1stride2nd]

Bonibelle,

I have some experience with deck stains.  I did mine about 5 years ago.  Sanded the deck with a floor sander, nice and smooth, then roughed it up just a bit with some heavier grit.

The best stain that I have found is SIKKENS.  Its expensive, but its already 5 years old on the deck, screened porch, and front steps.  I used the color "NATURAL" and most people think that I have hard wood floors outdoors.  When the tree's drop sap, all I do is a light scrub with TSP and a bucket of water.  Brightens right back up.  

Don't skimp.  3 coats is a requirement.  Use a 4" wide horse hair brush, and lay it on thick, all 3 coats.  Expect to pay about $80 per gallon, I used about 8 gallons for all of my outdoor wood.  Spend your time re-sealing and staining every year, or pay one time and clean each spring and fall.

Here's a link to some pictures.  I took a picture of the screened porch floor after 3 coats to show you what it looks like NEW, and the deck shots show you what it looks like after 5 years (outdoors).

Hope this helps......

Run1stride2nd

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9AZMWbFq4Zsy6&emid=sharshar&linkid=link5

[stuart]

Deck sander..is that like a belt sander? How tough is that to operate..that sounds like just what I need.  

A deck sander looks like a buffer....you will have to buy the sanding pad and sand paper but you can rent the sander.

[Bonibelle]

WOW run1...that is a beautiful deck.. I don't mind paying for a quality product, it is MY time that is the issue. I just don't have the time or energy to repaint my deck each year.  I will try to find your paint at a local dealer. And I am going to check out that deck sander too..I think if I took off the top layer of the stinko stain, I could penetrate the wood enough underneath to get an even coat of the good stuff.
This is a perfect fall project...I just don't want to be doing it EVERY year! I also have the issue of all those rails and spindles (what ever they are called)...and the lattice under the deck..I would be sanding until I am 100 years old..

[stuart]

WOW run1...that is a beautiful deck.. I don't mind paying for a quality product, it is MY time that is the issue. I just don't have the time or energy to repaint my deck each year.  I will try to find your paint at a local dealer. And I am going to check out that deck sander too..I think if I took off the top layer of the stinko stain, I could penetrate the wood enough underneath to get an even coat of the good stuff.
This is a perfect fall project...I just don't want to be doing it EVERY year! I also have the issue of all those rails and spindles (what ever they are called)...and the lattice under the deck..I would be sanding until I am 100 years old..

I just powerwashed the spindles and lattice, took a palm sander to the top rails and then stained.

[tony]

WOW run1...that is a beautiful deck.. I don't mind paying for a quality product, it is MY time that is the issue. I just don't have the time or energy to repaint my deck each year.  I will try to find your paint at a local dealer. And I am going to check out that deck sander too..I think if I took off the top layer of the stinko stain, I could penetrate the wood enough underneath to get an even coat of the good stuff.
This is a perfect fall project...I just don't want to be doing it EVERY year! I also have the issue of all those rails and spindles (what ever they are called)...and the lattice under the deck..I would be sanding until I am 100 years old..

I am not a fan of Sikkens.  It is certainly quality and the decks shine but you MUST maintain every year.  If not, the shiny surface will peel off like a plastic coating.  Then you must sand them down like a hardwood floor and refinish.  I know it was mentioned in another thread, but I really wouldn't use it on a wood spa cabinet.  Stuart's Flood UV or CWF are penetrating wood preservatives and work well on decks and are easy to use.  You have to apply these on a regular basis also but if you skip a year or two it just fades and comes back with a quick application.  Check out Super Deck transparent stains also.  

[run1stride2nd]

Tony,

Not sure what you used when you tried sikkens, but CETOL DEK is what I used.  Their SRD product is the other end of the spectrum.  I've had the stuff down for 5 years out doors, and haven't seen the first sign of peeling (in Virginia).  I clean with TSP, brush, and a light power wash every year in the spring and fall to get the tree sap off the deck.  

The steps and porch on the front of the house are 15 years old, and looked terrible.  Sanded it down, coated with Cetol Dek, 3 coats, and still looking good  I had to repair some deep scratches from the snow shovel this year, but other than that, no signs of mildew, or peeling.  

I have also used the Oil Based Stain on all the pickets, rails and lattice with similar results........that's all the white area's you see around the deck.

All I can say is you must follow the manufacturers directions.  They told me to use SRD on surfaces that were within 1 foot of the ground, and Cetol Dek on all the other surfaces....no difference in color, but something to do with the way it bonds.  I did use it on the lowest steps just in case.

I've tried so many products, so far this one has outlasted.   I've recommended it to many of my neighbors, some of them don't want to go past the first coat since its a bunch of work, but they haven't seen the same results.  I also like that it fills in all the screw heads that are counter sunk in the 2x6 lumber, makes for a nice finished look when it dries.

Let me know if anyone has questions, I'm happy to share my experience with the product.  If anyone decides to try the product, make sure you ask the paint shop for their recommendations for your application.  This stuff is so expensive, you want to make sure you get it right the first time.

Run1stRide2nd...........(I'd rather be out on my bike, or running, rather than staining my deck).

[Tommithy]

SuperDeck

http://www.superdeck.com