Deck Staining Help - Deck Stain Questions and Answers

RE: Deck Staining Help

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Fri, 15 May 2026 13:57:43 +0000

@lpre You have an overapplication of the old stain from years of use. This needs to be reoed fully down to the bare wood. Look at the RAD Stripper Kit:

https://www.deckstainhelp.com/product/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit/

With both additives:

https://www.deckstainhelp.com/product-category/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-additives

Once removed, look at using the TWP 1500 Series.

https://www.deckstainhelp.com/product-category/twp-wood-stains/twp-1500-series/

RE: Deck Staining Help

lpre — Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:01 +0000

I live in the greater Seattle area, Washington, on the north side of a small mountain so it gets a bit more rain and shade than nearby areas. The upper deck is attached to the back of the house so it's mostly full shade. The lower, larger deck gets partial shade. We've been in this house for 5 years so I don't know how old the deck is, but there have been a few rotten boards that were replaced two years ago. I don't see pressure treating scores in the deck boards and I can't identify what kind of wood. When a new aluminum ramp was added 5 years ago, a new small connector of yellow cedar was added and that piece has been a problem with stain wearing off quickly. Complicating things was a recent pressure washing from some well intentioned but inexperienced young men just starting a business. They put a bleach solution on the wood and it took a good amount of the stain off before I could stop them. Up till now, Sherwin Williams Super Deck oil-based transparent stain in the Redwood color has been used and it definitely is holding up better on the boards that have been repeatedly stained. I was going to book Ace Handyman Services to try to get this restained and could use some advice on how to handle things, so I know what to ask them to do and materials needed. Thanks!

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RE: Deck Staining Help

lkn8 — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:13:28 +0000

It was stained initially with transparent Behr Waterproofing Wood Finish (Cedar Natural tone), and that is what I restained with 5 years ago. It started peeling after a couple years, but then I got pregnant and had a baby so this summer is the first time I have been able to get around to it again. I was thinking to do the Behr Waterproofing Wood Finish again (mostly because then I don’t need to redo the side rails as those still look good) but use TracSafe anti-slip sealer as a top coat on the floor boards. The pictures above are the only recent pics I have unless you want pics of the can of stain.

RE: Deck Staining Help

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:55:55 +0000

1. I live in MA

2. Full Sun

3. Not sure, looks like the boards at Home Depot, Premium GC weathersheild

4. A bit of mold and/or mildew at certain joints

5. Just didn't last long

Was it stained prior? If so, we need to know the brand and type of stain and pics for proper prep advice.

RE: Deck Staining Help

lkn8 — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:07:20 +0000

1. I live in MA

2. Full Sun

3. Not sure, looks like the boards at Home Depot, Premium GC weathersheild

4. A bit of mold and/or mildew at certain joints

5. Just didn't last long

RE: Deck Staining Help

lkn8 — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 12:37:15 +0000

Hello, I would appreciate some advice about my decks. We have 2, a small side deck and a larger back deck. We bought the home 5 years ago, the home (and presumably the decks) were 7 years old. About four years ago I re-stained the deck with Behr Waterproofing Wood Finish, which was the brand the previous owners used. It looked good, but started peeling 2-3 years later (I am not sure I used brightener after destaining). I was recently told by a family friend to use urethane as a top coat after the stain next time.

So earlier this year we did the side porch, and used Varathan Spar Urethane as a top coat. It looks ok, but was too smooth and slippery (even though we added Behr Anti Slip Finish Additive to the top coat) so we had to put down anti slip tape.

Now we want to do the back deck, and we were thinking to do the Behr Waterproofing Wood Finish again (mostly because then we don’t need to redo the side rails as those still look good) but use TracSafe anti-slip sealer as a top coat on the floor boards.

But before purchasing that stuff I wanted to make sure it wouldn't hurt the deck. Is there a better option? After reading some of the reviews on your site, I am now more inclined to try something like restore a deck wood semi transparent stain if I could get a similar color to Behr’s Cedar Natural tone, so the railings don’t look weird. What do you reccomend for anti-slip surfacing?

I don’t know much about stain or sealers, but I want to protect the decks better moving forward as we already need to replace a few boards that have rotted.

Thank you in advance for any advice,

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RE: Deck Staining Help

ouduckpond77 — Fri, 02 May 2025 14:46:58 +0000

@administrator Thanks!

Would the stain stripper also take exterior paint off as well? Do you think I need to do both stripping and sanding? Can I just do one or the other? Recommendations on a semitransparent stain?

RE: Deck Staining Help

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Fri, 02 May 2025 14:39:11 +0000

@ouduckpond77 Behr is a filming stain that applies more like a solid stain than a semi-transparent one. It will need to come off and that will require stripping and power sanding.

RE: Deck Staining Help

ouduckpond77 — Fri, 02 May 2025 14:19:31 +0000

I live in GA and my deck (Pine) gets partial shade but mostly hot sun. I put down new decking about 3 years ago and used a Behr semitransparent stain (big mistake). Starting last summer, the stain began to peel and now I need to fix it. Should I sand or use a deck stain stripper? Only issue I might have with the stain stripper is that my railings are painted and I am afraid the stain stripper may accidently get on the railings. Would I be safer to just sand? I have stained several decks and fences over the years and never had any issues. The first time I use a Behr product, and it turns into a disaster.

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RE: Deck Staining Help

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 17:23:32 +0000

Can I leave it as is throughout winter and do restore-a-deck in spring? (Woodstock, NY.)

Yes.