[Sticky] Deck Staining Help

If OK, I'll ask this here. I have a composite deck and we'd really like to change the color of it. We just bought this house and this was installed already. It looks to be about 5 years old, maybe? Not sure. But we do know we really can't stand the USS Missouri Battleship Grey color, definitely does not go with anything in the yard.

My question is, is there any coating that can durably coat this composite? The usual suspects at Home Depot suggested Behr's DeckOver, but after looking at reviews online, I don't want to spend $500 and a tough mother of a day painting it with this stuff, then having it peel the first time a chair is skid across it or a hard freeze comes.

I'm posting three pictures of the decking (including a left over piece), but since it was pre-installed on this house, I have no idea who made it. I'd really just like to find out if there is any super adhesive, super tough paint or coating that will stick to this decking, it's pretty slick stuff.

Thanks!

Sorry but we do not have any experience with staining the composites. Definitely stay away from the Behr though.

I live in South Texas on the coast where it is very hot and humid. I have a new deck and boat lift that was constructed in August 2016 with new pressure treated pine. I am trying to figure out what will be the best stain for my environment but also I am having a difficult time choosing a color so I want something that if in a couple years I don't like it I can easily change.

I think I have it narrowed down to TWP 1500 (Pecan or Rustic) or Defy (not sure on color). Also I know Defy has a Marine line but that's about all I know about it.

Any advice or help is greatly appreciated!

No need for the Defy Marine. Look at the TWP 100 Series as it penetrates newer wood better. We like the Pecan color.

Thank you, I was concerned that the 100 series would not hold up as good in the harsh marine environment, 3/4 day full heat over 100 and salt air.

When asking questions on Deck Staining please include:

• 1. State you live in: Greensboro, North Carolina

• 2. I am a contractor so I don't live on the property. The deck is on the back side of the house and that is facing northwest. It probably is shaded in the morning and gets 6 hours of full sun or more per day. The north side of the deck has green algae. The deck floor has black mold or mildew. 

• 3. Type of Wood: Treated Pine

• 4. Mold or Mildew Issues: yes plus green algae on north facing steps. 

• 5. Main Issues with Previous Stains: Previous stain (Sikkens Cetol Dek Finish semi-transparent) Peeling and flaking and popping up. Lots of wear. 
• I realize I will have to strip the old off entirely. This is a big deck. The underside joists are painted as well but the underside deck boards are not. I have been told that the underside of the deck boards should be stained as well . What is the best process/product(s) to use to strip and what is the best stain to go back with? I have also been told that an oil-based semi-transparent would be the best although there are those that swear by a solid stain. I am leaning towards the semi-transparent with a high tongue/linseed oil content. Seeking professional advise on this. I am attaching pic of the deck. 

That is not going to be an easy strip as they used the wrong Sikkens on this. When it films on top of the wood like a varnish, stain strippers have a very hard time getting through the coating to be effective. Honestly, we would probably not take on the project as contractors. Not that it cannot be fixed, but because it is hard to quote it correctly based on the extreme difficulty in removal. If we were to do it, this is how we would approach it:

1. Use a stain stripper to remove as much as possible from the horizontals and verticals. You will have better results on the horizontals.

2. Sand the rest of the stain off the horizontals.

3. More than likely you will not get off all the stain on the verticals and sanding is extremely hard here.

4. Go with a two-toned deck. solid stain the verticals to match the trim of the house and a penetrating semi-trans for the horizontals.

See this:  https://www.deckstainhelp.com/advantages-to-having-a-two-toned-deck/

In the future, the maintenance is much easier with a new coating on the floors every 2 years and touch up on the verticals every 3-4 years.

Thank you for your response. Would you say that this job should be a time and material quote?

 Also, I have been told that it is best to also stain the underside of the deck boards. What are your thoughts on this?

And what stain stripper would you recommend?

 I am still reading the reviews for your deck stains and I went through all of your responses to North Carolinian's who queried about their deck and needs. Three products, Defy Extreme Stain or TWP 100 Series, and Armstrong Clark, keep popping up in the responses by you. I don't like the idea of using a water-based stain on the deck out of those products, the TWP 100 series or Armstrong Clark seems best. 

 I have been also looking at a product by Davlaur Coatings called Wet Wood Stain.

 This is what that site says about it:

 DavLaur Coatings offers a premium line of environmentally friendly coatings and stains.  Led by our flagship product, Wet Wood Stain -- a semi-transparent stain for decks, fences, log homes, and siding – it’s our mission to formulate products that keep us, and our customers, ahead of the marketplace.

 WET WOOD STAIN

 Wet Wood Stain, first introduced in 2008, was the first stain on the market to use nano-technology in its ultra-violet protection package, providing exceptional protection against fading and graying. All colors are made with trans-oxide pigments, and we use one of the highest pigment contents for a semi-transparent on the market, so colors remain rich and last longer than the nationally advertised brands.

 Wet Wood Stain’s technology incorporates oils into a water base, allowing it to be applied to damp or wet wood, displacing the water and penetrating the surface, curing to a long-lasting finish. Wet Wood Stain is made of a unique blend of Tung Oil, a tough resin typically used in premium furniture stains, and linseed oil, which is noted for its flexibility. The result is a finish that is highly durable yet able to expand and contract with changing weather conditions.

 Wet Wood Stain has a very low volatile organic content of 3.4 grams per liter making it environmentally friendly as well.

 It has been tested by third-party labs for resistance to bacteria and mold and has received the highest rating attainable after being subjected to over thirty strains of commonly occurring bacteria in the United States.

What are your thoughts about the Wet Wood Stain as described above?

I have been a bit leary about giving a firm estimate for this project and you have confirmed that for me. 

Hello,

As we mentioned before, we have never used the Wet Wood by Davlaur. It sounds exactly like Wood Tux from Extreme Solutions. We have used that one with decent results.

Time and material quote sounds better for this one. You do not have to stain the undersides unless already stained or for appearance purpose. For the Stain Stripper, use a powdered stripper that can be mixed stronger if needed. Restore A Deck Stripper is what we use.

I used the Flood Pro Series Solid Stain last year on my new deck.  I used treated lumber and let the deck cure for 6 wks and cleaned it with deck cleaner before staining.  Can I put the CWF clear sealant on top of that this year.  I'm in Denver - deck has straight sun almost all day.

No you cannot add a clear sealer on top of a deck stain. It will not be able to soak in.

do TWP 100 and or TWP1500 come in semi solid colors 

Posted by: timk

 

do TWP 100 and or TWP1500 come in semi solid colors 

   

No they only come in semi-transparent.

I live in Florida. Deck gets full sun in afternoon. I'm assuming the deck is pressure treated pine.

No mold issues.

Former owners applied either Behr semi solid stain or Behr Deckover. Empty cans of each in garage.

No bubbling or peeling but wood is drying out and cracking slightly.  

I pressure washed the deck. Do I need to sand or apply stripper before stain with new semi solid stain.

Posted by: JaxBill

 

I live in Florida. Deck gets full sun in afternoon. I'm assuming the deck is pressure treated pine.

No mold issues.

Former owners applied either Behr semi solid stain or Behr Deckover. Empty cans of each in garage.

No bubbling or peeling but wood is drying out and cracking slightly.  

I pressure washed the deck. Do I need to sand or apply stripper before stain with new semi solid stain.

 

   

You will have to remove the old coating. Strippers will most likely not remove all. Try stripping what you can and then sand off the rest.