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14/10/2021 5:31 pm
Five years ago I stained my deck, starting with Behr Semi-Transparent stain on the flooring and stairs, but changed to Defy Extreme Semi-Transparent for the spindles and most of the railings. (The Behr was more like a heavy coating, which I didn't like, so I just finished the
horizontal surfaces with it, since I had already started. I should have backed out earlier, but that's water over the dam.) The Defy is a very nice penetrating stain. I've stripped about 1/3 of the Behr stained surfaces using Restore-A-Deck stripper also using the booster and gel additives. I'm preparing the stripper per instructions, waiting the prescribed amount of time to let it work, scrubbing with a deck brush, and then using my pressure washer rated at 1,600 PSI. It's taking 2-3 applications of stripper to get most of the stain off, VERY labor intensive with all the scrubbing, and still leaving some stubborn patches of stain remaining. I'll need to sand these before re-staining. About 2/3 of the Behr stained areas remains to be done.
QUESTION: For the rest of the flooring with the Behr stain, would you recommend sanding first (e.g. with a rented orbital deck sander) or continue with my current process, getting most of the stain off first with the chemical stripper and then sanding any remaining areas.
The Behr is a bear to get off! 🙂 Thanks!
Topic starter
14/10/2021 10:41 pm
Thank you Deck Stain Help. Question answered! Your recommendation is what I was leaning to. Good to get your take on it. Btw, your description of Behr is very accurate.
07/08/2022 7:37 pm
Time for a re-do.
I have a similar problem. I bought the highly-touted Behr semi-transparent stain for a new KDAT pressure treated deck. Six-year warranty. It failed inside 2 years. Behr replaced the stain under "warranty." Twice. Max life was the original 1-1/2 to 2 years. All prepping IAW directions from Behr. Moisture confirmed with moisture meter below 12% (okay by Behr). Not going back. Tired of sanding and the run-around, don't want to start another 2-year cycle with Behr.
Full sun in Virginia, southern and western exposure
No surface wear, but existing stain is flaking off (10%), heavy mildew (15%), and longitudinal cracks (40%)
Not going back to HomeDepot for more Behr stain.
My intent is to go to RAD semi-transparent stain (I really, really like seeing some grain). IYPE, how many applications of the RAD stripper would you expect me to have to use? I'm okay with spot stripping after spraying, will spot-sand if I have to. I've got a sprayer and a pressure-washer.
I would deeply appreciate any recommendations, especially if there is something that can be added to prevent further mildew problems or increase UV-protection.
17/09/2022 2:19 pm
Yes, the Behr is just a poor product. As contractors for many years, we cannot say anything good about the Behr deck stains especially when it comes to fixing them.
We just had a new deck built by a local contractor which we loved, until he put the stain on. It was a clear oil based Behr stain. What we have now is a bright yellow deck which is not aesthetically pleasing at all.
Our contractor said to change the color he would need to re-sand then reapply a new color which he said will be darker.
From what I’m reading here it sounds like the deck will need to be stripped, brightened, washed and possibly re-sanded before staining again with a different product/color.
Is this true regardless of the type of stain used? Is the removal process the same for the Behr oil based as it is for the water based or their acrylic based stains?
Not knowing anything about stain we had no idea a clear stain was going to turn the deck yellow and assumed it would be without pigment. The contractor chose the stain.
We would like to remove the stain properly. Is there a stain that has very little pigment? We just want to protect it, not color it.
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