Peeling is generally a sign of a lot of excess film on the surface and not enough penetration. This could be due to surface contamination, high moisture content in the wood, a previous stain not allowing the new stain to penetrate, or a wet on dry application instead of wet on wet.

You don't. How long a finish last depends on its clarity and how it is applied. The sun's UV rays penetrate the finish and breakdown the surface of the wood beneath. Darker and more opaque finishes prevent the rays from penetrating and the finishes last longer. Quality clear and wood tone finishes can be expected to last 2-3 years. Semi-transparent finishes (those that have a color but allow the wood grain to show through) will last 3 or more years.

Probably not. If the finish is sound and there is no sign of wear, you probably only need to clean the deck. Look for an oxalic acid cleaner and follow the label instructions. Your deck will be clean and the color restored without bleaching.

I prefer to use a large brush or a mop. You want to get large amounts of Stain Solver liquid on the deck surface. Hand pump sprayers often apply too little solution to the surface. If you must use a sprayer, make sure the product has dissolved completely or you will clog the nozzle! Also, be sure you spray on lots of liquid.

When you're looking for a painted-kind-of-look to match you home exterior, or when the deck has been totally neglected, solid stains hide and conceal any cosmetic imperfections that the lumber may have.

Ans: The insulating additive will help keep the deck cooler while providing a slightly slip resistant surface.

Aesthetics: Clearly the outside of your home is a great source of pride. Having a manicured lawn and beautiful, clean deck allow for a great outdoor living experience. Entertaining, cook outs with family and friends on clean, protected surfaces create joyful memories that last for years to come. The best way you can protect your deck is power wash cleaning and professionally applied protection products.

All of our products are high end. Certain products will do better then others depending on your particular environment or type of wood that you have. If you came to our store looking for a certain brand name then we would suggest sticking with that. Please email us if you have any questions and we will be more then happy to suggest a certain brand depending on your situation.

That's an opinion call, but if you do, you will have to do it again every year. We recommend letting it grey naturally and washing it 2 or 3 times/year with Sunlight dishwashing soap to keep it clean and pollution-free.

Creative Wood Products has their own private label stain called Deck Gold. Deck Gold is an oil based semi-transparent sealer and stain in one. It is a unique blend of resin, pigment oil, mildewcide and UV protectors that penetrate deeply into the wood to protect and preserve it. Deck Gold can be used on all types of wood except Redwood. We also carry Superdeck Products, Superdeck is a natural oil, transparent stain designed to maintain the beauty of your wood.

You should certainly protect your deck from unnecessary moisture intrusion and the harmful effects of the sun's ultra-violet rays. Use of a penetrating stain, containing water repellant ingredients in most cases will protect your deck best. The pigment in the stain will absorb the ultra-violet rays from the sun and protect the wood fibers from degradation. In most cases a stain will need maintenance every 2-4 years while clear sealers require maintenance every 1-2 years.

Every deck expands and contracts in the summer and winter months, causing nails to pop. This requires maintenance to hammer the heads back down.

If using a semi-transparent stain, like DEFY, apply only as much stain as the wood can easily absorb and take care to brush out any puddles that may form. If you put enough stain on to form a gloss on the surface, it has been over applied and will, more than likely, in time, peel. The Spring and Fall certainly offer the easiest conditions to work in.

Sure can! We can change your deck's color and look from red to blue. This is only available in staining products.

First, ask yourself, what do you want your deck to look like? If you like the natural beauty of wood, look for a clear or woodtone penetrating finish. These finishes enhance wood's grain and character while providing protection from water and the sun's UV rays. Expect the finish to last 2-3 years. If you want to add a touch of color but still want to see the grain of the wood, then a semi-transparent finish is what you need.

No. Nearly all stains contain a waterproofing additive, which is just as effective as that used in waterproofing sealers. Often, application of a waterproofer over a stain is counterproductive because the surface is no longer porous enough to accept the waterproofer.

Even though the lumber may be kiln-dried before treatment, using water-borne preservatives restores moisture to the wood. Too much moisture in the wood may prevent the stain or paint from penetrating the wood sufficiently. It is best to test the wood by painting or staining a scrap piece to see if it applies properly. If not, wait until it does. A water repellent should be applied annually. Do not use latex paints. Semi-transparent, oil-based stains work best.

On a horizontal surface, Penofin may be expected to perform for an average of 9-18 months and 3-5 years on a vertical surface. The time will vary depending on the percentage of sunlight, weather, etc... Yes. All Penofin wood finish colors contain the same ingredients, just different amounts of colored pigments. However, you will not be able to make the surface lighter by applying a lighter shade. As always, you should test a small area before use.

No, "New Wood Defender" is recommended on pressure treated wood, as well as Cedar and Redwood during the first year of weathering. Wood Defender is a latex based product used to stabilize new exterior wood. This product is treated with fungicide to prevent the growth of mildew.

Unfortunately, the answer is no. The old stain will need to be removed before a new finish can be applied. Look for an outdoor stain remover designed to work with both oil and acrylic finishes. Stripping the deck is not difficult but be sure to follow the label directions closely. Once the deck has been cleaned down to the bare wood, apply the clear, woodtone, semi-transparent or solid color finish of your choice.

Not really. Rollers were developed more with paint in mind. Using a roller will often times simply push the stain around on the surface and not force it into the pores. It can also leave a stipple effect in the finish when the stain has dried. If you are using an oil-based stain…definitely. You can use DEFY stains, which are water-based products, even when the surface is slightly damp.

In order to achieve the beautiful finish you want, you need to begin with a clean, dry surface. Flood's StainStrip? Exterior Stain Stripper can be used to remove even the most stubborn coatings like acrylic or oil-based solid color or semi-transparent stains.

We recommend a two coat application. For a more transparent look, add up to 1 pint of water per gallon of stain for the second-coat application.

Dry time to apply the second coat will be approximately 2-4 hours. Dry time to use a deck will be approximately 48 hours. Maximum cure and dry time may be prolonged when high humid or damp, cool conditions prevail.

You can clean up tools by using warm, soapy water. If Flood Semi-Transparent Stain is allowed to dry on tools, remove with paint remover.

Crystal Clear sealers will not filter out UV rays for very long or at all. A transparent tinted sealer acts like sunglasses for your wood, filtering the UV rays and prolonging discoloration. You can use a clear sealer but it will gray very quickly.

A film forming coating is a product that does not penetrate into the wood completely. A product that does not penetrate can result in premature peeling and or flaking. All of our wood deck stains will penetrate into the wood when applied properly.

The product does not require traditional timber treatments or any other kind of treatment BUT it will of course require normal cleaning with a pressure washer or hose/brush with a weak bleach solution or proprietary deck cleaning product to remove surface debris.

Pressure treated wood will not rot, but it will cup, warp, split and splinter if it is not sealed so water will not absorb and then evaporate in a number of cycles