Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by Defy Help
2023 Update on Oil Based Deck Stain Myth
Are oil-based deck stain better than water-based? We appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.
There is no denying that oil-based stains have had their place in the stain industry. Oil-based stains have been used to protect wood siding, cedar siding, wood shakes, decking, fencing, and many other exterior wood surfaces for decades. Oil-based stains have been around longer than any other type of stain formula. However, there are a few lingering myths that accompany oil-based stain. Or another way to look at it is that there are a few old truths about oil-based stains that are no longer true. Let’s explain.
The oil-based stain myth that oil is better than water-based stains may have been true several years ago. In the past few years, however, water-based stain technology has really come a long way in performance. Defy Extreme is a perfect example. This industry-leading water-based stain uses nano-technology and high-grade resins to reflect and absorb damaging UV rays. These particles act as a sunscreen and redirect harmful ultraviolet rays that would otherwise fade and grey out an exterior wood surface. This technology is unmatched by other leading water-based stains. It is a first in the industry, a true breakthrough in technology, and has a good case against the oil-based stain myth that oil is better.
This new technology helps reduce water infiltration, prevents fungal growth, and stops UV damage. This type of water-based stain lasts longer than past generations of water type stains. This nano-technology increases the stain’s performance by 200-600%, which is unheard of. Perhaps this eradicates another myth that oil-based stains last longer or are more durable. This just is not true with this new light stabilizing technology.
Another oil-based stain myth may be that oils are safe for the environment. Most oil-based stains are in fact not safe for the environment. In fact, some oil-based stains are banned in some states due to VOC compliance laws. Water-based stains are eco-friendly and are available and can be shipped to all 50 states. The fact is that oil-based stain myths have been busted by recent water-based stain technology and the evidence is there to support it.
I have a mildew cleaner question. I have Defy Extreme Hardwood cedar-tone semi-transparent on the first five feet of white cedar clapboards on the side of my house. Above that I have ten feet of sanded (bare) clapboards. It’s been raining most days since spring, which is very unusual for New Hampshire. Mildew has set in on both the stained and, to some extent, the unstained clapboards. I am most concerned about getting the mildew off the bare clapboards, so that if it ever quits raining, I can stain those boards. Is there a cleaner I can use on both the bare and stained clapboards? I ask because the cleaner is going to run down onto the stained boards when I clean the bare boards, unless I am really, really careful. Thanks!
Whatever you use to clean off the mildew will damage/discolor the stain below to some extent. It will not be possible to prevent this.
Do I need one coat or two? I am staining the exterior walls of my house with Defy Hardwood Stain. I will be staining cedar clapboards that I have stripped and brightened it. Your online instructions are deck oriented but mention that only one coat is needed for vertical surfaces like fences. Can I assume from this that I only need one coat on my cedar sided house?
It depends on how rough or absorbent the wood is? Do you have pictures?
Most of the clapboards have a corduroy texture with relief 1/64th inch, more or less. A scattered few clapboards have coarser relief.
Two coats wet on wet. Spray on light first coat and then back brush a second.
Unfortunately the forecast is windy and there are a lot of windows to cover-up with not much wood between. I’d prefer to use a brush alone but the stain might lack body to hang on a brush. Could I use a roller or stain pad to get the stain onto the wood and immediately brush it out? I’d then do a light wet-on-wet with the brush alone.
You can do two coats wet on wet with a brush or stain paid. Do not roll.
The front of the house looks great so far! I will do the other three sides next summer. I had hoped the wood would soak up more stain. My moisture meter said the wood was dry. The first coat of Defy soaked up readily. A minimal second coat did not soak up and there is a shine. The previous stain was Olympic Maximum Clear Penetrating Acrylic/Oil Formula and I have a hunch it had paraffin oil/wax in it from looking into the old paint can. Stripping must have removed the surface part of the old stain, but what about the old penetrated stain? Thankyou!
Looks great so far. We are not seeing much of a shine or any shine. You should be fine with how you are applying.
We doubt the paraffin is causing any issues.