Product Feature Spotlight: Penetrating Water-Based Stain

Jan 15

Deck Restoration Plus is an amazing product that defies industry norms. Many people have a perception that all oil-based stains are penetrating and that all water-based stains are film-forming. The truth is that there are both penetrating and film-forming oil and water-based stains. While recognizing that most water-based stains are film-forming, we are the “exception to the rule” in that Deck Restoration Plus stains absolutely penetrate the wood surface and go “into” the wood. You may ask why this distinction is important. At Deck Restoration Plus we recognize the need for some film-forming products. However, when it comes to quality deck stains that will wear, it is much easier now and, in the future, to maintain a penetrating product that requires future maintenance.

This leads us to our “Product Feature Spotlight” and the penetrating characteristic of our stains. When the stain is first applied, and it penetrates into the wood it starts a foundation in the wood that lasts over time. As the surface part of the stain wears from foot traffic and the elements over a 2–3-year period, it is now time to “spruce up” the deck and wood surfaces. At this point we call this “maintenance” as we are going to maintain” the existing coating and not let it wear too much. When the coating wears too much then we must start all over again in many cases. When we can maintain the coating, it is a simple cleaning of the deck to removed and worn, oxidized coating, and organic growth like mold and mildew. Once this is accomplished, we can re-stain the deck, this time with 2 coats on the horizontal surfaces, applied wet-on-wet, and one coat on the vertical surfaces. Staining in this method will keep all surfaces looking consistent because vertical surfaces take twice as long to wear. Film-forming coatings, once removed or worn, leave the wood exposed because there is no base, as there is with a penetrating product.

Now that we are ready to re-stain the deck and it is wet, what do we do? Well, with Deck Restoration Plus Deck and Wood Stain, you can apply the stain to wet, damp, or dry wood! This leads to another Product Feature that we will Spotlight in a future blog!