Update on Asking Questions for Defy Stains 2019
We love hearing from our customers who have used the Defy Stains or have questions on prepping and application. We appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.
DEFY wood and deck stains contain advanced quality synthetic resins that resist mold and mildew growth, are easy to apply and environmentally friendly. How your Defy stands up to the elements varies though. A stain's longevity is directly related to the preparation of the wood and how the stain is applied. At DefyStainHelp.com, we want everyone to have to best possible results when using the products we sell.
Please give us some details about your wood restoration project.
- Structure? Examples: Decking, Fencing, Wood Siding, Dock
- Wood Type? Examples: Redwood, Cedar, Treated Pine, Exotic Hardwood
- When was Wood Installed?
- The last Brand of Stain used if any?
- Additional Info if Needed
Please respond to these questions in the comment area below so we may offer some advice and help.
Thanks
TWP Stain Help Staff
Ask a Question
848 Comments on "Ask Questions on Defy Stains"
We applied the Cedartone on some wood slats for some of our chairs. After a few rains the stain has bleed itself onto the concrete. Do you have suggestions on how to clean this off the concrete?
Try a water-based graffiti remover and pressure washing.
Brick house is mix of red tan and brown brick I like stain natural pine clear or butternut I think. what do you suggest I don’t want it to be too dark. Help appeciated
Butternut is dark brown. Natural is golden. You can get samples here: https://www.defystain.com/defy-stain-samples.html
I have a smooth cedar deck. Last summer the contractor applied extreme wood stain he assured me he prepared the deck correctly. The deck is starting to peal on some boards. There are also lap marks. I am having come back this spring to correct. We live in Wisconsin. What should I have him do? Do we sand the pealing area . Should I change products – go to deck stain for hardwood? go to the wood oil for decks? Please help. Thank You
Sounds like he over applied it and/or did not prep correctly. Strip and brighten at this point for the prep. The Defy Hardwood stain does soak in better for cedar wood in cold weather states.
its winter in Colorado, temps high 40s in day and 20 in evening
should i apply now or wait till spring
These temps are too cold. Wait until Spring.
This spring staining a new log home. What color is 02 in Defy stain?
There is not a color called or designated “02”.
My garden walls/steps/tree house are made from Home Depot’s brown stained pressure treated lumber. I left it alone for 6 – 12 months to dry out. The brown stain is fading and definitely in need of sun/water protection. It’s a lot of wood so I’m not going to sand it all down to prep. Can Defy be applied as is? Thanks.
No. The current stain will need to be removed. Typically a stain stripper will remove it: https://www.defystain.com/defy-stain-stripper.html
and then a wood brightener:
https://www.defystain.com/defy-wood-brightener.html
Last year I completed a clients deck in Alaskan Yellow Cedar. I met with my painting contractor’s tech Rep and they recommended SW Super Deck. The color was great, but It’s lack of penatration was obvious and color could be rubbed off. We are now going to pressure wash and restain deck. Which, if any, of your products would you recommend for Alaskan Yellow Cedar?
After removing the Super Deck, use the Defy Extreme Stain: https://www.defystain.com/defy-wood-restoration-products/defy-extreme-5-gallon.html
After applying Defy Extreme to outdoor sanded oak wood furniture, should I apply the defy Sealer for extra protection from south-facing sun at 8,000 foot altitude or is it not needed?
Not needed nor can you apply a sealer over the Defy Stains.
I am planning on using DEFY semi-transparient on a year old PT deck. I will need about 3 gallons( mabye a little less as the railing are painted). My question: how long will the 5 gallon stain last( still be good to use) after opening. Will it still be good to use the next year?
See this for tips: https://www.defystainhelp.com/defy-stains-shelf-life/
I spilled some defy stain on concrete. I immediately sprayed the area with water. The stain remains. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Not easy to remove from concrete. Try graffiti remover paint stripper and a pressure washer.
How long after applying the single coat of stain to my new deck do we need to wait to walk on it and put furniture in place? Night temp about 45 daytime about 70.
24 hours.
I recently used Defy products to stain my deck (treated pine), but forgot to do a second coat on the railing. It has obviously dried since applying the first coat. I read all of the warnings about not letting the stain dry before applying the second coat. Do I need to strip and redo the railing or can I simply add an additional coat or some other solution? Thanks for the input.
Leave alone for now. In the Spring, lightly wash to remove any dirt and apply the second coat then. It will adhere much better this way.
Can Defy stain be used on outdoor furniture? (mine smooth planed cedar)
Will the application of multiple coats darken the color as with most stains?
Yes and yes.
what do you recommend for cleaning Defy stained deck boards?
For reapplication, the Defy Wood Cleaner.
Just to clean the dirt off, no reapplication.
Try warm water and some dish soap. Use a very soft bristle brush like the one you use the wash a car.
I just finished staining pressure treated wood deck steps at 4:30 p.m. with Defy Water Based Deck Stain. Should I cover them overnight to protect them from the morning dew?
No need.
I have a new deck I need to stain. The deck is wood but the balusters in the railings are anodized aluminum (dark gray). Will the wood cleaner and brightener harm the finish on the balusters? What about the stain itself? Will the stain harm the finish?
See this about new wood: https://www.defystainhelp.com/prep-new-wood-for-defy-stains/
You should avoid getting the prep products and the stain on the spindles.
Do you have the instructions available in Spanish
We do not.
Want to restain a treated pine deck that is about 9 years old. I stained it with Olympic brand stain about 3 years ago. It lasted less than a year. Deck is about 10 ft off the ground and is not covered. What prep do I need to do and once stained what will be needed to maintain? I live in West Virginia and wonder if I should start my project with winter approaching or wait til spring?Thanks in advance for your feedback.
You will need to remove the Olympic. Either by stripping and or sanding. Once removed, use the Defy Wood Brightener. You can do this now or Spring.
What type of prep is needed for 30 year old exterior cedar lap siding that has been cleaned and stained every 3-4 years with the ACE hardware oil base cedar stain? Siding is in good condition.
Post a picture of the siding, please.
how long do i need to wait between cleaning and pressure washing my treated pine deck and bridge at my fishing cabin before i apply Defy semi transparent stain?
48 hours after prep.
I have a PT deck that is about 10 months old. Should 1 or 2 coats be applied?
One coat.
Due to the uneven weathering from the covered to the uncovered area, the only way to apply and have it look even when done is to strip and then brighten.
I appreciate the quick response. Do you mean strip the whole deck or just the area under cover that hasn’t weathered like the rest?
Thanks
All.
Wait until Spring would be best. Prep and apply one coat. How to prep will be based on what it looks like in May.
I have a Doug Fir porch installed fall 2016. On recommendation of contractor sealed with Pure boiled linseed oil. What a disaster! Parts of it turned BLACK!! Was told about Defy products and cleaned and brightened yesterday (2-15-18) and it looks great. However, some of the boards have a fuzzy appearance now, though they don’t really feel fuzzy. Before we stain with Defy (which product), should we sand? If so, what grit? Rinse or broom off before staining?
Lightly sand off the fuzzies using 80 grit. Rinse with water well when done and let dry before applying any stain.
I am having to re apply stain every year. would putting 2 coats give me more time in between coats. and can the two coats be applied 5 days apart.
2 coats will give better UV protection but make sure the stain fully absorbs into the wood. Do not over apply where the stain cannot soak in. You must apply the second coat wet on wet. You cannot apply it 5 days apart. https://www.defystainhelp.com/what-is-wet-on-wet-stain-application/
This is the third time I redo my deck with defy extreme. each time I clean then brighten then stain. each time I have only used one coat. I am getting about 1 year between each application. can I put 2 light coats. if so can I put one coat then 2nd coat 5 days later as this is a weekend house and I only have limited time to do project. your response is appreciated
western red cedar deck, which product of yours should i be using? defy extreme or defy hardwood??
What climate are you in?
im on vancouver island, so typical PNW conditions, hot summers,wet winters.
deck is ground level with only 6″ clearance underneath, but 95% roof covered.
Use the Defy Hardwood stain.
Does Defy stains sell a 1 Quart container. I’m doing some steps with less than 100 square feet.
Sorry but only 1 gallons and 5 gallons.
I have a 160 sf deck that has spots of peeling solid stain. I tried to use a stripper on part of it that was not peeling and it did not come off. So my thought is to sand. So are these the correct steps? And do I need to wait between each step &, if so, how long?
1. Sand with coarse grit 60-80 grit.
2. Sand again with less coarse grit 120-140 grit.
3. Defy wood cleaner
4. Defy wood brightner
5. Defy extreme semi transparent stain.
1. Yes.
2. No. do not sand finer than 80.
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Yes
All of the solid stain must be removed first with the sanding.
Thank you. And the second part of my question is how to wait between each step after the sanding (e.g. does the deck need to dry before moving on between each step)? Thanks!
Wait a couple of days after the sanding to clean/brighten. After that is done, wait a couple of days to stain.
What is the recommended method of removing the old remaining defy for composite decks before putting down new defy composite sealer
Just use a cleaner and pressure washing for prep when time to reapply.
Perfect, thanks
I just stained my new pressure treated Pine deck flooring with two coats of Defy Extreme wood deck stain (Driftwood gray). Should I put an acrylic coat on it to protect from leaf and other stains?q
No. You cannot top coat the Defy with anything. It will ruin the coating and will peel.
I put a second coat of cedar tone on my cedar deck 2 hours after the first and the deck looks water stained. Is there a fix for this?
If applying two coats it must be applied wet on wet. Not wet on dry. Your first coat most likely already dried/cured and repelled the second coat. The only way to fix would be to remove the stain and start over.
Last year we used Defy Extreme – butternut, for the first time on our one year old PT pine deck. Half the deck is covered and half is open to sun/rain. Part of the deck is fading and we’d like to put on another coat. Do we stain the whole deck, or just the areas that need it? Any special prep beyond deck cleaner? Thank you.
Unless you have a clear dividing line, it would be best to do all so it looks like it was not “spot” applied. Just use the cleaner for the prep.
does clear last two years on a wood deck
It will seal for two years but it will gray within 9-12 months. Tinted colors will have 2-3 times longer UV protection.
Do you have any dealers in the Pembroke Ontario area I have a pressure treated deck that’s 3years old would like to stain it with a transparent stain
There are not any dealers in Canada but we can ship to you there.
I just purchased a new cedar soaking tub to be used outdoors. The manufacturer wants a stain applied that is “micro-porous (to allow moisture to escape and prevent bubbling), and has uV and mold inhibitors.” Will Defy fit these requirements? Thank you.
Yes it will work very well.
Last year we treated some exterior hemlock with walnut defy and loved the color. We would like to do the same on our interior hemlock ceilings. Can defy stains be used indoors? Any considerations?
You can use them inside.
I am going to stain my 20 year old pressure treated deck. I have had to replace to couple of deck boards when I repositioned the railing posts. The new deck boards are new pressure treated. I have used Thompson Water Seal in the past and the deck was never stained. It has been several years since I last sealed the deck. I plan to clean and sand the deck before staining. Do I have to wait any amount of time before I stain the new boards?
Yes. See this for tips: https://www.defystainhelp.com/prep-new-wood-for-defy-stains/
When applying Defy and doing two coats you have to apply wet on wet. Not two days after as the first coat already cured. Do not continue to do this at this point. If needed, lightly wash and do another coat next Spring.
I have new boat house and pier built 8 months ago. I would like to know the difference between the marine stain and the extreme stain. Which will be the best? Thanks
The Marine is more “flexible” for over the water applications. Use this if over water.
Need to stain cedar decking on a cedar screened porch.
The decking has been stripped, sanded (80 grit) and brighten.
Would you apply one coat or two?
Just one coat.
I have been using Sikkens Cetol SRD Deck Stain in Cedar (077). I continue to have problems with it and wish to switch to your product. Does the Sikkens Cedar #077 color match closely with Defy Extreme Cedartone color? If not, which Defy stain color would be the closest? My deck is cedar.
Before using the Defy, the Sikkens must be removed 100% and that will require both stripping and sanding. Brightener after to neutralize. As for a color match, we are not familiar with their colors so it would be best to try some of our samples: https://www.defystain.com/defy-stain-samples.html/
Looking for custom color / tint for Defy Extreme water-based stain. Is this offered/possible?
Sorry but no.
Can I use defy brand stain on a cedar deck that was stripped with a different brand stain stipper and brightener?
As long as the wood is clean and bare, you can go ahead.
I applied Defy water based Butternut stain last year and it still looks great. What is the best way to keeping it cleaned and maintained. When would be the recommended time frame to give it a follow-up coat. The front is shaded but gets more use and the back gets more sun and less use. Thanks.
See this for tips: https://www.defystainhelp.com/tips/how-to-prep-for-defy-stains/defy-maintenance-coats/
Next year should be good to apply.
Is there a date on the one gallon stains and if it’s in code how can I read it? I see a little white sticker on top of the can and it starts with 18 so I’m thinking that’s for the year.
That is an internal batch code and has nothing to do with a date.
So are you saying there is no manufacturing date or out of date on the can? I have read there’s a 3 yr. shelf life how can I tell how old the stock is on the store’s shelf?
No there is not a date on the can. The stain will be fine. If anymore concern, please call the number that is on the can for more help.
How well would the defy clear stain work on a treated lumber deck that is back in the trees and gets no sun? Would it still need to be recoated every year, or would it last longer than that?
Every year is normal with the clear.
I have a non pressure treated pine deck that was stained with Behr water based semi transparent stain. It did not hold up. I am wanting to use defy for my next option. I have sanded and used a oxygen cleaner and brightener on the deck. Can I apply Defy over the old stain or do I have to take the whole deck down to bare wood?
Done to the bare wood.
Will any overspray from the cleaners or brightners hurt painted aluminum siding or aluminum spindles?
Possibly but this would depend on if the spindles have a clear coating on them and how old the siding on the house is. Always test spot first to be certain.
Why is it recommended to stain with in 1 to 2 weeks of cleaning and brightening? Can it be longer?
The wood cells will start to oxidize and the wood can get dirty as well. If you go longer, you will need to lightly re-prep.
With just the brightener?
Lightly pressure rinse and then the brightener.