Update on Asking Questions for Defy Stains 2020
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
What do you recommend for maintenance coats? i did my 523 sq. ft. deck with DEFY last summer and it looks great! I do I keep it that way?
See here for tips on how to prep and apply a maintenance coat: https://www.defystainhelp.com/tips/how-to-prep-for-defy-stains/defy-maintenance-coats/
Lightly wash with the Defy Wood Cleaner and add 1 coat of the same color you used last year.
Hello, I applied 2 gallons of DEFY Extreme Composite Deck Sealer and I’m not sure if the composite deck wasn’t completely dry or if I applied the coats too heavy but I have large areas that are white/hazy/cloudy. How do I remedy this? Thank you
You will need to remove it with the Defy Stain Stripper.
Can defy clear stain be painted over?? Djc
That is more of a question for the paint you are using and if they say their paint will work over and adhere over a sealer.
Our 55+ Community has a composite deck boardwalk. The surface freezes after the slightest frost making walking hazardous. Are your clear sealants compatible with composite material ie like the Tamko product on our boardwalk? Can a product like H+C Shark Grip additive be used with your sealant to provide a more walkable surface? Do you have suggestions to make a composite surface more slip resistant ?
Defy makes a composite sealer that works for this type of surface: https://www.defystain.com/defy-composite-deck-sealer-detail.html
You cannot add a grip into a penetrating sealer. It is not possible to add any traction type product to composite wood.
Do you have a water based outdoor transparent stain? My experience with semi- transparent stains tend to look cloudy with too much pigment obscuring the wood grain. We are staining 8 carriage house doors and our home’s front Pella oak door. We previously used Benjamin Moore water based ‘Arbor’ teak deck/wood stain/sealer. We now have green algee growing (from the bottom) however it has held up better than expected for the past 12 years. BM no longer makes the water based and now only offer oil-based “Arbor”. Living on the water I will not use oil base that encourages mold… Read more »
The Defy Extreme Stain is not opaque or going to mask the wood as it is a true semi-transparent stain. Best to test some samples to see: https://www.defystain.com/defy-stain-samples.html/
The current BM stain must be removed fully first before suing the Defy stains.
Hi, I have a few more questions. With my brand new deck, do i have to do the following before stain the deck ?
1) Clean the deck with Wood Cleaner
2) Prepare the deck with Wood Brightener
3) Sand the deck
Thanks,
No need to sand. See this about new wood: https://www.defystainhelp.com/prep-new-wood-for-defy-stains/
Hi, I just a brand new redwood deck about 800 sqf and i’m going to buy the DEFY Extreme semi-transparent to stain my deck. What is the best semi-transparent stain applicator should i use.
Thank you!
See here for new wood tips: https://www.defystainhelp.com/prep-new-wood-for-defy-stains/
Use a deck stain pad applicator for applying.
I applied extreme natural pine semi transparent on my dock in the summer of 2018. It looks like it is needing another coat unfortunately. Can I apply the same extreme semi transparent on top of the existing stain coat? Or do I have to completely strip and reapply?
Thanks.
Brooks
You can use the same but you do have to prep. Use the Defy Wood Cleaner and pressure washing.
Do the Cleaner and Brightner affect painted surfaces? Thinking about the house walls around the deck. Do I need to tape these off.?
They should not affect paint but always test spot first.
Can the new “clear” Defy Extreme be mixed with other Defy stains, in order to lighten a color? I’m concerned that they aren’t compatible for mixing, since the clear is milky in color.
The Defy Extreme Clear can be mixed with other Defy Extreme Colors. Has to be the Extreme version.
Only day soon that looks ok to stain is Sunday,
but temps Go down to 36 degrees at night. Only 57 during day. Is that ok to use extreme semi transparent?
It cannot drop below freezing the first night or have a frost otherwise the day temp of 55 or higher is okay.
How much stain do I need for 450 sq ft. And do I need one or two coats?
Older deck but great condition. Sanded, cleaned and neutralized. Thank you.
Two coats. About 5-gallons.
Additional question…sorry so many. Can it go below 45 degrees at night after application. Atlanta area. Surprising this time of year.
If 75 degrees is it ok to apply in sun?
It can drop below 45 but not below freezing. 75 is a great temp to apply.
Again. What color do you recommend I mix with butternut to lighten it? Any suggestions for ratio to try. My sample of butternut is darker than I expected. Thank you!
Natural Pine or Clear. The ratio really depends on what color you would like it to be so it is more trial and error.
We stained with defy light walnut 2 years ago. The color said it had a red tinted, but it actually had annoyance tinted more like cedar. I dont like the orange tint. Can I apply butternut over that after cleaning to cover the orange toned light walnut?. Do I need to use a brightner after cleaning.
It would be best to strip and brighten for the prep.
Thank you for your response. We definitely are not going to strip even if it means having to stay with same color. The current stain condition is good so stripping seems excessive when it’s only the color issue. I have some light walnut leftover from 1st staining. What do you think is the worst that could happen if I mix butternut with the light walnut when we reapply the stain for the refresher
Is brightner needed after cleaning for a refresh?
FYI, stripping is just as easy as cleaning just removes the current stain. Brightener after. Not sure how it will look if you do not strip. Try a test spot to make sure it looks okay.
Last year I used Defy Extreme Wood Stain Cedar Tone on my wood siding and it came out a nice redish color. I bought it again and used it again this year and it came out brown. Did Defy change the color? Can I get the same redish color now? Is the redwood color similar to the old cedartone?
The color has not changed and is exactly the same as before. The difference would be based more on your prep, wood, etc as the color is the same.
HOW MANY COLORS ARE THERE
See the color chart on this link: https://www.defystain.com/wood-restoration/wood-and-deck-stains/defy-extreme.html
I have used Defy Extreme (clear) on my deck at 2,500′ elevation in the woods of WV to great effect. After stripping an earlier product, cleaning and brightening, I now just powerwash and apply a coat every other year. Attached to the deck is a 22 year old cedar sided house (rough planks and board/ batten) that has been stained several times with a semi-transparent alkyd Benjamin Moore product. Unfortunately, the product was darkened by the mfgr between the first and second staining and is darker than we care for. It also is due for another staining. We are assuming… Read more »
We do not sell the solid stain over the internet as they have to be custom mixed. Have you considered just stripping of the BM and going with the Defy Extreme in any color you would like? This would be your best option.
Ask A Question on Defy Products…
1. What is involved in stripping the old stain off the whole house? I’ve done a deck but can’t imagine stripping that much vertical surface.
2.We do have a local hardware store near zip 25314 that is listed as a Defy dealer. Do need to go there to discuss solid stain if that’s the way we still want to go or is there some material on line I can/ should read first?
Thanks
1. Defy Stain Stripper and pressure washing. Defy Wood Brightener after.
2. You would have to ask them if they carry the solid stain or not. We do not have any info on our website.
Hi – I need to seal a concrete porch and would like to use one with a light color tint like driftwood gray or light burnt orange or light tan. Does DEFY sell such concrete sealer products? If not could you recommend a company that does? I have just stained the steps, and rails surrounding this concrete porch with Extreme DEFY light walnut and it looks great! I have used Defy products for years and trust your products without exception or hesitation! Thanks for your help.
Scott Alexander
540.746.6109
Sorry but Defy does not work on concrete products for staining.
I am planning to stain about 1500 sq ft of new pressure treated syp decking (pre-install, both sides). After a fair bit of research I have decided on your product. I have had the boards sticker stacked for about 3 months to dry adequately before stain application. I want to use semi-transparent defy stain. My question is about color, I want a light golden color that does a decent job of covering or obscuring the green flashes from the pressure treatment. I would love to go with the natural pine, but I am concerned it may be too light to… Read more »
Hello,
You cannot stain this new wood yet. It has to be installed, weathered and prepped. Do this in Spring. You also only stain the exposed wood, not all sides. Stacking them for 3 months will not work. You need naturally weathering to open up the wood grain correctly. See this for more tips on new wood: https://www.defystainhelp.com/prep-new-wood-for-defy-stains/
As for color, best to get those samples for Spring.
I bought Defy wood stain back in 2012. The color was Colorado Gold (#260). Do you still have this color. If not, what color is closest to Colorado Gold.
Thanks,
Gary
On this link: https://www.defystain.com/defy-original-synthetic.html
I did not buy enough stain and now I have to finish the first coat (only about 10 percent of the main deck to finish) and do the railings and outward facing structure. Should I avoid a second coat this time and wait until next summer to clean and do a second coat, as we are getting ready to go into fall/winter here? I love the product but am so frustrated, this is an older deck and I spent many hours pressure spraying and sanding. The deck is not in bad shape but used to have solid stain so after… Read more »
Finish what you have to do for the 1 coat. Lightly wash and reapply another coat in the Spring or Summer of next year.
Thanks! And use the deck cleaner before that coat in spring correct?
Yes, correct.
I understand that Defy crystal clear will not enhance the grain of the wood but will you get the same matte appearing finish you get with the semitransparent finishes?
It is not shiny at all.
My deck is 5 years old, made with treated yellow pine in New York State. Original stain was Behr premium solid stain. I had to hand sand all of this stain off which took many hours to say the least. Is this now considered “New Wood”? Should i only do one coat of Defy and then another 12-18 months later? Or can I do Wet on Wet application?
What grit of sandpaper?
I used an angle grinder with a course fiber disk attached, not sandpaper. They removed the solid stain with hardly any sawdust.
Please reply to my question – thanks
Just one coat this time around.
I am trying to beat the predicted rain coming. Can I apply your deck stain 24 hours after using your cleaner and brightener?
No, 48 hours.
Ok Thanks I will have to wait. How long after a rain do you have to wait to apply your deck stain. And if there is a long period where I can’t get to it because of weather how long before I have to reapply the brightener?
If it rains, wait 48 hours. Stain within 2 weeks of the prep.
I have a 20+ year old cedar deck. I just power washed it over the weekend. Removed about 5 year old TWC cedar stain. I also have to replace a few rotten boards. what is the best way to age the wood and get it to look similar to the current deck? I know it won’t be exact just want closer. Have had the replacement material sitting outside since spring trying to weather it. What stain do you recommend? I am thinking the Defy Extreme Butternut to help even out the wide range of wood colors. The deck is 14… Read more »
See here about new wood: https://www.defystainhelp.com/prep-new-wood-for-defy-stains/
Let it weather and prep all again in the Spring is your best option. Two coats wet on wet to floors is correct. One for the rails. Not sure if 5 gallons is enough whitheou knowing the total sq footage for all floors, rails, steps, etc?
I have a dry sunny day to apply your deck stain but rain is expected overnight. Is it best to wait? What is the time frame from deck application to potential rain.
12-24 hours.
I have a 950sqft western cedar deck installed in May this year in southeastern PA. It has not been stained or sealed yet but needs to be in the next 30 days. I have used Defy Deck Stain for Hardwoods since 2014 but want to try Defy Extreme this time. * How many gallons will this take for one coat? * After 5 months the surface still apears clean but it actually shows a faint dirt tint. Will the stain cover or must I powerwash? * If I move the furniture/canopy to half the deck and finish the other half,… Read more »
About 7-8 Gallons. You need to prep with the Degy Wood Cleaner and pressure washing. Defy Brightener after. Best to not do 1/2 and 1/2 but all at the same time otherwise you run the risk of overlap and uneven appearance. Nothing you can do about the end cuts.
I did wet on wet application on my deck as your instructions suggest. 12 hours later it rained and washed some of the stain off my deck. It has a very uneven stain pattern, some areas are stained some aren’t. Please help!
Hello,
Feel free to post a picture.
I would if I had one.
Unless you have a picture they won’t help you at all !! Dont use they’re products !!
Hello, no reason to be upset. Without seeing what the issue is there is no way to give proper advice on what could have been done incorrectly during your application process and then the best course of action to fix it. Just an FYI as well, Defy Stain will not just wash off the deck from the rain after drying for 12 hours. That is one of the reasons we asked for a picture in addition to giving proper advice on how to best fix anything if needed.
We went to properly help, not give the wrong advice.