Last Updated on January 19, 2021 by Defy Help
2021 Update on New Wood Application for Defy Stains
For new wood and Defy Deck Stains, the wood does need to season for a time and should be prepped. We love hearing from our customers who have used the Defy Stains or have questions on the application. We appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.
Prepping New Wood for Defy Exterior Wood Stains
Defy has stain products that are excellent for newer, more dense wood. With special penetrating properties, newer wood is shielded against water damage and graying. Defy Stains are not prone to peeling and flaking and will ensure beautiful and lasting results for your new exterior wood surfaces.
It is recommended that wood should be allowed to dry out for 3-6 months before cleaning and staining. New woods that are rich in oil such as mahogany should also dry out for 3-6 months before protecting with Defy Stain for new wood.
After proper dry times, new wood should be cleaned using Defy Wood Cleaner prior to staining with Defy Stains. Defy Wood Cleaner is an oxygen bleach wood deck cleaning solution that is extremely effective at removing dirt, grime, mold, mildew, graying, and mill glaze found on new wood. Defy Wood Cleaning Solution is a biodegradable concentrated powder formula that mixes with water to safely prep new wood prior to stain application.
Once cleaning new wood is complete, the wood will appear darker. This darker appearance is normal and will disappear once an application of Defy Wood Brightener is used. While the wood surface remains wet from cleaning, apply a generous coat of Defy Wood and Deck Brightener to lighten the wood to its original, like-new appearance and to open the wood pores for better stain saturation and performance.
After prepping new wood for Defy Stains, allow the wood to dry for 48 hours minimum before continuing with stain application.
Note: Only 1 coat should be applied to new wood and the first time staining. You can apply another light coat if needed in 12-18 months.
I’ve already pressure washed my patio furniture today that I built 5 years ago with pressure treated lumber. After it’s thoroughly dry, I’m going over it with 60 grit sandpaper before staining. Can I just apply the Defy Extreme stain over it or do I have to apply the Brightener?
Use the brightener.
Think I’m reading that I should only apply 1 coat of stain — my deck is 1 year old pressure treated and has never been stained — it appears I should clean and brighten an only apply one coat now and then recoat in 12-18 mths as required?
That is correct.
So am I understanding this right, that I need to pressure wash the new wood that is cured, BEFORE applying the Defy Stain cleaner and brightener???? If this is the case, after pressure washing the new cured wood first, how soon can I apply the the Defy Stain cleaner and brightener?? Then when do I apply the Defy Extreme stain?
You pressure wash while using the deck cleaner, not prior. Brightener after. Stain 48 hours after drying.
After application of defy extreme how long before rain safe
4-6 hours.
Hi, I just want to clarify the procedure for staining new, seasoned and prepped wood. I saw a video (not on this site) on how to apply Defy stain. He used what he called a back to back method, applying one coat, waiting 20 minutes, then applying a second coat of stain. This seems to be what you say here is wet on wet. He said this method would be considered one coat of stain, not two coats.
How do you define one coat. It seems from what I am reading here, a wet on wet method would be considered 2 coats and should not be used on new wood. The only thing we would do is literally put on one coat.
Thanks
Just one coat for new wood, not two coats applied wet on wet.
Do you need to pressure wash new wood that is cured if using the DefyStain cleaner and brightener applications?
Yes.
Hi, I’m a wife putting together a new Backyard Discovery Skyfort II playset for my kid (hubs is not happy that I purchased the set). A few questions: I’m interested in the Butternut Defy Extreme stain.
Would you recommend that I
1) stain the new Chinese White Cedar boards BEFORE putting together or after?
2) do they need to be “seasoned” (3-6 month + wait time) ?
3) Since it’s new wood, do I really need to clean it?
4) Is there another, lighter stain that would complement the darker Butternut color?
Right now the wood is a kind of ghastly, fake cedar orange. Can’t wait to make it darker! But as you can imagine, darling daughter is impatient for her set.
Advice?
1. No.
2. Yes
3. Yes, clean and brighten.
4. Any color that you like will work.
If you have a current stain already from the factory then it needs to be stripped off first and then brightener.
I have an older deck that had a solid stain applied 3 years ago. I had new boards installed last December in one section. Is it okay to use the stain stripper on the old and new wood? Do I put one coat on the new boards and 2 on the old boards?
The Stripper will not remove a solid stain. You will have to sand to get it all off.
If I apply a Defy Solid Stain this year will the Defy stain stripper take it off when I’m ready to restain or will I have to sand the Defy solid stain off?
You cannot strip off a solid stain. You will have to sand if you want to remove it.
I know I have seen this somewhere, but cannot find the answer now that I’m ready to stain our deck. We have a five-year-old deck (stained twice with Flood stain) and have replaced some of the boards recently. The new boards are only about a month old. What is the procedure to try to get the new staining as even as possible? I have purchased cleaner, brightener and stain already, and this next week will be cool enough to work in central Texas.
You will need to wait 3-4 months for the new boards to weather. Make sure that the previous coating is fully removed as well from the older boards.
Do I need a stain remover for the old boards? The Flood stain did not seem to last well, so I thought the Cleaner followed with the Brightener would be enough prep. We’ve already spent $500 to obtain your products; I want to use a stain remover recommended by you IF it’s necessary. We also have a dock (also previously stained with Flood stain) over fresh water which we’ll be staining, so we were particularly happy that your products were safe for the fish. Thank you for your prompt replies!
You cannot apply the Defy over the Flood so if the Flood is still on the wood, then yes you have to remove it. Feel free to post some pictures here.
Attached is a photo of one of the new boards with the other boards which were Flood-stained in April of 2019. Those original boards have been stained twice with Flood over their five years on the deck. I need a stain-removal/stripper product recommendation if I must use one. We do realize that the deck will never be one color. The stain we have already purchased from you is Cedar Tone.
Yes, the Flood has to come off. It is not possible to apply Defy or any other brand of penetrating stain over this. Unfortunately, this is not an easy strip as the Flood looks thick in spots so you may need to strip more than once to remove all. This is the link for the stripper: https://www.defystain.com/defy-stain-stripper.html
Thank you for your promptness! I am 77, and this is beginning to look like too much for me. 🙁
VERNE here again with more images.
I am installing railings to an existing deck. Since they will have metal balusters, I would like to stain the wood prior to building the railings so I don’t have to stain around the metal. Would it be okay to go ahead and do this without letting the wood age for several months? I assume I would use cleaning and brightener first as usual.
Sorry but no, you will need to weather the wood and then prep it first.
I am in the Chicago area with a new pressure treated pine deck. The deck is 1 month old. Sounds like the ideal is to wait 3-6 months before staining. Given our climate that leaves me with the choice of stain early as in now or late as in May which would make it 8 months. Do I stain now or wait until spring?
Wait until Spring.
After I apply the wood brightener you recommend waiting 48 hours before applying the sealer/stain. What is the longest period I should wait before applying the sealer/stain?
Try to stain within 10-15 days of prep.
I have a new deck on the lake house in northern Iowa that is directly underneath several large oak trees. Acorns are already dropping (Aug 28). One tier was built in June 2018. The other tier was competed November 2019 before the snow. Neither tier has been treated, yet. I wanted to get it done before this winter, but now with the trees and temps dropping – would it be best (ok?) to wait until spring even though the deck is still bare? Also, I have existing steps that have dark solid stain or paint in them. What is the best way to prep them? I want to put the walnut semi on the deck and then a coordinating solid color on the steps (assuming I won’t get them stripped down enough for a semi). Thanks!
You would have to sand the steps to remove the solid stain. You can wait until Spring or do it now. Either is fine. Thanks!
thanks for the quick reply! would I need to sand the steps if just going over with a solid or paint? Or can I get away with power wash and strip prep?
If using a solid stain again you can cover the current solid stain. Pressure wash and strip what is loose for prep.
I have a new redwood deck. It has aged for 3 months. Do I have to scrub the deck cleaner into the deck. Or let it sit for 5 to 15 minutes and then use a pressure sealer to rinse it off? Then rinse.
Apply, let sit for 15 minutes and then pressure wash. Rinse after.
Thank you!
I have a pressure treated deck it’s 4 years old never been stained what product do you recommend I live in Ontario Canada
Prep with the Defy Wood Cleaner and then the Defy Brightener. Stain with Defy Extreme Stain: https://www.defystain.com/wood-and-deck-stains.html
Just completed a cedar deck in western Washington. The info on this web site indicates that we should wait 3 to 6 months before sealing this new deck with Defy stain. Is that correct? After waiting the 3 to 6 month period, then we need to follow the proper process to clean and brighten the new deck before staining the deck. Again, is my thinking correct? Thanks for your help.
Yes and all is explained in the above article. Thanks!
I just built a pressure treated pine deck. It is in full sun. Which Defy stain is best for UV protection?
Use the Defy Extreme.
How should the deck cleaner be applied? Is it ok to us in a pressure washer?
Apply with a pump sprayer and then pressure wash off. It cannot be applied through a pressure washer.
Today i used defy cleaner , scrubbedm and then used brightener on My pressure treated deck. There are still some stubborn green stains that wont come out despite 2-3 passes with the cleaner and scrub brush, is this normal? Can i still stain it with those green stains?
It is most like in the wood and will not come out. You can still stain the wood.
Hello. We are building a new cabin. The wood is northern spruce, being shipped from the Baltic region, and is not pressure treated. Therefore, we are concerned about leaving the wood untreated for any amount of time.
Time from manufacture to receiving shipment is about 3-4 months. WOULD THIS BE ENOUGH WAIT TIME?
WOULD I STILL NEED TO CLEAN AND PREP THE WOOD?
No. It has to sit outside and weather after install. Yes you will need to clean and prep it.
I applied applied Defy on a new deck after allowing a year for seasoning. I followed all manufacturer directions. After just one year, the stain was lifting from the wood, and fading the horizontal surfaces were fading badly. Note that the wood displayed “silvery” patterns. I contacted Defy customer service to explain all this, and they sent me a gratis 5 gallon can of Defy stain, suggesting that I use Defy Brightener, and then wash the deck surfaces with water. I did this.
This year, the vertical surfaces all look fine, but all horizontal surfaces are again fading badly, and still showing the “silvery” streaks. I am considering sanding the horizontal surfaces with 80 grit paper, washing with brightener, and then a final power wash rinse with water, before applying Defy stain.
I am getting a bit frustrated. Are there alternative suggestions?
The prep sounds correct but do not over sand. Too smooth and the stain will not absorb as well as it needs to.
I have upper and lower wrap around porches to prep and stain on new wood that has weathered for two years. I had planned to stain last year but weather would not permit. Now I’m afraid I will be in same place almost impossible to get four days in a row of no rain in Missouri. Can I bleach and brighten and then wait with rain in between before I begin staining? If so how long do I allow to dry after rain before I can stain? If not do you have any suggestions. Thanks
Yes, it can be prepped and have it rain between staining. If it does, just wait 48 hours after the rain to stain the wood. Try to stain the deck within 2 weeks of the prep.
Last fall I applied one coat of natural pine to new wood (built earlier in the spring) I have quite a lot of leaf stains and other marks that have build up on the deck boards over the last year. Was planning to clean, brighten and apply more stain now, is that wise? If so, do I apply just one coat or the usual two coats, wet on wet approach? Also, if cleaning and brightening in phases, should I clean and brighten together or, can I clean the whole area over a couple days and then come back and brighten?
Just wait until Spring. Clean and brighten for the prep and apply one coat.
Okay. What could I use now to clean up the leaf stains other marks on the deck boards?
The Defy Wood Cleaner and pressure washing in the Spring will clean this up.
On the defy.com website it says for new wood to apply 2 coats of Defy Wood Stain but your site says to apply just one coat. So I am unsure of what to do. Please advise! Thanks!
Only one for new wood.
When you state to only apply one coat to new wood, yet the website states 2 coats and wet on wet application, its confusing. I installed pressure treated yellow pine decking, it has been sitting for 9-mths so far. So is this considered “new wood” and how many coats apply in this situation?
Not two coats for new wood. 1 coat only. Your wood is new.
I have a new western red cedar deck, a month old now. Worried about it greying and weathering over winter if left untreated. Would you suggest still waiting until spring to stain? or do it just before bad weather kicks in?
Yes. Staining too soon and the product will not soak in and could prematurely fail.
I have a new pressured treated pine deck that is two months old located in Northeastern Illinois. How long should I wait before staining? Is it better to do before winter or wait until next year?
3-6 months as the article states. Best to do in spring of next year.
I have 4 cabins that are 264 sq ft. How much product should I purchase?
We would need the sq footage of the 4 exterior walls for each cabin added together, not the sq footage of the interior floors.
Why do I need to wait 48 hours between cleaning and staining?
So the wood can dry after the prep.
I have a 16×16 ft pine wolmanized deck put up in August 2017 . I treated it with Thompsons water proofing in June 2018 and would like to retreat in October 2018 with the Defy clear pine stain. Would I need to remove the Thompsons water seal prior to applying the Defy clear stain? And if yes, with what solution do I remove it with?
Yes, you will need to remove the Thompsons. Use the Defy Stain Stripper and pressure washing. Neutralize with the Defy Wood Brightener after.
If I want to do a light sanding on new unstai ned wood (6 months old), do I do it before cleaning?
Yes.
I currently have one coat of Natural Pine on a 2 year old Cedar deck. I would like to change the color to Light Walnut. Do I need to strip off the Natural Pine first?
Yes that would be best.
I’m getting ready to build a cedar pergola and the lumber company is telling me the cedar will have been kiln dried. From what I read, US standards are around 6-8% MC for kiln dried lumber. I’m in Reno, NV which has pretty low humidity. Will I still need to wait a few months before applying your stain or can I stain before building?
Thanks.
Hi Marcus, see this article about new kiln dried wood and Defy: https://www.defystain.com/kdat-and-defy-wait-period-for-new-wood.html
Hello. I cleaned my new 9 month old redwood deck with the defy cleaner. I did not use the Brightener, but now the deck has dried for 48 hours and I was planning to stain it. Should I go back and brighten now or is it too late?
Thank you!
Defy does suggest using the wood brightener after using the cleaner to neutralize and open the grain of the wood better.
Used Behr deck cleaner on my one year old cedar deck. Should I use your brighter before your stain?
Yes.
I’ve used the defy cleaner and brightener, but the brightener seemed to leave a residue, so I power washed again. It’s Weathershield 2 wood FYI.
I plan on staining with the extreme in two days, but the forecast calls for rain on the 3rd day. I’ll have to do the stain in the evening. Will there be issues if the stain is exposed to rain in 24 hours?
No issues.
Is 36 hours adequate drying time with relatively low humidity?