We refinished our deck 2 years ago with a transparent, colored stain.
It looks hideous now (it started to weather after one winter). We are
wondering if we should do an opaque stain this time around, but even
though opaque colors last longer, I hear they are really difficult to
strip for a re-finish. The problem we have is that we cannot sand
down the wood to refinish (because each piece of wood on the deck is
rounded on the edges), so the stain must be removed with chemical
stain remover.

How easy is it to remove an opaque stain with a chemical remover, TSP
and a power washer? The ideal situation for me is to have to refinish
the deck as infrequently as possible. I don't care if it takes a few
hours longer to strip when I do re-finish it - that's why I am
thinking opaque is best - but I really have no idea.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Paula

Get a cleaner a powerwasher, and transparent stain not solid- opaque.

"Paula" wrote in message
om...
We refinished our deck 2 years ago with a transparent, colored
stain.
It looks hideous now (it started to weather after one winter).
We are
wondering if we should do an opaque stain this time around, but
even
though opaque colors last longer, I hear they are really
difficult to
strip for a re-finish. The problem we have is that we cannot
sand
down the wood to refinish (because each piece of wood on the
deck is
rounded on the edges), so the stain must be removed with
chemical
stain remover.

How easy is it to remove an opaque stain with a chemical
remover, TSP
and a power washer? The ideal situation for me is to have to
refinish
the deck as infrequently as possible. I don't care if it takes
a few
hours longer to strip when I do re-finish it - that's why I am
thinking opaque is best - but I really have no idea.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

I've been using cabot's solid stain on my deck for over 12 years.
I've never considered stripping it. I just recoat every couple
years after a light pressure wash. I did sand the top surface
once - the stuff came easily off - nothing like paint.

Bob

Stain is supposed to "wear off" as opposed to "peel off". Being a
horizontal surface subject to everything mother nature chooses to throw at
it, it isn't good for long. As long as you avoid the solid color stains
(which you did), the next coat should be a simple pressure wash and re-coat.
The old should blend in nicely with the new but try a sample first to see if
I'm right. Just be prepared to have to do it every year (or two if you're
lucky). Never tried Cabot but my SWMBO just hit ours with a Sherwin
Williams product that is more of a water-proofer than a stain but contained
just the right amout of color and it came out very nice.

"Bob" wrote in message
news:lFpAc.130730$Ly.67519@attbi_s01...

"Paula" wrote in message
om...
We refinished our deck 2 years ago with a transparent, colored
stain.
It looks hideous now (it started to weather after one winter).
We are
wondering if we should do an opaque stain this time around, but
even
though opaque colors last longer, I hear they are really
difficult to
strip for a re-finish. The problem we have is that we cannot
sand
down the wood to refinish (because each piece of wood on the
deck is
rounded on the edges), so the stain must be removed with
chemical
stain remover.

How easy is it to remove an opaque stain with a chemical
remover, TSP
and a power washer? The ideal situation for me is to have to
refinish
the deck as infrequently as possible. I don't care if it takes
a few
hours longer to strip when I do re-finish it - that's why I am
thinking opaque is best - but I really have no idea.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

I've been using cabot's solid stain on my deck for over 12 years.
I've never considered stripping it. I just recoat every couple
years after a light pressure wash. I did sand the top surface
once - the stuff came easily off - nothing like paint.

Bob

Generally speaking, you NEVER put an opaque stain on a horizontal walking
surface. Solid stain is, in effect, soft paint and it will wear easily if
walked upon. You see worn paths in just a few months.

Use Semi trans on flat, horizontal surface, solid on vertical (posts, rails,
slats), if you wish.


"Paula" wrote in message
om...
We refinished our deck 2 years ago with a transparent, colored stain.
It looks hideous now (it started to weather after one winter). We are
wondering if we should do an opaque stain this time around, but even
though opaque colors last longer, I hear they are really difficult to
strip for a re-finish. The problem we have is that we cannot sand
down the wood to refinish (because each piece of wood on the deck is
rounded on the edges), so the stain must be removed with chemical
stain remover.

How easy is it to remove an opaque stain with a chemical remover, TSP
and a power washer? The ideal situation for me is to have to refinish
the deck as infrequently as possible. I don't care if it takes a few
hours longer to strip when I do re-finish it - that's why I am
thinking opaque is best - but I really have no idea.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Paula

I have used Penofin on my Cedar deck for the last three years. The first
application lasted 2 years. Last spring, I pressure washed and
re-stained the deck. Less than a year later, the finish looks terrible.
I am curious about the Cabot line of stains. Anyone do an A-B on deck
stains?

Matt


Bob wrote:

I've been using cabot's solid stain on my deck for over 12 years.
I've never considered stripping it. I just recoat every couple
years after a light pressure wash. I did sand the top surface
once - the stuff came easily off - nothing like paint.

Bob

Consumer Reports has an ongoing paint - stain test for 9 years ? its
updated regularly, Olympic seems to be a quality - price leader in
several areas. Its a good read, Subscribe online. Im now looking at
Olympic.

In article ,
Matt wrote:

I have used Penofin on my Cedar deck for the last three years. The first
application lasted 2 years. Last spring, I pressure washed and
re-stained the deck. Less than a year later, the finish looks terrible.
I am curious about the Cabot line of stains. Anyone do an A-B on deck
stains?

Matt


Bob wrote:

I've been using cabot's solid stain on my deck for over 12 years.
I've never considered stripping it. I just recoat every couple
years after a light pressure wash. I did sand the top surface
once - the stuff came easily off - nothing like paint.

Bob



I used Wolman's Deck Stain with Water Repellent, semitransparent, in
August of 2002. It will need to be redone this year. It looked
beautiful when I finished it, better than the "professionals" I had do
the deck. I used a Wolman's product to lift the old stain off and it
too worked very well.

bob g.