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Wrong color on semi-transparent stain. What can I do???

11 years ago

My husband and I just washed and stained our deck with the semi-transparent stain (Cabot). It turned out super green than when we tested it even with only one coat. Can we use other color on top of it or do we have to start over from sanding & washing?

We just did it over the weekend but today it's raining and seems to go on through out the week. Our deck is about 10'x 20'. H-e-l-p please...

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Comments (6)

CaptRandy
11 years ago
If it is dry and you recoat it will probably be like a skating rink. Live with it or strip and apply a new coat.
Thita
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, CaptRandy. Can I just pressure-wash it off or do I need to use the stripper (chemical one), then wash & sand ?
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"Both products are water-based." That is the essence of your problem. If you are determined to use a water base product don't waste time stripping off the old Behr junk. It will not improve the performance of the new product. Sand off the loose stuff, give the deck a good cleaning and rinse. If the new product is better than the Behr, you will be stripping it off in a year or two after it fails. Make sure you understand that water base stain is really just paint. It forms a film on the surface (regardless of what the label claims it "penetrates into the wood" total baloney) same as paint. "Also, we are considering painting the floor boards a different color from the railings." So it sounds like you already understand the water base product is paint. Why not get actual paint? I am sure the BM paint store has some paints designed for exterior wood high traffic areas. I would choose an earthy, neutral color for the deck boards to blend in with the outdoors, and match the railings to the color of the house/trim. I think you will get way better performance with a high quality exterior paint designed for use on porches and decks.
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May I ask which color you chose? (We just stained our PT pine deck with Olympic Maximum semi-transparent penetrating stain in Cedar Naturaltone.) Also, how many coats were applied, and how was it applied? A second coat adds a nice depth of color - it looks dramatically different than just one coat. I assume two coats were applied for durability, though. Brushing on carefully can eliminate any streakiness caused by application. We used the same stain a year ago for two other PT pine porches. The stain has held up but I find the the color has "mellowed" just a bit. It's hard to explain - it's not exactly faded, not exactly weathered... it just looks a little different, and my husband prefers it now. If you do choose a solid, (obviously) test it first. We thought we wanted solid, but didn't like how it looked. We decided that if we were to go with a "natural" wood tone, it made sense to allow for the natural variations in the wood to show through. Personally, I don't like solid stains in a wood tone. We have several neighbors who all seem to have used the same solid stain, and it looks tacky.
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I had recent success with Flood's stripper (from HD). You could apply that now (no need to wait for drying), then GENTLY pressure-wash to rinse. On the other hand, for sanding, it has to be dry.
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If you wait that long a time period, PT lumber exposed flat to the Sun will split/crack/ warp and generally through a fit like a two year old. If a man waits 6 months or longer the wood will have opened up to the point it will suck up 3 times the finish. I use TWP 100 series outdoor finish there is no bubble peal goes on with it, ever. PT decking / lumber will take that finish or any other just fine fresh out of the lumber yard. If you are that so far out of date to not use google or any other search engine for info I cant help you old timer. The quicker the finish is put on the more protection the wood will get. But it hardly matters with PT decking because with or without finish it will generally do the same thing exposed to the Sun.
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CaptRandy
11 years ago
Probably need a stripper then neutralize it. That is a weird color so I do not know how well it will come out of the wood. Red is the worst to get out. You should not have to sand unless there are small parts that will not come off. Use 80 grit paper minimum nothing finer.
Faron79
11 years ago
Yeah....

There's no 100% "right" way to solve this, but I'd be inclined to just let it be, so it can wear-off some until next year!
If you did try and correct it this year, you're going thru a LOT of work in one summer! Especially if you're doing handrails & spindles too...
DON'T put another coat on!
You'll just make the future stripping and/or sanding that much harder.

>>> I'm a fan of sanding stuff out. It preps the wood better, and NO chemicals!

Faron
Thita
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks both CaptRandy & Faron79. I wish I could post the picture here, CaptRandy. Fortunately, Faron, we haven't done the handrails & spindles yet...

Well, it sounds like we'll have to live with it for now like Faron said. We'll stain the handrails & spindles with the natural brown-ish color which we'll use it for the whole deck next year. Is that a good idea? Since we live in a townhouse community, the HOA may not appreciate the outstanding bright green deck!!

Honestly, I'd prefer no chemical if possible because I have couple of plant boxes & lots of plant pots down below.
Just in case, if we going to sand it, what type of sander should we use/rent?
Jumpilotmdm
11 years ago
Which Cabot semi-trans? Their Deck Stain is not semi-trans. Call their help line and ask them. They have a very good tech. services dept. in Newburyport, MA., or at least they did in 2007.

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