Jan, TWP would be a good choice. TWP is also a penetrating sealer. I could have picked either company and became a distributor, I chose the Bakers because it is TWP\\\'s basic formulation (200 series) then Tom Baker and company adds their pigmentation. I think the colors are more even and prettier than the TWP formulations. Most customers of mine are blown away by the appearance of the Bakers. It enhances the natural wood grain. It does not cover it in any way. As it sits on the wood for a week or so it dives down creating an even more rich tone. The only caveat with TWP, Bakers and these types of oils is that they require two coats. The two coats can be done at the same time and usually you can by with just one coat on the rails. Hope this helps. PS: The more pigmentation the better the protection from sun damage. But in a scenario where the sun is shielded by a roof,you can cut a product like Bakers with the clear so you have a more natural appearance.

I am in almost the same boat- I built a cedar deck last year and used Cabot's SPF-24. It failed miserably and I have just finished stripping all of the finish and sanding. It's almost ready for stain, but I'm concerned the moisture level in the wood will be too high and the temp too cool. I'm in Albany, NY, so winter is knocking on our door. I'm planning to use ReadySeal, it's on a UPS truck headed to my house right now. I did LOTS of looking on this site and others- Ken at pressurepros was helpful in selecting the product.

If the contractor said that the "stain is not penetrating the wood" and if that's true, then he's right, and you'd most likely just end up with more streaking if you tried to apply anything further. Perhaps the real question is why didn't it penetrate the wood? In any event, if it's not penetrating, you're probably gonna want to listen to the contractor if your really particular about that finish. It's possible that he could apply another finish over top of it that will have less ill effects but isn't willing to take that risk because he knows the 2nd application wouldn't be perfect either. If sanding is gonna cost too much, then maybe ask him or another to do another coat, even though it might not be perfect and tell him you're willing to take the risk. It entirely depends on what you find acceptable and what you're willing to live with. Ask him and gauge your odds.

Thank you RES 3D. And everyone. I appreciate all of the feedback....even the things no one wants to hear. The spots are actually from sap. After the first board appeared spotted, I inspected them closer as I was moving along. I plan to bring everything I’ve learned straight to the paint store. Good thing is...I have a handy trim carpenter at my disposal. If it turns out to be a total bust, it’s still worth the tens of thousands we saved not having a builder and putting in a little elbow grease PS- I have a whole new respect for builders...and the construction market in general! We’ve encountered FABULOUS tradesmen along the way. This porch ceiling looks amazing so for now I plan to completely enjoy it before it’s possible demise!