Water Based and Oil Based Stains - The Facts 

@@icedteamama176 I use and recommend Messmer’s for oil based and Deck Restoration Plus for water based.

Thank you for the question. Whether using water or oil based products, the best are those that penetrate and then wear away. This way it takes a light cleaning and recoating for future maintenance. The biggest issue with rough cut siding is applying oils correctly. They should be applied by two wet-on-wet coats. The second coat must be applied while the first coat is still wet, if not sealers and stains will repel themselves. If a wet coat is applied over a dry coat then the oils sit on the surface, instead of “in” the wood. When this happens the wood stays sticky and the oils, which have starches, become a food source for organic growth. It will attract mold and mildew and turn black. When this happens the coating needs to be stripped off and can become a bigger issue. I have seen and done jobs where we needed to sand and Osborn brush the siding smoothing out the rough cut siding to remove remnants of the improperly applied coating. If applied correctly both oil and water based “penetrating” and not “film-forming” sealers and stains work very well.

@@wizardofwood Thank you so much for your response and sharing your knowledge. This makes complete sense to me now.

Depending on the stain, weather conditions. The stain should have instruction and time frames. For sealing, personally, I go with a poly uv resist and anti yellowing. Always have for the outside furniture. Works well. Apply it every so often as needed. Unless you do yellow pine... then forget the anti yellowing... lol!

However technology is changing. Have you ever seen a penetrating water base stain? Whole different animal and works like an oil. We all have preferences and 20some years ago I would have said the same thing.

@@DRPEnterprises Im using Sansin SDF. Any surface runs at all become stain resistant half spots.....and water as a solvent dries too quickly leaving some spots sticky with colorant and some with little. With a working time so short, large pieces are pretty frustrating.

The norm for most products is 150 square feet per gallon on the first coat. New wood, neglected, and older wood you should adjust to 125 or even 100 square feet per gallon.

Not a good idea. Most outdoor products are one-part products. You use them and the wood is protected. Two-part is more for interiors with the use of a stain and a clear coat. Some exceptions being exterior doors and boats. Using a clear coat over the stain on the deck will make future maintenance and coating a miserable task.

Definitely a jack wagon

He gave you the tools to find the right product. Everyone's situation and climate are different.

Lowe's is where I got mine, told it would take 2 gallons and it took 5 gallons one year and it started to peel. I even power washed it first Oil base, oil base, and more oil base 😅😅😅

Depends on the technology and product. Grouping all oils and all waters together is a mistake. Some oils are better than others just as the same with water bases. The industry and technology is changing and success in the industry is learning and adapting to the changes.

@@wizardofwood water based suck

Seems the water based stuff just encourages more product purchase and people do not like being forced into it especially with this economy.