Tips for Finding the Best Stain for a Wood Dock
Though newer plastic and synthetic decking is common for docks and piers, wood dock’s are still widely used. Wood is a very durable and sound material used for decking. It makes for a useful and beautiful wood dock and if maintained correctly can last many years.
Cleaning a wood dock is the same as cleaning any exterior wood surface. This is an important step that should be done properly prior to staining. Proper wood prep is the key to a lasting stain finish.
The best stain for a wood dock is going to be any wood stain that penetrates well. Form filming wood stains or paints that remain on the wood’s surface should be avoided at all costs. These form filming stains are prone to peeling and flaking and with the moisture that is present around a wood dock, it is a bad combination.
Besides a stain for a wood dock that penetrates well, find one that is also resistant to mold and mildew. Again, because of the high moisture, mold and mildew are almost unavoidable. Wood dock stains that resist these natural contaminants are highly recommended as mold and mildew can cause wood rot and decay.
Another benefit to look for when choosing the best stain for a wood dock is one that can handle full sunlight. Most docks and piers are subjected to full sun which makes fading and wood graying very likely. Use a wood dock stain that has excellent UV protection.
Wood dock stains that penetrate well, resist mold/mildew, and have outstanding UV protection are stains like Defy Marine Stain or TWP (Total Wood Preservative). There are other wood dock stains out there but these are two good examples of wood dock stains that have all the necessary attributes for maximum and lasting protection in a harsh environment.
If you have any questions as to which stain is best for your dock, please ask below.
I have a kiln dried cedar dock that was built in 8/21. I stained it with Arborcoat after building and the stain peeled off almost immediately. I restained last summer and it peeled off again. This year I sanded it all off and am wondering what stain/sealer to apply? I can’t be doing this every year. Thank you for your assistance.
Where are you located?
Land O Lakes, FL. Lake Joyce, Small lake but with all the weather of the Tampa Area. Original and Previous stain was “Flood” brand by Sherwin Williams, Lasted about 4 years, but recoats only lasted one year before they burned off by the sun and rain. So I need to properly prep and recoat . Any recommendations would be appreciated.
We would need to see some pics added for prep help.
Can you recommend a cleaner and brightener for a hemlock dock to prep for restraining. Dock has been sanded. There had been a few areas quite darkened with mould. Sanding had helped a LOT but a few small patches need furthe cleaning. Looking for a stain recommendation too. There is still a bit of remaining stain post sanding (oil based, deliberately a light blue-grey semitransparent. So would have to continue in that or a darker tone and be oil based) Thanks for any recommendations!
You need to strip off the previous stain. Can you post some pics for prep help?
I used a stain for a treated wood dock ( 3 years old)on a river and I would like to use a higher quality stain. The wood has turned black and I used a clear stain. Please advise me on what I can do to bring the wood back to a natural color and what stain should I use?
We would need you to add some pictures for prep help.
I have a 8×10 deck with 22 stairs 5Ft wide with railings directly to beach on Chesapeake Bay. Built May 2021 with pressure treated lumber. Looking at TWP 1500. How do I prep? Stairway is over riprap, Do I need to treat and stain the underside? How many coats are required? How much do I order?How do I get samples? Thx Debbie
We need a total sq footage of all wood added up to help with the amounts needed. Prep with Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener. Samples are here: https://www.opwdecks.com/wood-stain-samples.htm
I have a 7 year old cedar planked shorestation pier. I waited about 2 years too long to notice it needed maintenance…as splinters were my first clue. Power washed and sanded like crazy during 2020 lockdown, and applied Cabot Wood Toned Deck and Siding Stain last July. Happy with initial results. Every panel had a different outcome. I under prepped a few spots with wood damage (some small spots of stain flaking off). Some were more exposed to water and faded faster. 4 of them were top of the winter stacks and had sun all winter…they faded the most and seem ready for prep and restain. Aside from the under-prepped flaking spots, it seems to be wearing off naturally on some boards, esp with sun, others I can still see a consistent top stain layer. So…do I strip off everything and start over with a different product (ugh), or will this product be fine with specific prep and reapplication rules.
Need to see some pictures for prep help. You can add them here.
See 3 photos, each has a caption attached. Thanks in advance!
Strip and brighten the wood for prep. Use this kit: https://www.opwdecks.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper.htm
Stain with the TWP Semi-solid for best results when in full sun: https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-semi-solid-stain-2.htm
I truly love the wood grain showing thru. I was recommended the cabot product for that reason. The tint is quite subtle. I don’t mind repeating each year or more, as it fades away. Do you have a recommendation that is more transparent than semisolid
Cabot makes a very poor stain. Look at the TWP 1500 Series, it will show all the wood grain: https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-1500-series.htm
I am redoing my dock and boardwalk – and live on a lake in central Florida. 90% new pressure treated pine (seasoned for 9 months and ready for treatment), 10% older wood finished 3 years ago with Olympic Maximum stain. What products do you recommend?
Do you have a picture of current condition for some prep help?
Sure! Pic 1 is non treated 9 mo old wood. Pic 2 is cedar stained older wood. What are your thoughts on pressure washing to supplement wood prep?
Use this for the prep: https://www.opwdecks.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.htm
Stain with the TWP 100 Series: https://www.opwdecks.com/twpwoodsealers.htm
Pic 2-sorry, having trouble with uploads.
This past fall I had a new dock installed built with yellow pine in northern Wiscosin. I would like to stain it so it doesn’t turn gray, but am concerned about peeling and maintenance. I want a stain only. What would you recommend? Thank you!
Clean and brighten the wood for prep: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
Stain with TWP 100 Series: https://www.opwdecks.com/twpwoodsealers.htm
Just had a new dock built on our small lake in Kansas with yellawood pine what’s the best stain for it ? Should I stain now or wait until spring
Wait until Spring. Clean and brighten the wood for prep: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
Stain with TWP 100 Series: https://www.opwdecks.com/twpwoodsealers.htm
I have a pier with pressure treated pine. I replaced several boards about 9 months ago and some this past weekend. Do any of your stains allow natural graying of the wood where eventually all the boards will be the same color?
Look at using the Defy Extreme Clear.
https://www.opwdecks.com/defy-extreme-clear.htm
This item states it is “A clear finish that protects wood from graying”. I would like the wood to gray naturally and all the boards eventually match in color.
The Defy Extreme Clear will gray naturally in about a year. Another option would be the TWP 1500 in Clear: https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-1500-series.htm
Actually that was supposed to be 48hrs.
I have a cedar dock. I am applying a penetrating oil wood finish. Do I need to coat the underside as well. I noticed that only the top of the dock became darker. I sand it away and applied a coat on top. Waiting the recommended 24hrs to put the planks back on the aluminum frame.
Regards
Mike
No need to stain the undersides.
Thank you so much for the reply.
i have an 18 month old dock that is made of treated lumber. We live on the Roanoke Sound on the Outer Banks in NC. The sound water is brackish. We would like to get a longest lasting stain. How often will it need to be redone? What do you recommend? Does the dock need to be cleaned first? Thanks. Debbie
Yes, clean and brighten the deck for prep. Stain with Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color.
We have a two year old dock on the intracoastal made of pressure treated wood. We have not painted or stained it, but we need to soon as it receives full sun. Which product do you recommend?
Try Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color. https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
Is there a product i can use that is safe for aquatic environment i don’t want neighbors to think I’m polluting
Use this: https://www.opwdecks.com/defy-extreme.htm
We have wooden docks on a river with mostly fresh but some brackish water. We want to stain them with the best gray stain. I think that they are made from pressure-treated pine. What would you suggest?
TWP 200 Series in Slate Gray or Armstrong Clark in Driftwood.
We have a cedar dock on a lake and have information as to the age of the dock or how it was treated. We want to preserve this. What steps would you recommend?
Strip off as much as possible. Sand the rest and then apply the wood brightener. Stain with Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color.
I have a 10 year old shore master dock, I think that it is cedar heartwood. Don’t know if the previous owners ever stained it. What product do you recommend?
Prep with RAD products: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
Stain with TWP 1500 Series: https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-1500-series.htm
I put a clear sealer on our cedar dock. Wood is gray from sun exposure. Can i put a stain on the dock at this point?…even though previously sealed?
No. The sealer will need to be stripped off first: https://www.opwdecks.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper.htm
I am replacing my dock with new western red cedar deck.Which product would be best for this freshwater dock?
See this about new wood: https://www.opwdecks.com/when-to-stain-a-new-deck.htm
Just bought a house with a dock on a large river. Dock is 2 years old built with yellow pine. Sealed once with Thompsons as best as I can tell. I would like to use a better product. 2 questions:
1) what would you suggest to stain/seal with, and 2) do I need to do anything to the wood prior sealing/staining?
Many thanks
Prep with this:
https://www.opwdecks.com/rad-300.htm
Stain with this:
https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
We have a 6 year old dock which we have stained every other year with Flood stain. This year we have decided to go with Defy marine stain. Our question is will the defy dock cleaner suffice or should we use the defy striper for preparation?
You must remove the Flood when switching brands.
[quote name=”Bettie Hilbert”]Can you recommend a certain product? I just have no idea.[/quote]
Where do you live and what type of wood? Has it ever been stained in the past?
Can you recommend a certain product? I just have no idea.
Jeaneen, depends on the band and type of paint that it is.
I am wanting to paint the dock in my pond. My pond is fully stocked with fish. If some of the paint drops into the water as I am painting, will that hurt my fish?
No, strippers will not remove paint from a deck or dock.
Is there a safe stripper to remove old paint from a dock
Look at the Defy Marine Stain or Defy Extreme stain:
http://www.opwdecks.com/defy-stains.htm
I want to know what stain is recommened for fresh water docks.
My natural wood deck is 5 years old. It has been about 3 yrs. since we stained it and we intend to stain it again this year. Deck is in Md. about 50% sunlight during the day. Do u have some recommendations?