How to Apply DEFY Extreme Wood Stain

Applying DEFY Extreme Wood Stain is a simple way to protect and enhance decks, fences, siding, and other exterior wood surfaces. 

This water-based semi-transparent stain is designed to highlight natural wood grain while helping protect against UV damage, moisture, and graying.

Follow the steps below to prepare, stain, and maintain your exterior wood project using the complete DEFY wood restoration system.

Before You Start

Best Surfaces for DEFY Extreme

• Pressure-treated wood
• Cedar
• Redwood
• Pine
• Mahogany
• Exterior wood decks
• Fences
• Siding
• Pergolas
• Outdoor furniture

Recommended DEFY Products for This Project

Typical Project Timeline

• Morning: Clean and prepare the wood surface.
• Afternoon: Apply DEFY Extreme Wood Stain once the surface is visibly dry.
• 24 Hours: Allow 24 hours before normal use.

1. Clean or strip the wood.

Even if you have new wood, it's important to clean the surface with a wood cleaner. When new wood is cut, it has something called "mill scale" on it, which is a crushing of the grain of the wood. DEFY Wood Cleaner will remove the mill scale and open the grain of the wood to receive the maximum amount of stain. If your wood is extremely weathered or has turned gray, DEFY Wood Cleaner will clean it and remove any graying. For wood that has previously applied stains that are still intact, use DEFY Stain Stripper to completely remove the old stain.

2. Brighten the wood

Regardless of whether you clean or strip the wood, next you'll need to use a brightener to neutralize the surface of the wood. Brightening can be done immediately following the cleaner or stripper. No wait time is needed. DEFY Wood Brightener is used after the cleaner or stain stripper to neutralize and brighten the surface of the wood. Using the cleaner or stain stripper on the wood causes the surface to become extremely alkaline. This is bad for staining as it can cause premature stain failure. By using a brightener, you'll bring the pH level of the wood back to neutral quickly, and get the maximum lifespan from the stain applied in the next step.

Why Homeowners Choose DEFY Extreme

• Helps protect against UV damage and graying
• Penetrating formula designed not to peel
• Water-based formula with soap-and-water cleanup
• Semi-transparent finish highlights natural wood grain
• Designed for decks, fences, siding, and exterior wood surfaces

3. Stain the wood

Allow the wood to become visibly dry (usually a few hours depending on temperature and humidity). If you're staining a deck, start with the railings and spindles first. Cover the flat parts of the deck with cardboard or drop cloths to prevent any drips. Apply two coats with a synthetic bristle paint brush. Next apply the stain to the horizontal boards. It's usually a good idea to use a paint brush to trim the first board or two against the house. After that, the quickest way to stain your deck is to use a car wash brush. You can purchase one in the auto cleaning section of most home improvement stores. Pour the stain into a five-gallon bucket (if you purchased in single gallon cans), and dip the brush in the bucket, and apply the stain to the deck boards.

Allow the wood to dry for 24 hours before walking on the surface or moving your patio furniture back on the deck. In extremely humid conditions, the stain could take longer than 24 hours to dry properly.

Which DEFY Stain Is Right For Your Project?

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