DEFY
DEFY Essential Semi-Transparent Wood Stain
- Adds Color & Highlights Wood Grain
- UV Protection Against Fading & Graying
- Long Lasting With Durable Acrylic Resins
- Water-Based
- Natural Looking Flat Finish
- One Day Deck Stain
- Coverage Rate: 100-150 SQ. FT. PER GAL (FOR 2 COATS)
DEFY Essential Semi-Transparent Wood Stain is a durable wood finish that helps protect against the damaging effects of the elements on all types of wood surfaces including decks, fences, wood siding, log homes, outdoor furniture, and other natural wood surfaces. This water-based product provides a natural looking flat finish that highlights the wood grain and adds color. For use on all wood types including pressure treated lumber, pine, cedar, redwood, mahogany, and other hardwoods.
Your time is valuable, and now you can clean and stain your wood the same day. Clean it in the morning, stain it in the afternoon once the wood is visibly dry. You won't find a longer lasting semi-transparent stain at this price. DEFY Essential outlasts everything else in its category. This product is easy to use, and easy to maintain. You can use a pump-up sprayer, brush and roller, or airless sprayer. DEFY Essential is made with the latest advancements in acrylic waterborne technology. Better quality ingredients means a longer lasting finish.
Note: Actual color may vary from on-screen representation.
Warning: This product can expose you to Ethylene oxide, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm, and Cumene, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
Click here for Product Data & Safety Sheets.
SURFACE PREPARATION
Allow new wood to weather for 3 to 6 months to adequately dry out prior to application. Kiln dried lumber can be stained immediately.
STRIP: Do not use DEFY Essential Semi-Transparent Wood Stain over painted or varnished surfaces. These surfaces must be stripped with DEFY Stain Stripper prior to application of the product. If sanding is necessary to remove older finishes, use a coarse grit sandpaper. Avoid using fine grit sandpapers as they can adversely affect the penetration of the stain.
CLEAN: All wood surfaces must be clean, porous, and visibly dry before applying DEFY Essential. Use DEFY Wood Cleaner to remove mill glaze, mildew, graying and other foreign matter that might block surface pores and interfere with product penetration. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose or power washer (maximum 1200 p.s.i.). DEFY Wood Cleaner will darken redwood and some types of cedar; however, this darkening will disappear once the wood is treated with DEFY Wood Brightener. Note: If using DEFY Stain Stripper, it is not necessary to clean with DEFY Wood Cleaner. Go straight to the brighten step.
BRIGHTEN: While surface is still wet from cleaning, use DEFY Wood Brightener to neutralize the wood, restore the wood to its natural color, and open the pores of the wood, allowing the stain to be more easily absorbed.
APPLICATION
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Surface and air temperatures should be between 45°F and 95°F. Avoid application in direct sunlight. Although surface may be slightly damp, do not apply to wet or water saturated surfaces, or when rain is expected within 12 hours.
WATER TEST: After allowing the wood to thoroughly dry from cleaning and brightening, sprinkle a few drops of water on the wood. It should soak in within a few seconds. If it doesn't, then do not apply the finish. The wood is either not dry enough or not porous enough to accept the finish correctly. Test a small area for color and appearance before starting general application to assure desired results.
MIX WELL: Shake or stir contents before and periodically during use. Do not thin product. To ensure absolute color uniformity from container to container, mix at least one third of the product from a used container with the contents of a new one.
PROTECT ADJACENT AREAS: Use plastic, cardboard, and/or drop cloths to protect all adjacent non-targeted surfaces such as siding, windows, masonry, plant life, etc. from overspray and runoff. Immediately remove overspray from non-targeted areas with soap and water. Overspray that is allowed to dry will be difficult to remove; dried product cannot be removed from concrete and masonry.
USE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT: Hand brushes should be high quality nylon or polyester. A deck brush, pump-up sprayer, or paint roller may also be used. If using an airless sprayer, use tips between .011 and .015, and use the lowest pressure that achieves a uniform spray pattern to minimize fogging and overspray. When spraying or rolling, always back brush to ensure a uniform application, and to break the surface tension of the wood so the stain will penetrate deeper, adhere better and last longer.
DECKS: Start by applying a single coat of stain to the railings, benches, and undersides of upper-level decks (only one coat is required on undersides). Once underside is treated, immediately brush out all overspray, drips, etc. Treat horizontal surfaces last.
HORIZONTAL SURFACES: On horizontal cedar, mahogany, and other dense woods, apply only one coat of finish. For pressure treated lumber and other porous woods apply two wet-on-damp coats, waiting approximately 10-15 minutes between coats. It is very important to not let the first coat dry completely before applying the second coat. Brush product into surface working out all drips, puddles, or areas of overspray before product dries. Do not over apply finish. To avoid the possibility of peeling, apply only as much finish as the wood can easily absorb. A sure indication of over application is a shiny appearance. Two coats are usually adequate, but depending on the porosity of the wood, more or less stain may be needed. Complete entire sections or to a natural break before allowing to dry. Never break in the middle of a board. Thoroughly coat the ends of boards or logs to prevent water penetration. All surface checks on logs should be thoroughly coated. Horizontal surfaces may require maintenance coats more frequently than vertical surfaces as they typically receive more direct sunlight as well as more wear and tear.
VERTICAL SURFACES: Start from the bottom and work up. Treat the entire length of a board before moving up. If necessary, brush or feather in to avoid lap marks. Brush in product before it dries and work out drips, runs, or overspray.
DRY TIME: To touch, 2 to 6 hours depending on temperature and humidity. Allow 24 hours for deck to completely cure before using.
CLEAN-UP: Clean tools and equipment immediately after each use with soap and water.
COVERAGE: With two coats, one gallon of DEFY Essential Semi-Transparent Wood Stain will cover approximately 100 - 150 sq. ft., depending on wood texture and porosity.
PRECAUTIONS
May cause an allergic skin reaction. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid breathing fumes, dust, mist, spray, vapor. Wear eye protection, protective clothing, and protective gloves. Dispose of contents/container to comply with applicable local, national and international regulation.
FIRST AID:
IF INHALED: Move the affected person away from the contaminated area and into the fresh air. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice. SKIN CONTACT: Wash off immediately with soap and plenty of water. Obtain medical attention if irritation persists. EYE CONTACT: Immediately flush eyes thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. Seek medical attention if irritation persists. INGESTION: If swallowed, rinse mouth with water (only if the person is conscious). Do NOT induce vomiting unless directed to do so by a physician. If the person is fully conscious, make him/her drink water. Never give an unconscious person anything to drink. Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician. For additional information for this product, consult the Product Data Sheet or Safety Data Sheet available at defywoodstain.com.
KEEP FROM FREEZING
VOC CONTENT < 250 g/L
SIMPLE
- DEFY not only stains the wood, but it also seals it against water penetration
- DEFY stains can be applied to visibly dry wood or wood that is slightly damp. This makes it possible to clean, brighten and stain all in one day.
- DEFY stains are penetrating stains that soak into the wood pores to form a strong, long-lasting bond.
- No messy solvents needed! Clean-up is easy with just soap and water.
BEAUTIFUL
- DEFY offers clear, semi-transparent, and solid stains in a variety of colors that not only protect but beautify your wood.
- DEFY stains are available in flat, natural-looking finishes as well as finishes with a satin sheen (DEFY Ultra).
DURABLE
- DEFY stains are formulated with the latest technology, combined with high-quality ingredients that create a lasting finish that is not prone to peeling, premature fading, or graying.
- DEFY stains offer weather protection from the sun, rain, and snow.
DEFY stands behind the integrity of our products. If you are not satisfied with the performance of this product, and provide that you have followed label instructions, return the unused portion with a proof of purchase for refund or replacement of product.
This guarantee does not include the cost of labor for removal or application of the product.
FAQs
When you've been making wood stain products as long as we have, you get used to answering similar questions. So we've gathered some of our most frequently asked questions for you here.
If you can't find the answer you're looking for below, we have more FAQ's here. Our blog is also has helpful resources and videos designed to help homeowners with every type of wood stain project.
CLEANING & PREPARATION
The answer varies based on the current condition of your wood. If you do decide to pressure wash your deck, use pressure between 1,000 or 1,200 psi. Also be sure to work with the grain and never against it, as it will cause damage to the wood's surface and splinters.
If you don't have easy access to a pressure washer or have to pay to rent one, we recommend DEFY Wood Cleaner instead. It's easy to use and will clean deep into the wood, which makes your next coat of wood stain more effective and more beautiful.
If you are using an oil-based stain, definitely. You can use DEFY stains, which are water-based products, even when the surface is slightly damp.
With oil based stains, wood must be bone-dry before you can begin staining. However, DEFY stains are water-based, so you can use them even when the surface is slightly damp.
If your wood is in constant shade and moisture is present often, you might never be able to prevent mold and mildew completely. However, you can improve your chances by keeping your deck cleaned and sealed with professional grade stains like DEFY Extreme, DEFY Ultra, and DEFY Solid stains. All 3 of these DEFY stain products contain zinc nano-particles to resist mold/mildew growth. Zinc is naturally resistant to mold & mildew.
Use a diluted bleach solution to clean it off. Mix DEFY Wood Cleaner with water (five parts water to one part cleaner), spray it on, let it set for five or ten minutes, and rinse it off. To prevent it from coming back, stain your deck with DEFY Ultra, Solid, or Extreme Wood Stain for the ultimate mold and mildew protection.
TOOLS & APPLICATION
The best tool for the job varies by the type of job. For decks, the quickest and easiest method to apply DEFY deck stain is with a "car wash" brush. Some have handles and some are handheld and they can be found in most home improvement stores.
You can, but we don't recommend it. Paint rollers were designed for thick paint, not water-based wood stains. Using a roller will often simply push the stain around on the surface and not force it into the pores. It can also leave a stipple effect in the finish when the stain has dried.
When using a semi-transparent DEFY stain (Essential, Extreme or Ultra), only apply as much stain as the wood can absorb easily. If any puddles form during your staining process, be sure to brush them out to disperse the puddle.
DEFY Essential and Extreme stains have a flat finish, so if a gloss has formed on the surface the stain has been over-applied. Over time, it will be likely to peel. Even after two coats, your deck should still have a flat finish.
With DEFY Ultra stains, two coats will result in a satin finish. One coat will appear flat. A glossy appearance, would still indicate an over-application.
This can vary slightly based on where you live, but typically the Spring and Fall offer the easiest conditions to work in. Below 80° is ideal and regardless of the season, it's best to stay out of direct sunlight because it can cause the stain to dry too quickly.
CARE & MAINTENANCE
We know it's easier NOT to stain your deck, but we've designed DEFY wood stains to be the next easiest thing! Leaving your deck untreated, means you'll be building a new deck in a few years and that's much more expensive than protecting the one you've already got.
Your home's outdoor spaces are extension of your life and they deserve both beauty and protection. DEFY wood stains will help protect your investment from UV rays, stains from mold and mildew, and moisture. Restore and extend the life of your deck with DEFY.
That’s easy! Clean your deck with DEFY Wood Brightener, which will give it a boost in appearance. You can also apply one, light coat of new stain once you've brightened.
Yes, DEFY Composite Deck Sealer works well on most composite wood surfaces. Just follow all of the directions in the same way that you would if you were staining regular wood and you'll love the results!
Our Recommended Steps for Maximum Performance
Better Wood Starts here
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