Here at Wood Finishes Direct we’re often asked, “ decking oil or stain, which is best?” This can sometimes be a tricky question to answer. Why? Because decking stains and oils can sometimes be the same thing and sometimes very different. Confused? Let’s explore this further.
What are these differences, we hear you ask…?
Although both decking stains and oils come in a wide range of natural wood tones and colours, only decking oils offer ‘clear’ or ‘natural’ versions. Clear decking oil products do however tend to enhance the natural colour and character of decking boards meaning that some colour change is still likely. If it’s a clear finish you’re looking for it’s decking oil all the way.
So what’s the confusion with decking stains?
A wood stain or decking stain can be defined as any product that uses a colour pigment to change the natural colour and appearance of the wood. As far as decking products go, this can mean a coloured decking oil or one of the alternative coating type products that leave a plastic or varnish like film over the surface of the wood. To better explain the differences between these products and to help you make an informed choice, read on to find out the pros and cons of each.
Decking Oil
Decking Oils are widely available in both clear (natural) and coloured formulations. Designed to penetrate in to the surface grain of the timber, decking oils protect wooden decking from within. The high concentrations of oil and wax make decking boards highly resistant to water and dirt ingress whilst providing a highly durable and easily maintained finish.
10 Benefits of Decking Oils
- Excellent coverage usually in the range of 8 to 12 square meters per Ltr. Some decking oils can cover up to 24 square meters per Ltr
- Rainproof and ready to use for light foot traffic in around 4 to 8 hours depending on the decking oil brand and product used
- Many contain UV filters to slow down the effects of UV damage to the timber. As a guide, darker coloured decking oils provide better UV protection than lighter coloured or clear decking oils
- They help to replenish the natural oils of the timber to keep the wood nourished and supple
- Oils work from within to help prevent cracking, splitting and warping of the decking boards
- Decking oils are easy to apply, clean and maintain. No need to strip back to bare wood before applying a replenishing or maintenance top coat
- It’s easy to carry out localised patch repairs to worn areas in high traffic environments
- Decking oils will not crack, peel, flake or blister from the surface of the wood
- They help to protect decked areas from mould and algae when well maintained
- Decking oils tend to be less slippery than stains as they don’t cover the wood with a plastic-like film, meaning that the naturally uneven texture of the timber provides better grip potential
Potential Decking Oil Issues
- Not all decking oils may be suitable for exotic hardwood decking such as Iroko, Balau, Massaranduba, Teak and Cumaru because of their oily character and dense grain. Highly refined or extra thin decking oils may be required
- Cannot be over-coated with a decking stain or decking paint unless the decking has been completely and thoroughly stripped or allowed to weather for several years
- The final colour of the oil can be influenced by the colour of the decking timber. This means that the final finish of the decking may not match the colour shown on the tin
It is worth mentioning that water-based decking oils and solvent-based decking oils are not compatible and cannot be used over each other. Always read the labelling on the tin before starting any project. Another way to check which is which is to read the brush cleaning instructions on the tin. If it says to use water to clean brushes, it’s water-based. If it says to use white spirit, it’s solvent-based.
Decking Stains
Decking stains tend to be varnish like products that coat the surface of the deck. Often available in a wide range of attractive wood shades, decking stains effectively seal the timber from the elements. It’s worth remembering that coloured decking oils are also often labelled as a ‘decking stain’.
For an in-depth guide on how to stain decking, check out our other article How To Stain Decking For A Flawless Finish.
7 Decking Stain Benefits
- Surface coating decking stains seal the deck with a plastic-like film or layer. This seals the surface with a highly durable layer that protects decking timbers from weathering and foot traffic
- The colour pigments in decking stains help to reduce the amount of UV exposure the wood receives, therefore helping to protect the timber from the greying effects of the suns UV rays
- Decking stains work well and looks great on decking accessories such as hand rails and spindles
- Stains provide good coverage and depth of colour
- Many decking stains are quick drying and are shower proof and ready to walk on in just a couple of hours
- Decking stains make it difficult for mould and algae to form on the surface of the deck
Potential Decking Stain Issues
- Can reduce the visibility of the wood grain due to the pigmented film between the timber and the surface
- Can potentially start to crack, peel and flake if the seal is compromised and moisture gets under the stain
- Must be fully removed if re-coating with a different stain or if the decking stain has started to break down and degrade
- Can be difficult to strip from grooved decking if applying a different decking treatment
- Cannot easily be applied to a decking that has been previously oiled. Any oil that remains in the decking may repel or prevent adhesion of the decking stain
- Can be problematic on new, naturally oily, dark exotic hardwood decking such as Iroko, Balau, Massaranduba, Teak and Cumaru. These timbers should be allowed to weather naturally for around 3 to 6 months to allow the surface grain to open and for some of the natural oils to dissipate
Please Note: Not all decking stains are compatible with each other. Always check with the manufacturer before applying any decking treatment over another.
Recommended Decking Oil and Stain Products
Unsure of which decking oil or decking stain to use? Here are some of our top recommendations. All of these products deliver great results and will ensure that decked areas will stay protected and looking great for longer.
3 of the Best Selling Decking Oils
Manns Premier UV Decking Oil: A multi-purpose exterior oil treatment. Excellent water-beading properties and weather protection. Reduces the risk of timber cracking, splitting and warping. Suitable for both softwood and hardwood decking, sheds, fences & pergolas. Unique UV formula keeps wood looking good for longer and resists the greying effects of the sun. Can be used on all pre-treated, pressure treated and preservative impregnated timber.
Sadolin Decking Oil: Is a high quality, solvent-based, clear decking oil for all softwood and hardwood decking. It Nourishes and enhances the natural beauty of decking boards and protects from UV damage with UV filters. It is resistant to mould and algal growth and offers excellent weather protection and water resistance.
Osmo Decking Oil: Osmo Decking Oil protects, maintains and beautifies the wood surface, producing a smooth satin finish which is extremely resistant to water and dirt. The microporous finishes are based on natural vegetable oils and allow the wood to breathe and helps regulate the moisture content, reducing swelling and shrinkage. The finish will not crack, flake, peel or blister. This product offers excellent coverage and is especially suitable for dense, exotic hardwood decking.
2 of the Best Selling Decking Stains
Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Stain: Uses advanced technology to penetrate deeper into the wood for increased adhesion and hardness, to provide up to double the foot traffic protection and weather resistance versus the standard Ronseal Decking Stain formulation (based on Ronseal’s weathering data).
Ronseal Decking Stain: A pigmented / coloured deck stain. Suitable for a wide range of soft and hardwood decking. Hard-wearing and weather resistant. Available in a range of attractive natural colours. Quick and easy to apply. Suitable for high foot traffic areas. Dries to a semi-translucent, matt finish. Contains UV filters to reduce greying.
Top Tips for applying decking oils and stains
- Always, stir the contents of the tin thoroughly, at least for a couple of minutes before applying. This ensures that colour pigments and other important ingredients of the product are well distributed and not concentrated at the bottom of the tin.
- Always do a test patch and allow the decking oil or stain to fully dry before starting any project. This provides an opportunity for you to see how the product will look when dry. Does it meet your expectations?
- Only apply in double figure temperatures and when the weather is set to be dry for at least the minimum drying time displayed on the tin. Single figure temperatures, damp or wet conditions could adversely affect the application and final finish of the product
- Look out for special and end of season offers. Decking oils and decking stains can be had at a discount towards the end of the summer season, meaning that you can stock up for the next year and make a saving in the process
Need help with your decking finish?
Unsure about which decking product to use on your garden decking?
For more information about decking oils and decking stains, contact our team of resident experts who are always on hand to help with project advice and product recommendations.
We love to see before, during and after photos of any wood finishing project. If you would like to share your decking project pictures with us, you can either send us some photos or share on our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram pages.
Other great decking related blog posts
Here are some of our other top ‘decking’ related blog posts that cover all aspects of cleaning, maintenance and some of the more common issues with decking finishes.
82 comments
CAN DECKING OIL BE APPLIED WITH EITHER A BRUSH OR A SPRAY GUN OF SOME SORT? IS ONE RECOMMENDED MORE THAN THE OTHER? THIS QUESTION RELATES TO NEWLY INSTALLED DECKING.
MANY THANKS
Reply to Shirley Scoular:
Hi Shirley,
This would be dependent on what product you are using, the information can often be found on the product page.
Thanks,
Samuel
I am having a hardwood (jatoba – Brazilian cherry) deck built next week. The hardwood has a beautiful cherry coloring, and I would like to preserve the color as long as possible. What product do you recommend? Can new jatoba wood take decking oil, or do I need to wait and weather it first? I don’t want the deck to go grey just because I have another deck on the property, built about 15 years ago, that is stained brown. These two decks will sit in proximity to one another and I would like them to so somewhat similar visually. But I don’t want to stain the new deck, just to preserve the hardwood’s beautiful appearance. Many thanks.
Reply to Maria:
Good morning Maria,
Thank you for getting in touch with your question. It is a common question asked for beautiful tropical hard woods such as Ipe, Balua and Iroko. Jatoba is a less common one, however if it is anything like the others it will require a period of weathering. Tropical hardwoods tend to have a naturally high oil content when they are relatively new, these oils will prevent the uptake or adhesion of any product that you try to apply. So a weathering period to allow these oils to naturally disperse is the recommendation.
This period is often around 10 – 12 weeks and can allow the wood to start to silver some, it depends very much on the time of year and level of exposure to the wood. You may find that it this time of year you may get away with minimal fading as we go through the winter. And the wood may then be ready for application come the Spring.
If you do find there is any fading of the wood, then you could look at using a reviver product such as the Osmo Wood Reviver Gel (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-wood-reviver) this can restore the natural tones of the wood.
You will need the wood to be dry before any treatment can be considered and then a test area to check for uptake, it may be that the wood is still not ready to take on any product. For a natural look and feel I would recommend the Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) the 007 clear is ideal for hardwoods as it is a little thinner, and the coloured options are also possibilities, although pigments can start to have an impact on uptake and so test areas to ensure they soak well into the wood are advised and there are samples for this purpose. The clear decking oil is the most recommended for this type of wood, however it does not have UV filters and will allow the wood to silver naturally, a coloured option will help to prevent this, even the lightest of colours will filter UV and slow down the silvering.
Its a bit of a battle to maintain the natural colour of these types of woods I am afraid, they will just naturally silver and for many people this is the desired result. It is a balancing act to get the best for the wood, protection or colour.
I hope that goes some way to helping with your project and if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page and we can offer further advice, if required.
Kind regards Samantha.
My grooved decking has been neglected for a few years and, although sound, has turned grey all over. I don’t know what the previous owner used, so what would you recommend to clean it and then get rid of the grey? I would like to be able to re-treat it when necessary with the minimum of preparation.
Reply to Bill Johnstone:
Good Afternoon Bill,
This is a situation many people find themselves in when you purchase a property. A thorough clean is the first place to start, sweep, wash, pressure wash, sweep again and allow to dry. Getting all debris and dirt off the wood. It is likely you will be left with a light grey, faded wood and you can then look at trying a Reviver such as the Barrettine Wood Reviver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-wood-reviver) this can restore the natural colour of wood that has been sun damaged. I would recommend a test area first and it may be that two treatments are needed, it will really depend on the current condition. And if there is still any previous product on the wood after your through clean and pressure wash, this may also prevent the gel from working.
Once you have the wood clean and where you want it too be, it is vital that you allow it to fully dry, this could take a few days or even weeks. Once dry you can look at application of an oil. Barrettine Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-decking-oil) is a good option to consider, this soaks into the decking and gives not only a natural look and feel, as well as really good protection too. To avoid further fading of the wood from UV damage, the application of a colour, even a very light one, will benefit the wood.
The benefits that come with using a decking oil are the ease of maintenance, a simple top up coats to a clean dry surface can be an annual part of preparing the garden after winter for the year ahead. With regular sweeping and cleaning throughout the year the oil will be great for repelling moisture. And I would recommend taking a look at all of our other Decking related blogs for some very helpful tips on how to care for your decking.
And of course if you have any further questions for us, please do not hesitate to get in touch via or contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi, What a great site ! I’ve just built a large deck area using new, untreated softwood scaffolding boards and am now looking at the best way to preserve these and maintain the natural look… do I put preservative on before deck oil ? Or is it straight on with deck oil ?? Any advice much appreciated !
Reply to Jeremy Hudson:
Good morning Jeremy,
Its worth going that extra mile with your decking and putting a preserver on first followed by a couple of coats of the Decking Oil. Decking is the most exposed area garden and the hardest area to protect and keep looking good. However with some extra care you can protect it all year round.
The preserver will help to reduce mould, algae and decay in and around the surface of the wood. Make sure the wood is cleaned and dried before application. And then a Decking Oil will repel moisture and can help to reduce UV damage over time.
And then once treated I would recommend regular sweeping and the occasional clean, much like our interior floors decking needs some TLC through out the year. Sweeping will help to avoid decaying foliage and insects, that will break down the oil. Cleaning can wash away any algae that starts to develop, as this is what makes your decking slippery when it gets wet.
And if you have furniture or plant pots on the decking, moving these around regularly will help to avoid varying aging of the decking that over time can create a patchwork effect.
I hope that helps and if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind regards Samantha.
Could you recommend a decking oil or stain which is very light in colour but doesn’t have an orange/yellow tinge to it. We’re trying to match our decking, handrail and decking panels to new composite fascia and steps which are ‘Himalayan Cedar’ colour. Previously used Cuprinol ‘natural’ but it is too dark and orangey. I appreciate it depends a lot on the wood colour to begin with aswell.
Reply to Gail:
Good Afternoon Gail,
Thank you for getting in touch with your question. Colour matching can be difficult, especially for exterior projects where the colour options are slightly more limited. There is nearly always a way to get close however, and I would recommend taking a look at the Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) with in this range there is a clear option and a range of colours and if there is not anything close to what you need, there is the option of creating a new colour, you would do this by getting the clear oil, 007, and a sample of one of the coloured oils and adding the colour to the clear.
It would need a little bit of experimentation first to get the right result, it may be that you only require a very small amount of the coloured oil added to the clear, it is vital to thoroughly mix them together. So small ratio measures first and tests on your wood, until you get the desired result and then you are able to mix up a larger quantity in the same ratio to complete the project. This will help you to control the colour a bit more for getting the lighter result.
I hope that helps and if you have any questions.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards Samantha.