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
Hi can you offer any advice on this question I have decking on my patio I would like it to be grey as this is a well trodden area to the garden for both us and the dog needs to be hard wearing colours wise and usable asap any help would be appreciated
Reply to James Crombleholme:
Good Afternoon James,
Thank you for your question. Decking needs to be able to take a real battering, nearly all year round, it is exposed to all the elements 365 days of the year, as well as foot traffic, pets, plant pots and furniture. So my first bit of advice will be to make sure you have a regular cleaning routine. Like our interior floors, the exterior needs the occasional sweep, clean and maintenance, to ensure a long lasting protection that also looks good. (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-super-concentrated-decking-cleaner) is s great option for regular care.
As you have a dog I would recommend considering an oiled finish, this will be far easier to maintain over time, oils soak into the wood surface and so is less likely to be effected by claw marks, and even if it is, you can simply patch repair and the oil will blend well. Oils are also easy to maintain as they wear, simply ensure the surface is clean and dry and then you are able to apply a top up coat when needed, usually around 1 or 2 years down the line, depending on use.
I would have to recommend if possible, avoiding allowing your dog to use the decking as his own personal toilet facility, this will very quickly damage the finish, however if the occasion mistake happens just rinse it down to wash away and the mess and this finish should be fine.
For a grey finish, and there are not many on the market at this time I would recommend the Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) which comes in a Grey colour 019. It requires application to bare wood and two very thin coats applied only. I would absolutely recommend the sample tin for test areas to ensure you like the result that will be achieved. It allows you to still see the grain of the wood.
if you take a look at these products and do feel free to get back in touch or for more help and advice please ask via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
kind regards Samantha.
I stumbled upon your informative article so thank you but I do have a query that I hope you can help with.
We have a lovely fully silvered deck around our cabin and in front of it there is an expanse of old stone paving stone. The deck and the paving when dry at least are the same beautiful silver colour.
What’s the best way to preserve and protect the deck while also preserving the silver stone like colour that it has developed?
Many thanks
Steve.
Reply to Steve Smith:
Hi Steve,
Thank you for getting in touch. I can make some recommendations for a protective product, however anything you apply may darken the wood slightly, much like water does. Over time this could fade down although you may not be able to fully maintain that silvered appearance.
As a standard I recommend a preserver followed by a protective oil for decking, this protects against mould and decay, as well as moisture ingress and further UV damage. To apply both products will very much darken you wood however and so as an alternative you could look at the Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-wood-preservative) this is a preserver that contains wax and so for a period of time will also repel moisture, it is not quite as good as the application of an oil, however it can be topped up when you feel the wood needs it.
If you have a look at these options and do feel free to get back in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind regards Samantha.
Can you suggest a decking oil suitable for what I’ve seen described as ‘exotic hardwoods’?
We had this decking installed about 11 years ago but the invoice simply calls it ‘Hardwood’; I believe it may be Balau or Bangkirai and over the years we have used several different decking oils including Barrettine, Liberon and Osmo (the latter from yourselves).
The wood (which all faces due South) is now almost black across much of its surface, possible solution to this being heavy sanding followed by a clear oil. Any thoughts will be most welcome.
Reply to Ian Ellis:
If the current finish is looking tired and has darkened somewhat over time, then taking back to bare wood is going to be the best option. This will help you to get a better level of fresh protection and over all appearance.
Removing existing decking oils is not easy although if you have a smooth surface decking you can sand back, smooth decking has this benefit over grooved. You could certainly try the pressure washer first however, as this can remove much of the oil and clean the wood thoroughly for fresh application. Take care not to hold the nozzle too close to the wood as it will cause splintering.
Sanding back a tropical hardwood will restore much of the original appearance and bring natural oils to the surface again, and so may require a period of weathering , although a good scrub with Methylated Spirits will speed this up.
And then the best product for hardwoods such as this is definitely the Osmo Decking Oils Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) the clear 007 is thinner and penetrates well into hardwoods although offers little in the way of UV protection.
Regular sweeping and a few cleans a year with a decking cleaner will help to prolong the life of the treatment and in turn the wood, and help to prevent discolouration.
I hope that helps and do please get back in touch if you have any questions.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hello
I have just had decking laid and I wanted a dark finish It so I have used Cuprinol Hampshire oak decking satin, on the tin it gives the impression that this will leave a dark finish but this is not the case it’s still very light, what do you advise is best to get the dark brown finish I am after, many thanks
Reply to Olivier disneur:
Good morning,
A second or third coat will darken the colour further. Often on new woods colours can be slightly lighter than expected, this is because the wood type, age and condition will all impact on the end result. And because of this we always recommend full test areas first, this help to ensure you like the finish before full application. Its easier to remove a test area than it is to strip the full decking.
Its is always better to stick with the same product once it is applied and Hampshire Oak is the darkest with in that Cuprinol range, except the Black. Other stain may have some slightly darker options, however many will require all previous products to be removed first.
Kind Regards Samantha.
I had a hardwood decking laid at our holiday home in southern Italy 2 years ago and allowed it to naturally silver. I now want to give it a bit of colour, a sort of light oak, so want a UV decking oil that can be applied easily and want to avoid applying any ‘revivers’. Applying straight onto greyed hardwood after pressure washing, what sort of colour can I expect?
Reply to Robin:
Good Afternoon Robin,
You are able to apply decking oils to silvered wood, however you need to bear in mind that the colour and condition of the wood will impact on the colour that will be achieved, application to silvered wood will dull down the colour some what and the drier and more aged the wood is the more of the oil, and in turn the pigment, that will be absorbed. Resulting an a darker and duller tone of colour.
I would recommend some test areas first to check out colour results and over all uptake of the oil, and ensure you like the result that will be achieved.
kind regards Samantha.