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
I am just finishing a 10SQM deck project (DIY). I would actually like the pressure-treated softwood decking boards to go greyer i.e. to achieve over time a natural weathered look. The deck is in the middle of the garden and surrounded by grey natural stone walls and that seems to fit.
But I would also like it to last as long as possible.
Can you suggest the best approach for this situation?
Thanks.
Reply to David:
Hi David,
Using a clear decking oil will help to protect the decking from weathering, general wear and tear and dirt. Not all clear decking oils provide UV protection and even those that do have a limited ability to do so. As a general rule, the darker a product is the more UV protection it provides. This is due to the colour pigments in the product partially blocking the sunlight from reaching the wood.
Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) is a premium decking oil but does not contain any UV filters. This will allow the decking boards to naturally grey / silver.
If not done already, it is worth treating the wood with a clear wood preservative such as Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) prior to oiling. The preservative will protect the decking timbers from biological threats such as mould, algae, wood rot and insect attack. If possible, treat all sides of the decking including edges and especially any cut ends with both the preservative and decking oil.
I hope this helps.
Reply to Nick:
Thanks Nick. Most helpful.
I’ve got a full tin of Ronseal Multipurpose Wood Treatment (which is clear and solvent-based). Is there any reason why I shouldn’t use that rather than the Barrettine product?
David
Reply to David:
Hi David,
The Ronseal Multipurpose Wood Treatment that you have will be fine to use on your decking.
Kind regards,
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for this incredibly helpful article and for your detailed responses. It’s awesome to see a business taking the time to provide customers with such helpful information.
This has been helpful in aiding my decision on what products to use on my decking boards. However, I was wondering about the timber frame sub-structure. It’s obviously not visible and so there’s no need to add a coloured oil etc. What do you advise using on this in order to protect it to length it’s life?
Many thanks, Chloé
Reply to Chloe:
Hi Chloe,
If you can treat the sub structure and support posts before it is installed, it will definitely help to preserve them and will indeed lengthen the life of the support structure. As with decking boards, we recommend that all surfaces including the edges and especially the cut ends are treated with 2 coats of wood preservative (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/collections/decking-preserver). This will help to protect the wood from biological threats such as mould, algae, wood rot and insect attack. Once dry, again treat all sides, edges and ends with 2 or 3 coats of decking oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/collections/decking-oil). This can be clear or coloured depending on what you have to hand. The oil will help to nourish the wood and keep it supple, this helps to prevent cracking, splitting, and warping of the timbers. It will also help to protect the supporting structure from moisture.
I appreciate that this process will add to the overall cost of the project but the benefits in protecting the support posts and framework of your decking are well worth it.
Kind regards,
Hi,
I have decking that is approx 12 years old. I’ve used a stain on it previously, but it has been neglected and hasn’t been treated for about 5 years. It’s weathered well under the circumstances (it’s partially covered with a port) but it is patchy. What would you recommend I do next to restore it to its former glory ( or near enough).
Bev
Reply to Bev:
Good Afternoon Bev,
Thank you for getting in touch, the first thing to do is give a real good clean. If you have access to a pressure washer this will help remove dirt and grime and then use the Barrettine Driveway Decking and Patio Cleaner (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-complete-decking-patio-cleaner) you will be surprised how different the decking will look at this point and then you can either use a restorer if the wood has silvered, such as the Osmo Wood Reviver Gel (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-wood-reviver) which will begin to bring back the natural colour and condition of the wood or if you are happy with the condition move on to treatments to protect.
Once you are at a clean, dry, bare wood point you are then able to apply a good quality preserver such as the Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) and this will help to prevent mould and rot. Followed by two coats of a decking oil. There are many brands of decking oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/collections/decking-treatment) on the market and in terms of durability and wear there is very little difference between then. They all require a top up coat approximately a year to twelve months down the line in order to upkeep the protective properties. Coverage may vary slightly and the range of colour will certainly differ, but two thin coats will give a durable and natural protective finish that is easy to maintain, which is what you really need for Decking, as this is the most exposed are of wood in the garden.
I hope that helps and if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to get back to me. And always try a test area first.
Kind regards Samantha.
I had someone chainsaw carve an eagle from a dead elm tree in my backyard. I want to protect it from the weather(from algae, mold, cracking, greying etc). I want the top of the eagle’s head to be white, the beakand feet to be yellow and the body to be a dark color. What do you recommend to seal this outside carving with?
Reply to June Donze:
Good Afternoon June,
What a great project !! To achieve those colours you will need to look at some of the Osmo products, here at Wood Finishes Direct we nearly always recommend oils for exterior protection, they are durable and easy to apply and maintain and will not peel and flake. You could have a look at the Osmo Country Colour (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-country-colour) this is a more opaque finish with the colours that you require, but at the same time can allow the wood to look and feel fairly natural.
A little goes a long way and it is likely that you will only need the 125ml tin of each colour to complete your project, although this is dependent on the size of the sculpture and the condition of the wood, for example if it is particularly dry the uptake of oil will be more. Test areas are vital to ensure you like the colour that will be achieved.
If you take a look at these products and feel free to get back to me if you have any further questions via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
All the Best Samantha.