I've used a brand-name semi-trans oil stain on my redwood deck every 2 years. I'm in a semi-arid climate with not much rain, lots of sun, and cold winters. Mildew and UV damage finally showed up, so last year I rented a big sander, took it down to good bare wood (after resetting/ replacing the deck screws), and stained it again. The next rain, I noticed that water didn't bead at all. So I did a 2nd coat after it dried out well. Next rain, only a little beading. I compared a new can to a very old used one, and saw that the VOC number was down. Now, a year later, the deck looks like it had been painted with water color and most of it had simply washed off. I emailed the manufacturer and got back the excuse that the California EPA had required that VOCs be reduced and it was out of their control. Well, I'm not in California, and their new formula is crap. I want my VOCs back. Since every paint manufacturer, apparently, has jumped on the environmental bandwagon, I don't see any purpose in looking for the "best" stain; I assume they're ALL reformulated and therefore are ALL crap. What I want is a way of restoring the performance of the new stuff to at least that of the good old stuff. Has anyone experimented with adding, say, boiled linseed oil with some turpentine or mineral spirits, etc? (I'll assume a packet of mildewcide is a given...) I'm looking for a TESTED recipe using readily available oils/solvents, nothing exotic or expensive. Does anyone have some experience here?
- posted
15 years ago