That $400 "waterproof" deck stain peeled off in 3 months

Went with the expensive stuff from the big box store on my Decatur deck last spring, followed the directions to the letter, and it's flaking already. Anyone else had luck with a specific brand that actually holds up to our humidity and afternoon thunderstorms?

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the_joel7d agoMost Upvoted

I read a tip somewhere that the prep work matters more than the brand, like cleaning with a specific deck wash and letting it dry a full week before staining. My buddy did that with a cheaper oil-based stain and his deck still looks decent after a year. The big box stuff is mostly water-based, and in our humidity it just doesn't soak in right. Maybe try stripping it all off and going with a penetrating oil finish instead. That film on top is what peels, the oil soaks into the wood. Worth checking out before you drop another $400.