2024 Update on Oil Based Deck Stain Myth

Are oil-based deck stain better than water-based? We appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.

There is no denying that oil-based stains have had their place in the stain industry. Oil-based stains have been used to protect wood siding, cedar siding, wood shakes, decking, fencing, and many other exterior wood surfaces for decades. Oil-based stains have been around longer than any other type of stain formula. However, there are a few lingering myths that accompany oil-based stain. Or another way to look at it is that there are a few old truths about oil-based stains that are no longer true. Let’s explain.

The oil-based stain myth that oil is better than water-based stains may have been true several years ago. In the past few years, however, water-based stain technology has really come a long way in performance. Defy Extreme is a perfect example. This industry-leading water-based stain uses nano-technology and high-grade resins to reflect and absorb damaging UV rays. These particles act as a sunscreen and redirect harmful ultraviolet rays that would otherwise fade and grey out an exterior wood surface. This technology is unmatched by other leading water-based stains. It is a first in the industry, a true breakthrough in technology, and has a good case against the oil-based stain myth that oil is better.