The Deck Stains & Sealers We Actually Use

Professional-Grade Products, Matched to Your Wood & Chicago's Climate

We don't grab whatever's on the shelf. Every deck, fence, and hardwood surface gets a product chosen for the wood species, the sun and moisture it faces, and how long you want it to last. Here's exactly what we use — and why.

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Contractor-Grade Only No watered-down box-store coatings
Built for Freeze-Thaw Products that survive Chicago winters
Low-VOC Formulas Compliant, safer, low-odor products
Right Product, Right Wood Matched to your species & exposure
Freshly stained and sealed Chicago deck boards

Why the Product Matters as Much as the Prep

You can prep a deck perfectly, but if the finish going on top isn't built for the wood and the weather, it won't last. That's why we standardize on a short list of proven, professional-grade stains, sealers, and hardwood oils — and match the right one to each job.

Every product below is chosen for the same reasons:

  • Deep penetration that protects from the inside, not a film that peels
  • Strong UV blockers to fight the graying and fading our summers cause
  • Real water repellency to beat rain, snowmelt, and freeze-thaw cracking
  • Mildew and mold resistance for shaded, high-moisture Chicago yards
  • Low-VOC formulas that are compliant, low-odor, and easier to maintain

Not sure which finish suits your deck? We bring recommendations and color options to every free on-site estimate.

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The Products We Trust

Four go-to finishes cover the vast majority of the decks, fences, and hardwood surfaces we work on across Chicagoland. Swipe or use the arrows to see what each one is, why we reach for it, and the colors it comes in.

Decks & Softwoods
Rymar Industries
Xtreme Weather Wood Stain & Sealer

Our workhorse penetrating oil stain-and-sealer for cedar, pressure-treated pine, and redwood decks.

Cedar deck finished with Rymar Xtreme Weather oil stain, water beading on the surface

A breathable, semi-transparent oil that beads water for years

Rymar Xtreme Weather is a low-VOC, natural oil-based stain and sealer in one. It soaks deep into the wood and leaves a durable flat, semi-transparent finish that lets the grain show through while shedding water. It's engineered for wood that lives outdoors — decks, siding, log homes, and fences.

Why we use it

It's built for exactly our climate. PTFE and blended natural oils give standout water beading, while UV absorbers and pigments ("Sunseal") block the sun that grays a deck. Because it penetrates instead of forming a film, it won't peel — so maintenance is a simple clean-and-recoat, not a full strip.

TypeSemi-transparent penetrating oil stain + sealer
Best forCedar, pressure-treated pine, redwood decks & siding
Key protectionWater repellency (PTFE + oils), UV blockers, breathable finish
FinishFlat, natural — no plastic film, won't peel
Sizes4 oz sample, 1 gallon, 5 gallons
Available colors (12)
Honey Brown
Clear
Kodiak
Nectar
Cedar Honey
Sienna
Cedartone
Ember
Sequoia
Shadow
Pine Cone
Hickory Bark
Used in Deck Staining Used in Deck Sealing Learn more at Rymar
Water-Based Staining
Benjamin Moore
Woodluxe Water-Based Waterproofing Stain + Sealer

Our low-odor, easy-cleanup color option when you want a specific look and fast turnaround.

Backyard wood deck finished with a warm semi-transparent Benjamin Moore Woodluxe stain

Waterproofing and color in one water-based coat

Woodluxe is Benjamin Moore's exterior stain-and-sealer line. The water-based formula stains and waterproofs in one step, cleans up with soap and water, and comes in a full range of opacities — from translucent (full grain shows through) all the way to solid. It's mold- and mildew-resistant and UV-resistant.

Why we use it

When a homeowner wants a particular color or a lower-odor, faster-drying finish, Woodluxe is our pick. The opacity range lets us dial in exactly how much grain shows versus how much sun protection you get, and the low-VOC water-based formula is easy to live with during and after the job.

TypeWater-based waterproofing stain + sealer
Best forColor projects, hardwoods like mahogany/teak, lower-odor jobs
OpacitiesTranslucent, semi-transparent, semi-solid, solid
Key protectionWaterproofing, UV-resistant, mold & mildew resistant
VOC / cleanupLow-VOC (<100) · soap-and-water cleanup
Opacity range
Translucent
Semi-Transparent
Semi-Solid
Solid
Used in Deck Staining Transparent Options Learn more at Benjamin Moore
Fences & Exterior Wood
TWP · Total Wood Preservative
TWP 1500 Series

Our go-to for wood fences — an EPA-registered penetrating preservative that fights rot and graying.

Cedar privacy fence finished with TWP 1500 Series cedartone semi-transparent stain

An EPA-registered preservative that protects from the inside out

TWP 1500 Series is a semi-transparent, oil-based penetrating stain and EPA-registered wood preservative. It resists the water absorption that causes warping, cracking, and splitting, and its UV-absorbing pigments plus built-in mildewcides stop wood from graying and growing mold. It's compliant in all 50 states.

Why we use it

Fences take a beating and rarely get the attention decks do, so they need a preservative that lasts with minimal fuss. TWP 1500 penetrates rather than filming, so it never peels — a fence coated with it can simply be cleaned and recoated down the road instead of stripped and refinished.

TypeSemi-transparent oil-based penetrating stain / preservative
Best forWood fences, siding, decks, log homes
Key protectionEPA-registered preservative, UV pigments, mildewcides, water resistance
Coverage~150–250 sq ft per gallon
VOC / cleanup250-VOC compliant (all 50 states) · mineral spirits cleanup
Available colors (10)
Clear
Cedartone
Redwood
Dark Oak
Black Walnut
Calif. Redwood
Honeytone
Rustic
Pecan
Natural
Used in Sealing Used in Restoration Learn more at TWP
Exotic Hardwoods
DeckWise
Ipe Oil Hardwood Finish (250 VOC)

Our specialist finish for dense tropical hardwoods like Ipe, Cumaru, and Tigerwood.

Exotic Ipe hardwood deck with a rich reddish-brown DeckWise Ipe Oil finish

A deep-penetrating oil made for woods that reject ordinary stains

Dense exotic hardwoods are so tight and oily that most finishes won't absorb or dry properly on them. DeckWise Ipe Oil is formulated specifically for Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood, Mahogany, and similar woods. Its Transoxide pigments enhance the grain and provide UV protection, while the oil penetrates deep for water repellency — with no surface film to flake or peel.

Why we use it

When a client has a premium hardwood deck, using the wrong product ruins both the look and the investment. Ipe Oil is purpose-built for these woods — it keeps their rich natural color, fights the gray-out, and reduces the checking and cracking that plague hardwood in our climate.

TypeOil-based semi-transparent hardwood finish
Best forIpe, Cumaru, Tigerwood, Mahogany & other exotic hardwoods
Key protectionTransoxide UV pigments, deep water repellency, grain enhancement
CoverageSmooth wood ~250–300 · rough ~150–250 sq ft per gallon
VOC250-VOC compliant · won't flake or peel
Finish
Natural (semi-transparent)
Used in Hardwood Staining Used in Restoration Learn more at DeckWise

How We Match the Product to Your Project

There's no single "best" deck stain — only the best one for your wood, your color goal, and how much weather it faces. Here's the quick logic we follow.

If you have… We typically use… Because…
A cedar or pressure-treated deck Rymar Xtreme Weather Deep-penetrating oil with top-tier water beading and UV defense for softwoods
A color goal or low-odor preference Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Water-based, wide opacity range, easy cleanup and fast turnaround
A wood fence or lots of vertical wood TWP 1500 Series EPA-registered preservative that resists rot and graying with low maintenance
An Ipe or exotic hardwood deck DeckWise Ipe Oil Purpose-built to absorb and dry on dense hardwoods without a peeling film

Have something else — composite, a mixed-material deck, or a color you already love? We'll confirm the right approach at your free estimate. Explore the options on our deck staining and deck sealing pages.

Products & Materials FAQs: What Homeowners Ask Us

What brand of stain do you use on decks?

There isn't one single brand for every deck — we match the product to the wood and how much sun and moisture it gets. On most cedar and pressure-treated decks we use Rymar Xtreme Weather, a penetrating oil stain-and-sealer built for harsh weather. For water-based color projects we use Benjamin Moore Woodluxe, on fences we use TWP 1500 Series, and on exotic hardwoods like Ipe we use DeckWise Ipe Oil. During your free estimate we recommend the exact product and color for your deck.

Why do you use professional-grade products instead of big-box stains?

Contractor-grade stains and sealers penetrate deeper, carry stronger UV and mildew protection, and are formulated to survive freeze-thaw cycles — exactly what a Chicago deck faces. Cheaper film-forming coatings tend to peel and trap moisture within a season or two. The products we use are chosen for durability, so you reseal less often and the finish looks better longer.

Can I request a specific stain brand or color?

Absolutely. If you already like a product or color, we're happy to work with it as long as it's right for your wood and its condition. Otherwise we'll bring recommendations and color options to your free estimate and show you how each looks on your actual boards before we start.

How long do these stains and sealers last in Chicago?

With proper prep, most of the penetrating oil products we use hold up for roughly 2 to 4 years before a maintenance recoat, depending on sun exposure, foot traffic, and wood type. Because they penetrate instead of forming a film, they fade gradually rather than peeling — so refreshing them is usually a simple clean-and-recoat instead of a full strip.

Are these deck stains safe and low-VOC?

Yes. The products we use are low-VOC formulas that comply with U.S. regulations — for example, TWP 1500 Series and DeckWise Ipe Oil are 250-VOC compliant and Benjamin Moore Woodluxe is a water-based formula under 100 VOC. We follow each manufacturer's application and safety guidelines on every job.

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Product names, brands, and trademarks — including Rymar® Xtreme Weather, Benjamin Moore® Woodluxe®, TWP® 1500 Series, and DeckWise® Ipe Oil® — are the property of their respective manufacturers. The Chicago Deck Expert is an independent contractor and is not affiliated with or endorsed by these manufacturers. Color swatches shown are approximate representations and may vary from the finished result depending on wood species, age, and condition. Specifications are summarized from manufacturer data; always refer to the manufacturer's current technical and safety data sheets.