Last year, I refinished our deck (again.) I detailed the entire process in this post, as I was really dissatisfied with the stain I’d chosen the last time I stained the deck in 2013. It looked good when I originally stained it, but nine months later, it looked like this:
Who wants to go through prepping a deck for refinishing (which often takes more time than the actual time spent staining) only to have it look like this nine months later? I spent a lot of time researching which product to use the next time I refinished the deck.
This time around, I had high hopes for One Time wood stain
It took about 1 1/2 gallons to stain our 12′ x 18′ deck’s floor surface, stairs and rails. I was really thrilled with how the deck turned out. I took this photo in August 2015 after finishing the deck:
Since that time, I’ve had curious readers writing to ask how the deck currently looks, as deck-staining season is upon us again. Am I happy with how it weathered over the past year? You bet. Here’s the deck today in July, 2016:
There’s been no peeling or chipping at all. Unlike other products currently on the market, the One Time goes on like a traditional wood stain — it soaks in, and it doesn’t make a film on top of the wood that can crack or peel later. The stain has kept its color well since last summer too.
The water still beads on the surface too — nice to see, especially considering the age (12 years ) of our deck. The One Time documentation states that the product will continue protecting wood for seven years, even after water stops beading on it, but as for now, it’s still beading.
You may remember that I also stained our children’s wood climber shortly after refinishing our deck. This climber is around 20 years old and had never been stained previously. As the wood as very dry, it sucked the stain up like a sponge:
It came out so much darker than the deck that I expected the color to fade somewhat. The above photo is from 2015 — here’s the climber’s color today in July 2016:
The color has lightened a little bit, but not much. As part of last year’s climber makeover, I removed the climber’s plastic walls and installed treated pine deck spindles. As this wood was new (and very wet) in 2015, I let the spindles weather for an entire season before staining it. This week, I finished staining the spindles:
Because One Time says you can stain right over surfaces previously stained with One Time product, I didn’t worry too much about dripping stain on the previously-stained areas of the climber — I just brushed any excess back into the wood.
Again, I’m really happy with both the color and water-protection retention over the past year with One Time. While it does cost much more than the $20-per-gallon brands, I continue to be thrilled with how our deck looks one year later.
The kids love their climber too, but don’t ask them why it’s full of sticks at the moment… I did, and apparently, the sticks are part of some secret mission. They’re being stored here “for later..!”
One Time is not the easiest product to find in stores — you can order it online
If this post is your first introduction to the series, I’m located in the suburbs of Chicago, and the deck faces the west. It receives hot Midwest sunshine in the summer and is covered with snow in the winter. You’re also welcome to go back to reading the other posts in this series:
- My quest to find a great deck stain (2015)
- A shepherd’s hook ruined my deck! (2015)
- My kids’ wood climber makeover (2015)
- My deck stain report: One year later (2016)
- My deck stain report: Two years later (2017)
- My deck stain report: Three years later (2018)
- My deck stain report: Four years later (2019)
Good luck to everyone tackling their decks and outdoor wood surfaces!
Nanda says
Fascinating and useful write up. I am going to use it. We live in Western Canada with harsher winters but the review was convincing. The conatainer here is green and does not say Bonds…just One Time. Hope its the same product
Coupon Maven says
Nanda, I’m in Chicagoland, so we have some tough winters too (though my friend in Winnipeg’s winters take the cake… seems she’s snowbound six months of the year! :)
I just went to the One Time website, and they have a store locator number for both the USA and Canada: https://onetimewood.com/store-locator-2/
I also see that they have changed the bottle on the website, and it does now just say “One Time” so they may have had a slight name change. I will update my review. Thanks!
Cassie says
2 questions for you, Jill. Is your deck cedar or pressure treated wood? My husband asked which direction your deck faces?
We get sun on ours almost 100% of the day and the back of our house faces north so we get the worst of the worst of winter too.
Coupon Maven says
Cassie, our deck is pressure treated pine. It was not in the best shape prior to staining (here’s my first post about it if you didn’t read that one: https://jillcataldo.com/quest-find-great-deck-stain-bonds-one-time-review) – prior to staining it, I rented a power sander and sanded it down to get to a smooth, healthier appearance. It was stained in its 11th year and is now 12 years old.
The deck faces the west. It’s in the sun from about 11am until sunset every day.
Mimi O says
What color did you stain the spindles?
What about the “skirt” that goes around the outside of the deck where the spindles attach – are the the deck floor borads color or spindle color?
Looks great!
Thank you
Coupon Maven says
I left the spindles in the Thompson’s green color that I’d previously stained the deck a few years ago. They’re still in good condition and honestly, I did not feel like stripping them all. That info is in the first post I did when I refinished the deck last year too: https://jillcataldo.com/quest-find-great-deck-stain-bonds-one-time-review/
It’s a nice color, but I really can’t recommend that Thompson’s at all for horizontal surfaces. It all chipped off months later.
The deck skirt is the same brown One Time color as the deck floor is. :)
Mimi O says
It looks great! We have the same style deck. I love the two tone look!
– Mimi
kAREN says
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an extensive review. I think we’ll give “one time” a try!
Coupon Maven says
You’re welcome. I hope it helps you — I really have been very happy with the performance/endurance of the product so far. :) Winter #2 for our deck ad climber is right around the corner, so I’ll have to update in the spring of 2017.
Don says
I wonder how this product will stand the test of time here in Tucson Arizona. Im about to build a pergola and Im concerned about premature graying of the wood UV rays. I noticed they did not have a redwood product (color) so Im not sure what to use?
ED says
Thank you for the comprehensive review and follow up! Well done.
Coupon Maven says
You’re welcome! I need to do a 2-year post soon. (Spoiler alert: Deck still looks great! The color has lightened just a touch over the past year. The kids’ climber is still a deep, rich brown and hasn’t visibly changed at all over the past year.)
Dwaine says
Very interesting I live in Vernon BC Canada. The biggest problem we have with our deck is black mould. The deck is in sun for the whole day but the deck is ugly because of the black mould. I sanded the deck back to original cedar boards. Will this product help with the mould issue
Thanks look forward to your reply
Dwaine
Kelly K says
Jill, how about a quick 2 year post now that Summer is officially here. Would love to see a pic or two to see how its holding up
Coupon Maven says
Yes, it’s overdue and I need to do a 2017 update :) I will take some photos this week!
Update: Here is the two-year, 2017 update photos of my deck.
Debbie says
After reading your review almost a year ago, I saved looked in the archives when it was time to seal our deck. I am curious now TWO years later if you are still happy with the appearance of your deck? I power washed on Sunday, drove to an Ace in Geneva on Monday and spent two full days staining our 2nd story deck. The ‘natural’ had a little more color than I was used to (normally I just do a clear sealer) but it turned out beautiful. I hope that it lasts because that was a JOB!! :) Thank you for your research, review and follow ups. Much appreciated.
Coupon Maven says
Yes! I am still very happy with it. :) Unlike the last product I used, which peeled off like mad, this is truly a stain, and the color is still in the wood. Indeed, i is a BIG job to get it done, but the color is still a golden brown and it looks very nice. The color has lightened a little bit on the deck over last year (will post photos very soon) but the color on the kids’ climber is still a rich, deep brown. I believe the wood on the climber, despite being older, was in better condition when I stained it. Again, I’ll post photos soon. Glad you are happy with your deck finish so far :)
Matt Yerkes says
Great commentary and documentation, Jill. Thank you.
Like others, I would appreciate as much commentary as possible over time. Been researching in-depth to avoid what you went thru in your first experience.
Thanks again
Coupon Maven says
Matt, I’ve posted a bunch of 2017 photos (taken yesterday!) at this link: https://jillcataldo.com/deck-stain-report-two-years-later/
Stefan Avalos says
Thanks. Good write-up!