Deck Stain That Won't Crack or Peel
Woodrich Brand Timber Oil is a 100% oil-based, deep-penetrating deck stain developed for professional restoration crews in the 1990s and available directly to homeowners and contractors ever since. It soaks into the wood fibers rather than sitting on the surface, which is why it is guaranteed not to crack or peel. Every order ships free.
4.9 out of 5 stars
from 184+ verified customer reviews
Why Deck Stains Crack and Peel
Most deck stains on the market are water-based or film-forming formulas. They work the same way paint does: they dry on the surface of the wood and form a thin coating. That coating looks good at first, but wood is not a static surface. It expands in heat and humidity, contracts in cold, and cycles through that movement every season. The surface film cannot keep pace. It cracks. It peels. It flakes off in sections, and once that starts, the stain has to come off entirely before you can reapply anything.
This is the most common frustration homeowners bring to Woodrich Brand. They used a product from a big-box retailer, it looked fine for a year or two, and then it fell apart. The problem is not how they applied it. The problem is how the product works. Film-forming stains fail on moving surfaces. That is a chemistry problem, not an application problem, and no amount of prep work or careful technique changes the outcome.
How a Penetrating Oil Stain Works
Timber Oil is 100% oil-based with no water. Rather than forming a film on the surface, it soaks into the wood fibers and fills the pores from within. Because the oil occupies the space inside the wood, moisture has nowhere to enter. Trans-oxide pigments provide UV protection and lasting color from inside the wood, not on top of it.
Because there is no surface film, there is nothing to crack or peel as the wood expands and contracts. When it is time to reapply, you do not need to strip anything. Clean the surface and apply a fresh coat.
100% Oil-Based, No Water
Timber Oil contains no water. This matters because water in a stain formula means the product is partially sitting on the surface rather than fully penetrating into the wood.
Deep penetration into wood fibers
The oil fills the pores inside the wood so moisture cannot enter. Protection comes from within the wood, not from a coating on top.
Trans-oxide pigments for UV protection
Timber Oil uses trans-oxide pigments that resist UV degradation. These provide lasting color and sun protection without bleaching or fading quickly.
Antifungal protection
Timber Oil contains antifungal agents tested against more than 250 known sources of mold and mildew, helping protect the wood between reapplications.
Timber Oil Deck Stain Products
Timber Oil is available in three sizes and as a complete restoration kit that includes everything needed to clean, brighten, and stain. All products ship free.
Timber Oil Deep Penetrating Wood Stain — 5 Gallon
The standard choice for full deck, fence, or siding projects. Covers 750 sq ft. Available in 6 colors.
- 750 sq ft coverage
- $233–$269 (varies by color)
Timber Oil Deep Penetrating Wood Stain — 1 Gallon
For smaller projects or touch-up work. Covers 150 sq ft. Same formula as the 5-gallon.
- 150 sq ft coverage
- $50–$59 (varies by color)
Timber Oil Sample Color Kit
5 colors in 2-oz bottles. Test on your actual wood before committing to a full order. |
- Covers several sq ft per bottle
- $15 (credits toward full order)
Timber Oil Full Restoration Kit
Includes Timber Oil, EFC-38 Wood Cleaner, and Citralic Brightener. Everything needed to clean, prep, and stain in one order. Available in three sizes: 750, 1,500, and 3,000 sq ft.
- 750–3,000 sq ft coverage
- From $297
Deck Stain Brush
A 7-inch staining brush designed for oil-based stains. Works for back-brushing after spraying or rolling. Comes with a lifetime guarantee.
- Fits any project size
- $15.50
How to Choose the Right Size
Length × Width ÷ 150 sq ft = Gallons needed
Timber Oil covers 150 square feet per gallon consistently across all sizes and colors. To figure out how much you need, measure your deck’s length and width, multiply them to get the total square footage, then divide by 150.
- 750 sq ft or less: One 5-gallon pail covers the project with room for touch-ups.
- 750 to 1,500 sq ft: Two 5-gallon pails, or the 1,500 sq ft Timber Oil Restoration Kit if you also need cleaner and brightener.
- 1,500 to 3,000 sq ft: Four 5-gallon pails, or the 3,000 sq ft Timber Oil Restoration Kit.
- Not sure where to start: The $15 Timber Oil Sample Color Kit includes all five pigmented colors in 2-oz bottles. Test them on your actual wood, pick the right color, then order the quantity you need. The $15 credits toward your full order.
- Also need to clean or strip your wood: The Timber Oil Full Restoration Kits bundle Timber Oil with EFC-38 cleaner and Citralic brightener at a 10% savings compared to buying each separately.
Timber Oil is for softwoods: cedar, pressure-treated pine, cypress, and redwood. If your deck is ipe, teak, mahogany, or another dense exotic hardwood, use the Hardwood Wiping Stain instead.
- Text a photo of your deck to (636) 288-8512 and we will confirm the right product and quantity for your project.
What Customers Are Saying
Project Results
Oil-Based vs. Water-Based Deck Stain
The shift toward water-based stains over the past two decades has been driven largely by manufacturing cost and regulatory pressure, not by performance. Water-based formulas are cheaper to produce and easier to clean up, which is why most big-box products have moved in that direction. But the tradeoff is durability, especially on horizontal surfaces like deck boards that take direct sun, rain, and foot traffic.
Oil-based stains penetrate into the wood and do not form a surface film. That means they flex with the wood as it moves, and when the finish eventually thins out, it does so evenly and gradually rather than cracking and peeling. Recoating is straightforward: clean the surface, let it dry, and apply a fresh coat. There is no stripping step. Water-based stains that have cracked or peeled require mechanical or chemical stripping before you can refinish the wood, which adds labor, cost, and a day of prep work.
Timber Oil is also low VOC despite being 100% oil-based, and it is compliant in the Northeast Corridor, which enforces stricter VOC regulations than California. The argument that oil-based stains are worse for the environment does not hold up when you account for the full lifecycle: stripping and reapplying a failed water-based finish produces more total VOCs over time than a single long-lasting oil-based application.
Order with Confidence
Guaranteed Not to Crack or Peel
Timber Oil is guaranteed not to crack or peel. Deep-penetrating oil stains do not form a surface film, so there is nothing to crack or peel as the wood expands and contracts seasonally.
Free Shipping on Every Order
Every order ships free with no minimum purchase. Most orders placed before 2-3pm CST ship the same day. Woodrich ships throughout North and South America, including the Caribbean.
Try Before You Commit
The $15 Sample Color Kit lets you test all five pigmented colors on your actual wood before ordering full-size product. The cost credits toward your purchase.
26 Years in Business
Extreme Solutions, Inc. has been selling Woodrich Brand products since 2000. The formulas developed for professional restoration crews in the 1990s are still in use today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Timber Oil carries a guarantee that it will not crack or peel. Because it penetrates into the wood rather than forming a film on the surface, there is no coating to crack or peel as the wood expands and contracts. This is a chemistry-based guarantee, not just a marketing claim.
Timber Oil is formulated for softwoods: cedar, pressure-treated pine, cypress, and redwood. It is not intended for dense exotic hardwoods like ipe, teak, mahogany, or garapa. For those species, Woodrich offers the Hardwood Wiping Stain, which uses a different formula designed for limited-penetration hardwoods.
Reapplication frequency depends on sun exposure and orientation. On a south-facing wall in full sun, Timber Oil typically lasts 3 to 4 years. On fences, typically 4 to 5 years. On horizontal deck surfaces with full sun exposure, approximately 2 years based on independent testing. When it does thin out, it does so gradually and evenly rather than cracking or peeling.
Yes, the wood needs to be clean and dry before application. For weathered or dirty wood with no existing finish, use EFC-38 Wood Cleaner followed by Citralic Brightener. For wood with an existing heavy finish, use HD-80 Heavy Duty Stripper followed by Citralic. The Timber Oil Restoration Kits bundle Timber Oil with EFC-38 and Citralic for a complete project in one order.
Timber Oil can be applied above freezing. Woodrich recommends above 40°F to be safe. At 70°F or above, it dries in 2 to 3 days and is walkable in approximately 2 hours. For guidance on staining in different weather conditions, see How Weather Affects Deck Staining.
Only if the existing stain has fully worn away and the wood surface is clean and bare. Timber Oil cannot penetrate through an existing film-forming coating. If there is still an old finish on the wood, use HD-80 to strip it first, then brighten with Citralic before applying Timber Oil.
Timber Oil can be applied by brush, roller, or sprayer. It will not leave lap marks, runs, or drip marks during application, which makes it forgiving for first-time users. Clean up with mineral spirits. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see How to Apply Deck Stain.
Talk to the Person Who Made the Products
Russell Cissell formulated every product in the Woodrich line and has been restoring wood professionally since the early 1990s. He personally handles all technical support calls on the Project Support Hotline. When you call, you reach him directly, no phone tree, no call center. He can help with wood species identification, color selection, coverage estimates, application questions, and troubleshooting.
Project Support Hotline
(636) 288-8512 — calls, texts, and photos welcome
support@woodrichbrand.com
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