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Buying quality deck stains in Canada - TWP, Defy, Armstrong Clark

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May 6th, 2014 11:25 am
Eldorado [OP]
Deal Addict
Nov 30, 2003
2689 posts
1013 upvotes
Nunavut

May 6th, 2014 11:25 am

Buying quality deck stains in Canada - TWP, Defy, Armstrong Clark

I'm surprised this hasn't been talked about here yet, so I'll start it up

I have found this site to be an invaluable resource:
http://www.deckstainhelp.com/

Looking to buy the top notch deck stains that are not sold in Canada, this excludes any brand sold in the big box stores especially Home Depot (Behr)

I'm not interested in trying out any of the others that get mixed/average reviews, such as:
Sikkens
Sherwin Williams
Olympic - generally a good brand, but has been noted that in order to sell in stores like Lowes they change their formula in order to sell for cheaper
Cabot - same as above


From quite a bit of reading these 3 brands are the top of the heap:

TWP 1500
Defy Extreme
Armstrong Clark


Defy and Armstrong are now available to be ordered online and shipped to Canada, they meet our new VOC rules, one sites I have found that will ship:
The Sealer Store - http://www.opwdecks.com - these guys seem to be the biggest supplier of stains

Also direct from each manufacturer (I think, but seems the sealer store actually runs them?)
http://www.defystain.com/
http://www.armstrongclarkstain.com


Does anyone have any other resources that ship to Canada, looking for best price and shipping, and more importantly ever seen them for sale at a local supplier? Each site ships via UPS so you know that means I will get nailed with some killer brokerage fee's, products are made in the US so no duties, just HST

TWP 1500 - This guy seems to be the most popular, but not legal to ship and use in Canada

But.. has anyone tried buying in the states and crossed the border with it? I'm wondering if the same rules apply to it as weed killers, as in I can buy it and bring it across, just not allowed to use it and receive a fine if caught
552 replies
May 12th, 2014 1:54 pm
Eldorado [OP]
Deal Addict
Nov 30, 2003
2689 posts
1013 upvotes
Nunavut

May 12th, 2014 1:54 pm

No one else interested in quality stains?

Just ordered a set of samples from opwdecks.com, Defy and Armstrong Clark.. hopefully the colors look good
May 13th, 2014 12:26 pm
Playdo
Banned
Sep 27, 2010
109 posts
55 upvotes
Toronto

May 13th, 2014 12:26 pm

Ordered HD80 and wood brightener from them last Wednesday, and received the package on Friday. I also find their shipping costs a little high (UPS).

I hear the Armstrong stain is more suitable for our climate. I’d like to give it a try, if I can have it delivered at a reasonable cost.
Let me know which resource you plan on using to save on cost.
May 14th, 2014 8:20 am
cRaZyRaVr
Deal Addict
Mar 11, 2004
4921 posts
3136 upvotes
Milton, ON.

May 14th, 2014 8:20 am

Did you guys have to pay duties / taxes on the samples you got? I need to stain my PT deck this summer and am starting to look at stains as well.... so far I was thinking of just getting the Olympic stuff from Lowes which gets decent reviews. But if the above are that much better for not much more $$$ might as well go that route.
May 14th, 2014 8:29 am
fdl
Deal Fanatic
Dec 5, 2009
5756 posts
3589 upvotes

May 14th, 2014 8:29 am

What's wrong with the big box store stuff?
May 14th, 2014 9:28 am
ryap01
Newbie
Aug 16, 2011
16 posts
33 upvotes
MARKHAM

May 14th, 2014 9:28 am

I bought Armstrong Clark semi-transparent stain after doing my research for our cedar deck...bought from powerwash.com in Texas a couple years ago. 4 one gallon pails totaled $131.96 US, with shipping & handling of $52.35 US. No issues with delivery.

The stain has held up pretty well and went on easy...that said I'm probably due to do this again...
May 14th, 2014 9:40 am
monomono
Deal Addict
Jul 20, 2005
1293 posts
63 upvotes

May 14th, 2014 9:40 am

I used sikkens (forget exact brand, bought it at lowes) 3 years ago on a beat up pt deck and it has barely faded so far. I did do some research prior to choosing it.

One thing I know for sure is that whatever you choose should have as many warning symbols on the can as trouble - flammable, poison etc. That's the powerful stuff!
May 14th, 2014 3:47 pm
Eldorado [OP]
Deal Addict
Nov 30, 2003
2689 posts
1013 upvotes
Nunavut

May 14th, 2014 3:47 pm

cRaZyRaVr wrote: ↑Did you guys have to pay duties / taxes on the samples you got? I need to stain my PT deck this summer and am starting to look at stains as well.... so far I was thinking of just getting the Olympic stuff from Lowes which gets decent reviews. But if the above are that much better for not much more $$$ might as well go that route.
There are no duties as these brands are made in the US (Defy, Armstrong) but you will need to pay taxes for your province

Olympic and Cabot from Lowes are 'ok' and definitely better than brands like Behr (rated the worst stain)
fdl wrote: ↑What's wrong with the big box store stuff?
I'm putting a lot of trust into this particular site, what is wrong with it will take pages to go over, but here's some good reading material:

http://www.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain ... ome-depot/

http://www.deckstainhelp.com/latest-con ... ng-stains/

Basically here in Canada we get the shaft (as usual), just the same as our weed killer
Playdo wrote: ↑Ordered HD80 and wood brightener from them last Wednesday, and received the package on Friday. I also find their shipping costs a little high (UPS).

I hear the Armstrong stain is more suitable for our climate. I’d like to give it a try, if I can have it delivered at a reasonable cost.
Let me know which resource you plan on using to save on cost.
Waiting on my samples to arrive, but right now I'm leaning towards Armstrong Clark mainly because it's oil based vs Defy is water based, though they both of excellent reviews, will fade instead of flaking, and can just put new coats on top without having to strip and start from scratch every couple years

UPS fee's are high, did you get dinged with their brokerage fee? I'm looking to self clear the package myself, I hate those scammers!

ryap01 wrote: ↑I bought Armstrong Clark semi-transparent stain after doing my research for our cedar deck...bought from powerwash.com in Texas a couple years ago. 4 one gallon pails totaled $131.96 US, with shipping & handling of $52.35 US. No issues with delivery.

The stain has held up pretty well and went on easy...that said I'm probably due to do this again...
That's a good price! What color did you use, and any pics?

I'll check out that site, thanks!
May 14th, 2014 7:51 pm
Ryan26
Jr. Member
Dec 23, 2005
100 posts
18 upvotes

May 14th, 2014 7:51 pm

I've purchased TWP 5 Gallon pails several times and had them shipped to US border cities, last time I actually just purchased from a TWP dealer in Detroit. I drove over, picked it up, paid by 13% HST on the way back with minimal questions from the border agent. I just explained that I spent a lot building a new deck and this was the top recommended stain, they didn't have any Canadian dealers so I had to get it in the US. No issues.
May 14th, 2014 8:04 pm
timv
Member
Jun 13, 2004
331 posts
59 upvotes
Saint John

May 14th, 2014 8:04 pm

Put a coat of Armstrong Clark cedar tone on my western red cedar deck last fall and it held up well. Nice thing about AC and a brand called Timberoil is that you can apply to new wood decks after 1-3 months
May 17th, 2014 11:59 am
Playdo
Banned
Sep 27, 2010
109 posts
55 upvotes
Toronto

May 17th, 2014 11:59 am

Eldorado wrote: ↑No one else interested in quality stains?

Just ordered a set of samples from opwdecks.com, Defy and Armstrong Clark.. hopefully the colors look good
Did you received your samples and tried them out. I'm interested in Armstrong rustic brown, or Defy butternut. I may have to order samples, I'm having a hard time finding pictures for these colors.
May 22nd, 2014 12:13 pm
Eldorado [OP]
Deal Addict
Nov 30, 2003
2689 posts
1013 upvotes
Nunavut

May 22nd, 2014 12:13 pm

No haven't received yet, when I wrote my post I had my order ready to go and just needed to click complete.. but reconsidered the colors and ordered a few days later

Hopefully get them soon to try out

Also added Defy Deck cleaner and Defy brightener
May 23rd, 2014 4:15 pm
Relaxe
Newbie
Nov 28, 2013
40 posts
45 upvotes
SHERBROOKE

May 23rd, 2014 4:15 pm

Hello, I'm in the same boat:
I need to stain 1400sq.ft of fence.
I am leaning toward the Armstrong Clark...

== However, I am concerned that these sites all look alikes:
http://www.deckstainhelp.com
http://www.opwdecks.com/
http://www.defystain.com/
http://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/
http://www.twpstain.com/
... is it just me, or are they all operated by the same guys? Seriously, the web sites have the same forum engine, same look and feel, event the same "shipping truck" icons and wordings.
==

This forum thread made me more inclined to Armstrong stains:
http://www.painttalk.com/f2/problem-deck-finish-18784/
" Its a formulation vs profit issue. All of the oils from Cabots, BM, etc used to be great products. Then when VOC laws changed they had to fill that void with solids (more oil). This threw all of their formulations out of wack. Mineral spirits are cheap. Good oils are not. They all tried blending cheap oils into their mixes and they were bad. No penetration, long dry times (Tony is probably right about the pollen sticking to the deck), and they don't hold up. That is why most of those big companies went straight to waterbornes and/or created weird alkyds.
Of the VOC compliant oils only Armstrong or maybe Ready Seal are the real deal. I like Armstrong because it has deep penetrating oils like the Ready Seal but also drying oils that lock in mildewcide and actually cure. "

Does anybody here have any experience with the armstrong brand?
+1
May 26th, 2014 10:27 am
landrighetti
Newbie
Nov 11, 2012
1 posts
WOODBRIDGE

May 26th, 2014 10:27 am

Got my order and very happy. Armstrong and Clark Oxford Brown and very happy with how it is applying and looks. Now need to see how it holds up with Canadian weather and especially winter.
May 26th, 2014 10:54 pm
SiR_YOI
Member
Aug 1, 2008
273 posts
11 upvotes

May 26th, 2014 10:54 pm

just started looking into this now myself.... a friend of my dad's highly recommends Hemp Shield , looks to be a pain to try and get though.... I only have about 450sq ft to do, so nothing crazy, but want to make sure I won't have to make this an annual thing.
Jun 2nd, 2014 11:02 am
Eldorado [OP]
Deal Addict
Nov 30, 2003
2689 posts
1013 upvotes
Nunavut

Jun 2nd, 2014 11:02 am

I got my samples over a week ago:

- Defy - Natural Pine
- Defy - Light Walnut
- Defy - Butternut
- Armstrong Clark - Rustic Brown
- Armstrong Clark - Amber

I have to say the Armstrong Clark looks head and shoulders above Defy, which is clearly due to it being oil based where Defy is water based, the penetration and rich look that the Armstrong colors brings is amazing!

The best I can describe the Defy colors is that they are dull, muted.. not that they look bad, if I wasn't comparing side by side with Armstrong I wouldn't have noticed

Both look good on the wood, enhance the wood grain without masking it or creating a milky film, which I found almost all brands I had tried previously had done - Behr, Sherwin Williams, Sikkens

Leaning towards the Armstrong Rustic Brown but a bit worried about how dark it will turn out, also ordered the Defy deck cleaner and the brightener, so I'm sure it will turn out a bit lighter once the boards are completely cleaned
Jun 2nd, 2014 11:04 am
Eldorado [OP]
Deal Addict
Nov 30, 2003
2689 posts
1013 upvotes
Nunavut

Jun 2nd, 2014 11:04 am

Relaxe wrote: ↑Hello, I'm in the same boat:
I need to stain 1400sq.ft of fence.
I am leaning toward the Armstrong Clark...

== However, I am concerned that these sites all look alikes:
http://www.deckstainhelp.com
http://www.opwdecks.com/
http://www.defystain.com/
http://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/
http://www.twpstain.com/
... is it just me, or are they all operated by the same guys? Seriously, the web sites have the same forum engine, same look and feel, event the same "shipping truck" icons and wordings.
==

This forum thread made me more inclined to Armstrong stains:
http://www.painttalk.com/f2/problem-deck-finish-18784/
" Its a formulation vs profit issue. All of the oils from Cabots, BM, etc used to be great products. Then when VOC laws changed they had to fill that void with solids (more oil). This threw all of their formulations out of wack. Mineral spirits are cheap. Good oils are not. They all tried blending cheap oils into their mixes and they were bad. No penetration, long dry times (Tony is probably right about the pollen sticking to the deck), and they don't hold up. That is why most of those big companies went straight to waterbornes and/or created weird alkyds.
Of the VOC compliant oils only Armstrong or maybe Ready Seal are the real deal. I like Armstrong because it has deep penetrating oils like the Ready Seal but also drying oils that lock in mildewcide and actually cure. "

Does anybody here have any experience with the armstrong brand?
Yeah I noticed the same about those sites, the defystain.com site actually states that it is 'powered by' the opwdecks.com guys

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