When you're standing in front of a deck or fence covered in peeling stain, faded color, or years of old paint, you’re likely asking yourself: How do I even start?
If you want lasting results, you need to prep the wood properly. And that starts with the right stain stripper.
EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper is built to solve this exact problem.
Whether you're tackling oil-based stains, solid color stains, or semi-transparent finishes, this heavy-duty deck stripper helps you fully strip away failing coatings and prepares your wood for proper restoration.
Description
Why You Need a Stain Stripper
Not all stains are created equal. Many exterior stains, especially oil-based or solid stains, soak into the wood grain and bond tightly to the surface. Over time, they weather unevenly, making re-staining difficult and often leading to blotchy, short-lived results.
A stain stripper chemically breaks down those old coatings, loosens embedded pigments, and clears the surface down to bare wood. This opens the wood fibers and allows your next coat of wood stain to penetrate evenly, which is the key to long-lasting performance.
Multi-purpose performance: It tackles old paint, mold, mildew, and organic growth, common problems on neglected fences, decks, siding, and other exterior wood surfaces.
How to Apply It
Mixing Ratios
Adjust the mix based on how tough your project is:
Light Strip: 1/4 cup per gallon of water
Medium Strip: 1/2 cup per gallon of water
Heavy Strip: 1 cup per gallon of water
Application Method
Always begin with a test area to see how your wood responds.
Apply liberally with a pump sprayer or garden sprayer.
Let sit for 15–45 minutes. Keep it wet by misting lightly with a garden hose as drying reduces effectiveness.
After dwell time, scrub with a stiff bristle brush or scrub brush.
Rinse thoroughly using a pressure washer or garden hose.
Always follow up with a wood brightener to neutralize.
If you’re looking at a deck, fence, or siding covered in old stain that’s peeling, flaking, or uneven, a stain stripper is often the smartest place to start.
Simply adding a new stain on top won’t fix failing layers. Stripping takes everything down to bare wood, so your new wood stain can fully absorb and last longer.
You’ll also want a stripper if you’re changing stain types or colors, since leftover coatings prevent even absorption into the wood grain.
For surfaces with multiple layers of solid stains, oil-based stains, or semi-transparent stains, chemical stripping clears built-up coatings that washing or sanding can’t fully remove.
And if you’re dealing with mold, mildew, or heavily textured or vertical surfaces, a stripper can reach where pressure washing or hand-sanding often fail.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Getting the most out of your stain stripper isn’t complicated, but a few simple mistakes can ruin the results. The biggest one? Letting the stripper dry out. It needs to stay wet to keep breaking down the old coating, so mist the surface regularly during dwell time.
Always protect yourself with safety glasses, gloves, boots, and long sleeves—this is a strong chemical. Don’t forget about your landscaping either. Cover delicate vegetation and rinse plants before and after application to prevent damage.
Once the stripping is done, don’t skip the neutralization step. A wood brightener is essential to restore the wood’s balance before applying new stain. Finally, don’t rush it—give the stripper enough time to do its job fully before rinsing.
Safety First
This is a powerful chemical, so taking proper safety precautions is essential to protect yourself, others, and your property. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper:
Avoid skin contact, eye contact, and breathing in vapors.
If exposed, rinse skin or eyes for 15 minutes with water and seek medical attention if irritation persists.
If swallowed, rinse mouth, contact a Poison Control Center, and get emergency help.
Never mix with other chemicals.
Keep children and pets away during use.
Wash any contaminated clothing immediately.
Always read and follow the full label for first aid instructions.
How EXPERT Wood Care Compares
When you compare EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper to brands like Behr Premium, Restore-A-Deck, or Defy, the difference is in its power and flexibility.
This product is built specifically for heavy-duty exterior restoration, where lighter-duty options may fall short. It’s designed to strip both paint and stain, whether you’re dealing with solid stains, semi-transparent stains, or tough oil-based coatings.
Unlike many products limited to one type of finish, this stripper handles multiple layers of built-up coatings that often collect over years of maintenance.
The adjustable mixing strength lets you tailor the formula to match the condition of your wood, from light prep work to full restorations. It’s especially effective on neglected, weather-worn deck boards, fences, and other challenging exterior wood surfaces.
If you're serious about getting down to bare wood and restoring your fence or deck right, this stripper gives you the power and control you need. And when you’re ready to stain again, explore our full range ofFence Armor wood stains for long-term protection.
Final Thoughts on EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper
A proper wood restoration starts with proper prep. EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper is your solution for safely and fully removing old coatings, opening the wood fibers, and setting up your deck, fence, or siding for a beautiful, durable finish that lasts.
Before you start on your project, you can also browse through other Fence Armor products and collections you can check out:
Here are some more Fence Armor products and collections you can check out:
Extreme caution should be taken when using strippers. They will burn skin, remove paint from houses, and kill plants, grass and pets.
Keep out of reach of children.
Exposure to sodium hydroxide or sodium metasilicate could cause irritation to the eyes, skin, or lungs. If contact occurs, rinse immediately with water for 15 minutes. If irritation continues, seek immediate medical attention.
Do not ingest.
Always wear personal protective equipment when using this product.
DO NOT MIX WITH OTHER CHEMICALS.
Can Stain Stripper Damage Wood?
When used correctly, no. Improper use, like letting it dry or sitting too long, may raise the wood grain, but light sanding resolves this.
How Do You Neutralize Wood After Stripping Stain?
Apply a wood brightener likeWood Brightener - Oxalic Acid after rinsing to balance pH, restore color, and prepare the wood for staining.
Can I Apply New Stain Right After Stripping?
Allow your surface to fully dry for 24–48 hours before applying new wood stain. Light sanding may help smooth any raised grain before application.
When you're standing in front of a deck or fence covered in peeling stain, faded color, or years of old paint, you’re likely asking yourself: How do I even start?
If you want lasting results, you need to prep the wood properly. And that starts with the right stain stripper.
EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper is built to solve this exact problem.
Whether you're tackling oil-based stains, solid color stains, or semi-transparent finishes, this heavy-duty deck stripper helps you fully strip away failing coatings and prepares your wood for proper restoration.
Description
Why You Need a Stain Stripper
Not all stains are created equal. Many exterior stains, especially oil-based or solid stains, soak into the wood grain and bond tightly to the surface. Over time, they weather unevenly, making re-staining difficult and often leading to blotchy, short-lived results.
A stain stripper chemically breaks down those old coatings, loosens embedded pigments, and clears the surface down to bare wood. This opens the wood fibers and allows your next coat of wood stain to penetrate evenly, which is the key to long-lasting performance.
Multi-purpose performance: It tackles old paint, mold, mildew, and organic growth, common problems on neglected fences, decks, siding, and other exterior wood surfaces.
How to Apply It
Mixing Ratios
Adjust the mix based on how tough your project is:
Light Strip: 1/4 cup per gallon of water
Medium Strip: 1/2 cup per gallon of water
Heavy Strip: 1 cup per gallon of water
Application Method
Always begin with a test area to see how your wood responds.
Apply liberally with a pump sprayer or garden sprayer.
Let sit for 15–45 minutes. Keep it wet by misting lightly with a garden hose as drying reduces effectiveness.
After dwell time, scrub with a stiff bristle brush or scrub brush.
Rinse thoroughly using a pressure washer or garden hose.
Always follow up with a wood brightener to neutralize.
If you’re looking at a deck, fence, or siding covered in old stain that’s peeling, flaking, or uneven, a stain stripper is often the smartest place to start.
Simply adding a new stain on top won’t fix failing layers. Stripping takes everything down to bare wood, so your new wood stain can fully absorb and last longer.
You’ll also want a stripper if you’re changing stain types or colors, since leftover coatings prevent even absorption into the wood grain.
For surfaces with multiple layers of solid stains, oil-based stains, or semi-transparent stains, chemical stripping clears built-up coatings that washing or sanding can’t fully remove.
And if you’re dealing with mold, mildew, or heavily textured or vertical surfaces, a stripper can reach where pressure washing or hand-sanding often fail.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Getting the most out of your stain stripper isn’t complicated, but a few simple mistakes can ruin the results. The biggest one? Letting the stripper dry out. It needs to stay wet to keep breaking down the old coating, so mist the surface regularly during dwell time.
Always protect yourself with safety glasses, gloves, boots, and long sleeves—this is a strong chemical. Don’t forget about your landscaping either. Cover delicate vegetation and rinse plants before and after application to prevent damage.
Once the stripping is done, don’t skip the neutralization step. A wood brightener is essential to restore the wood’s balance before applying new stain. Finally, don’t rush it—give the stripper enough time to do its job fully before rinsing.
Safety First
This is a powerful chemical, so taking proper safety precautions is essential to protect yourself, others, and your property. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper:
Avoid skin contact, eye contact, and breathing in vapors.
If exposed, rinse skin or eyes for 15 minutes with water and seek medical attention if irritation persists.
If swallowed, rinse mouth, contact a Poison Control Center, and get emergency help.
Never mix with other chemicals.
Keep children and pets away during use.
Wash any contaminated clothing immediately.
Always read and follow the full label for first aid instructions.
How EXPERT Wood Care Compares
When you compare EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper to brands like Behr Premium, Restore-A-Deck, or Defy, the difference is in its power and flexibility.
This product is built specifically for heavy-duty exterior restoration, where lighter-duty options may fall short. It’s designed to strip both paint and stain, whether you’re dealing with solid stains, semi-transparent stains, or tough oil-based coatings.
Unlike many products limited to one type of finish, this stripper handles multiple layers of built-up coatings that often collect over years of maintenance.
The adjustable mixing strength lets you tailor the formula to match the condition of your wood, from light prep work to full restorations. It’s especially effective on neglected, weather-worn deck boards, fences, and other challenging exterior wood surfaces.
If you're serious about getting down to bare wood and restoring your fence or deck right, this stripper gives you the power and control you need. And when you’re ready to stain again, explore our full range ofFence Armor wood stains for long-term protection.
Final Thoughts on EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper
A proper wood restoration starts with proper prep. EXPERT Wood Care - Wood Stripper is your solution for safely and fully removing old coatings, opening the wood fibers, and setting up your deck, fence, or siding for a beautiful, durable finish that lasts.
Before you start on your project, you can also browse through other Fence Armor products and collections you can check out:
Here are some more Fence Armor products and collections you can check out:
Extreme caution should be taken when using strippers. They will burn skin, remove paint from houses, and kill plants, grass and pets.
Keep out of reach of children.
Exposure to sodium hydroxide or sodium metasilicate could cause irritation to the eyes, skin, or lungs. If contact occurs, rinse immediately with water for 15 minutes. If irritation continues, seek immediate medical attention.
Do not ingest.
Always wear personal protective equipment when using this product.
DO NOT MIX WITH OTHER CHEMICALS.
Can Stain Stripper Damage Wood?
When used correctly, no. Improper use, like letting it dry or sitting too long, may raise the wood grain, but light sanding resolves this.
How Do You Neutralize Wood After Stripping Stain?
Apply a wood brightener likeWood Brightener - Oxalic Acid after rinsing to balance pH, restore color, and prepare the wood for staining.
Can I Apply New Stain Right After Stripping?
Allow your surface to fully dry for 24–48 hours before applying new wood stain. Light sanding may help smooth any raised grain before application.
