** To read my Behr Deckover Update 1 year later and see our porch’s appearance & the product’s durability, click here.
Hi, Friends!
Today, I want to share with you our experience with a Behr exterior deck paint product we used. Back in April, we knew the time had come to do something to our almost 12 year old deck. The wood was in good shape structurally, but cosmetically it was looking bad. The stain was starting to wear off that Mark had applied 4-5 years previously, and we were getting tired of the dark brown color. We have a wonderful wrap around porch that we love, and the railing was white all around the front and side, but where the back deck started, we chose years ago to paint the railing brown. Why? I think because painting the floor surface and the railing could be knocked out quickly ( translated: it was easier! ) We never really liked it, but we left it. You know those projects, right?
Here’s a “before” shot of the deck:
And another:
It was just starting to look tired and worn, so we started researching deck products. We looked at Rustoleum Restore, but the reviews were not too great on the Internet, as well as from a few of the Home Depot staff in the paint department. They did, however, have really great things to say about Behr Deckover ( I know, it’s their product ! ) but it also confirmed the good reviews we had already read online. They told us how to apply it ( with a roller and long pole attachment, a detailing paint brush, and a large, thin brush attachment that screws onto the pole for getting in between the floor slats ) Now here’s something you might not know about Behr Deckover: You can have Rustoleum Restore colors mixed in Behr Deckover product, but not the other way around. I wasn’t seeing anything in particular in the Behr colors that I liked, but I did find a Restore color that I did really like, and that looked good with our HardiePlank siding on our house. The great thing ( and maybe something else may not know about these products ) is that they now come in samples. So glad they finally started doing that for exterior deck stains and colors! ) We tested a few samples, ( Winchester & Coffee ) and Winchester was the winner. We liked the way the color was just slightly darker than our siding, and the color seemed like the fresh update that we were looking for!
As with any new paint application, the surface needs to be cleaned & completely dry. We used a pressure washer on the entire porch floor, railing, & spindles. You can use deck cleaners with bleach, but this time we did not.
I had my doubts when we first started painting it on the deck because painting a wrap around porch is a HUGE undertaking, especially when you do it DIY! The Behr Deckover is more expensive than stains or other similar products, and even with the sample, nothing says you better love this color like committing to a 5 GALLON BUCKET!! I think because the color we chose is a gray brown taupey color, it changes based on the lighting and time of day more so than other colors. Tip: paint the color on in large swatches in different areas and observe at various times of the day before committing. We did that, and still doubted it, but after it was completed, we loved it!
We also wanted to paint all the old brown railing white to freshen and update the back porch area. Mark tested out the Home Right Fine Finish Sprayer on the spindles and railing, and we were AMAZED at how much easier it was to paint these things with this great product. It took a while to master it with a few drips and clogs, but once he did, he really liked it! Perfect for things like hard to reach places like spindles, and we also painted our old apple green Adirondack chairs and a bench in Behr Mermaid Net ( love this color! ) with the HomeRight sprayer. ( pics on those in upcoming post! )
Here is a shot of the overall porch color ( stair risers NOT painted yet ) coming together. At this point in the painting process, we were hugely fatigued, but started seeing hope. I was envisioning that crisp white paint to make all the detailing & trim look pretty and complete. I’ll admit, I have to play mind tricks to help me make it to the finish line on certain projects. This was one of those exhausting projects…it’s either that it’s a huge undertaking for 2 people, or that we may be a little older than when we last took on a project of this magnitude. And our backs and knees tell no lies…..
So briefly, before I show y’all the final reveal, let me tell you a few pro’s & con’s about Behr Deckover:
Pros:
- Rejuvenated & restored our 12 year old deck
- Comfortable to walk on with bare feet ( & paws! )
- Cleans easily
- Comes in samples to test first before committing to a color
- Multiple color options, plus can be mixed with Rustoleum Restore paint colors
- Gives an almost composite-like decking surface & appearance
- 2 coats gave a beautiful finish
- Resists cracking & splitting and conceals splintering wood
- Mildew resistant
- Extended period of time before it has to be repainted ( I cannot find the duration, but it seems like I read at least 5 years )
Cons:
- Drips & splatters form hardened blobs had to be cut with a razor blade before continuing the paint job ( thankfully, this only happened early in the process but it was time consuming! )
- Gets thick quickly when exposed to air ( & warmer temps ) BUT, we found that by adding a little water to the paint tray made the consistency almost perfect.
- Time consuming ( it took 2 exhausting coats to make the finish beautiful! ) 🙂 lol But then again, it’s a deck with ALOT of wear and tear, boys, their friends, spilled food/drinks, dogs, etc. We would not have been happy if we had not taken the time to do it right the first time.
And finally, here is the final reveal!
We really are happy with the results ( and the fact that it’s done! ) Behr Deckover is an amazing product that revives old wood and gives it new life. I would highly recommend this product from the Home Depot! To read more about Behr Deckover, click here.
Please come back for the next blogpost where I’ll be sharing how I updated our porch for Summertime! Here’s a sneak peek:
I hope y’all have a great week, Friends!! Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
Til next time,
Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for this product, nor was I asked to write a review. All opinions are 100% my own! Just love to share great products when I try them!
Kris {Driven by Decor} says
June 23, 2014 at 6:43 pmMelanie, it looks so great! We’re in need to a deck makeover too and I’ve never heard of that product so thanks for sharing your experience with it!
mimirobins says
June 24, 2014 at 2:57 pmHi, Kris! We really liked the product, and it has improved the appearance of our older deck and porch greatly! I couldn’t find too much on Behr Deckover when we were repainting it, thus the product review! Thanks for stopping by and commenting….Happy to share:)
Marcy says
September 29, 2014 at 6:23 pmAny peeling or chipping yet ??
mimirobins says
September 30, 2014 at 4:23 pmMarcy~ I will write an update soon on the Behr Deckover product, but no peeling or chipping at 6 months, and that includes dog and human feet walking on the porch surface on a daily basis. They are large dogs, too. It has held up to the elements under the covered porch area, as well as on the exposed areas. Thank you for your question, and I hope that helps!
Eric says
August 29, 2014 at 3:07 pmHello,
Thank you very much for the review. I have refinished my deck with top quality stains roughly once every two years. The problem I have is our two large dogs. They quickly damage the finish with their nails, especially near the door. I am interested in a refinishing product that is tough enough to hopefully extend the time between having to repaint/stain the deck (and without the cost of composite).
You mentioned that your deck sees dog traffic…I was wondering how it holds up to scratching? I am worried that it may get scratched and/or peeled off areas of the deck, revealing the weathered wood below.
I appreciate any thoughts that you have on the topic. Thanks again for taking the time to write your review.
Eric
mimirobins says
September 3, 2014 at 2:13 amHi, Eric- thanks for reading the post. Yes, the Behr Deckover has held up very well to dog paws and claws on our wraparound porch and deck stairs! We live in Georgia, so there is evidence of our red clay soil on the stairs from the dogs’ paws, but we think a pressure washer will take care of that. As far as scratching or peeling of the deck paint material, there is none of that at this time. It has only been 4-5 months since we applied the product, and I will update at 6 months to a year and see how it has held up at that point. But as of right now, we are thrilled to have found a product that feels and looks like composite decking and has had superior results thus far 🙂 Sun and rain exposure haven’t shown any evidence either at this time. Hope this helps!
Cathy hBet says
September 21, 2014 at 12:14 amI just started using deck over because my friend liked the results. I have read many terrible reviews of this product. I live in Alabama. Are you still happy with your deck?
mimirobins says
September 22, 2014 at 2:29 pmCathy, yes, we have had really good results with the Behr Deckover product. We have 2 Weimaraners that walk on it daily and the material is really tough and durable. If you have dogs or walk on it alot, I would say choose a color that will hide dirt/wear well. I’m not sure about where you are in Alabama, but we have red dirt where we are in Georgia…just something you may want to consider. Oh, and it cleans really well with soap and water 🙂 Hope that helps!
Anne says
October 25, 2014 at 6:59 amHi, I am just about to do my deck as well (hopefully this weekend). Do I understand correctly from your review that you used the Deckover in a sprayer for the rails? I didn’t think that would work. That would sure make things easier if it does. Any tips to make this work and avoid clogs? Thanks so much!
mimirobins says
October 28, 2014 at 5:23 pmHi, Anne! No, we did not use the Behr Deckover in the paint sprayer. We used a large flat brush that screwed onto the end of a pole to paint the Deckover between the slats in the porch floor & a roller on the end of a longer pole to paint the product on all over. We also had a small paint brush on hand for touch ups. For the railings and spindles, we used Behr exterior latex paint + primer in a semigloss in the HomeRight paint sprayer. That saved us tons of time. Unfortunately, it is a time consuming process painting the Behr Deckover product on, but it has proven worthwhile. It still looks great 6-7 months later! Hope that helps and thanks for visiting my blog 🙂
Carolyn says
March 22, 2015 at 5:52 pmHello and thank you for writing this review on Deckover! We are thinking about using Deckover and I found your information to be very useful. I am also wondering how it is holding up now?
Any peeling or chipping?
mimirobins says
May 29, 2015 at 2:39 pmThank you for your comment, Carolyn! Yes, our deck and covered porch where we used the Behr Deckover still looks great. No flaking or peeling, just a little dirt shows with 2 large dogs, but that’s because I wanted a lighter deck color. We are very happy with the product, and we had also read negative reviews on many of the porch paints, but we prepped our areas really well ( see previous comments and replies ) and let everything dry completely. Our experience was a great one, and the product has a good warranty on it, as well. Good luck!
Sheila says
April 17, 2015 at 6:08 pmNot quite a year, but close. How is it holding up? Does it look like it’s going to need touch ups? Is it peeling at all?
mimirobins says
May 29, 2015 at 2:37 pmHi, Sheila,
Yes, our deck and covered porch where we used the Behr Deckover still looks great. No flaking or peeling, just a little dirt shows with 2 large dogs, but that’s because I wanted a lighter deck color. We are very happy with the product, and we had also read negative reviews on many of the porch paints, but we prepped our areas really well ( see previous comments and replies ) and let everything dry completely. Our experience was a great one, and the product has a good warranty on it, as well. Good luck!
Angie says
April 26, 2015 at 11:15 amAnd now how is it holding up? Would love an update.
mimirobins says
May 29, 2015 at 2:37 pmHi, Angie!
Yes, our deck and covered porch where we used the Behr Deckover still looks great. No flaking or peeling, just a little dirt shows with 2 large dogs, but that’s because I wanted a lighter deck color. We are very happy with the product, and we had also read negative reviews on many of the porch paints, but we prepped our areas really well ( see previous comments and replies ) and let everything dry completely. Our experience was a great one, and the product has a good warranty on it, as well. Good luck!
Paula Harron says
May 5, 2015 at 11:52 amHi thank you for your post. We are considering using this product on our 800 sf deck and wondered if the product held up over the winter? Any peeling yet? The reviews were very scary. Thank you
mimirobins says
May 29, 2015 at 2:36 pmHi, Paula,
Yes, our deck and covered porch where we used the Behr Deckover still looks great. No flaking or peeling, just a little dirt shows with 2 large dogs, but that’s because I wanted a lighter deck color. We are very happy with the product, and we had also read negative reviews on many of the porch paints, but we prepped our areas really well ( see previous comments and replies ) and let everything dry completely. Our experience was a great one, and the product has a good warranty on it, as well. Good luck!
Barbara says
May 10, 2015 at 3:22 amDeckover looks like a magnificent face lift……year one.
It then peels off like a face mask….year two.
The TV ad was too good to be true.
I have a huge mess on my porch floor, and a huge mess on my railings that are covered with flies.
I can’t believe that anyone could give this product a five star rating! Just wait!
mimirobins says
May 29, 2015 at 2:32 pmBarbara,
Sorry your experience was not a good one 🙁 We had and are still having a great one though. Almost a year later, everything has held up great- no flaking, peeling, etc. We do have 2 large dogs, so the color I chose does show some Georgia red clay, but we will use the pressure washer gently on those areas. We only used the Behr Deckover on our porch floor and stairs, not our railing or spindles. We also prepped it really well by pressure washing everything thoroughly and letting it dry really well. I will update with pics soon, but so far, so good!
You should contact Home Depot with your complaints. The product has a good warranty on it 🙂 Good luck to you!
Becky says
July 2, 2015 at 4:11 pmWe had the exact experience. As soon as the first winter was over large sheets of paint started peeling off. We called Behr. They are sending us 10 gallons of paint and are paying for us to rent a sander. It’s bad enough that it took hours to apply it once, now we have to remove what is left and reapply. . . And I suppose it will have the same results!! Not happy at all.
mimirobins says
July 6, 2015 at 12:17 pmWow, Becky! Sorry you had such bad luck with Behr Deckover. We are still very pleased with ours and it looks great! I’m not sure if there was a “bad” formula or lot of paints that was sold in a certain area or if certain regions and the weather affected your results, but ours looks like composite decking and really saved the surface of our aging deck. Hope you have better luck next time!
Maryetta Petras says
May 17, 2015 at 10:56 pmBehr Deckover is peeling big time after 18 months – now what?
mimirobins says
May 29, 2015 at 2:23 pmMaryetta,
I’m sorry yours is peeling! I have no idea why that is happening to people. We had a great experience, and a little over a year later, our deck still looks great from the Behr Deckover product. Did you prep the area really well prior to using it? We pressure washed the deck, steps, and all railing and let it dry very good first. Maybe you could contact Home Depot? There is a pretty long warranty on the product. Good luck!
Kim says
May 18, 2015 at 10:47 pmHi,
Just read your post. How is the paint holding up?
mimirobins says
May 29, 2015 at 2:17 pmHi, Kim!
Our porch still looks great a little over a year later! We have 2 large dogs, so despite some dirty places that need a gentle pressure washing, it’s holding up perfect. I will update with new pics on the post soon 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
Tami says
May 20, 2015 at 4:25 amJust wanted to say that my husband and I used this product and we hate it. Lasted only a few months before it has chipped off terribly. We followed all the steps. And it took us 2 full weekends and then some. We have to replace our deck now. I’m not sure what we did wrong but won’t be buying this product again. Sorry to be a downer on your post. Just wanted to let you know that not everyone had a great experience with this product. Thank you.
mimirobins says
May 29, 2015 at 2:15 pmHi, Tami!
I’m so sorry you didn’t have a positive experience with Behr Deckover. We had read negative reviews about some other porch paints, but not Behr’s, so we took a leap of faith. We pressure washed and thoroughly cleaned out deck, stairs, and railing prior to using the product and let it dry well. I’m not sure what went wrong with yours, but could you maybe sand it and prep it again? Maybe reach out to Home Depot and see what they have to say, their recommendations, etc. The product has a good warranty coverage on it.
Our porch was in sad shape ( very worn and porous ) prior to us repainting it with this Deckover product, so it made a significant improvement and is still holding up well a little over a year later. This was our experience, but I’m sorry yours didn’t turn out well for you! Good luck!
Jeff says
June 7, 2016 at 11:15 pmYou did nothing wrong if you followed the instructions on the product can. The only reason I can think that this woman had a good experience is the surface painted with Deck Over is covered. Otherwise, any deck that is exposed to the weather 24/7 is going to chip, flake, bubble, and peel within two years. I used Deck Over on my deck in September 2014 and it is chipping and peeling on the horizontal surfaces. Plus the wood is damp underneath!
mimirobins says
June 27, 2016 at 2:47 pmHi, Jeff!
No, we haven’t had ANY peeling, bubbling, flaking, or chipping! ( 2 years later ) My husband did pressure wash the exposed back porch a few months ago and because the pressure washer’s sprayer was on one of the more concentrated settings, it did knock off some of the paint. However, he just repainted that section by rolling more on top and so far, so good. But to answer your original question- no, the Behr Deckover has never chipped or peeled for us in any places. It has shown dirt in a few places, but we live in Georgia and have red clay dirt and 2 large Weimaraners. I stand by my original post and can honestly say we are very happy with the results 2 years later! We have covered areas of porch AND exposed areas and stairs and both areas are consistent in appearance! Maybe our Southern humidity and mild Winters factor in? Thanks for your comment and for reading 🙂
C Boyd says
June 9, 2015 at 11:18 amLove how your porch turned out. I’m also glad people are posting their bad experience with Deck Over. Our deck didn’t even make it a year before it was peeling on horizontal surfaces. Maybe since your porch is covered, it isn’t an issue. But my deck is exposed year around to the sun. Not a good product!
mimirobins says
June 11, 2015 at 3:09 amC Boyd- sorry you had a negative experience! You really should contact Behr if you weren’t satisfied because there’s a 10 year warranty on it. I spoke with some people and some of them are confusing Behr Deckover with Rustoleum Restore, which did not get good reviews. Our covered area AND our exposed porch areas are all holding up beautifully! I don’t understand if it’s the prep or the climate, but we are very pleased with the product. Sorry yours wasn’t a good one 🙁
Joe says
June 12, 2015 at 7:20 pmI have to agree with the last few posts this product is garbage. It started peeling last summer after about a year into it. This year you can use Leaf Blower and this stuff comes up in sheets. Deck looks horrible and now what? All good reviews maybe intially.. sure it’s a quick fix for an aging deck but we followed directions and applied the product as instructed by Behr to the tee. Yes we have cold winters and hot summers at times the deck is in the sun for the most part of the year. The part that’s not is also peeling but not as bad. Everytime we moved our chairs from the table it left marks and eventually peeled the product up. I will have to consult Home Depot because this stuff is not cheap to buy and now your stuck with a very ugly deck.
mimirobins says
July 6, 2015 at 12:22 pmSorry to hear that, Joe! I just had a comment from another reader that said she contacted Behr and they are sending them more Behr Deckover and helping with the cost of a sander. Our porch ( exposed AND covered ) is still holding up well to all the Southern heat and humidity. We are thrilled with the results, as it was easy to apply and looks like composite decking. We have 2 large dogs that walk around the porch, and it still has held up well! Sorry yours wasn’t a good experience! I don’t have any paid affiliation with Behr paints, I’ve just always found them to be great quality and therefore, I use them. Thanks for your viewpoint, and I hope you get this resolved! 🙂
Lisa says
July 6, 2015 at 4:02 pmHi there. Love all of your colors! Do you mind sharing the house and trim color? 🙂
mimirobins says
August 4, 2015 at 2:05 pmHi, Lisa!
The siding color is and old Duron color called “Pewterworks.” You can pin that info and find other specific colors here: http://www.thepaintedchandelierblog.com/2014/06/summer-porch-makeover.html Front door color is “Mermaid Net” by Behr and can be found here: http://www.thepaintedchandelierblog.com/2014/09/spring-fall-table-setting-how-to-style-five-different-looks-from-one-table-setting.html And the driftwood table info can be found here: http://www.thepaintedchandelierblog.com/2014/05/driftwood-weathered-wood-product-review-spring-porch-table.html
The white trim color I cannot remember, but it’s just a basic builder’s white that we touched up. Sorry! Thank you for reading and for your comment! 🙂
Hailey says
May 16, 2019 at 4:13 pmWhich store carries the duron paint color that is used for the house color? I’m having just the worst time trying to find deck and house colors. But I love yours! If I buy one more sample, my husband’s going to kill me….
mimirobins says
June 9, 2019 at 12:29 amHi, Hailey! Duron paint can be mixed at any Sherwin Williams Store. Their samples are larger, so I usually buy Behr sample in eggshell finish to get a true idea of color. Just take this post or the paint color info and have them look it up. Don’t let them do a color match as it may turn out with too much purple undertones. It is a moody color based on time of day, but it’s a great color! Good luck and thanks for reading! 😉💗
Pricilla says
August 13, 2015 at 2:17 amHey Mimi!!! I was just at Home Depot looking at this deck paint and decided to read reviews prior to purchasing this product. I decided to buy the deck cleaner first even though I’ve already used deck cleaner with my power washer. I’m really not trying to have to repaint anytime soon after the initial. Anyways, I LOVE how u are still replying to posts answering questions. A lot of bloggers stop after a few months. I’ll let u know how mine turns out after I thoroughly prep and paint my damaged deck. Smooches!!!!! XOXO
mimirobins says
September 24, 2015 at 12:45 pmPriscilla~ thanks for you comment! I hope the Behr Deckover product works well for your damaged deck. We really are so happy with the results. I was in Home Depot and a Behr paint rep was in there and I talked with him about how many people had not had good results from the product. He stressed the importance of thoroughly cleaning and prepping the area first. They also changed the formula so it doesn’t have such a strong ammonia based smell ( something we didn’t notice, but I guess others have? ) Anyway, hope you have great results and I’d love to hear back from you 🙂
Harvey says
October 20, 2015 at 9:57 pmI wish I read some of these negative reviews before investing in Deckover..it has been a huge disaster as I’m in year 2 after two harsh northeast winters. Entire sections have peeled away..the we’re are also now beginning to peel and short of sanding down the entire deck and railings, there is no way restore my deck. Two 5 gallons drums, hours of work prepping, hours of painting…all wasted. We’re considering demolishing deck next Spring and starting over. Thanks Behr for a rotten product!
mimirobins says
November 1, 2015 at 3:53 pmSo sorry to hear this, Harvey! I actually spoke with a Behr paint rep and told him about some of the negative reviews I had received after writing my post. They did improve the formula over the past year, but I’m not sure when you bought yours and painted your deck. Harsh winters and extremely hot Summers seem to be mainly affected by this product’s performance. We live in Atlanta where we have hot Summers, but we also have humidity. I would contact Behr about this, and again, I am so sorry for your negative experience! 🙁
vicki says
March 24, 2016 at 2:07 pmi applied Behr Deckover to my front porch last summer, it is now coming up in sheets and peeling everywhere, this product is awful, it took me a few days to paint my porch and now it looks horrible, time and money wasted on this product that I thought I could trust as I have always used Behr paint in my house, totally inferior product. Would not recommend anyone using this as you are throwing your time and money away.
mimirobins says
March 25, 2016 at 12:55 amVicki, I’m so sorry to hear you had a negative experience! I actually spoke with a Behr rep at Home Depot and told him I had gotten some comments from readers who had not had good experiences with Behr Deckover. They are working to improve the product-apparently certain climates do not do well with it and it seems it’s usually areas with extreme cold or hot climates. We live in the South and it seems humidity is an advantage in this situation. I would contact Behr and see what can be done!
Harvey says
March 25, 2016 at 4:31 pmFollowing up on my comment from last Fall – I went back to Home Depot to discuss the problem and they suggested I contact Behr. I called them, and they apologized and also said they have re-worked the formula. Within two days I received a five gallon drum of new product. I haven’t applied it yet and am waiting for warmer (consistent) weather here in the Northeast. I will need to scrape and sand the deck which is mostly peeled anyway, and thoroughly wash with Behr Wood Cleaner..stay tuned!
mimirobins says
April 6, 2016 at 11:35 pmExcellent, Harvey! I’m so happy they reached out to you. Thanks for keeping us updated and I look forward to hearing back from you and hope the application and wear is a success this time! 🙂
Jeff says
June 7, 2016 at 11:18 pmNice to get a 5 gallon drum of Deck Over from Behr. BUT, don’t you have to remove all the paint you already applied and prepare the surface before you can paint it again? That will take a lot of time, money, and sweat equity.
mimirobins says
June 27, 2016 at 2:53 pmHi, Jeff!
So sorry for your negative experience with Behr Deckover. I think the formula changed last year with Behr. Not sure if you have tried since then? We live in the South where humidity, hot Summers, etc are factors. We don’t have really extreme Winters, however, as a general rule. I really have no idea why some people have great experiences and others poor ones. It’s a shame it can’t be more consistent, as that’s hard to make a decision to use the product or not. You’re right, it’s alot of sweat and hard work! Let me know if you have anything new to report, as it helps my readers re: this product and post. Thanks so much for your input!
Harvey says
June 27, 2016 at 8:52 pmYes, Jeff – I did have to scrape it thoroughly and sand as well. Also I used the wood cleaner that Behr recommends before applying the new product. So far, so good, but the winter will be the real test!
Chudoug says
March 27, 2016 at 4:58 pmExcellent feedback from all! Thanks you for the Inputs. So after reading everyone’s comments, I decided to do something different with the product, the deck is 2×6 planks 20′ x 14′ south facing. I was getting tires of rain, snow melt be blow this deck. I purchased 8×4 feet 1/4 inch plywood. I am placing the first coat on the materials before install. My plan is to create a fresh, water resistive barrier so water flows off and the deck has a complete “new surface with deck over as the final two-three coats. The panels wi be screwed. Down every 1-1.5 feet.
The second coat will seal the screw holes and the third will provide final coat with nylon-Teflon materials (as used on sheet rock seams.)
My hopes are for this to last a good five years or more 😉
mimirobins says
April 6, 2016 at 11:18 pmVery interesting approach! I’ll be very curious how your application turns out. Please share photos and keep my readers and me posted! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Paige Lathrop says
June 10, 2016 at 12:10 amHello, I stumbled across your review and it gave me a possible incentive to continue after just reading so many bad reviews about Behr Deck Over. We have a camp in Maine and have begun our June project. After power washing the deck we have finished 1 coat on half the deck and it looks wonderful! We chose the color Wood Chip. I failed to read the reviews prior to purchasing the stain and now am questioning my decision to keep going or try and power wash it off and begin again with maybe a higher rated product. I have not called Behr to learn about changes in the recipe or as to the parts of the country where the product appears to fail. Any suggestions? I’m happy your deck has held up and still looks great. Thanks, Paige.
mimirobins says
June 27, 2016 at 3:02 pmHi, Paige!
We still are having good results with the Behr Deckover. I hope you are, too! It’s very tough to say- alot of people in different climates and different parts of the country are giving mixed reviews. Behr changed the formula last year, but we have used the original and the new formula for touch ups. We have hot Summers in Atlanta, but we also have humidity and pretty mild Winters. We have exposed areas and covered and all are consistent in appearance. I would be careful putting too many layers on your porch. I recommend a thorough cleaning, drying, and then one product. We added a little water to the Deckover as we went along, which helped with the thickness and made it go on smoother. I hope this helps you! Let me hear how your experience went either way. Thanks for your comment and for reading 🙂
Joe says
June 28, 2016 at 12:48 amGood luck with your project, well it all depends on preparation and climate for what I hear. I will send you pics of my deck after 2 years the product did not hold up. This was a quick fix before I was going to replace the boards should have done that upfront. Very embarrassed to have company over talking about this Live and Learn.
Paige Lathrop says
June 28, 2016 at 9:22 amThank you, we did just finish the deck and it does look beautiful! Hoping for the best in a year or two.
Brian says
May 23, 2017 at 4:08 amThanks for the great info but one word of caution : Never ever EVER pressure wash a wooden deck or fence. That is one of the biggest causes of deck coating failure. Not only does it damage the wood by making tears in the wood fibers it drives moisture deep into the wood that can take weeks or more to dry out. And that moisture will eventually come out even if it has to push it’s way through the coating.
mimirobins says
July 27, 2017 at 1:27 amThanks, Brian! Helpful information that I’m happy you shared with my readers! Thanks so much. ???
mike MONA says
May 31, 2017 at 12:19 amdid The Deckover come in white? or did you use white paint for the deck railings and spindles?
mimirobins says
July 27, 2017 at 1:25 amHi, Mike! The deck railing, molding, & trim is all painted with white paint. Just the porch floor, back deck, and stairs are painted with the Behr Devkover. Hope that helps! ?
Zoe says
June 9, 2017 at 9:47 pmHi,
Did you find there to be noticeable grit in the Deckover? We decided against a few other products that were textured so I’m curious about the Behr one because it lists, ‘Microspheres’. Does yours have that? If so, how is it for bare feet?
Thanks!
mimirobins says
July 27, 2017 at 1:21 amYes, it does have a grit to it, Zoe! But it went from a worn, splintery wooden deck to one that feels like composite. Very comfortable to walk on with bare feet and dog paws, too! ??
Viktoriya says
June 13, 2017 at 12:31 pmHi Melanie, what paint color did you use on the walls of your home please? I love it!
mimirobins says
July 27, 2017 at 1:20 amHi, Viktoriya! Thank you. Our most recent paint color in our foyer, upstairs hall, family room, & kitchen is Benjamin Moore Linen White. It’s a great creamy white without any yellow undertones. I want to continue it through our living and dining rooms soon! ?
ARNEL says
May 12, 2019 at 5:30 amThis was a great post! You really gave me some helpful information. Thanks so much!
Nick says
July 9, 2019 at 5:50 pmThis product works great as long as there are spaces between your boards on the deck. If there are not, get your circular saw and set it to the correct depth so as not to cut the cross members underneath and run it between the boards to create space between them. If you do not do this, moisture/water finds a way underneath the deck over and it will peel and chip a lot sooner than it should.
mimirobins says
July 30, 2019 at 8:16 pmThank you, Nick! I appreciate that advice and perspective, and think my readers can benefit from that info, as well!
Lisa Dyer says
July 17, 2019 at 11:26 pmI found this post when looking at painting wicker furniture. Your porch style looks identical to mine, a large wraparound. We are now ready to paint/stain after doing all of the prep work. I’ve wanted white railing, but my spindles are wood. What are your spindles made of? We bought the 5 gallon bucket of dark stain for the entire porch, but after seeing your white, I’m considering this.
mimirobins says
July 30, 2019 at 8:14 pmHi, Lisa! Our porch railing and balusters are wood, as well. Years ago, I had the back deck that connects to the side porch stained in a brown like the porch floor, but when we repainted our porch floor with Behr Deckover, we repainted all the railing and balusters and treads in a semi-gloss white paint. I love it and it gave everything such a fresh feel! I guess it just depends on the overall look and setting of your home, but I will tell you it made a big difference! 🙂
Susan McShane says
May 28, 2020 at 12:52 pmThank you for your post and replies. After purchasing the product we read a lot of bad reviews. It left us in deciding to continue in using it at all. Your posts have helped us make the decision to continue. We used a pressure washer and allowed it to dry for 24 hours, then we used the Behr Deck Cleaner. What a difference already! We used fans to help in drying the deck and with light rain in the forecast, we covered the deck with plastic to keep the rain off. Now 50% rain is in the forecast for the next two days, so we are waiting a few more days before starting. Did you use brushes between the boards and to fill in cracks before applying the first coat? Hoping to have the same results that you had.
mimirobins says
June 20, 2020 at 1:15 pmHi, Susan,
I apologize for my late reply, we have been helping my recently widowed Dad get his home on the market to sell.
To answer your question, yes. We did use a brush between the board slats. The Behr Deckover is an amazing product in that it “fills in” cracks and imperfections. We used a long pole roller (if my memory serves me.. it’s been a number of years) and kept a spray bottle of water handy. After your initial application, I’d recommend having a gallon container mixed for future touch ups. I just use a small spray bottle of water and a Purdy XL Cub brush for touching up high traffic areas like stairs, etc.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck with your project!