EXOSHIELD

Why is a tung oil wood stain the best choice? The use of tung oil on wood originated thousands of years ago in China and Egypt, where it was used as a preservative on wooden ships. Today, it is woodworkers #1 choice to add protection and beauty to finished projects.

ExoShield exterior hardwood deck stain takes advantage of the penetrative and protective properties that tung oil contains, to create a naturally durable finish with exceptional color stability. The tung oil used in ExoShield exterior wood stain provides a naturally water-resistant, acid-resistant and easy to use wood stain for all your needs. ExoShield hardwood deck stain stabilizes the wood and greatly reduces the chances of boards cracking or warping.

We strongly recommend that all exterior applications such as decking, outdoor furniture, siding and fencing in both hardwood and softwood products receive a minimum of one coat of an oil-based finish, even when the customer wants the wood to eventually gray or silver out. This initial coat of protection will help minimize checking, warping, cupping and decay in all exterior wood applications.

ExoShield is offered in seven distinct colors from a completely pigment-free Clear to the most beautiful dark Black Walnut you could imagine. We recommend using our pigmented colors for decks and siding or any exterior application that has a lot of UV exposure. Darker colors provide more UV protection than our Clear and Natural, but Clear and Natural can also be used in high UV exposure applications with more frequent maintenance coats. ExoShield Clear has the least amount of UV protection and we do not recommend Clear for flat surfaces with high UV exposure such as decking.

Our Mahogany ExoShield wood stain is particularly red to assist in adding mahogany coloring to dense hardwoods that typically take on less color when stained. However, red pigments are the most sensitive to UV exposure and have the greatest tendency to fade more quickly. The initial red color right after application will become less vibrant with UV exposure.

All colors of ExoShield can be mixed to create custom colors as desired. Many of our customers add a half pint or quart of Black Walnut per gallon to our Mahogany or Walnut in order to create a darker finish. Keep in mind that higher density woods such as Ipe will not absorb as much color as softwoods.

Coverage will vary based on the condition of your deck, as well as on how you apply ExoShield wood stain. Range of coverage can vary from 250 SF for low density porous softwoods, and up to 800 SF for high density hardwoods.

Older decks tend to exhibit more checking and therefore will absorb more oil. Similar to this, in very dry conditions, more ExoShield will absorb into the wood and coverage will be significantly lower. Moisture also impedes the ability of ExoShield to penetrate into the wood. If the deck was previously treated and any of the prior product still remains in the wood, ExoShield will not penetrate as well. In rare cases, ExoShield will not penetrate at all and instead form a film on top of your deck.

Although ExoShield wood stain is compatible with most oil-based finishes, we strongly recommended that any previous finish is removed before attempting to finish with ExoShield. If your deck was previously finished with either an epoxy resin or water-based resin finish, these finishes must be fully and completely removed prior to applying ExoShield.

We use trans-oxide pigments and UV blockers in ExoShield tung oil stain to protect your exterior deck and other wood projects from harmful UV rays, adding to the longevity of the structure and color. The pigments used in ExoShield hardwood deck stain will bring out and protect the natural colors of the wood it’s used on, providing a long-lasting vivid result. ExoShield wood stain will lengthen the lifespan of the wood's color, delaying the graying process. When applied every one to two years, your deck will maintain a nearly brand-new appearance, with very little maintenance.