BEHR PREMIUM Solid Color Waterproofing Stain and Sealer Review (2026)
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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- Old, weathered decks that need grain hidden
- Fences, siding, and railings
- Maximum opaque color and UV hiding
- Custom color matching
A water-based, opaque 100% acrylic finish that hides weathering, repairs and mismatched boards on tired old decks and shines on fences, siding and railings, with 1,600-plus colors and easy cleanup. Its film can peel on horizontal deck floors under foot traffic and trapped moisture, needs stripping to recoat, and is not for damp new wood.
Pros
- Opaque film hides weathering, repairs, and mismatched boards on tired old decks
- Huge custom color selection (1600+) with easy soap-and-water cleanup
- Excellent, long-warranty performance on vertical surfaces like fences and siding
Cons
- Film can peel on horizontal deck floors under foot traffic and trapped moisture
- Solid coating eventually requires stripping or sanding to recoat, not just a wash
- Not suited to fresh or damp pressure-treated wood until it has fully weathered and dried
Specifications
| opacity | Solid (opaque) |
|---|---|
| base | Water-based 100% acrylic |
| coats | 2 coats |
| coverage | 200-400 sq ft per gallon |
| dryTime | 2-4 hours to recoat |
| cleanup | Soap and water |
| voc | About 100 g/L |
| colors | 1600+ custom colors |
| warranty | Up to 10 years on decks, up to 25 years on fences and siding |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the dry and recoat time for BEHR Premium Solid Color Stain?
- 2-4 hours to recoat, and it takes two coats. It is water-based 100% acrylic, so cleanup is soap and water and VOC is around 100 g/L.
- Should you use a solid stain on a deck floor or only on fences?
- It performs best on vertical surfaces. On fences and siding the warranty runs up to 25 years and the opaque film hides weathering, repairs and mismatched boards beautifully. On horizontal deck floors the same film can peel under foot traffic and trapped moisture, and the deck warranty is shorter at up to 10 years. If your deck boards are sound, a penetrating stain avoids that failure mode.
- Can you apply it to new pressure-treated wood?
- Not until the wood has fully weathered and dried. Fresh or damp pressure-treated lumber will not take the coating properly. This is the most common reason a solid stain fails early on a new build.
- How hard is it to recoat later?
- Harder than a penetrating stain, and this is the honest long-term cost. A solid film eventually requires stripping or sanding to recoat rather than just a wash and reapply. You are trading future maintenance effort for the opaque coverage and the 1600+ custom colors.