Home » Penofin Wood Stains & Penetrating Oil Finishes

Penofin Wood Stains & Penetrating Oil Finishes

Shop Penofin penetrating oil wood stains for decks, siding, fences, log homes, exotic hardwoods, composite decking and docks. Penofin finishes soak into the wood instead of forming a surface film. Pick a finish by the job below, then add the prep products that go with it.

Which Penofin is right for you?

Your project/need Best choice Why
Decks, siding and fences, easy application Stain & Sealer Semi-transparent oil that can go on in direct sun and withstands rain within minutes
Extra protection where rain, wind, snow or high elevation are a problem Ultra Premium Red Label Brazilian Rosewood Oil formula with 99% UV protection, in ten transparent tones plus Clear
Exotic hardwood decks: Ipe, teak, mahogany, tigerwood Exterior Hardwood Formula Made to penetrate dense hardwoods. Ipe and Tigerwood tones
Hardwood decks, siding and fences, low VOC satin Architectural Grade TSF Hardwood Waterborne alkyd-urethane hybrid, under 100 g/L VOC, soap-and-water clean-up. Natural and Ipe
Docks, boats and marine wood Marine Oil Finish or TSF Marine Grade Marine Oil is a natural-tone wipe-on oil. TSF Marine Grade is a satin finish for wood above the waterline
Pressure-treated lumber Pressure Treated Green Label One-coat formula for CCA and ACQ treated wood
Composite decking Knotwood Adds colour to grey composite decks and restores faded ones, in one application
Log homes and timber frames Log On Semi-transparent oil with 99% UV protection, made for harsh weather
Interior or exterior wood, zero VOC Verde Under 1 g/L VOC, petroleum-free, soap-and-water clean-up

Prep/accessories: First Step Prep removes mill glaze on new wood. Pro-Tech Cleaner removes dirt and grime, Pro-Tech Brightener removes grey, and Pro-Tech Stripper removes old paint, stains and sealers.

Not sure which Penofin or prep product you need? Contact us with your wood type and project and we'll help you choose.

14 Products

Penofin FAQ

1Which Penofin should I use on my deck?

It depends on the wood. For softwood decks, use Stain & Sealer or Ultra Premium Red Label. For exotic hardwoods such as Ipe, teak and mahogany, use Exterior Hardwood Formula or TSF Hardwood. For pressure-treated lumber, use Pressure Treated Green Label, and for composite decking use Knotwood.

2What is the difference between Stain & Sealer and Red Label?

Both are penetrating oil finishes. Stain & Sealer is semi-transparent, can be applied in direct sun and withstands rain within minutes. Red Label is a Brazilian Rosewood Oil formula with increased transoxide pigments for 99% UV protection, offered in ten transparent tones plus Clear.

3How much Penofin do I need for a deck?

Stain & Sealer covers about 125–175 sq ft per 3.79 L for two thin coats on smooth wood, so a 300 sq ft deck takes 2–3 gallons. Penofin lists 175–300 sq ft per gallon for Red Label and 400–500 sq ft per gallon for the Hardwood Formula. Rough or weathered wood and railings take more.

4Can I apply Penofin over my old stain?

Penofin can go over an existing Penofin finish. Over anything else, Penofin says it can't be sure the oil will penetrate, and its data sheets call for chemically stripping the wood with an acrylic stripper such as Pro-Tech Wood Stripper. Apply to clean, bare, dry wood.

5How should I prepare the wood, and how do I handle oily rags?

On new wood, use First Step Prep to remove mill glaze. On old bare wood, use Pro-Tech Cleaner, then Pro-Tech Brightener if the wood has greyed. Penofin warns that oil-soaked rags can self-ignite, so soak them in water and store them in an air-tight container.

6What temperature and weather do I need to apply Penofin?

Penofin says not to apply its oils outdoors below 45 °F or above 80 °F (about 7–27 °C), and cold weather means poor penetration. Apply 24 hours after rain, with no rain expected for 24 hours. Stain & Sealer is rated for 4–32 °C, and the TSF finishes for 40–90 °F (about 4–32 °C) and out of direct sun.

7How long until I can use the deck, and when do I recoat?

For the oil finishes (Red Label, Hardwood Formula, Marine Oil), Penofin lists dry to touch in 3–4 hours, serviceable in 12, moisture resistant in 24 and fully cured in 4–7 days. Stain & Sealer needs 72 hours before heavy use. To maintain, clean the wood, let it dry and apply a light coat to worn areas.