We were staining a pine sleeper retaining wall. After trying a sample pot in one colour and leaving it for a year while the timber settled in we didn't like the result. So today we went instead with Ironwood tint at Bunnings. The colour of this stain didn't turn out anything like the colour chart. It's more like mission brown paint than a stain. We used it immediately after it was mixed at Bunnings and also stirred it like the guy at bunnings said. Such a waste of money to purchase expensive samples that you don't like and then 4li tin for $90 that's no good.

Yes we love the color, we used ochre it was a light brown color just like the picture, we did it 2 years ago and it still looks good, no cracks or Never peeled, that was our pool deck now we are getting ready to do our back deck the same color.

We have just painted our brand new pine shed with two coats of Golden Pine Waterbased stain. The first coat didn't look very even so we had to paint it twice but instead of a beautiful golden honey color we now have a bright orange shed that looks nothing like the Cabot's swatch sample we looked at in the store. Very disappointed! :(

I have used 12 liters so far on a 36 square meter deck and still need to do one more coat as the color is all over the place. It on new pine deck with the ridges up. And yes I do know how to paint and have not slopped it on. Wish I could post a photo the you would see what I mean. Just hope that the color comes right after another $85 per can and I hope that the 4 liters will cover 36m this time. I wish I had read these reviews before my choice.

Wish I read these reviews prior to purchase and use. My painter went against his normal product as I wanting the ebony stain finish so I went ahead and purchased it, guess what colour it is... mission brown! There is a definite pattern forming here with this product. It gives a watered down blotchy paint finish not at all a stain finish. Any suggestions on the easiest and cheapest method of removing this ugly "stain" would be greatly appreciated. Cutting my losses and considering it a painful lesson learnt :-(

We stained our back deck and bench seat a few weeks ago and had two sections run down the limestone wall after sprinklers. Today it has rained a lot and I have a very streaky limestone wall now. Shame I can't upload a photo to this review! We have been preparing it for a party this Saturday and now it looks worse than ever !!!!

I used merbau stain on top of the line treated pine decking. I bought it for the look on the sample chart for result on treated pine. It came out seriously blotchy and uneven in colour, from light orangy to mission brown, no matter whether I used a brush, or the Cabot applicator pad. The only way to get an even finish was to coat it again, and now it is the darkest dull flat shade of chocolate mission brown. Does not even look like wood. I followed the directions, and conditions required, even bought Cabots Prep. Cabots help line and Bunnings will say they have had zero complaints. Ya, right. Lucky for them most people buy without googling reviews. $20000 deck ruined.

Deck stain needs 2 to 3coats especially in a light colour. First coat and looks terrible...additional coats looking much better..also you must prepare your deck and don't stain in the heat of the day. If you can do a full board with the applicator (I got a better look with a paint brush) I would suggest you really try because you will see where you stop and start and be careful of drips.. A bit tricky to use. Try first on a piece of board ...otherwise a fantastic colour.

I did a lot of homework and research before I settled on Cabbots exterior deck stain in Jarrah for my treated pine slat fence. The results are fantastic. I washed my new fence in cheap sugar soap with a sponge, washed it off with a hose, let it dry...In 32 degree weather, that didn't take long. The next day I started staining. Very happy with the product. Those people with the negative reviews should have used their stain on an offcut before starting on their project. I mean, some people just lack common sense!

I will preface my review with time frame in mind, ie early days. After diligently following instructions, and using expensive Cabots cleaning agent, I placed one coat of stain on several areas of decking/screen fencing. I was very satisfied with the outcome. Then 24-72 hrs later (different areas) heavy rain fell and all areas have gone patchy. I will be shattered if it doesn't even out when it dries.

I purchased Cabots water based, Colour Control Formula, Deck & Exterior Stain. The deck was prepared and the application of product was as directed . The deck is still sticky, two weeks after the application and has the appearance of Wattyl Solar Guard. As we live in a temperate zone area, moisture and cold are not a problem. The surface is lifting where the decking furniture has been sitting, as the furniture sticks to the decking. There appears to be a serious problem with your product, I now have a serious problem with my decking. I would like to know what reparations are available to me, to rectify the damage to a very expensive piece of my home?

I have just ruined a $6000 Kwila deck with this product! The colour is nothing like Kwila and it looks like the deck has been painted.
Cabots need to remove this stain from the shelves before more unsuspecting customers ruin their decks!
It is going to cost me $850 to have it sanded off, after paying $150 for 10 litres which is going to the dump!

Deck and exterior stain, as pictured above. Throw it in the nearest quicksand and don't look back. This is cheap water-based paint, not stain. Unfortunately i can't even sand it off as floor nails are domed-head stainless steel and protrude. My new $10k deck floor is ruined!

I concur with all the points made above, took weeks to 'dry', sits on the surface and is not a wood stain. Absolute crap. Currently organising cabots to put it right ... 8 months later, still waiting. Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.

We purchased Merbau waterbased stain and has gone on like thick mission brown paint. Looks absolutely terrible and we are so disappointed. Such a waste of money. The rep at Bunnings told us, unfortunately after we had done the decking, that he has complained to Cabots about their product many times because a lot of people have the same issue. We will never use this brand again.
Nothing.
Colour was incorrect, solid in appearance rather than a stain.