Retique It Water-Based Gel Stains (8oz, Pecan)

I have used this on so many different DIY projects and it always turns out looking great. I love that. The finish looks like real wood, even without using the word grain rubber piece. It is a little pricey, but it is definitely worth the price. easy to apply, not such a strong smell. i've used it inside and outside and the smell doesn't bother me. would recommend sanding before using cause I did put this over a painted cabinet and it has peeled some but very minimal.

I used this to transform a fake light wood countertop into darker wood. It was my first time, so it was an adventure. The product itself works great and really does look like wood. One mistake I made (user error) was using painter tape, which ended pulling up some of the paint that was already so perfect. :( But I was able to patch up those spots, and it just made the wood look a little more rustic and reclaimed. Next time, I'll forgo any taping off, because it's water-based and I can just clean up anything it touches with just a wet paper towel or Q-tip (which I ended still needing to do anyway). I did also buy a top coat for a little more sheen and protection. Not sure it needed it, as a top coat is built in to the product, but since I'll be placing things directly on top of it and moving stuff around, I wanted it to be a little more protected.

Oh my goodness … YES! I wanted a wood mantel when we moved into our builder grade new build. So when I say everything was white, everything was white. It was so easy to do, and the instructions were simple to follow. The brush they supply was perfect and so nice to have. When I applied the last step which was the stain gel, even the small imperfect sweeps of my brush just added to the uniqueness of the project and made it more wood like. There is no smell associated with this type of paint, stain treatment so I was able to do it with my kids playing close by and without opening windows. I would highly recommend this for anyone looking to get a wood finish. It is so much easier and more cost effective than refinishing something with actual wood. I did choose to do without the graining tool to get a more brush finish. We will definitely be utilizing this again for our wood accents

Love this finish. Refinished my desk top and came out beautiful. Looks so natural with some texture. I bought more to do a dining table

As someone who frequently paints and stains, most of the product isn’t worth the money. The primer is decent and will leave some good wood grain. The stain however is very hard to work with. It dries too fast to work with for faux wood. It just looks streaky, not like wood. If you need a darker color, so more then one coat of stain, definitely do not buy. The layers get tacky looking and even more streaky. I’d recommend buying the primer only and using a real stain.

Good stuff! I want to do my kitchen cabinets but was hesitant. So I decided to dfo my 25 yr old microwave cabinet first. I mean, if it turned out terrible, no loss I was going to throw it out anyway. It turned out very nice, I'll probably keep it another 25 yrs😁 and I will be moving on to the cabinets now. It's easy but make sure your starting with a clean surface. If it's a very shiny surface I scuff sand first for better adhesion. I used (pecan) 3 coats wood paint, 1coat gel stain, 3 coats polycrylic...... UPDATE Sept. 17, 2025...finally finished the kitchen cabinets!! Love the new look! A lot of work but saved thousands not having to buy new cabinets. Well worth it!

Retique It absolutely works but the kit and instructions need improvement. Purchased to refinish a damaged veneer door to match a wood grain oak finish. Read Retique It instructions before selecting a filler (if applicable). Purchased this as a kit based on a Retique It video using stain to create a faux grain but later determined that the grain is created by using two colors of base followed by stain. There are two Retique It base colors: Light Wood and Dark Wood - you will need both if you plan to use a graining tool and they are sold separately. The "gel stain" is watery like a regular stain, not a pudding consistency like most gel stains. Also, the brush in this kit leaves strands behind so beware - don't be afraid to use a good brush with this product - the base washes right out with just soapy water. The included stain rag was full of holes and unusable. If you are refinishing something that was varnished, sand it well - sand it more than the instructions tell you to. Do exactly as instructed for surface cleaning - don't use TSP. You will easily need three coats of the base color so plan for it and know that it leaves behind the feeling of real wood with a little bit of tooth. You will need to do a light sanding to smooth it out before staining if you are looking for a super smooth finish. If not graining, simply stain and it truly does look like stained wood. When graining, apply the dark base over the light one length at a time and grain immediately, then go on to the next section. Do not paint the entire surface at once. The base dries quickly. Use light pressure with graining tools. Work quickly with stain (absorbs quickly), wipe, and be prepared to allow time for two coats. Seal with a high quality poly. We will absolutely use this product again - and recommend it - but bring your own tools.