Peeling is normally something that happens with paint, solid stains, lacquer varnishes, those kinds of materials. Layers of these kinds of protecting materials will peel forever and ever if the wood they are protecting gets any kind of direct sun. Paint peeling happens all the time and all over the place. I’m no painter, but if not enough prep goes into the existing paint, and then another coat or two of new paint is added, throw in a year or two’s worth of sun and rain, and that paint will surely peel.
Lacquer finishes on doors are another example of materials that will peel with exposure to the elements, mainly sun. If your gorgeous front door has been beautifully lacquered with several coats, trust me, that lacquer will peel for days at the bottom of the door where it receives the most weather. Even solid stains when applied too generously will peel in places after the initial stain.
It’s very difficult and very possible all in the same breath to have a build up of transparent stain that would get to a point where it began to peel in places. I of course have seen it a hundred and one times, and it’s not a pretty look. It usually involves a sheen, and it usually is very red or orange. It’s an awful combo!! An outdoor wood deck that is properly maintained with a water based transparent stain will never peel.
Here’s but a goofy but meaningful example of transparent stain peeling right off a five gallon bucket. Mind you, that’s likely 20-30 ‘water-based’ coats that have built up on a plastic bucket. Like oil and vinegar.
Santa Cruz Wood Deck Maintenance
Stain * Protect * Beautify