AQUAMAX vs TIMBERMAX vs MULTIMAX: Which One Is Right for Your Fence?

If you've been browsing the MASTERMAX range, you've probably noticed that three products all seem to do a similar thing: coat a timber fence and protect it from the elements. So what's actually the difference, and how do you pick the right one?

The short answer is that they're built on different technologies and give very different results. Here's the full picture.

The Core Difference: Stain vs Paint

This is the most important distinction to understand before anything else.

AQUAMAX is a stain. It penetrates into the timber rather than sitting on top of it. When you apply AQUAMAX, the linseed oil soaks into the wood fibres and the pigment colours the timber from within. You still see the grain, the texture, and the character of the wood: just with colour and protection added.

TIMBERMAX and MULTIMAX are paints. They form a film on top of the timber surface. The grain disappears under a solid colour finish. These products are built on 100% acrylic (TIMBERMAX) and acrylic-plus-linseed-oil (MULTIMAX) formulations that create a tough, weather-resistant coating over the surface.

That single distinction between penetrating stain and surface-forming paint should answer the question for a lot of people. If you want to keep the natural look of your timber, AQUAMAX. If you want a solid colour, TIMBERMAX or MULTIMAX.

Quick Comparison

	AQUAMAX	TIMBERMAX	MULTIMAX
Type	Penetrating stain	Acrylic paint	Acrylic + linseed oil paint
Finish	Low gloss, natural timber look	Low sheen, solid colour	Low sheen, solid colour
Shows timber grain?	Yes (semi-transparent)	No (opaque)	No (opaque)
Coverage	6–8 sqm/litre	8–16 sqm/litre	~10 sqm/litre
Recoat time	90 minutes	2 hours	2 hours
No primer needed?	Yes	Yes (most surfaces)	Yes
Suitable for concrete?	No	Yes	Yes
Suitable for steel/Zincalume?	No	No	Yes
Ideal for fences?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ideal for decks?	Yes (also see DECKMAX)	Yes	Yes
Colour range	9 earthy tones	8 colours	8 colours incl. white

AQUAMAX: Best For Natural Timber Look

AQUAMAX Timber Stain is a water-based linseed oil stain: meaning it applies with water, but releases linseed oil as it dries. That oil soaks deep into the wood fibres, nourishing and protecting from the inside out.

Because it penetrates rather than sitting on the surface, AQUAMAX is particularly well-suited to rough-sawn and weathered timber that might resist a surface film paint. It bonds with the timber rather than relying on surface adhesion.

Colours include earthy NZ-inspired tones: Black Coal, Boulder Wood, Brown Bean, Cedar Brown, Karaka Green, Rustic Oakwood, Smokey Charcoal, Terra Tan, and Volcanic Red.

Choose AQUAMAX if:

• You want to keep a natural, timber-look finish

• Your fence is rough-sawn or weathered pine

• You want a penetrating product that works with the wood rather than over it

• You're staining new timber for the first time

TIMBERMAX: Best For Solid Colour on Timber and Fibre Cement

TIMBERMAX Deck & Timber Paint is a 100% acrylic exterior paint purpose-built for NZ conditions. It dries fast (touch dry in 30 minutes), covers well (up to 16 sqm/litre on smooth surfaces), and works as a finish coat, undercoat, and primer in one: no separate primer needed on most timber surfaces.

Where TIMBERMAX stands out from MULTIMAX is its versatility across non-timber surfaces. It can be applied to fibre cement sheets, concrete blocks, and unglazed bricks, which is useful if your fence includes posts or panels in those materials.

Colours use NZ bird names: Black Crow, Brown Owl, Grey Finch, Grey Quail, Kingfisher Green, Red Kaka, Rustic Weka, and White Dove.

Choose TIMBERMAX if:

• You want a clean, solid colour finish on your fence

• Your fence includes fibre cement, concrete, or brick sections

• You want fast drying and quick recoat times

• You prefer a pure acrylic formula

MULTIMAX: Best For Mixed Surfaces and All-Round Flexibility

MULTIMAX Multi-Purpose Paint shares the solid colour, low sheen finish of TIMBERMAX, but adds linseed oil to the acrylic formula. That linseed oil gives MULTIMAX better tolerance of imperfect surfaces: it has a wicking/bonding ability that helps it grip to worn, porous, or slightly uneven substrates that a straight acrylic might struggle with.

The other thing that makes MULTIMAX genuinely multi-purpose is its surface compatibility. Beyond timber and fibre cement, it works on galvanised steel and Zincalume, useful if your property has metal gates, shed cladding, water tanks, or spouting you want to colour-match to your fence.

Like TIMBERMAX, MULTIMAX is a one-product system: a finish coat, undercoat and primer in one.

Choose MULTIMAX if:

• You want one product that can go on timber, concrete, and metal surfaces

• Your fence includes galvanised steel posts, wire, or fittings

• You're painting older, more weathered or porous timber where adhesion is a concern

• You want to colour-match fence, shed, gates, and spouting with one product

What About Prep? That Part Is the Same for All Three.

Whichever product you choose, the prep steps are identical: kill any mould, moss, or lichen with GET-GONE, let the timber dry completely, stir the product from the bottom up, apply in dry weather above 5°C, and use two coats for the longest life.

The fence painting video on the MASTERMAX YouTube channel walks through all five steps: worth a watch before you start, regardless of which product you've chosen.

Still Not Sure? Try a Test Pot First.

All three products are available in test pots from Mitre 10. If you're unsure about colour or how a product will look on your specific timber, a test pot is the best way to find out before committing to a 4 or 10 litres.

Pick up AQUAMAX, TIMBERMAX, and MULTIMAX exclusively from Mitre 10 stores nationwide, or browse the full range at mastermax.co.nz.