Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by TWP Help
TWP Wood and Deck Stain Update for 2025
Welcome to the official help site for TWPStain.com.
TWP® 100 Pro-Series will keep your wood beautiful, fresh, and looking new longer! The ease of application and maintenance will allow you to enjoy your investment for years to come. Containing unique ingredients that protect the wood from damage, TWP 100 Series has been a leader and respected product for over 25 years.
TWP® 100 Pro-Series provides a broad spectrum of weather protection, is water repellent, and aids in color retention. TWP® 100 Pro-Series resists water absorption that causes warping, cracking, splitting, and prevents freeze damage in colder climates. Use TWP® 100 Pro-Series to Restore and Protect YOUR GREAT OUTDOORS!
TWP 1500 Total Wood Preservative is an EPA-registered wood preservative for decks, fences, gazebos, cedar siding, wood shakes, log homes, outdoor furniture, and other exterior wood surfaces. TWP wood preservative offers outstanding protection from UV fading, wood rot, water damage, and mildew for all types of wood species.
The TWPStainHelp.com site is designed for exterior wood and deck owners looking for solutions to their wood maintenance questions. We have gathered information based on years of experience. From TWP stain tips and wood maintenance advice to prepping new wood and how-to articles, we will guide you step by step to achieve professional-like results using any of the TWP wood preservative products.
Please read our articles and feel free to ask any questions that you may have about restoring your exterior wood or decking surfaces. The information you need regarding wood and deck restoration and TWP deck stains are all here. Please enjoy and remember that we are here to help.
I just put a second coat of TWP102 Redwood stain on my porch. How long should I wait before putting plants benches, etc. back on the porch?
24-48 hours or untill fully dry.
Hi. I have a few questions about your product. First some background..we have cedar shake siding which is mostly about 20 years old. The house was washed and stripped last Sept 2024. Brightener was applied at that time. No stain or preservative was applied. PPG Proluxe had been applied to the shingle about 2 1/2 years prior (May 2022) in a “natural” color and the shingle was getting dark/black. We like the shingle to be as close to its fresh natural red cedar color as possible.
The shakes looked great right after cleaning, last Sept, but already in some places the shingle is looking very dry, there is black stippling and lots of water marks from rain. So we have decided that a stain/preservative needs to be applied. My issue is, that anything we have applied in the past has not maintained its color and the shingle gets very dark over time…dark brown to almost black. When the house was first built in 2005, Cabot stain was applied.
I found your product searching online for something that would give us better more long lasting results. Our painter is not familiar with your product and his supplier in Westchester does not stock your product. We asked the painter to get Honeytone, natural, and cedartone for samples, which they did.
The house was power washed a few days ago with a light bleach solution and the shingles look very good. The honeytone and natural samples were applied but are giving the shakes a very orange tone. They didn’t apply the cedartone because it looked like a dark brown and we don’t want that. Again we want the shingle to look as close to its clean fresh natural western red cedar color as possible. We don’t really want an orange house.
First question…what other color would you suggest from the 1500 series that we try?
Second question…the painter doesn’t want to apply brightener again before staining because he says it will damage the shakes with too frequent application. Do u agree with that or is it necessary for proper penetration of the stain into the shakes to apply brightener just before staining? Brightener was applied one year ago when the house was stripped from the PPG Proluxe stain
Third question…as the painter is not familiar with TWP he is not so comfortable working with it. He is suggesting we use Ben Moore Woodluxe. How does TWP compare with Ben Moore Woodluxe? This is what his supplier stocks.
Thanks for getting back to me. Greatly appreciated.
Many oil-based stains (including BM Woodluxe) will darken or even turn black over time. TWP stains will not do this. They will lighten over time, which makes recoating easier.
Hi, I’m going to be restraining my deck with the same stain I used last time. The 100 series. I wanted to give it a light sand to get rid of any rough patches. Should I sand before I use the cleaner and brightener or after?
Clean first, sand if needed, brighten last.
Hi. What should I get for siding that is the longest-lasting?
The TWP 1500 Series or the TWP Semi-Solid colors.
Is it OK to sand an existing cedar deck with a professional wood flooring random orbital sander
prior to apply TWP. Current finish is an aged CETOL DEK semi-transparent stain
You can, but do not sand finer than 60-80 grit and then clean and brighten the wood after.
Can you apply the natural effect stain on pressure pine treated deck ? Or is that not recommended ?
Yes, you can. Works great!
Thank you for confirming bc i read somewhere that natural effect is not recommended for horizontal decking pine treated boards . I do understand it’s a two step staining process , one to stain and the other product is the top coat . If you have any videos to share on how to use this product share with me please .
No videos, sorry. It is easy to apply. No different than the other TWP stains.
Hello! I ordered 5 gallons of TWP cedar but I am unable to use it. I ordered it less than a month ago and it is still in the box. Am I able to return this?
Please see here: https://www.twpstain.com/refund
A couple months ago I stained new pressure treated deck with a light coat the first time. it went very well, and now looks like it’s ready for more. So, at this point, just clean it, maybe a little soap, rinse, dry, and have at it?
Wait until Spring. It needs 6-12 months before you can lightly prep and recoat.
Hi, we prepped and stained our deck with the TWP system in mid-April. It lasted well through our very hot and humid, rain-filled summer but now needs a pick-me-up since water is no longer beading on it. What do we need to do?
TWP is not desgned to bead water but shed water as it is a breathable stain. It is good and no reason to add more.
Where can I order TWP 206 for delivering Texas
On this link: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-200-series-5-gallon
In September 2024 (in Wisconsin) I used TWP116 Pro Series Rustic on my deck which is 22 years old, pressure treated southern yellow pine. It has partial shade in early morning and early afternoon.
I cleaned and stripped the old finish (Wolman product) and applied 2 coats wet on wet and it looked great and 1 year later it still looks good. The railing and spindles are fine and don’t need refinishing, but several boards contain small cracks and show some fading. But I want to stay ahead of it and not let it get mold/mildew/algae which it was prior to using TWP.
I have power washed it, all dirt removed, no mold/mildew/algae. Can I now apply the same stain TWP116 (just the deck boards)? I don’t see where there is any stripping necessary since the TWP has held up nicely.
Yes, you can!
We had a new deck built in Sept. 2024 and will be staining it with the TWP100 Pecan120 stain. Other than cleaning and blowing off the deck, do we need to use the restore kit or can we stain without it?
Yes, use the kit for best results.
How long is the wait between Gemini Restore A Deck and applying the stain?
48 Hours after prep or any rain.
Good morning,
Can a piece of wood stain with TWP used indoors?
TWP is oil-based so it will have an odor that could linger for “days” when used indoors.
Thank you! I’m not in a rush…
In your tips for new wood you suggest TWP100, if available . If not , use TWP1500. Sounds like TWP 100 is prefered . I am staining new pine T&G on Horse stall fronts.
Either works very but the 100 Series is not allowed in every state.
We’ve had several days of high humidity & temps in the 90’s with thunderstorms & heavy rain on 3 separate days
Because of this I decided to wait until next week to re stain our deck
While I’m patiently waiting I ordered the TWP deck brightener
Planning to use it this coming weekend
Are there any special instructions or recommendations
I used my own home made deck cleaner followed by sanding with 80 grit
Will be using TWP redwood 1502
Thank you again for the great advice and great products
The two most important things this time around are prep and waiting until the weather is near perfect for 3-5 days
Grateful to TWP staff for this opportunity to ask questions and get expert feedback
Constantine kokos
Please upload some pics in the comments of your prep so far for advice.
I installed my deck approx 1 year ago with womanized 5/4. It has aged a year, and then I used a deck cleaner and brightener system to prep it for TWP 1500. Overall came out great. I have one single 14 ft board that is whitening over its length – any thoughts on why or how to fix it?
That is sap leaching out of your wood. Cannot be prevented or stopped.
Hello, I have been using TWP 101 Cedartone for years and very pleased 🙂 (Seattle, Wa area)
I find that I end of used RAD stripper and brightener the staining every year because when I “clean” (smidge of dish soap and stiff brush broom) the deck to remove a year of use, the stain comes up (see photo).
I wonder if I am doing something wrong or if perhaps I should switch to the newer semi-solid stain?
Thoughts?
No, and that is normal that when you scrub the deck for prep, some of the stain may come up. Teh semi-solid would do the same thing.
Does TWP stain kill landscaping plants?
Do not appply TWP to plants as it will kill or burn the leaves. It is for wood only. If plants are nearby, cover or protect them from the stain.
I am building an outdoor pizza oven cart with a food prep area. Can I use TWP 1530 for this project? Can I add topcoat for the prep surface in particular. Using Redwood pickets – planed and sanded for base and Birch Plywood for cabinet and prep surface. I want to get a general tone match to TWP-1530 that was used to stain my cedar deck.
Yes, you can use it, but you cannot stain new wood right away:
https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
And you cannot top coat TWP stains.
I’m prepping my deck for staining. The wood is over a 2 years old. I used the Restore-A-Deck Gemini cleaner, and rinsed with a light power wash, but then we had a series of wet, rainy days, and it’s been over 3 weeks since I used the cleaner. I also now realize I didn’t use the brightener immediately after the cleaner. The wood still looks clean. Do I need to re-clean and then brighten? Do I need to just apply the brightener? Did the recent rain storms do a thorough job of rinsing and neutralizing the cleaner?
How best should I proceed?
Just do the brighener step and rinse well with water.
Hello,
I am interested in mixing two colors of the semi solid series together to create my own color. Are there any issues with doing this? Thanks,
Terry
No issues. Ensure that you mix each color thoroughly before combining them, as pigment can settle.
Well, dang it! Wasn;t forecast to rain for a week, but here it is, some light rain on a newly finished deck after about 33 hours! What problems might this cause?
It should be fine with no issues.
Thanks
Hi — after applying TWP 1500 stain, how long should it dry before being exposed to rain?
12 hours is normal, but in some cases, it will dry faster.
Used the gemini kit to clean and brighten this weekend – is this ready for staining now ?
Thanks !
Yes, it is.
👍
I have used cedar tone clear for three times now my deck‘s getting harder to clean should use one that’s not semi clear. I go to a color.
Sorry, but we do not understand your comments. Did you have a question?
2 years ago, porch was sanded and stained with 1516 Rustic. Doesn’t really need to be restained, yet. What is the best way to clean it? When I am ready to restain,what are the steps?
Our prep products are designed for when you plan to reapply. Use this kit for the prep:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
I have used TWP on new wood with great success. However, now I am trying to restore an old and weathered pine deck. The wood is not rotted but does have some old ‘solid’ stain remaining on the wood. My questions are:
1) Can TWP be used effectively even though there is still some old stain on the wood?
2) If so, after the TWP has thoroughly dried, can another deck-resurfacing product be applied over it? Will deck-resurfacing products adhere to a TWP-prepared surface?
3) How dry does the old deck wood need to be before applying a TWP product?
1. No, all previous coatings must be removed before using the TWP.
2. No, you cannot apply any coating over the TWP, it will peel if you try this.
3. 48 hours of no rain or after any prep.
What is the best TWP stain for boathouses needing strong UV protection..
TWP Semi-solids: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-semi-solid-pro-series
We just received 5 gallons of twp101 and will be using it on a western red cedar fence I’ll be building soon. The upper 4 feet of the fence will have horizontal louvers. The louvers angle at 45 degrees and are not-adjustable. I had planned on pre-staining the (rough cut) louver-slats so as to more easily cover all sides of the wood. Good idea or problematic working with this pre-stained wood?
Also, because I’ll be using postmaster posts, when building up the posts, some boards will be completely covering other boards. I just saw you mention that only exposed wood needs to be stained but wonder if that advice applies to my situation as well: wouldn’t 4-side staining help with repelling moisture, reduce warping, further slowing rot? I’m in Minnesota.
You only need to stain the exposed sides after install. Staining all sides can lead to issues (the wood may not be able to breathe) and does not provide more protection.
Just stain it all at the same time and only the exposed wood.
Thank you for your quick reply! OK, So I’ll stain a post after it’s assembled.
I’m not sure now what to do with the louvers. They are exposed to the elements on the 4 main faces. Can you explain further about the problem with sealing all sides? These rough-cut 5/8″ x 6″ x 5′ boards are in my garage, quite dry.