The Official TWPStainHelp.com Guide to Prepping a Wood Deck
With wood decks maintenance is vital to the structural integrity of the wood. Cleaning, prepping, and staining a deck are the 3 main keys to deck care. With any deck stain, including TWP the prep work is crucial. No matter how superior the deck stain is it will not perform properly or give you the results you expect if the wood is not prepped correctly. The following is a TWP guide to prepping a deck that has never been stained or currently has TWP stain already on the wood. If you have a stain of a different brand, you will need to remove it with a stain stripper. See this for more info Switching to TWP Stains.
- Proper prep work is crucial for TWP stain to penetrate correctly and deliver expected results on any wood deck.
- Use an oxygenated cleaner like Gemini Restore-A-Deck to safely remove dirt, mold, mildew, and grayed wood fibers.
- Old or failing stains must be fully removed using a wood deck stain stripper before applying TWP.
- A deck brightener neutralizes caustic cleaners, lowers wood pH, and helps TWP stain penetrate deeper for a professional finish.
- Allow the deck to dry completely, reaching 15% or less moisture content, before applying TWP stain.
Cleaning the Deck for TWP Stains
Prior to staining with, TWP the deck needs to be cleaned thoroughly to allow for proper stain penetration. Use a quality wood cleaner like the oxygenated cleaner Gemini Restore-A-Deck. These types of cleaners are safer on the wood than bleach-based cleaners and will effectively remove dirt, mold, mildew, and grayed wood fibers. It is important to get back down to clean bare wood. Apply the wood cleaner as suggested by the label instructions. Let the cleaner dwell and soften up the pollutants before using a scrub brush or performing a light pressure washing.
If an old failing stain is present it must be removed. A wore down semi-transparent stain may clean off with an oxygenated cleaner. If the old stain is stubborn then you might have to use a wood deck stain stripper instead of a cleaner. Once the pollutants and any remnants of old stain are gone the deck should look new again.
Using a Deck Brightener with TWP
A deck brightener also called a neutralizer is the next step after cleaning. Because the cleaners and/or strippers are caustic in nature they need to be neutralized. Apply the deck brightener immediately after cleaning and according to the directions. Then allow it to dwell for several minutes before rinsing off with water. This will lower the pH level of the wood and make the wood grain “pop”. This acidic nature of the wood surface will allow TWP stain to dive deep into the wood and result in a more professional like finish.
Dry Time for TWP Stains
After cleaning and brightening the deck it needs to dry prior to staining. With a moisture meter, you want 15% or less moisture content before applying the stain. If you do not have a meter, typically 1-2 days of dry weather is adequate time for the wood to dry completely. Now the deck is ready for TWP stain. Following this TWP guide to prepping a deck will ensure the stain lasts longer, enhances the appearance, and performs as expected.
I’m going to apply 101 pro series on a wood deck (floor only). It is pressure treated wood that has been installed about 13 months. Is just 1 coat ok? Thanks.
Do two coats after prep with the Gemini Restore Kit.
Deck is 1.5 years old and I have cleaned and am ready to stain with TWP 100 series. Should I do 2 coats wet on wet or one coat and wait a year?
Two light coats applied wet on wet. Recoat in 2-3 years or when needed.
cedar deck prep question: we used RAD stripper + brightener followed by a light sanding of the cedar boards to remove “furring”. The deck looks good and ready for stain but how do we properly remove the fine sanding dust that remains? Do we use a hose and soft scrub brush? Brightener? Deck cleaner? Thank you!
Apply the RAD Brightener one more time. It removes the sanding dust and reopens the wood grain, which sanding closes up. Scrub lightly with a soft brush, rinse well with a hose, and let it dry before staining. Since the cedar is sanded, plan on one coat of stain.
Got it. Thank you!!!
You’re welcome, Anna. Good luck with the cedar deck — feel free to post some pics once it’s stained.