Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by TWP Help
Tips for Applying a Maintenance Coat of TWP
Wood maintenance is different from a complete wood restoration. Restoring a wood surface means bringing it back to a like-new appearance from a neglected state or deciding to switch from one stain type to another. Wood maintenance, on the other hand, is an ongoing process to keep well-kept wood looking good. Wood maintenance is simply cleaning and recoating the wood with the same wood stain that was previously used.
Maintenance Coat of TWP
In preparing an exterior wood surface for maintenance, it is important to know what type of old stain is present. TWP Wood Preservative can be cleaned and recoated easily but switching from one stain to another requires a different process. Assuming you are maintaining a wood surface that has a fading TWP Wood Stain on it, you are ready to begin maintenance.
Cleaning the wood properly is essential to get lasting results. Use the Gemini Restore Kit for this. This does an excellent job of removing dirt, grime, and unwanted soils. They come in a powdered form that mixes with water.
TWP Stain Tip: If the deck stain is 1-year-old, use a lesser concentration of cleaner for the prep. Try 2-3 oz per gallon of water. If the current stain is 18+ months, you may need a deeper cleaning concentration of 6-8 oz. per gallon of water.
Apply the wood cleaner using a pump sprayer or brush. Scrub or pressure wash the surface clean then rinse well. After the wood is cleaned and rinsed, it is necessary to apply a wood brightener. This will reverse the darkening effect of the caustic cleaner and restore pH levels in the wood. This will brighten the wood and help to ensure proper stain penetration. Do not skip this important second step in the wood cleaning process.
Allow the wood to dry for at least 48 hours prior to staining. Protect things you do not want the stain on, like windows, shrubbery, concrete, or siding using plastic or tarps. Always wear protective gear like gloves, masks, and safety glasses.
Apply any of the TWP Wood and Deck Preservatives using a brush, stain pad, roller, or garden pump sprayer. It is best to start up top on high surfaces like wood siding or gazebos and to work your way down. On decks, stain the railings first before staining the deck floor.
Be sure the TWP stain is fully penetrating the wood and wipe away any excess stain that remains on the surface. Remember, there is still an older coat of stain in the wood so you will not apply as much stain on a maintenance coat as you would on bare wood surfaces. Stain each board or piece of wood from end to end. Stopping in the middle of a section can create unsightly lap marks. Once you are satisfied that the wood has absorbed all the TWP stain that it can you are finished.
I have only one board on the entire deck that has just a bit of peeling. Dont want to restrain the entire deck as it is large and in great shape. How can I just do portions of a board and blend it in?
Lightly wash the board to remove dirt and any loose stain. Let dry and apply one coat to the board.
I applied TWP 2 years ago on most of my deck and did a coat on last year on an unstained portion of the deck I needed to finish, I want to do a maintenance coat this year on all of it. am I to apply the cleaner first, then use the brightner on it also? before I restain? I thought I could just clean it and stain it. I guess I don’t understand why I need the brightner. Thank you
Yes, clean and brighten for prep. Brightener neutralizes the cleaner.
Hello, we had our deck re-done professionally with TWP in 2017. It needs maintenance again, but not the entire thing. Only the tops of the railings and the deck floor are very dirty with some stain wearing off, so mainly just the horizontal surfaces. Is it possible to clean only these dirty areas while not harming the good stain on the vertical surfaces? Would even tiny bit of overspray of cleaner melt off the good stain? Let me know – thanks!
You can just do the horizontals. The cleaner will not melt off the stain on the verticals but you may need to touch the verticals up in spots where it is directly adjacent to the horizontals.
Hello. I need to put a maintenance coat on my deck. Using TWP 100 series Dark Oak (same as before). 6/2017 was when I put the first “wet on wet” coat on it. Will I need enough stain for another “wet on wet” or will it likely need only 1 coat of stain? Your calculator says it is 475 square feet.
Also, I have about 2/3 of a gallon left over from the original 5 gallon container I purchased from you all in 2017. It is in a new gallon can. Am I right in assuming that it is okay to use that old stain?
Thanks! I really appreciate the help
You will need to prep with the Gemini Restore Kits and pressure washing. Apply two light coats. Same as before. TWP stain shelf life is 12 months if opened. What you have is most likely gone bad.
Sorry if I’m being dense. I did wet on wet last time. Is that what you mean by “two light coats”?
2 light coats applied wet on wet is correct.
Thanks!
I am putting down a maintenance stain with the same color. I prepped the wood and am ready to stain. I want to put a second coat down for better consistency. When is the second coat put down? 1 hour later? 1 day later? Thanks
See this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-wet-on-wet-application/
Make sure to only apply as much stain that can soak into the wood.
I ended up staining under questionable conditions just to get some protection on my deck before snowfall it rained right after I had completed staining. The results I fear will not be the best. Could I restain in the spring under better conditions if I clean and brigthen to acheive better results?
You may need to strip and brighten for the prep but this will depend on if the TWP took this time or not. You will know in the Spring.
How will I know if it did not take?
It will lift in spots.
I recently started doing a maintenance coat on my 4 yr old rough sawn cedar siding. Im applying the same color stain again(1515 honey tone)
I did the cleaning and brightener step and waited 5 days and then started staining last weekend. It seemed darker than I remembered it being originally but figured it just needed time to soak in and lighten a bit.
Fast forward to today I stumbled upon this article where you discuss a maintenance coat being only 1 coat. I was under the Impression I had to do the wet on wet method I had seen mention elsewhere on the site.
Sooo as you can imagine the stain is now considerably darker(than it should be or I’d like)
The good thing is I’ve only done one side of my house and it’s the south facing that sees almost full day sun. I’m in NY as well.
I’m going to want to lighten it back up some to match the rest of my house/ garage that will see only one coat. Do I need to use the stripper and start over completely or ???
I noticed the cleaner pulled some color out, so can I just respray the cleaner, wash it and stop?
Either way I probably won’t be able to get to it til next spring by the time I get the rest of the house done.
Thanks
The only way to lighten would be to strip and start over. You will need to use the stripper, not the cleaner to do this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
i put the cleaner on my deck rails ( witch are a differnet color than the floor. by the time i was done with the cleaner it was dark and i didnt have time for the brightner, how would i apply this at this point, wet it and then add it??
Yes that is correct.
My deck still has a good coverage of TWP rustic 1516, with hardly any show-through after several years. There are places where water caused greying. Can’t I clean the deck with a pressure washer, and clean the greying down to bear wood, and then simply restain with TWP? I am puzzled why I would need cleaner/brightener to simply add a coat on top of still-covered wood. Thanks.
Prepping with just water will not properly prepare the surface for a new coat of the TWP. The Gemini Kit will leave the surface in a porous state so the new coat will properly soak in and adhere.
Thanks. So then, how is it a “maintenance coat” if you actually start from scratch again down to bare wood?
It is not down to the bare wood with this prep.
OK, thanks. The picture on the Gemini Cleaner makes it look like new wood. Hence, my confusion. I will order the Gemini kit too. Thanks again.
OK, thanks. The picture on the Gemini Cleaner makes it look like new wood, and the person I talked to on the phone made it sound like I could just recoat after a year or two. Hence, my confusion. I will order the Gemini kit too. Thanks again.
It is used for prep for new/uncoated wood and for prep when recoating with the same series and color of TWP. To remove down to the bare wood, you would use the stripper/brightener kit.
Thanks for the clarification.
I have a cedar tone fence. What is the amount of time required to wait until i can restain it?1 year lounge with oak?
4-12 months and then prep with the Gemini Restore Kit.
Some of my deck still has remaining stain and some is completely worn off Do I just start with a brush?
What brand is the current stain? Depends on how to prep.
What is the benefit of a 2nd coat ?? This is on an a 30 yr. old home but full cleaning before the 1st coat. How much long will it last or look better if a 2nd coat?
Better UV protection if you do the wet on wet application. On a house, at least a few years longer.
applying a 2nd coat after first coat is dry any tips ?
Was the fist coat just recently applied on months/years late? TWP is to be applied wet on wet if doing a second coat, not wet on dry. The issue with doing a second coat a few days later after the first coat dries is that it may leave shiny spots on top of the wood. You have to be very carefull of making sure you do not over apply.
Water puddles on certain sections of stain and leaves white marks. What works best to removed them?-
That is most likely mineral deposists from the water after it dries. Use a wet rag or hose to rinse off.
I have already applied the TWP 1500 to my deck/covered porch. I do not need to apply any additional coats at this time. What cleaner can I use for regular (weekly) cleaning? This article describes the use of the cleaner/brightener, but it always talks about re-applying TWP after using the cleaner/brightener. Can the cleaner/brightener be used on an on-going basis as a general purpose cleaner? I’m mainly interested in cleaning off things like dirt footprints, bird droppings, dried food scraps, etc.
The cleaner and brightener are for prep when you are applying the TWP. When just removing dirt, try water and a little bit of dish soap.
I grabbed the cleaner/brightener from you guys. I just did the cleaner/brightener and now some unexpected rain is supposed to come tonight (and possibly last 2-3 days). Will I have to once again use the cleaner/brightener after the rain before staining? Thanks for your help!
No. Just let the wood dry for 48 hours after the rain.
I stained my doug fir pergola with TWP1500 pecan/cedartone mix 3 years ago (located in the pacific northwest). I will be applying a maintenance coat this summer. The structure has been cleaned/brightened using the Gemini kit. Can I use the 100 product instead of the 1500? Also, can I change the color to something darker without stripping? Thanks.
Stay with the same series but you can go darker.
The coat was too thick and has puddled and has shine in places. Less than 24 hours – what to do?
See this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
I had my deck stained yesterday with twp ws cedartone. They did a terrible job and only applied one coat. There are many lap marks and no stain between the boards in many places. Can I have a second coat applied to fix these problems?
No. You cannot apply more to fix the issues. You will need to strip and remove to start over.
Hello. I put a semi transparent down on a 1 year old deck. My wife was unhappy and wanted a sexond coat down. So i put a second coat down within 12 hrs and then ran out out of daylight leaving half the deck with one coat half the deck with two coats. Its been four days and have not got to finnish. What are the proper steps i would half to take to finnish the second coat a week later.
TWP is to be applied wet on wet for best results. Adding more now could create issues with over application. Best to leave alone and do a light cleaning and maintenane coat next Spring.
Its really uneven can i strip the one coat seaction only and start over?
Sure you can use this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Deck done about three years ago with cedar tone. Can we just do pecan over it?
If switching colors like this, use the stripper kit for the prep. Very easy to do: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I have an unopened can of TWP 1500 that is 2+ years old. Is it still viable?
Should be if stored in a room that did not freeze. Stir well with a paint paddle drill mixer.
Live in Atlanta, GA and need to apply a maintenance coat (after cleaning and pressure washing) to a deck that has previously been coated with TWP 100 Cedartone. Would you recommend using TWP 100 again or TWP 1500? Also for this maintenance coat do I need to apply two coats or just one? Thanks in advance for your response.
The TWP 101 Cedartone again. How many coats to apply depends on how many years it has been and how you preppred?
It’s been 3-4 yrs since I restained my deck with TWP. What do you recommend to do as prep? Thanks!
This kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
I have cedar siding the its pretty worn in some areas. The previous homeowner used cabot oil stain and it was done a very long time ago I’d say at least 5yrs. I’m trying to avoid power washing because it isnt dirty and I dont want to damage the cedar. Could I apply TWP1500 on the siding as is? I know anything isnt a guarantee, so I promise not to hold you to your word. Just need guidance.
No. You cannot apply TWP over a stain over a differnt brand. It will need to be removed first.
Why can you not apply TWP over another stain? What will happen?
It will not soak into the wood correctly and or adhere to the old coating properly.
I stained my deck a little under 2 years ago with 1515/1520 mix. It’s fading on the horizontal boards & I want to apply a maintenance coat. My question is that when it rains most of the deck still beads up and appears to repel water well. Can I still put down a mainrence coat?
As long as you use the proper prep, you should be okay. Just one coat.
I have a new Cedar decking, Can I apply TWP stain or how long I should wait
Please see this about new wood and TWP: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I stained my deck with a 1515 Honeytone/1520 Pecan mix about 2 Year’s ago. The horizontal deck boards need a refresher coat and I want to use only 1520 Pecan. It’s it absolutely necessary to strip the deck or can I just clean & brighten before applying a maintenance coat?
Since you are going slightly darker, you can just clean and brighten for prep.
I coated my cedar deck with TWP 201 2 years ago. I am planning to do a maintenance coat with TWP 101. Do I have to strip the 201 or can I just follow the clean and bright, then go over the top with 101.
You should strip and brighten if switching from the 200 to the 100 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I built my deck 3 years ago and sealed it with TWP 1500 clear. I decided that I want to add some color to the deck and am planning to use the TWP 1501 Cedartone. Do I have to completely strip the deck beforehand and if so which product do you recommend using?
It would be best to remove but it will be an easy strip. Use the Restore A Deck Stripper Kit:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
We stained our mahogany deck with 1500 Clear last Fall – now that the snow has cleared from the deck (it is a covered porch) – there are a few boards that need some stain re applied- We just purchased the Gemini kit – but our question is can we just treat the 2 boards that need more stain? We really do not want – nor need the rest of the deck to be done again. thanks
Yes just wash with water for those two boards and then touch them up with the TWP stain after it dries for 24 hours.
I am preparing to stain my deck with 100 pecan. Used steps 1 and 2 last weekend and wanted to apply stain in the upcoming weekend. My question is about pollen. We are seeing large amounts of pollen settling on all exterior surfaces in the south–will probably last another week or so. Will pollen settling after application affect the appearance/durability of the product? My problem is my helper is only available friday-monday–yikes!Thanks in advance!
Yes. Any pollen that lands on the stain while the TWP stain is still wet could possibly feed mildew growth down the road.
So what to do? There’s no way I can do another step 1 and 2 just merely for the amount of time required. Will it hurt to postpone application more than two weeks following cleaning? Most of my deck is actually a wrap around covered porch with a small open grilling area—pollen however can settle everywhere when it is active.
Best to wait until the pollen is done and hopefully you will not have to redo the steps. Make to rinse the deck well when the pollen is done.
Painted deck handrail and dripped some stain onto deck boards…do I need to sand deck boards before staining or can i just stain over…I did wipe up drips with a rag
Most likely the drips will show through and not blend. Can you post a picture?
The problem with spot sanding is you will sand the wood to a different porosity of the rest of the deck and then it will stain differently in those areas. It could actually end up looking worse.
Looks like the wood was not prepped after the six months? Looks oxidized and that needs to come off. See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Properly prepping with the Gemini Kit and you will remove the gray oxidation and lighten or remove the stain spots so it will all blend when stained.
A brand new cedar deck. Appx 6 months old…
Using twp cedartone…
I used newspaper under handrails…bleed through…wiped up with rags…hand rail looks good but I have about 20 spots on deck boards like this…
1. can I just stain over spots
2. can I spot sand the spots
3. should I sand whole floor of deck
It doesnt matter about time. Looking for best result
If sanding is option——-what grit paper. 100???
Ps. If you get runs and dont see them till the next day any advice? Only found one on handrail…
Thank yo for help!
We built our deck two years and 4 months ago, prepped and applied a stain about 18 months ago, it is time to do a maintenance coat correct? For applying a maintenance coat, this article says “Apply the wood cleaner using a pump sprayer or brush. Scrub or pressure wash the surface clean then rinse well.” When we used a pressure washer for the 1st application of our stain (18 months ago) the pressure washer must have been too strong, it left our deck looking fuzzy. Most of that fuzziness is gone now, but I’m afraid to repeat the same mistake this go round. Any advice? THANKS!
The fuzzines is from graying/oxidation on the new wood. It should not be an issue this time since you have a coating on the wood. Prep as described.
Can TWP be applied over Cabot Australian oil? The decks were clean and dry and the person working for me applied Cabots by mistake and not the TWP I had purchased. The previous cpap was TWP
No, it cannot. You must remove the Cabot first.
I bought a house and stained it 4 years ago with TWP cedertone 1501. The siding is cedar, and it hadn’t been stained in forever, vey thirsty. I started with the Gemini cleaner and brightener. The finish was excellent. Question: I want to restain it. Can I just pressure wash the house and reapply the stain, or do I need to prep it first?
You have to prep it with the Gemini Restore Kit and pressure washing.
I applied TWP 1500 1511 to a cedar deck in May 2017 that was 7 months old. The deck was prepped according to instructions using your cleaner and brightener kit. The stain on the vertical surfaces is fine and looks great. Unfortunately, the stain on the horizontal surfaces is actually coming off and/or appears very thin in some spots. I have plenty of stain leftover. Can I just reapply to the worn areas or do I need to apply to the entire horizontal surface? What went wrong?
If it is wearing it means it did not soak in fully do to over applying possibly. TWP needs to soak in fully. It would be best to wait until Spring, lightly clean and reapply to all the flooring.
I will be applying a mx coat to my redwood deck using TWP 100 Cedartone. I last applied this stain as a new application (after complete sanding, washing, brightening) in Sep 2014. This included all railings and other vertical surfaces.
The vertical surfaces still look good and the only places that “seem” to need a new coat are the horizontal tops to the railings.
Question: My plan was to skip the vertical surfaces, is this a bad idea?
You can do just the horizontals. Make sure to prep with the Gemini Restore Kit.
I need to know how best to fix this situation. We stripped,cleaned,brightened etc. last year and used TWP 100 cedartone. We live in Seattle and it rained a lot last winter . I have ordered a new bucket of TWP stain. I have cleaned the deck, but have not sanded any spots. What are the steps I should take before reapplying twp?
Thanks
I will be doing a maintenance application of TWP 100 to my redwood deck. Planning on using the cleaner brightener kit, but have a question. There are a few areas near the doorway and steps that have some dog claw marks I would like to sand to blend in again. Will this impact how the stain will look, to have a small area sanded versus the rest?
Yes it could. Spot sanding too smooth and that are will stain lighter in color than the rest of the deck.
OK Thx, I can skip that. Follow-up: I had to replace a few complete boards and repair some steps earlier this summer. So, there are 3 new boards and new step treads and risers. Should I treat these any differently?
See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I have 2 kinds of redwood siding: one is horizontal lapped, over 100 years old. the other is rough sawn board and batten, about 70 years old. About 10 years ago I applied Preserv-a-wood clear penetrating oil finish. The wood is still pretty good looking , but has some graying at the low end of the boards on the west side. Will I need to strip the wood? If so, is it because the oil in Preserv-a-wood is not compatible with the oil in TWP? Thankyou.
Yes you should strip and brighten as the old coating may hinder the TWP from properly soaking in or adhering.
I am in the process of cleaning/brightening and reapplying TWP 1500 stain I first applied almost two years ago. A good portion of the stain on the vertical services has faded after two winters and rough midwest weather. I cleaned the deck yesterday by applying Gemini wood cleaner,scrubbing, and rinsing off. I had already powerwashed the deck a couple months back. I did not have a chance to apply the brightener yet as the weather got bad yesterday. Am I OK if I wait about 48 hours between the cleaning and applying the brightener?
Also, I have about half of my 5 gallon stain left from about 22 months ago. It was sealed and stored inside and appears to still be useable. Obviously there was much settling after sitting that long. Does it just need to be stirred really well with a drill attachment or should I take it to a Home Depot and have them shake it up? Thanks.
Stirring well is fine. If there are any clumps or jellying, it has gone bad. Brighten as soon as possible.
OK – unfortunately I did notice large clumps and jellying when I stirred it up a little after opening. That is an indication that it has gone bad and will not go away with a good mixing?
Also, is there a preferred method to applying the stain? I used a brush on the first application the other year. I’m sure it took a little longer but was less of a mess. I want to try to put on a second coat this time. I know the instructions are to apply “wet on wet”. Can the first coat be put on with a brush and the second with a stain pad? Is it best to go over a couple boards at a time and then go back over with a second coat? If stain doesn’t appear to be soaking into the wood with the second coat is the best fix to wipe off excess with a rag to avoid it being a sticky finish? Thanks.
Yes, most likely it is bad. Use a stain pad to apply to entire deck. Reapply the second coat after with the same pad:
https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-wet-on-wet-application/
OK – I will order some new stain to be on the safe side. What is the difference between the stain pads you sell on the website and the “speed mop”. Is this just a larger stain pad?
Speed mop is just larger. I personally like this one best:
https://www.twpstain.com/padco-pro-stain-pad-10inch
I stained my deck with TWP 1500 Cedartone color deck 3 years ago. The vertical surfaces have held up great while of course the horizontal decking is in need of repair. For a maintenance coat should I just do ONE COAT or should a I do a ‘wet on wet’ coat? Thanks!
One coat if the coating from 3 years is still intact after the prep. If not, do the 2 coats wet on wet.
How long can I wait to stain a deck after stripping and brightening?
48 hours after prep. Stain within 2 weeks.
I had a painting contractor apply your 1500 product to large Wood Beams under my covered porch. The external wood beams were to be coated twice wet on wet. The painter did not apply the second coat. Can the second coat be applied now or should I wait a year and then- clean, brighten and then coat?
It would be best to wait.
I have a redwood deck that I stained with 1500 in 2014, at this time, there is very little indication that it has ever been stained, see picture. I am willing to try it again with the remaining stain (over 1/2 of a 5 gallon can) that I have kept stored in a sealed plastic paint container. Will it still be useable to stain it again? I assume I will prep as described in the maintenance section.
What color did you use? Yes on the prep. When checking the stain, stir thoroughly. Make sure there are not any clumps or jellying of the stain. If it mixes smooth, you should be okay to stain with it.
Rustic Brown was the color. Here is a pic of that same area from the opposite direction right after we stained it in 2014, we cleaned and brightened then stained.
Re clean and use the same stain.
I have a redwood deck that I stained with your 1500 two years ago and it still looks great (I want to write a testimonial for you. Your product is the best I have ever found after years of struggling to find something that works)but it is fading slightly so I want to install another coat. Do I need to use the cleaner and brightener or can I just use the cleaner? Like I said the deck still looks really good.
Please feel free to reapply with a testimonial. Thanks in advance!
Best to use both products for the prep. The Brightener will neutralize the cleaner.
We had a new pressure treated wood deck installed during the Summer of 2015 and waited until the Spring of 2016 to stain the deck with one coat of TWP 1560. I was told not to apply a 2nd coat until this Spring and I’m preparing to do so. The deck looks great. Should I use both the cleaner AND brightener in the Gemeni Restore kit or just the cleaner? Also, do you recommend applying a 2nd coat of stain to the rail balusters or is one coat sufficient?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Just use the cleaner. Use the cleaner at 1/2 the suggested amount as you just want to remove dirt. About 3-4 oz per gallon of water. Just one coat should be good.
I hav a similar situation. Why should I buy the expensive two part restore kit. If i am only using the cleaner. Can i just power wash on a low seating with water only? Also, my twp can says to clean with bleach and water? My decking is a covered front porch. And shutters all cedar. Im not sure if my builder used 1500 or 100 the can does not say
Cleaning with water only will not be sufficient. The can does say the series. Look for the color, it will say something like 101 or 1501.
Thanks for the quick response. My color is 120 Pecan. So is that the 100 series? Can you buy just the cleaner?
Yes, that would be the 100 Series. The Gemini Step #1 cleaner only comes in the kit.
Can you buy just the cleaner or do you have to get the whole kit?
We only sell the cleaner in the kit.
We live in San Francisco Bay Area in Nor Cal. Our new redwood fence was coated with TWP 1500 Series Cedartone 1501 about 18 months ago. The fence still looks great but the color has started to fade a bit in more sun-exposed area. We are getting ready to do a maintenance coat and have the following questions:
1) Do we need to use the Gemini Restoration Kit? If yes, do we use only the cleaner or both the cleaner and brightener?
2) Do we need more than one coat of stain?
THANKS!
BTW, Our fence looks better than others in the neighborhood built and stained at the same time 🙂
Great on the fence looking better than the neighbors! Yes on the Kit. Use the Cleaner at 1/2 the concentration or about 3-4 oz. per gallon. The point in cleaning is to just remove any dirt, dust etc. not the stain. Just spray on and a light rinse with water after 5-10 minutes. You do not have to use the brightener since you stain is still intact, but you can to neutralize any soapy residue that is not rinsed off thoroughly. Just one coat of the stain.
Send us a before and after picture if you are able!
Many thanks and will do on the pics!
2 years ago I cleaned, stripped, sanded and stained 2 decks with TWP 1501. I need to do maintenance this year. Do you recommend power washing, or simply scrubbing with a deck brush? Would I have to sand it again if I pressure wash? And how many coats of stain do you recommend applying?
I have a 1 year old coat of TWP 100 “Cedar-tone” on my treated pine deck. I would like to do a maintenance coat this year but I want to switch the color to “Rustic”. Will this be ok?