Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by TWP Help
Tips on Applying TWP 100 Pro Series in 2024
TWP 100 Series Stain
TWP 100 Stain Series Wood and Deck Protectant has a coverage rate of 150-300 sq. ft. per gallon, per coat. Best to measure the wood’s square footage to determine how many gallons you’ll need for your project. On wood decks, be sure to include all the railings and steps.
Before applying TWP 100 Series Deck Stain be sure the wood surface has been cleaned properly using a wood cleaner. Use a broom or leaf blower to remove any debris that may have fallen onto the wood since cleaning it.
Applying TWP 100 Series Wood Stain
The wood must be dry for a minimum of 48 hours prior to staining and the air temperature should be above 50 degrees. Check your local forecast to make certain there will be several dry days before and after the day you want to stain.
On the day of staining be sure you have all the equipment on site that you will need. Wear protective gloves and safety glasses at all times. Mix the TWP Wood Stain thoroughly using a paint stick before and several times during use. Using plastic or tarps to cover any landscaping, siding, windows, or concrete that you don’t want any stain on.
Start with the harder to reach areas first. On wood siding, gazebos, or playsets start up high and work your way down. On a deck, start with the spindles and railings first and stain the deck floor last.
Use a brush, stain pad applicator, or pump sprayer to apply TWP 100 Deck Stain. The first coat of stain is a saturation coat. If it soaks in quickly, and the wood seems thirsty, an additional coat may be necessary. If so, apply the second coat within 30 minutes of the first coat, essentially applying them “wet on wet.” The more TWP 100 Series Stain that you can get to soak in, the better protection it will provide.
Be cautious of over-applying TWP 100 Series Wood Stain or performance may be jeopardized. If you notice excessive stain puddles or drips that aren’t being absorbed, use a stain rag or brush to remove them. Stopping in the middle of a piece of wood or board can result in unsightly lap marks. To eliminate the chance of lap marks finish staining each board from end to end once you start.
TWP 100 Series Wood Protectant has outstanding penetration properties and will dive deep into the wood. It is not prone to flaking or peeling like other stains. TWP 100 Series will simply fade after several years and can then be cleaned and recoated as needed.
We have a new cedar deck, and after waiting a couple months, I think I am ready to prep and stain it. I have never stained a deck before, and am quite nervous about doing it. My question is about the rough vertical wood on the deck (skirting and rails). Do I need to do anything different with the textured wood to get good results (prep, staining technique)? Also, in selecting which stain, I would like the deck to be slightly darker than it is when it is wet, but still with the beautiful grain visible-would 1500 in redwood or honeytone be good selections? Thank you in advance for your help!
See here about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Just one coat after 4-12 months of weathering and prepping with the Gemini Restore Kit. We would suggest samples for testing the color: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
I’m unsatisfied with how my stain is wearing. Please examine my photos…is this maybe a “flash dry”? Note it is splotchy and there are areas where the wood appears bare. That seems to be a new development.
The stain job is 4 months old (March 2019) to steps that are seldom used, but are in direct sun all day. The boards are PTP decking, and had aged for one year. The stain is TWP 100 series in Pecan. I prepped with my favorite deck and house wash from Lowe’s. Two coats wet on wet with a brush, wiped some excess with a rag. Dried splotchy, I determined that I was overly confident walking on it during wet on wet and left a few tread marks. Decided I could fix it when time for a maintenance coat. However as time has passed I find it looks worse. Is this appearance because I didn’t prep properly, or because maybe I stained in the sun (I don’t remember if sun was out but I do remember it wasn’t hot)?
Can I fix this with a simple soap and water cleaning, pressure wash, recoat?
it is most likely a combo of not prepping correctly and not applying evenly. Best to wait until Fall or Spring. Prep with the Gemini Restore kit and add a coat then. It should even out. BTW, the white areas are sap leeching out of the wood.
Should I take any action on the sap spots, now or in the future? Should I prep those spots differently? Are those areas still protected from the elements? Just to make sure…we are both discussing the bare wood areas surrounding the knots in the wood, correct?
You cannot stop sap now or in the future. It is the whitish spots in the grain and around the knots.
The front porch steps in my photos were a “practice run” before staining my large backyard deck this summer. This deck is 12+ years old, it is covered, PTP, 16′ x 26′, previously stained with Behr Semi-Transparent Acrylic Latex Stain. I stripped the deck last summer. Last week, I finished the deck prep (more stripping, sanding, pressure washing to remove stubborn stain spots.) Is it your consensus that the ONLY deck prep that works satisfactorily with TWP is Gemini? After stripping I used Valspar All-In-One Deck Prep, a pre-stain prep product, because I had a short weather window and needed to do that step right away (as opposed to waiting on Gemini to ship). After using the Valspar Deck Prep, we had 4 days of rain. I now have a window of 2-3 days for it to dry in the sun then apply TWP. I’m getting cold feet…because I didn’t use Gemini. Will TWP still have good results if a different brand cleaner/brightener/pre-stain product is used?
It really depends on the quality of the prep products and how well they clean, strip, or brighten. We know for a fact that Valspar prep is not nearly as good.
We just had a new deck and railings installed two weeks ago. The advice on drying out the deck has ranged from 1 wk to next spring. I live in Ct and used prime select pressure treated 1 1/4 boards. What is the time frame TWP follows? Also, I hear sand and do not sand. I plan to clean the wood prior to staining but do I need to also sand? The deck is roughly 880 sq ft. Lastly would you recommend your 100 or 1500 series stain?
Thanks, Mark
See this about new wood and TWP: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
You will need the 1500 Series for CT. Do not sand.
I stained TWP 100 once on the old deck once (the wood was very thirsty). Unfortunately we had unexpected rain during the same night. However the water stays in spots on the deck like on waxed car hood. I want to put the second layer, can I put it in couple days later (next days a rain is expected)?
No, once cured you cannot apply another coat for 3-6 months. Prep again lightly to clean off dirt.
Thank you so much, you are awesome :). I will never use any other product on my deck 🙂
How long wait to cure before putting patio tables and shares back on? I applied 48 hours ago dry to the touch . Thanks
You can put back now.
I live in St Louis which is now apparently a tropical rain forest. Rain every 2-3 days for the past 2 + months. Deck is completely prepped and brightened but cant seem to find a window of 5 days dry to stain. Its July and gets up over 90 fairly early. What are my options now? Can I stain and cover with tarps if forecast is rain next day?
It can rain on a stained deck 12-24 hours after applying. Do not tarp. It needs UV and air to cure.
What needs to be done to prepare the wood if a waterbased finish was the last one put on it?
It will need to be removed. Can you reply with pictures?
what is difference in paint brush and stain brush
See this for stain pads and brushes: https://www.twpstain.com/wood-and-deck-stains/application-tools/brushes-stain-pads
can i put twp100 on with roller ??
It does not roll very well but it can be done. Best is stain pads: https://www.twpstain.com/wood-and-deck-stains/application-tools/brushes-stain-pads
Can I apply TWP 100 Series to a new cedar fence with a roller?
Rollers are not the best way to apply. Use a sprayer, stain brush, or stain pad.
I had twp 100 sprayed on 3 and 1/2 days ago and it still smells very strong. How long will the smell stick around? Thank You!
Could take a week or two to dissipate fully.
We’ve been using TWP for years. On our lake deck, it was starting to get pretty dry so I cleaned it, let it dry then applied a fairly heavy coat to get the wood to take in as much as possible. I find that most of the deck is still tacky 24 hours later. I don’t remember it taking this long to dry previously.
It is very humid but temps are in the 80’s and there is no rain to speak of.
Have I over applied or will it be Ok with time?
If I over applied, what do I do now.
Thanks for all your help.
It will dry but you did over apply. Next time you might want to strip down to the bare wood.
Thank you. If I find any “blotchy” spots can I hand wipe with clear stain to repair or is there a better solution?
I appreciate your help.
No, just leave as is.
I used Thompson’s Water Seal “Total” which was a water based semi-transparent stain. It is peeling in spots after one season. I had sanded the deck prior to applying their product but have now purchased TWP 100 to apply. Can I simply powerwash the deck on a low setting and then touch up the spots that have peeled? Or what would you recommend in this case? Is there anyway to avoid having to re-do the entire deck?
The Thompsons will have to be fully removed first. Strip off what you can and then sand the rest: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Can I use TWP100 on a kids play-set/swingset ? Is it safe for kids once its dry ?
Yes, it is.
What is the dry time for TWP 100, walking and replacing deck furniture?
8-24 hours is normal.
I have been using Olympic Maximum stain and sealant. Honey Gold toner. It’s been about 6 years since last applied. What TWP stain will be compatible?
Strip and brighten for the prep and then use the TWP 1500 Series. Honeytone color.
What is the shelf life on the TWP120?
See this: https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
I will be sanding my deck before applying the stain. Do I need to apply a wood cleaner between sanding and staining or is this step avoided because I have sanded?
You will need to clean and brighten after the sanding to open the wood grain for the stain.
How would this product work on unfinished Baltic birch plywood outdoors?
Should work well. Just one coat.
Thank you
HI, Happy Holidays! We stained our new Kdat Deck with the S100 about a month ago. I don’t like the color and want to go semi-transparent instead. Should I use your oil or water based semi-transparent on top of it just to darken it up a bit?
You cannot apply over it. You would have to strip down to the bare wood before using the TWP 100 or 1500 Series.
Hi there,
We’re considering using TWP 100 series for a recently purchased mountain home in Utah. The prior owners neglected the wood for years. The wood is originally from 2002. Prior stain is of unknown type.
There are several elements: 1. fascia 2. trim 3. columns/timbers 4. glu-lams supporting the deck.
Ideally we’d like the wood to be uniform in appearance after the stain, even though it is far from uniform now.
Can you recommend prep for these areas?
Thank you!
For the prep, you will need to remove the old stain. Use this kit while pressure washing: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I get that the answer is frequently “use the kit.” I’m wondering whether, in this specific case, sanding, wire brushing, etc. is likely to be needed to get even colors.
No. Sanding is not a good way to prep (reduces stain absorption) and you can never use wire brushing for exterior wood as it will leave metal in the wood that turns to black rust spots. Use the Stripper and Brightener Kit.
What is recommended color to maintain the natural tones in redwood #2 deck? I want to keep as much natural color as possible without changing colors too much. North facing deck in CO. Thank you.
Try Honeytone 1515 or California Redwood 1511.
Our home was built in 2012 and has pine siding. The pine was originally treated with a semi-transparent white wash stain of some kind, and then a year ago the HOA coated it with a clear varnish. The goal is to take all the old stain off and then start over with TWP 100.
It looks terrible now. The wood is quite weathered – but appears to be in good condition otherwise. I’m taking all the stain off and sanding down to the wood with 40 or 60 grit.
Because the wood is so weathered, little bits of stain may be tough to get off in deeper groves.
Should I do a stripper in addition to the sanding?
If so, should I do the stripper before or after the sanding?
Once I’m down to the bare wood do I need to clean and brighten it before the stain?
We’re in an unsettled weather pattern, so looking for a window to do the work, how long can the wood set unprotected before I need to stain – if it’s exposed for a week or two if we’re getting weather is that a problem?
Stripper first and then sand after. Clean and brighten when done. Try to stain within a couple of weeks of the prep.
We have a 13 year old house with cedar siding. It has been previously stained by using a competitor’s stain about four times. I’ve finally heard about how great TWP stain is and plan to use it this year. It has been 3-1/2 years since last stained. Will the siding require one or two coats of the 100 series TWP cedartone stain?
You will need to remove the previous coatings before using the TWP. Apply 2 coats after the prep.
What should the air temperature range be when applying TWP 100? And how cool can it be during the night time drying period?
When applying. 55-90. Cannot drop below freezing at night.
Is it better to apply when the deck is cool(60’s) and in the shade or in the middle of the day in full sun?
Cool and in shade.
Just used the Gemini cleaner and brighter on my deck however it is supposed to rain tomorrow before I will get a chance to stain with the 100 series. Besides drying for a further 2 days, what prep would need to be done before I can stain? Just a brushing?
No other prep is needed. Rain has no effect besides letting it dry for 48 hours.
I stained my new cedar fence last year with TWP 100 Cedar tone. I want to restain it again this year with the same product. We have had several months of dry weather. The fence is clean with no signs of mildew. Do I need to thoroughly clean the fence or wet it down and let it partially dry before restraining?
Lightly pressure rinse with a pressure washer to remove any dirt. Let dry for 48 hours and stain.
Here is another close up picture of what the cedar looks like after treating with RAD and power washing. What happened?
You did not remove the oxidized/graying wood fibers during the prep. You will need to redo the cleaner and either scrub or pressure wash until the wood fibers are removed. Ironically, the shoes actually removed the fibers so what you are seeing under the prints is correct.
Yesterday we applied both steps #1 & #2 of RAD and power washed our new cedar deck in prep for staining. We are ready to apply 100 series stain this morning, but we noticed raised foot prints from my husbands shoes all over our deck. While he was power washing yesterday, I noticed that there were small bubbles or pools where he was walking (as he power washed.) Upon closer look, it appears that the wood is raised and furry in these spots. What happened? Can we just power wash again to try and remove this or can simply go ahead and stain on top of this? Please advise. Thanks!
Hi I installed KD Cedar decking about a month ago. Wood looks bright and clean. I am considering a 60 grit sand before applying the 100 series in Cedartone. Would that be a good idea? Thank you 🙂
Do not sand for prep. See this for tips and your wood type: https://twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
Last summer I applied a coat after replacing the deck boards. It appears more is needed. Can apply a second coat this year over it? Or do I need to sand it and start over? Thanks for your help.
Use the Gemini Prep Kit and then you can apply another coat.
I am about to use your stripper and
Brightener on my PT deck and railing caps. The spindles are painted wood however. Do I need to do something specific to protect the painted spindles when I strip the railing caps?
It should not harm the paint but make sure by doing a test spot first.
Hi, we have a lot of Cypress to stain, mostly vertical siding and wood ceiling. I mixed 102 red and 103 dark oak, one %50 %50 and the other one %60 dark %40 red. Do these pictures look like the stain was applied correctly? I used a brush and wiped the excess stain after 15 minutes, waited another 5 minutes and applied the second coat with the same method. I’m assuming painters will use spray and won’t wipe it so I think it’ll show less wood grain than the pictures. I just wanted a sanity check, please let me know if you see anything wrong with the pictures or application methods.
No issues and looks correct.
I have a 7 year old deck. Put a water based stain on last year and it didnt last long. I want to switch to TWP100 this year. I stripped and brightened deck using restore a deck products. There were some shiny spots from old stain left. I sanded those areas. Do i need to clean/brighten again after the sanding?
Lightly clean and brighten to even out the wood porosity.
We Have been having 90° weather for several days. My husband and I stripped the deck working around the heat of the day so it took us a while. It has been several days and we have not applied the brightner I read one of your responses where you said the brightner should be applied the same day as the cleaner. Does that apply to stripping also and if that is the case, what should we do before we apply it and will it do what it is supposed to do
Yes, you should have applied the brightener right away to neutralize. Best to still use this at this point. Just lightly mist deck with water first.
How long should I wait after application for the shiny spots to dry before wiping away with a rag.
what should I use on the rag mineral spirits?
You can do this about a few hours using mineral spirits. Make sure to saturate any oliy rags in water and lay flat to dry outside.
it rained unexpectedly 2 hours after application of second coat of 105..what to do.. or to expect?
What until the rainwater dries and please post a picture if you have any water spots in the stain.
We replaced our old rotting 5/4”x6” cedar decking with new treated 5/4”x6” treated deck boards In early November 2017. Michigan winter delayed post and railing Railings were pre-fab from Home Depot and supposedly can be treats any time) replacement (also treated) until May 2018. We want to treat and preserve the wood in the best way possible using TWP 100 and would like your advice on the best timetable for application based on our situation. We plan to use Cedar 101. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jim Geister
Hello, prep with the Gemini Restore Kit before applying the TWP 100 Series.
If I am spraying which tip size should be use it?
Doesn’t matter. Wider fan tips are better.
Is it ok to mix twp stain colors such as the pecan and dark oak? I like the colors and skulls like to mix in a bit of the dark oak to darken the color and then apply
Yes, you can mix colors of the same series.
I have an outdoor room that has a solid wood floor that has been previously stained and we want to used TWP. Two walls are exterior of the house, 2 walls are screened uppers and rough cedar below. There is area cannot handle the amount of water it would take to rinse off products. There is nowhere for water to go.This floor isn’t like a typical deck with spaces between boards, it is solid. We feel that sanding this area (25×10)is the best way to remove the old stain. After sanding, must we wait to stain (like is recommended for new wood), and does newly sanded flooring need to be brightened? Any advise/suggestions is welcome, thank you!
The old coating will need to be removed and if you cannot use heavy water then sanding is your only option. Sand with grit that is no finer than 80 grit. After the sanding, it is best to light wash and brighten if you are able. No need to weather the wood.
What type of sprayers do you recommend to apply twp 100 stain on handrail and pickets? Thanks
Pump sprayers or airless sprayers. See here for tips on spraying TWP: https://www.twpstain.com/how-to-apply-twp-stain-with-a-sprayer
We are building a new house that has several exterior 8-inch, rough-sawn cedar posts. We are considering using TWP 103 Dark Oak stain on these posts. We like the color, but are concerned about putting OIL stain on new cedar. Also, would it be OK to sand at least the shaggy corners and rougher spots to achieve a “less rough” finish without too much glazing? Please provide any advice that you can. Thanks.
Best to not sand. It needs to be porous. You can stain new cedar rough sawn wood right away as long as the wood is dry.
If the temperature is above 50F when applied but the overnight temperature drops below 50F, is it still OK? Trying to get things done this fall and wanting to know if this is an issue. Thanks!
It can drop below 50 at night after applying but not below freezing. The stain will take longer to cure in these temps.
Can I go a couple weeks between using the Gemini Cleaner/Restorer and TWP100 on a new, previously unstained cedar fence (aged approx one year)? Will I lose any/much benefit? Unfortunately I waited until the fall and days where the temps are above 50 are becoming less frequent.
Yes, try not to go any longer than 2 weeks.
Can I apply the Gemini Restore a Deck Cleaner to a new untreated cedar fence now (aged for a year and showing a little gray, no previous stain) and then wait several days before applying the brightener or should it be applied same day? Thanks!
Apply the brightener the same day as the cleaner. Right away after you are done with the cleaninig, while the wood is still wet. The brightener is a very easy step.
I stained yesterday—only 1 coat. (I was running out of daylight to do a wet-on-wet application). Can I apply a 2nd coat today?
Best to wait until Spring. Light wash to remove any dirt first.
Well that’s not what I wanted to hear! 😉 Even if everything soaked in fine and no shiny spots w/ the 1st coat, should I still wait until spring for a 2nd?
Yes. Second coats, if applied need to be wet on wet. It now has started to cure. If you apply a coat now, you run the risk of it not absorbing and having shiny spots.
I stained my deck with TWP 100, 2 coats (wet on wet), it went on well. How long after application should I wait to replace furniture, grill and walk on the deck?
1-2 days. Make sure it is fully dry and not sticky.
I stained my deck with TWP100, i sprayed the deck and backbrushed with a pad and while I protected the house well from the spray, I neglected the black steel picket railing surrounding the deck. The dried stain peels off ok with a little mineral spirits and a rag, but do you have a recommendation on what to use to clean it off metal effectively? Would a wire brush or simply another type of thinner work better?
Try goof off.