Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by TWP Help
Update on Best Application tips for applying the TWP 1500 Series
TWP 1500 Stain
First, measure your wood surface to determine the square footage. TWP 1500 Series Wood and Deck Preservative covers approximately 150-300 sq. ft. per gallon. Buy a little more stain than you need just to be sure you do not run out at the end of the project.
Prior to using TWP 1500 Wood and Deck Stain, clean the wood using a brush or pressure washer along with a quality wood cleaner. Preparing the wood properly will ensure your new TWP Wood Stain will perform optimally.
Once the wood surface is cleaned it must dry for a minimum of 48 hours before any stain can be applied. Be sure the temperature is at least 50 degrees and that dry weather is forecasted for the next several days.
Remove any leaves or debris that may have collected while the wood was drying. Wear protective gear like rubber gloves and safety glasses while completing your wood staining project. Thoroughly mix the TWP 1500 Wood Preservative using a paint stick until it is well blended. Be sure there are no clumps at the bottom of the pail. If the TWP stain has been sitting for some time, a paint store can shake it up for you.
Use plastic to protect any windows, landscaping, concrete, or siding that you do not want to stain. Begin staining the higher areas first. On wood siding, gazebos, wood shakes, and playsets start at the top and stain your way down. On wood decks, it is best to start with the railings and save the deck floor for last.
TWP 1500 Series can be applied in several ways. Use a brush, stain pad, or pump sprayer to apply. With TWP 1500, the first coat is a saturation coat. It should soak in fairly quickly with the exception of new wood which may take longer. If the wood absorbs the first coat with no problem, a second coat of TWP 1500 Stain may be applied. The more stain that is absorbed the better. Apply a second “wet on wet” coat within 30 minutes of the first coat.
Be wary of over-application of the stain. If you see puddles or drips of excess stain that isn’t absorbing into the wood, wipe them away using a brush or stain rag. Do not stop staining in the middle of a board. Doing so can leave lap marks. Finish each board from end to end once you begin staining.
TWP 1500 Series Wood and Deck Preservative is the only wood preservative registered by the EPA. It is designed for all exterior wood surfaces. It has outstanding penetration properties and excellent UV resistance from wood graying. It has superb color retention and is not prone to cracking, peeling, or flaking. TWP 1500 Series will only fade in time and can simply be cleaned and reapplied as necessary for maintenance.
TWP 1503 was laid down on my deck two years ago. It needs a refresh. Do I need to use the cleaning and brightening kit before I stain the deck again or can I just give it a good cleaning with mild detergent beforehand? The cleaning kit has a mild stripper in it, right. I’d rather not put my wood through that every two years as the wood could be damaged.
Use the Kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
It does not contain a caustic stripper.
I just purchased some sample stains and we have decided on TWP 1520. I am staining a cedar deck that was previously covered with Flood water based clear finish when it was new 4 years ago and refinished almost every year after that. It looked great the day I stained it, but went down hill very fast. Lesson learned. So I have pressure washed and sanded the deck and rails with 60 grit and then 80 grit and am down to bare wood and it looks pretty good. My question is, can I apply the TWP 1520 in direct hot sun? I used your calculator and will need 5 gallons, I haven’t ordered it yet as I am still prepping the deck but will be ready for the stain soon. We are very excited about your product, the sample pieces I stained look fantastic.
Thank you
Best Regards,
Fred
We would suggest avoiding the hot sun and direct sun as it could lead to a “blotchy” appearance when drying. This would depend on how fast it is applied. It would be best to do later in the day or the first part of the day if over 90 degrees.
I stained my deck about a month to 2 months ago, I used the twp wood cleaner and brightner 2 step. I used the twp 1500 natural stain. I applied one coat with a brush and look amazing. I am now seeing areas with mold forming. What is a safe way to clean the mold with out damaging the stain? Why I am i seeing mold already? I thought that the 1500 stain prevented mold. The deck is full sun from sunrise to 5-6 pm in the spring. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you
TWP will prevent mildews from growing in the stain but not deck stain can stop mildew from growing on top of the stain. You are most likely a victim of pollen. This feeds the growth of mildew.
Try warm water with dish soap and a car wash brush to clean. Try a product called Wet and Forget after to keep it away.
we stained our deck with 1503 dark oak, we ran out of stain to do the second coat, I just ordered now, can we apply the second coat when it arrives?
TWP is applied wet on wet, not wet on dry: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-wet-on-wet-application/
If you apply after it has dried, you could run into issues with penetration and shiny spots. It would be better to leave as is and do a light wash in Fall and recoat it then.
It has only been 24 hours since cleaning the deck. It has been very windy for 24 hours. Can I stain today
No. 48 hours after prep.
Had a painter apply stain and after 7 hours it still looks very shiney and wet? Is this normal?
See this: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
Hello looking at buying TWP 1530 because I am worried about getting too dark of a wood look. I am unsure what kind of wood the deck is or if it has been treated in anyway at the yard. It has been build nearly three years now, parts have grayed, others molded particularly under the side rails and I am just trying to salvage it before its a total loss. I plan to scrub brush it with…30 SECONDS Outdoor Cleaner For Algae, Mold and Mildew, 1 Gallon Concentrate after I pick out all the stuff between the boards and thoroughly sweep it. Do you think I should go with more of a tint or do any sanding?
That is not the correct prep. Use the Gemini Restore Kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Tint color is up to you. No need for darker. No need to sand.
Hi. I stained my boards about a week ago but am unable to install due to rain. Is it ok to stack them smooth face to smooth face under cover for a week or so?
Thanks!
Did you prestain your boards before install? You are not supposed to do that: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I would not suggest stacking them.
This is home milled redwood cut into 1x material, stickered and air dried under cover for about four years, thicknessed, then sanded to 150 for siding. Moisture content around 10%. This ok?
Still needs to weather outside if smooth cut wood. It is not about the dryness of the wood but the porosity of the wood. Sanding at 150 is also a bad idea. Too smooth and does not allow proper penetration for a wood stain like TWP.
Hi, not a handy man, so I’m hiring one to stain our deck. He will power wash and stain it. In the past we have used big box stain with fair results. I’m willing to invest in quality, so will purchase TWP 1500. The deck hasn’t been stained in three plus years .
It’s not a dark stain, and we are thinking redwood or California redwood. Is there anything else we should be considering since we aren’t doing this ourselves ?( we know we need five gallons).
Thanks
The previous coatings will need to be removed. Strip and or sand to remove. Brighten all wood after. Once prepped correctly, the TWP can be applied.
I am applying 1500 series stain to my wood siding before I install. The siding is horizontal when the stain is applied. How long should I wait to wipe off the excess stain?
20-30 minutes after. See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I just finished a long process of cleaning and brightening my deck and fence for 1500 stain, but have been delayed by rain in Nyc. The next dry day is forecasted at 46 degrees. Would it be safe to apply? I’d hate to clean and re-brighten next year
46 as the high is below the suggested 50. We cannot recommend doing this but it is very possible it would be okay.
How many hours should you allow after using TWP 1500 before the temp dips below 50 degrees. The days are pretty decent now, but the nights are cooling down. Thanks—Jim
It can drop below 50 at night but it cannot drop below freezing.
I was sent 3 gallons of TWP 1500 dark oak 1503 on May.9th.2017.I wasn’t ready to stain the deck boards till now in OCT.2018, is the stain still OK to use ??It was never opened….BTW all the deck boards 12’x16′ were replaced in June 2015 .I used the restore kit on Saturday Oct.1 and the deck boards look really good . I also very lightly sanded the boards with 80 girt sand paper with orbit sander.We have had a lot of rain in Va but we are in a dry spell for this week so Im hopeing to stain someday this first week of Oct. I am checking the boards with a moisture meter they are still around 19-22% which the meter reads as WET Im hopeing for 14% or less ??? there is no rain expected and temps are about 83 for the rest of the week slight chance of rain Saturday trying to stain Thurs the 6TH Oct. . Thank You
Yes, they are good as long as it did not freeze. Stir well. 14% or less is good.
What will happen if it rains the day after I apply TWP 1500?
Most likely nothing.
I have applied the 1500 coat with a roller 24 hours ago. Looks good. There are a few spots where it is tacky. Could I re-coat again now or should I wait until the tacky spots dry or wait until next year?
If applying two coats of TWP it needs to be applied wet on wet, not 24 hours after the first coat. Best to leave as is and redo a light coat next year if needed.
Thanks for the quick response. And yes, if necessary, I will recoat next year.
Does TWP 1500 need to be sealed and if so, how long after it has been applied do you seal it, and where do I get the sealer?
No you do not need nor can you apply a sealer on top of of the TWP stains.
i live in eastern oregon high desert, hot & dry. full southern exposure on deck, which could be 30 yrs. old, maybe cedar. bought house 5 yrs ago & a contractor applied unknown stain, lasted a couple of months. a majority has peeled off since then.
thinking of sanding to bare wood to remove multiple spotty layers of previous applications. also to even out curled edges & remove initial cracking.
wanted to use 1500. sanded wood is very dry. seems like it would absorb 2 coats easily.
do i need to use the prep or restore product on fresh sanded bare wood this old?
thanks for your suggestions.
pics attached. lighter railing top has been sanded
After the sanding (do not sand finer than 80 grit) use the Gemini Restore Kit for the final prep. This will allow the TWP to soak in deeper and remove any sand dust.
Hello TWP,
Ok so I live in New Jersey, my deck gets sun virtually all day. The deck is 16 x 20 w/ two sets of 3’ steps and one set of 6’ steps.
The deck is 18 years old has been fully prepared and sanded but sun,rain and heat issues are my worry. NJ can get summer thunderstorms almost any time even though rain is not in the forecast.
I’ll be working with 1501.
My plan of attack is to do all the railings in the early morning and then wait until about 6:30pm when the deck surface is in full shade. Doing this I should have the horizontal deck complete before dark about 8:30pm. What concerns me is any overnight dew which may form on the deck. With the exception of rain would the dew be an issue?
Since I’m uncertain how the stain will color the deck, I’m considering only one coat now and the. In the fall around mid-September doing another coat on the whole deck. From what I’ve read doing a second coat a couple months after the initial coat is an acceptable application of TWP 1500 series. My question regarding this is, should I apply a heavy coat instead of the light coat which is recommended for the wet on wet application?
Also any extra tips for working around the sun would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
Brick,NJ
The dew should not be an issue. To do another coat after the first, 6+ months would be better. Do not do a heavy coat. That could create issues with it not soaking in.
I like your plane of attack bu doing the one coat now and doing a light second coat in the Spring would be better.
So I ran out of stain on the last step of my deck a few days ago. Ordered more, just received the can. Can I go back and fill in some spots I missed originally or will it not absorb correctly?
It is hard to spot stain and have it blend. Tyr lightly adding to these areas and then back wiping all after 10 minutes with a rag. Make sure to saturate all oily rags in water and lay flat to dry outdoors and away from any buildings.
i stained my deck a little over a year ago and it looks like it needs to be done again. Originally it had two coats applied with a sprayer which had the stain thinned. i plan to apply this time with a stain pad. do I need to do anything special prior to dipping in?
Just one light coat with a pad. Lightly clean to remove any dirt or grime build up.
I plan to apply my entire deck with a brush. What do you recommend? Stiff, soft, type of bristle, any brand? thanks.
Use a deck stain pad. Much better coverage and easier. Looks like these:
https://www.twpstain.com/padco-stain-pads
Do I have to worry about the horizontal deck surface being too hot for a “wet on wet” 1500 application.
Temps should not be above 90 or so.
Is it bad to apply a second coat around 24 hours after the first coat?
Could be. Depends on how porous the surface is. Do you have a picture?
I can take a closer picture a little later if need be. One pic is before anything. The deck was built shortly before we bought our house about 7 year ago and it had never been stained or sealed in that time. The second pic is after I power washed and the third is after one coat. I wasn’t able to get a second coat down before I started getting sunburned feeling (the temps we in the lower 80’s). The first coat went down on Tuesday.
I put a second coat down yesterday and think I over did it a little. A lot of it soaked in but quite a bit looks shiny and is slightly tacky. There’s a possibility of rain this weekend, will that help out at all with the stickiness?
It will dry eventually. Just might take an extra few days. You will be fine.
Oh thank you! I was using foam brushes which work pretty great but they can put too much down also. If after a few days it dries but there are still a few sticky parts should I use a rag and mineral spirits and wipe it away? I think I saw that in another comment.
I’m so glad I took the advice of 3 friends who swear by your product! The deck looks amazing! I never imagined it could go from grey nasty wood to such a beautiful color.
Ooh I have one more question. I replaced 2 boards and didn’t stain them. How long should I wait to do those? One had liquid coming out when I screwed it down.
That is sap oozing or water. See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I’m in the process of removing old stain from a cedar deck. In some places the stain already peeled off and the wood weathered, in others (under a flowerpot) the stain was in good shape. I am going to sand the entire surface before application. Do I treat this like new wood? I think the previous stain was applied to new wood without any prep, but it’s been installed for 3 years. (it peels off more like paint, doesn’t seem to have penetrated at all)
After the sanding, clean and brighten for the prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and apply just one coat this year. Do a light cleaning and another coat in 12-24 months. Every 2-3 years after that.
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Can a second coat be put on the next day as opposed to wet on wet second coating? Also railings have been power washed not stripped per request of owner, can we apply TWP color matched on top of previously stained railings?
Hello, best to not coat the next day but wet on wet. TWP cannot be applied on top of a stain of a different brand.
After applying the stain, how many days must the deck stay dry? It has been raining a lot here lately.
About 12-24 hours before rain comes after applying.
Hello,
Recently purchased a log cabin that unfortunately was painted. We stripped the paint and did a light sanding (we are now down to bare wood). Any other steps required before applying TWP 1500?
Has all stain been removed? Can you post a picture?
Sorry, I do not have a picture with me. It’s a log cabin (about 30 years old). The exterior was painted not stained. We removed all the paint and followed with a light sanding. Bare wood is showing.
As long as removed, you should be good to proceed.
My deck and pergola is only 30 days old going to clean with gemini step 1 and step 2 can I apply stain in 48 hrs ?
See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Must weather for 4-12 months and then be prepped. 48 hours after prep you can stain.
For cedar siding which of your products is recommended? Is TWP oil or water based?
Use the TWP 1500 Series which is oil based,
Procedures to apply 1500 on new wood spruce rail fence?
Rough cut wood on the fence or smooth? See this for some tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Hello, how long after application does the outdoor temperature need to remain above freezing? Thank you.
24 hours
I’m a contractor in Vermont. We’re installing a cable railing system on a large deck. We’re using red cedar for the posts and top rail — those are the only parts we’ll be staining. We plan on using TWP 1500 in the spring – 5 or 6 months from now. (I would use the 100 series but it can’t be shipped to Vermont).
We’ll need to halt construction in another week or two because snow is on the way. We have the rest of the wood we’ll be using to finish the project in the Spring. My question is how best to store those boards so we can stain everything with the 1500 immediately after we finish the installation in the Spring. Our options are: a heated garage, an unheated shed, or letting them sit out on the deck, exposed to the elements. I appreciate your help.
New wood needs to weather fully exposed after install for 4-12 months and then cleaned and brightened for prep before applying the first coat. It cannot sit indoors or be stacked outside. Has to be installed. See this article for more tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Does the air temperature need to remain above 50 degrees round the clock as well as remaining dry for 48 hours after application for best results , or does the 50 degrees refer to only the temperature when applying it ? Thanks !
It can drop below 50 after you apply but not below freezing. Cooler temps also mean it will take a little longer to fully cure.
My deck guy put too much stain on the new deck (6 months old). It has been 5 days since. The deck has ‘wet’ looking and sticky areas all through the deck and railing. Some areas when I scrubbed with a rag, the excess stain is peeling off. So frustrated as I told him not to apply too much. What can I do about the rest of the excess stain applied? Can this be fixed??
See here: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
Will try mineral spirits and hopefully it works. Thanks!
Lacquer thinner may work a little better.
How do I apply the Lacquer thinner? with a brush to the excess stain areas only? Will this remove the stain and will I have to re-apply the stain on those areas?
Use rags to apply and wipe off. Only removes the excess stain on top of the wood.
Redwood deck using TWP 1500 Stain. There are tacky areas that are not going to dry (or absorb). It has ben nearly 36 hours since I applied. And there is unevenness. How do I handle the tacky areas?
See this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
Applied the 1st coat of TWP 1500 last weekend and had just enough stain to finish the whole deck. I want to do a second coat but now the stain is completely dry. Can I still apply a 2nd coat this coming weekend?
Also, I replaced some of the boards, so the new ones really stand out. Can I give them multiple coats to darken?
Best to wait until Spring to lightly recoat all.
The new wood will not take adtional coats right now. The TWP will not soak in.
Watched a video of TWP 1500 application on YouTube. Contractor stained three boards at a time and wiped down all three boards with a rag to remove or even out any excess. Is this approach recommended for TWP 1500?
Best to do the entire deck and if needed only, wipe down excess that does not absorb after 30-45 minutes. Saturate all oil rags in water and lay flat to dry outside.
It says above for TWP 1500 that, “It has outstanding penetration properties and excellent UV resistance from wood graying.”
Do all colors have UV resistance? If not, which colors offer UV protection?
All the colors have UV protection expect the “Clear”.
We installed our new cedar deck at the end of October 2016. I waited until late June 2017 to apply the first coat of TWP 1500 to our deck. Prior to staining we used the cleaner and brightener. We only applied one coat for the initial stain. I did not want to over apply and we were getting a little pooling that I wiped up as we went.
I would like to apply a maintenance coat, as the first coat is beginning to wear. It has been approximately 4 months since the initial application. Is it too soon to apply the maintenance coat? Do I need to use the cleaner an brightener again or can I just do a light washing of the deck prior to applying the maintenance coat.
Thank you for your help.
Too early. Best to wait until Spring. Prep with the a light washing.
Using 1500 for the first time on an 800 sqft. deck. To apply a second Wet coat of 1500 I will have to walk on the wet wood. Could this create any problems? Will I end up leaving shoe prints?
Thank you very much!
It will be fine. See this for tips on wet on wet: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-wet-on-wet-application/
I stained the deck over the weekend. The deck has a picture frame style. Used Honey for the center deck boards and Dark Walnut for the frame deck boards. The Honey worked out great. But I have concerns about the Dark Walnut. It appears the black dye does not bond like the Honey. It has been 24 hours. If I wipe the Dark Walnut with a rag there is black dye on the rag. Is this going to be a problem? Will there be black dye on people’s shoes when walk the deck? Should I wipe all the Dark Walnut with a rag to get rid of excess dye? I am very concerned.
Thank you very much for all your help.
Sincerely,
Mark
TWP is a penetrating stain so it must not have soaked in fully. Back wipe to remove the excess stain. Saturate all oily rags in water and lay flat to dry outside.
TWP is a full curing stain so once fully cured, it will not track on come off.
Thank you for the quick response. I guess the confusing part is that I do not see any wet or shiny areas on the wood. That made me think it is fully absorbed.
I will start wiping it down with rags when I get home. It’s a lot of wood. Phew!
my cedar deck is prepped (2 step RAD) I will be restaining the cedar deck with TWP 1500.
My question is: what is the max time between coats on a wet on wet application. My deck is 30 X 20 and I plan on using a stain pad for application… it might take more than 10 minutes to do one coat
Thanks for your advise
Optimal time for applying the second coat is 20-60 minutes.
I prepped my deck that had 2 year old TWP 1500 on it as instructed with the Gemini Kit (which turned out great, by the way…the deck boards look nearly new) in anticipation of applying new TWP 1500 about 48 hours later as recommended. Frustratingly, our weather forecast has changed and there is a 40-50% chance of rain in my area the day after I plan to apply the TWP. The next predicted stretch of days without a chance of rain doesn’t happen until a week after the prep was completed. Is it best to wait for the longer stretch of (hopefully) dry weather or will the TWP be okay if it rains the day after application? If it is best to wait, will I need to re-do any of the prep after only one week passing before applying the TWP?
It can rain on it the day after applying. Try to stain within 14 days of the prep.
Thank you for the information! Have a great day!
I followed the directions for applying the TWP 1500 Dark Oak stain on my cedar deck, after stripping and then using the brightener. I love the color but on some boards their is a residue of black grit, particularly on the cedar deck chairs and lounges.
I finished applying the stain a week ago. Is there anything I can do now to remove the black grit?
There is nothing in the stain that would create or cause a “black grit” so it must be something else. Feel free to send a picture.
Hello… I live in California and have just completed a build of a redwood trellis last week that is quite large 34” x 16’. I have a few questions as it relates the to the 1500 series TWP stain.
1 – The redwood used for his build was high in moisture (heavy). Does the moisture content of the wood have an effect on the woods ability to absorb the stain and how long should I wait prior to applying this stain?
2 – My project being a trellis, it has tons of small areas where I need to get stain into… Do you recommend using a sprayer to apply the stain? If so, what safeguards should I be looking out for?
3 – Being this is brand new redwood (smooth finish – everything sanded smooth prior to build), should I plan to apply two coats or would one coat be sufficient.
Thank you
1. See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
2. See above.
my deck was stained over 5 years ago with a different semi transparent stain. can I simply power wash the deck and use twp 1500 at this point.
The old coating will need to be removed first before using the TWP stains. Strippers or sanding. Brighten after.
What is the maximum moisture content of the wood prior to applying the finish?
15% or less.
Hello, can I apply TWP 100 using a roller on the deck surface?
You can but a stain pad or brush is better.
After I applied the stain I noticed the overlap showed. How soon can we apply a third coat of stain. all is dry after overnight. Can we restain today about 24 hr later?
Hello,
You should not add a third coat as it will most likely not dry correctly now. Best to wait 6-12 months, lightly clean, and apply a light coat.
If I use a stainable wood filler, will TWP stain it? Is there a specific type of wood filler I should use? Thanks
TWP will not stain the wood filler to blend. Wood filler does not work on exterior wood with semi-transparent stains like TWP.
how long can 1530 natural be stored and still be effective?
https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/