Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by TWP Help
We are here to help you with your TWP exterior deck or wood restoration project for 2025!
TWP is a cutting-edge wood preservative and protectant registered by the EPA, designed to provide exceptional protection for exterior wood surfaces. However, its performance and longevity can vary based on several factors, including the type and age of the wood, how well it is prepared, and the application technique used.
To ensure the best possible results with TWP 100, 1500, or 200 Series, proper preparation and application are key. Follow recommended guidelines to maximize the durability and beauty of your wood surface, no matter which TWP series you choose.
TWP Stain Tips and Help
When asking questions please give us some information about your wood restoration project:
- What structure is your wood? Examples would be: Deck, Wood Siding, Fence, etc
- What species is the wood? Examples: Treated Pine, Cedar, Redwood, Ipe, etc
- Is the wood new or older than 1 year?
- Has the wood been stained previously with a different brand? Please specify brand name and type of stain used: Examples: Solid stain, Semi-Transparent Stain, etc.
- Any additional info that would be useful
Once you supply us with the information, we will able to give you advice as to how to prep your wood and any needed instructions for the TWP application.
Please ask your questions in the comment area.
Thanks
Who can I contact about a major issue with our shipment? Can’t find anywhere on the website. The can exploded or was dropped during shipment, cover was off, and half of the stain was in the bag the boxes were in, have pics. Huge mess!
Please contact via your order email that was sent when the order was placed.
Thanks
Writing from Northern New England. Our pine siding was coated with Cabot Wood Toned Stain + Sealer in natural at the time of construction 7 years ago. It’s in good shape, but there is some clear darkening in areas that see a lot of water and it feels like time to restain especially on south facing areas. We want to recoat with a semi-transparent gray. What product do you recommend and what surface prep is necessary?
Hi, please add some pics of the current condition for prep advice. Thanks.
We have been using TWP 205 California cedar for years on our deck by recommendation Ace hardware. Is this your best product for decks?? It says it’s for Shinglesand vertical surfaces! Does the 100 series come in California cedar??
The best options are the 100 or 1500 Series for decking, not the 200 Series. It does not come in the 205 color.
I have been using Messmer’s UV Plus for Hardwood Decks (Natural color) on my Yellow Balau hardwood deck for several years but I would like to get more than one year of results with my stain so I’m considering trying your TWP 100 Pro Series Wood and Deck Stain. One year I tried a cedar toned product but it was too yellow/orange so I cleaned it off and went back to the clear product. Will the TWP 100 clear deck sealer product likely give me two years of life? Which Restore-A-Deck cleaner product would you recommend? I have previously used Messmer’s deck cleaner but not the brightener which I haven’t felt was needed. Your recommendations would be appreciated.
TWP 100, 200, and 1500 Series are not designed for exotic hardwoods. You can use our TWP Natural Effect for this:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-natural-effect-impregnating-stain-1-gallon
Stript and Brighten for prep:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit
I’m staining a Garapa/Ipe deck that has been stripped and sanded. I’ll be using the new Natural Effect system and I’d like to prevent some black mildew/mold that appeared when using the 1500 product previously. Can a mildew agent like M-1 be mixed in to the Natural Effect system? If so, in the stain or in the clear coat? (I know the RAD Guard product advises not to use as a deck prep agent)
You use the RAD Guard after the staining and top coat have fully cured to prevent mold and mildew from returning. You cannot add anything to the coatings.
We would love to see some pics when done!
I have a part of a 5 gallon bucket of stain and want to but three more 5 gallon buckets to do my porches and fences. The label on the bucket says (TWP 101 Pro Series Cedar-tone) I don’t see this anywhere on this website?
https://www.twpstain.com/twp100-5gallon
Hi, I have sheen and inconsistent color in many areas of refinished deck. Hope you can help me understand where I went wrong.
I refinished my 15-yr old cedar deck (25×16) by sanding it with random orbital sander from HD (grit 60, then 80), used step 1 and 2 Restore A Deck cleaner and brightener, allowed 45 hours of dry time, then stained it with 2 coats wet on wet using TWP semi-solid low VOC cedar mulch color. It’s had 36 hours of cure time with no rain. Steps where I could have gone wrong:
– the wood was very thirsty, so I likely went a bit ‘heavier’ with the 1st coat (for coverage) vs a “thin 1st coat” per TWP instructions.
– for the 1st HALF of the deck, I applied the 2nd stain coat 45 minutes after 1st coat (TWP help comments to other customers said it’s ok to apply 2nd coat 20-60 mins after 1st coat). Since the stain / wood looked pretty dry after 45 mins on 1st half of deck, I waited only 20-30 mins before applying the 2nd coat to the 2nd HALF of the deck.
Most of the sheen is on the first half of the deck, but the inconsistent color is on both the 1st and 2nd half of the deck. P.S. the cedar mulch color shows more shades of ‘orange’ than the online color chart IMO. We expected more brown coloring, especially from a semi-solid.
I purchased 3 gallons of semi-solid stain and only used 2 gallons, but TWP doesn’t allow returns of unopened semi-solid, so I’m out $80 for unused stain to add salt to my wounds.
Thank you for your help!
David
You over applied. See tips here:
https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
Try wiping off the excess. It will also cure and dull over the next couple of weeks.
Can we use magnesium chloride to melt ice on our TWP-stained deck? We’ve used rock salt, which turned out to be a huge mistake
No. We do not know of any ice melts that can be used on TWP.
What specifically is the best series of your stain for penetration and especially UV protection?
They are all equal in longevity. The semi-solid colors will hold color longer than the semi-transparent colors.
What size nap should I have on my roller when applying 1500 series stain on a new deck that was built one year ago?
Don’t use a roller to apply the TWP stains. Use stain pads or brushes. Best are the yellow floor brushes.
https://www.twpstain.com/brushes-stain-pads
What is your UV protection rating on TWP 100 stain?
Not sure what you mean? There is no such thing as a “UV protection rating” or a test that shows this. Please explain what you are looking for an answer to?
Which series stain is the best for boathouses in the sun all day and some flooding over the dock about twice a year..
TWP Semi-solids: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-semi-solid-pro-series
What is the best TWP series stain for UV protection..
My deck is 6 years old. I’ve been using TWP 1501 Natural. I’ve applied the product every other year. I’m reapplying this year because though it’s in good shape it looks dull and washed out. I thought about trying 100 series natural. I don’t have any issue with mold or mildew. Which product performs best. The 1500 series takes a long time to dry with wet on wet. I like 100 dries quicker. Which cleaner to use?
The 100 and 1500 perform the same. If you switch, use the Stripper and Brightener kit:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I recently bought a home with an older ( uncapped) trex accents deck. Which one of your products would be best to use. I am considering the semi solid stain. Thx
Yes, the semi-solid is the correct product. Just one coat.
and tips on how to apply TWP Natural Effect Impregnating stain on an ipe deck?
Use a stain pad or brush:
https://www.twpstain.com/brushes-stain-pads
Keep a wet edge and move fairly quickly. Do the full length of each board. It is pretty easy to apply.
I stained by deck last night (16 hours ago), and I’m noticing some unstained areas between boards this morning. Can I go back and touch that up today? Rain is in the forecast tomorrow (about 20 hours from now). I only want to apply stain between the boards, but I’m sure I will get some on the tops too. Deck isn’t fully cured right now and has some tack to it. How should I proceed?
If you get any on top of the boards, it will dry blotchy so be careful or wipe the excess immediately!
I have a mix of a few issues. I have a top deck covered that is 2 months old. Raw PT wood.
I have a lower deck with PT raw wood floor that is about 3 years old. 2 posts and side band boards are 7+ years old and have old solid oil based stain on them.
I really want to go semi-transparent but think I may not get even coverage with the different wood finishes.
Is there a chance that I may be able to pull off semi-transparent or should I go with a semi-solid? I wasn’t sure if TWP had a product that could strip the old stain enough. My color choice would be somewhere in the Appalachian Trail or Hunting Lodge range.
We would need to see close-up pictures of the old stain to provide proper preparation advice for those areas, as the current coating needs to be removed if using any of the TWP stains.
The semi-solid would give the most uniform appearance between the new and older wood.
This is the old stain.
This is the older deck.
Do you know what stain brand it is? It looks semi-solid or opaque already which means it will not be an easy strip.
It was one of these 2. Not sure which.
Yes, you cannot use a deck stain stripper to remove these coatings. You would need a PainStripper or power sanding to remove them.
Hi, I recently replaced the treads (6×6 pressure treated pine) on a flight of exterior landscape stairs. The substructure remains and was previously treated (years ago) with a semi-transparent oil based Olympic product if I recall correctly. Which TWP product and color would you recommend for application to the new and existing wood o help blend the repair and protect both the old and new wood? A couple of photos are attached. Thank you!
See this about the new wood first:
https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
When time, strip and brighten to remove the Olympic:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Clean and brighten the new wood:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Try TWP 1520 Pecan color for the stain:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
Thank you!
After cleaning the fence and washing it, do i let the wood dry before applying the neutralizer/ britner?
No, apply while wet right away.
Do you have csle cod gray pro series in semi transparent
TWP 100 Series has a Cape Cod Gray color:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series
Large open knotty cedar deck 1550 wet no wet application a year ago. what is the procedure for applying a second coat this year? Have placed an order for the same product.
Use the Gemini Restore Kit for prep:
https://twpstainhelp.com/tips/prepping-for-twp-stains/maintaining-twp/
I have a painted pergola that I believe is about 15 years old. I’m sanding it down to bare wood and would like to stain it. I believe that it is treated pine but I can’t say that I’m 100% sure.
Which one of your stains would you recommend for this project?
TWP 1500 Series.
Thank you