We are here to help you with your TWP exterior deck or wood restoration project!
- TWP is an EPA-registered wood preservative offering exceptional protection for exterior wood surfaces, with performance varying by several factors.
- Proper preparation and application are key to maximizing durability and beauty when using TWP 100, 1500, or 200 Series.
- When seeking help, specify your wood structure type, such as a deck, wood siding, or fence.
- Provide the wood species, such as Treated Pine, Cedar, or Redwood, and whether it is new or older than one year.
- Disclose any previous stain brands and types used, such as solid or semi-transparent stains, for tailored application advice.
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
I am getting ready to stain my deck. The stain has been here since early May so I need to mix it, but can’t figure out how to get the lid off. There only appears to be a pour spout
Hello,
Pry up the tabs, take off the lid, mix well!
How long before it is dry enough for walking on?
12-24 hours or not sticky.
I purchased 1500 series black walnut to stain and protect a pressure-treated LVL beam and 6×6 pressure treated posts on a deck project. the frame was built 6 weeks ago and has been drying in the northern california sun. What prep is recommended before staining this type of deck framing?
See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Can I spray prairie grey 106
Yes.
I applied Benjamin Moore wood luxe translucent water based waterproofing exterior stain one year ago on new pressure treated decking. Although the color is a little darker the wood is cracking a bit .There is no flaking or powdering. It’s like nothing has been applied.
Can I apply your 1500 product over that stain?
No, you must remove it if switching stain brands.
Thanks! How do I remove it? It looks like there’s no finish on it. Do you have a product?
It looks fine for now, and cracks are normal for decking, are not an issue, and cannot be prevented. Leave it until next year and then prep to remove with this and apply the TWP Stain after:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I have a 2 yr old deck that is pressure treated pine that I would like to stain and seal. Should I use water based sealer or oil based. The deck is in very good condition just needs to be cleaned.
Use this kit for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
TWP 1500 Series for the stain:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
I have been using TWP 100 Honeytown color on the logs of my log cabin in the mountains of Arizona. The wood is fairly worn now, and I’m looking for a stain which is a bit less transparent and will provide more of a solid color. What can you recommend? Thank you.
For more color coverage than the 100 Series Honeytone, step up to the TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series — it masks the wood grain about 70–80% and holds color longer, which helps on weathered logs. There’s no exact match between the semi-transparent and semi-solid lines, so order samples to see how it looks on your logs before committing: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
Generally speaking- Which color in the pro series? Best matches the honeytone? If aired on the darker side? Thank you for your quick reply.
Super Cedar Gold, Autumn Foliage, or Cedar Chest? Nothing matches exactly.
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-semi-solid-stain-5-gallon
I have a 20×20 deck. is it ok to stain 1/2 of the deck one day and finish the other half the next day
You would need to have a very clean break line. Best to do it all at once. The floors in a 400 sq feet deck can be done in an hour.
Good evening,
I have PT pine deck installed around a year ago that has a roof over it. I’m looking to enclose the deck with clear polycarbonate panels making it more of a mud room but will need to install additional boards as support for the panels. Beings the area will then be protected from the elements I was planning on just using standard KD lumber in a hope that I could stain it all at once now. I would use the cleaner/brightener prior to staining but just wanted to double check on the Regular KD lumber. Also after doing the cleaner/brightener how long before I have to stain? Weather in PA is unpredictable at best.
Prep all and stain when you are ready. Since it is more “indoors” it will be okay. Just one coat.
Are the colors of the stains consistent from batch to batch? I have a cabin that will probably take me several years to do and I would rather not store it from year to year.
Colors are varified from batch to batch but, but pigment can settle, so slight color variation can to can is normal — always stir thoroughly before use. Opened stain is only good for about 6–12 months even stored properly, so banking partial cans across a multi-year project isn’t practical anyway; better to buy what you need per section as you get to it. Any minor shade difference blends in once the newer sections weather a bit. Color will vary based on the wood type, the age of the wood, how it is prepped, and how it is applied. It is always best to test samples to see how it will look on your wood: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
Are you aware if you are trying to purchase on an iPhone you are unable to click on the view cart at the bottom to check out? The iPhone menu pops up when you try to click it due to its placement. Can I call to order?
Thanks for the heads up — we’ll get that looked at. If you can take a screenshot and send to us in the comments, that would be great! In the meantime, try switching to landscape mode.
You’re also welcome to call in your order at 866-856-3325.
Thank you so much! I will try landscape mode!
Thanks, that is your iphone browser doing this, not our website. We cannot replicate that on our end. Which browser and version are you using?
Hello, the issue is you have a safari version that has bug. We added some code to keep it from cutting off. Please refresh your page and try again. Let us know. One other thing about your cart order. 5-Gallon pails ship free, not 5 single gallons. Thanks!
Thank you for all your responses! I used Chat GPT and it told me how to turn off the tool bar on my phone and that allowed me to purchase! I did update my purchase to a 5 gallon bucket! Thank you so much!
You are welcome!
Landscape mode did not work either for me..
Hello,
I would appreciate your advice about preparing and staining new deck (pressure treated pine) by answering my few questions.
I live in Southeastern Virginia. Deck is less than a year old (PT pine bought in mid-Oct. 2025 and deck completed in mid-Jan 2026. Environmental conditions: full sun on deck from 9 am to 2 pm with shade after, high humidity during summers, relatively mild winters with occasional snow, and deck is near trees, but no tree branches extend above it.
1. I’d like to minimize the maintenance while prolonging the life of the new deck. Would the TWP 1500 product be a good choice for my deck, or possibly some other brand of oil-based or water-based stain?
Got couple of estimates from contractors. One recommended Sherwin Williams semi-transparent water-based stain while the other recommended a Sherwin Williams semi-transparent oil-based stain, obviously based on their preference. Don’t want to use this brand based on its low rating on http://www.deckstainhelp.com.
2. Deck will be soft washed prior to staining. Since deck is less than a year old, is it necessary to use a wood brightener product on it prior to staining regardless of the brand used? If recommended, can any wood brightening product be used?
3. How many coats of stain should be applied to my new deck? Should the stain be applied with the wood still damp or when it is completely dry? I’m hiring a contractor to stain the deck so it may be difficult to coordinate applying the stain with wood still damp.
4. Does the color of the stain on new wood tend to be lighter than shown on color swatches?
5. How frequently do you recommend reapplying the stain based on my deck’s environmental conditions?
6. Some areas on the top surface of some railings are slightly rough and already have some wood splitting, and thus, may need to be lightly sanded prior to staining. Should the sanding be done before or after the soft wash cleaning?
Thank you
1. TWP 1500 is a solid choice and works well in Southeastern Virginia.
2. Yes. Even at about 6 months old, clean and brighten with the Gemini Restore-A-Deck Kit before staining. This removes mill glaze and opens the wood for proper penetration regardless of the deck’s age.
3. One coat only on new wood — it isn’t porous enough yet for a second coat. Apply to dry wood (not damp), and wait 48 hours after cleaning/brightening or any rain before staining. Back-wipe any excess that hasn’t soaked in within 30 minutes.
4. Yes, color on new wood typically reads lighter than the swatches since the wood hasn’t opened up yet. Color will vary based on the wood type, the age of the wood, how it is prepped, and how it is applied. It is always best to test samples to see how it will look on your wood: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
5. Plan on a light maintenance coat at 9–24 months, and a full recoat (with Restore-A-Deck Kit prep) every 2–3 years for the deck flooring.
6. Do the soft wash first, then sand the rough/splitting spots (no finer than 60–80 grit), then brighten. Order of operations: clean → sand → brighten → stain.
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Thank you for answering my questions and for the detailed responses.
Thank you,
Hi John,
Ideal application temp is 50-90°F — avoid staining if it’ll drop below 40°F overnight afterward. On the cracks in the new railings: leave them as-is, don’t fill with compound. Wood fillers don’t stain to match and tend to fail in freeze/thaw cycles, and checking/splitting is a normal characteristic of PT wood, not a problem. We don’t maintain a list of local contractors, so we can’t point you to anyone in the 23602 area. If you do find someone experienced with oil-based stains, applying TWP 1500 isn’t much different from Sherwin-Williams or any other oil-based stain: stain pads or brushes (no rollers), similar dry time, and mineral spirits for cleanup.
Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it!
I have a treated pine deck in South Fork , Colorado – sunny in summer and. Cold in winter. Which is better for my deck? TWP 100 or TWP 1500?
TWP 1500 is your only option here — Colorado restricts TWP 100 (550 VOC) due to state VOC regulations, so it can’t be shipped or used there. TWP 1500 (350 VOC) is compliant in all 50 states and performs well across the sun/cold swings you’ll see on that pine deck.