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Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by TWP Help
We are here to help you with your TWP exterior deck or wood restoration project for 2024!
TWP is an advanced wood preservative/protectant registered by the EPA. Performance and longevity can vary though depending on the wood type, how the wood is prepped, the age of wood, and how the TWP is applied. We want everyone who has decided to use TWP 100, 1500, or 200 Series to have the best possible results.
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
Use the TWP 100 Series for this. Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit after the prep.
How much TWP 100 is needed for the 450 sq ft deck listed above?
Thanks
I am planning on staining my cedar deck over the next two days which will be Wednesday and Thursday this week. The forecast calls for possible rain on Friday. Should I hold off staining on Thursday? I am using TWP 1500 cedar tone.
You will need about 12 hours after applying before rain can hit the deck for most scenarios.
Welcome!
Hi TWP,
I live in Columbus, Mississippi on the Tombigbee river. The home I purchased is in dire need of refinishing. It cedar sided, very weathered and dirty. The weather is very humid and frequent thunder storms. I have been researching many products and have decided to use TWP. As for what was on the siding, it is some type of semi-solid cedar tone. I need some clarification on the major difference between TWP 100, TWP 1500 and storm shield. Which would be the best performing of the three? I’ll be also using based on other reviews and questions your RAD kit. So that being said, can you give a bit of guidance? Thanks, Alex
Alex, for you to use the TWP you will need to remove the semi-solid stain first. Once removed it would be best to use the 1500 Series for this.
Thanks! you answered what I needed to know. Now full speed ahead on the house project! Thanks again TWP!!!!
Hello,
I’m a beginner woodworker and I am making a table for my deck (with cool removable beer/wine storage). The legs are pressure treated 6 x 6 posts and the rest is grade 2 kiln dried pine. This is the wood my builder wood place recommended to me. I’ve since learned that pine is horrible as an outdoor furniture wood. I need to seal/stain the table to make it look nice and so it will last. My research has shown that TWP is the best. What do I need to do to make this happen? Do I need to pretreat the wood (make it wet and brighten it?) or can I just apply 1 coat of TWP 1500? If I apply this yearly will it make up for the poor wood choice?
Thanks
Please read this about new wood: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I have a rough sawn cedar fence, less than a year old. In MN so could use 100 or 1500 series. Which would be best? Also, How much prep do I need to do? Thanks.
Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and stain the fence with the TWP 1500 Series.
Why 1500 instead of 100?
Better UV protection for vertical rough sawn wood.
Picnic table
Western red cedar
Pinehurst NC
I just built this table, which TWP product would be best?
The 100 Series.
Not a bad batch of stain but rather something drying on top. Can you post a picture?
We suspect we may have put too much on the first coat, or maybe waited too long to put the second thin coat on since it was drying so fast. We wiped the railing with rags and now it looks great. Did the floor with a thinner single coat and it looks nice too. Thanks.
Great!
I have a cedar deck that is about 9 years old. It gets full sun. We’ve used mostly the transparent Behr product but it has peeled and needs to be redone every year. Currently we are pressure washing the deck but that doesn’t remove the stubborn stain so we are sanding it which is taking forever. Do you have a suggestion for getting it stripped better and then what do we do after that to get it ready to stain? Stripper, brightener and cleaner? And which stain would you recommend for harsh MN weather that gets full sun in summer and snow on it for 7 months out of the year.
Use the Restore A Deck stripper and pressure washing to remove as much as the Behr as possible. Sand the rest off if needed and use the RAD Brightener when done. Stain with TWP 100 Series.
Use the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep. Use the 1500 for the fence. You should do both sides.
Yes the clear in either the 100 or 1500 would be exactly what you would want for this scenario.
What product would you recommend to prevent graying of a cedar swing set? Thanks.
Either the 100 Series or the 1500 series will work to prevent graying in any of the color options.
10 month old pressure treated pine deck in NY State, never been stained, used Benjamin Moore “clean” in anticipation of staining with BM ArbourCoat. After reading bad reviews of BM will be using TWP 1500. Is the BM Clean ok prep for TWP, or do I need to do something else. Novice at this want I get it right.
It would be best to use the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep.
Do you know enough about the BM “Clean” product to know if it’s detrimental to TWP 1500
Sorry but no we do not.
Yes this applies to cedar as well. You need to wait and prep with Gemini Restore Kit before the stain. Only one coat as well.
I live in New York and have a pressure treated pine deck that is about 8 years old. Every 2-3 years I have applied Olympic Maximum stain + sealant in one( Redwood Naturaltone). It’s been 3 years since last applied, the deck is showing its age with some 1/8″ cracks from the direct heat of the sun and poor performance of the stain. I was wondering if I used TWP 1500 after the deck was pressure washed if I would have any problems with coverage or peeling ?
Steve,
You would need to prep with the Restore A Deck Stain Stripper and pressure washing to remove the Olympic. Use the Brightener when done. Once prepped you will be good with the TWP 1500.
If water beads up than the TWP will most likely as well. Best to get all of the old stain off first.
Not better but you could use that as well,
No long term effects for this.
Sanding closes the pores and is not the best way to prep. If you sand you need to clean and brighten to help the TWP absorb better. Basically it happened due to improper prep and over applying to the point that the TWP was unable to absorb. Just leave it alone as it will dry out and look better later.
I have a 4 year old cedar deck, has been stained before, but will be stripped and cleaned prior to new application. Approximately 3/4 of the deck is beneath covered porch. Which series should I use, 100 or 1500 and will I need 2 coats (using the wet on wet application)? I live in Ontario, CA
TWP is not legal for Ontario, Canada.
We are planning on going to the States to pick it up. I’ve read that people have done this and had no problems crossing border with it
We cannot say that this is okay as it is not compliant for VOC laws in your country.
Yes, I understand. Still curious to know your recommendation though please
TWP 1500 Series if you were in the US.
My contractor who does not have a lot of experience with semi-transparent siding simply used water and pressure to clean an prep my siding. The siding in most places looks fine but the soft wood on many boards has been eroded/channeled perhaps as deep as a 1/16th of an inch. Unfortunately I had not given enough thought to this before he got started to recommend using a stripper, etc. and less pressure. I am not sure what the long-term implications will be, but I guess we will see. Any thoughts and experience to share on the impact of this?
The primary question is whether he needs to de fuzz the wood to get a good consistent finish? Is there an application method that would work best that would eliminate this problem? For example stain pads which might remove the fiber as it get stained, as opposed to brushes?
You cannot fix pressure damage with application of the stain. You can try to rewash/strip again properly and than buff all the siding with a defurring pad.
Any thoughts on long-term effects of the “rutting” in the siding. Greater water, more cupping, etc?
Ordered 105 cape cod grey 5gallons and received 106 prairie grey. How do I get this exchanged. I have called twice this am and waited at least 20 minutes on hold. Finally called back and left message and phone number. Help.
Looking at your order receipt it shows Prairie Gray as what you ordered. You can exchange but you will need to pay for shipping back of the incorrect product you ordered and pay for shipping of the Cape Cod Gray to you. We will contact you Monday.
I am constructing bee hives out of Eastern Red Cedar (Juniper tree) and I want to know the best stain color to retain the natural wood tones and colors. Also, I need low VOC’s due to the nature of the application (Bee Hives) and I want to reduce the chemical residue for the health of the bees and the safety of the product (Honey). After reading some of the product descriptions, I feel that the TWP 1500 would be the better choice as far as the VOC’s are concerned, but I am not sure which product application, TWP100 or TWP1500 is right for the type of wood. I need the best penetration for the Juniper tree and the stain that will retain its natural color. Thank you for you time in this matter.
You would want the 1500 Series for this. Best to get some samples to test the color from our website.
Just one other question. I know that TWP 200 is made for cedar shingles and after researching your products, would the TWP 200 be even better for this application? I want the maximum protection for the hive with the longest time. Thanks for you quick response with my original question.
Which is the right product to use on a 5 year old Cedar roof in Connecticut? The cedar was never sealed or stained before and we want to clean it and apply a sealer to help the roof last longer.
George, TWP has a the 200 series which is designed specifically for shake roofs: http://www.twpstain.com/wood-and-deck-stains/twp-wood-stains/twp-200-series
Gray tones in 1500 series ?
Sorry but no.
I can’t believe this has happened – I paid someone to apply the deck stain today, after cleaning & brightening the wood. I left to drive to town, about 2 hours away, when a sudden, unpredicted thunderstorm descended on my area and dumped about an inch of rain onto my newly stained deck. Of course, I wasn’t here to cover the deck with plastic. When I got home, I dried the wood as best I could using towels; it was only slightly tacky other than a few spots. What do I do now? Am I going to have to strip it and start all over again?
I would leave it alone and see how it looks after it fully dries. if looks good than do nothing. If you have little spots all over the deck you may need to either apply a very light coat or strip and redo.
I should have been more clear, sorry – 95% of the deck was only slightly tacky. Luckily, this was a maintenance job so I was only doing the horizontal surfaces. In a few areas, the edges feel a little gummy and in one area I could actually peel a tiny bit of the stain off the edge. So far, those areas are a tiny percentage of the whole job. If it manages to dry ok in a few days, would I be able to maybe just sand those edges and reapply the stain? I guess it makes sense that I would, since it’s ok to apply the stain over old TWP stain …. Maybe I’ve answered my own question. Anyway, your product is outstanding, and the support you provide your customers is too.
Very hard to spot sand and apply. Probably will not blend and will stand out. You could try that or just leave it be. It will dry and if there is an issue with those areas in a year you could just touch them up then. Thanks!
The 1500 would the way to go with this.
Yes you can use TWP on cedar roofs.
The pictured deck is 10-15 years old. Probably never been sealed or stained. We would like to clean and stain it. Already tried one lower pressure washer, didn’t help much. Can you guys help. Would any of your stains kind of cover this mess up? thanks.
I am not seeing a picture.
let me try again
I’m having a difficult time finding a window of dry weather. How many days after the deck is stripped and wet do I have to wait before applying TWP Cedartone 100 and how many days after applying does the weather need to remain rain free?
2 days after prep with no rain. It can rain on the fresh stain 12-24 hours after application.
Thanks
No we will not ship the 100 Series to NY, only the 1500. Not worth the potential fine.
I want to stain my mahogany deck. What is the right product for me? it was previously stained but it is mostly faded and has no sheen to it. want to have the rich mahogany color when it is done
TWP in the Rustic color. 100 Series if allowed or the 1500 if not.
allowed? I live in new york
Only 1500 for NY.
the stain police will get me? can you not ship to new York>?
Unopened it is 2-3 years.
That will be fine.
While applying TWP 1500 Natural to our deck and fence, some splattered onto our brick paver patio. Any suggestions about the best way to get the TWP off of brick pavers?
Try some graffiti remover spray and pressure washer.
The 5 gallon should be fine. Prep first with Gemini Restore Kit and apply two light coats wet on wet application.
Yes you need to open pores and remove sand dust after sanding.
Kiln dried and you do not need to wait as long. Couple of months should be good.
Hi, I’m wondering if it’s appropriate to apply TWP 200 series on a deck. It is not exactly for decks, but it’s the only one that is allowed in Canada.
You can but it will take a few days to dry on a deck.
Pressure Treated Pine Deck and Fence
Located in Michigan
1 Year Old…never been stained or sealed.
Questions:
100 or 1500?
How many coats?
How should I Prep?
How long will it last before I should redo it?
100 Series, 2 very light coats applied wet on wet. Prep with Gemini Restore Kit. Redo in 2 years.
Thanks so much! 2 Followup questions:
1. 760 sq ft. How much for “2 very light coats?
2. Salesperson told me the 1500 would be better and last longer which was contrary to my research. Is there any reason or circumstance that you would recommend the 1500 to someone in a state where the 100 is allowed?
5-7 gallons for this. Either would be fine but since it is newer, the 100 penetrates better.
I have an approximately 3 year old treated pine deck that was recently stripped of a previously applied Behr stain and sanded. I then swept off most of the sawdust with a broom. Should I now apply some sort of brightener or cleaner before staining the deck or can I go straight to the staining? If I need to brighten/clean the deck, can I use the wood and deck cleaner that Behr sent me? I have already purchased 10 gallons of TWP 100 Dark Oak that I will be applying. Will I need 1 or 2 coats? Also, I live in Kansas and we are getting quite a bit of rain now that started shortly after the sanding was completed.
Dan, use a brightener and heavy rinse with water for the prep after sanding. Two coats applied “wet on wet” application.
Is the brightener recommended strictly to open up the wood to accept the stain? After the sanding, I can’t imagine it looking much better than it does now. How long after brightening before I can apply stain?
‘Need to restain my cedar decks and siding which are 10 years old. I live in Western WA which is very wet. Would you recommend TWP100 or TWP1500?
Thanks
The 1500 Series for this.
25 year old deck at 5,000 ft, in Colorado. Maintained every 2 years for the last 18 with DEFY epoxy tinted stain. As I am not restricted to TWP 1500, which is better — TWP 100 or 1500 series? (you seem to be recommending 100 for Colorado, but description leads me to believe 1500 is superior)
Either would be fine. Slightly better UV protection with the 1500 but the 100 penetrates better so less wearing. Either way they will last about the same in CO. You will need to strip off the Defy if you want to use the TWP.
A painting contractor is working on my house now. The stain on the house is a very lightly coated semi-transparent stain that has weathered significantly. He used brightener on a part but stopped because he said his pressure sprayer was removing a sufficient amount of the mold, mildew, etc. I want the application of twp100 to be as successful as possible. Is brightener or stripper necessary for maximum penetration or just for aesthetics. It really looks like bare cedar with just the pressure washing.
You need to remove all of the old stain, dirt, mold, etc. Brightener is not a cleaner or stripper. You would want a cleaner or stripper and pressure wash off. use the brightener after you complete this.
We live in NW Washington state and have a 1 y/o pressure treated doug fir deck (manufactured by “all seasons decking” using copper azole ca-c). it was stained from the manufacturer using a water based stain – NOT a sealer/water repellent, and their instructions say we can use a oil based stain after 60 days or a water based after 6 months. We want to go with an oil based semitransparent stain – would you recommend the 100 or 1500 series. We did a recent test sample with the 100 series ceder tone and it seemed to have penetrated ok. We have a shallow water well 75-100′ down hill from the deck – do we need to be concerned about VOCs leaching into the water system or are they air born only? Also we get a lot of rain much of the year, have about 2-3′ of snow with average winter temps in the 20s-30’s, and as low as 10′ F. Not a lot of direct sun and mild dew can be a problem. Thank you for your help. Tom
Airborne only. Use the wood series but you will need to prep correctly first. Use the Gemini Restore Kit and a light pressure washing.
What is the “wood series”? Can we buy the Gemini restore kit on this site? thanks again. Tom
Sorry meant to say 100 Series. Gemini Kit on this link: http://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
We have a two-level pressured treated lumber deck in upstate New York. Top deck is 8X12; bottom deck is 20X22. Both have railings and spindles. It’s about 16 years old and has been stained 4-5 times with semi-transparent oil based redwood stains. All have been solvent or oil based, although the last couple of coats have been with newer formulations driven by the regulations. The last coat two years ago has peeled badly. We sanded and stripped and still haven’t gotten it all off. Our plan is to sand again to get as close to bare wood as possible, then brighten prior to staining with TWP1500 semi transparent redwood. Does this sound like the right approach and product? Any other recommendations?
Yes this does sound like the correct path for prep and stain to use.
Thanks. Glad we’re on the right path. As a follow-up, I’m thinking that we won’t be able to get every bit of the old stain off, due to the number of coats and position. Any advice on how good is good enough? Or are we doomed if we don’t get all bare wood?
Try and shoot for 95% removal. Full removal is very hard.
We stained the deck about a week ago after prepping as described above. There was no rain for 4 days after application. As of now, some areas are slightly tacky and others seem to have formed a film that bubbles and peels. That’s both in areas where there was bare wood and others where there was still some old stain. Also, some areas seem very dark; almost black. Thoughts on what’s going on and how to correct? Is pressure washing now an option?
TWP is a penetrating stain. If it is drying on top of the surface than it was over applied, not prepped enough, or combo. I would get some paint thinner and wipe down the shiny spots lightly and areas that did not absorb well. It will dry eventually as well. Not sure on the black is but it is not the TWP.
Thanks. Any thoughts on pressure washing now? (sorry if there have been multiple replies, but it doesn’t look like my previous messages went through.)
No I would not do that. Just leave alone for now.
Our deck is cedar and was built 20 plus years ago. Overtime, of course, some boards have been replaced. The deck has had several coatings, none of which have lasted well. The location is partly sunny and partly in full shade in the Chicago, Illinois area. It is about 18 inches above ground level. Approximately 400 sq feet. About three years ago we stripped the deck with Orange Stripper, sanded it where necessary and replaced boards where needed. We coated it with Cabot Australian oil stain (part number 19400). After the first application it looked fine but subsequently areas exposed to the sun have peeled and when recoated (after washing and bleaching) it appears blotchy. So I would like advice on how to remove the Cabot and then prep and recoat this deck with your 1500 series product line. I’m hoping that I will not have to sand the entire deck (which I did once 10 years ago or so). Thanks for your time.
Use the Restore A Deck Stain stripper and pressure washing to remove. Brighten the wood when done. This will prep for the 1500 application.
I just placed my stain order and realized I forgot to look into applicators etc.
As I went back to look, I noticed the BUG JUICE that can be added to the stain. It makes me nervous but it sounds great! I know it says it will not hurt the stain when added to it but that makes me nervous… how can it not? Also, what is in this BUG JUICE that can kill insects that land on the surface for 2 years but not hurt humans sitting and laying on it poolside? Can I research this BUG JUICE somewhere? Can I add it straight to the deck after the stain is dry?
Go to manufacturers website. Made by Walla Walla.
Jeff, hard to say but probably yes you can install after 24 hours if deck is in full sun to dry. It usually can take a rain about 12 after install.
Joel, you cannot add a gloss finish on top of the TWP. It will ruin the finish and peel. Do not do this.