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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
Is this stain the consistency of water! It doesn’t look like I applied anything. I used CLEAR.. it looks milky clear when applying.. after it dries it looks the same as before.. am I doing something wrong?
It is thin but oil based, not water based. The TWP in Clear has no tint and also will not protect from UV graying. All the all colors in the TWP will have tint and UV protection.
In Louisiana with 18 year old cypress cabin never stained. Recent pressure washing has exposed the natural wood to a like-new finish. Thinking about 100 series or 1500 in honeytone color. And want to spray but concerned about sediment in can clogging sprayer. What would be best?
Either series would work for this and can be sprayed. See this for tips:
https://www.twpstain.com/how-to-apply-twp-stain-with-a-sprayer
I recently ordered 5 gal of TWP100 to redo my deck but have run into a snag. The deck was stained with something and 2 years ago I pressure washed it, used the cleaner/brightener and and coated it with Twp 100. It never looked real good probably due to what every was on it before.
So this year I decided to try again. Pressure washed again. The railing and built in benches are painted and turned out to have a lot of rotted areas. The desk is solid but has a lot of cracks, it is fir and don’t know if it was PT or not. So it looks like I will start over.
I would like to use cedar but may have to use fir. If I use fir would I be better off using untreated or treated? Then letting it weather 12 months, clean/brighten then spray TWP100. Will they both crack again? I plan to use GRK screws which should not be an issue. Does the TWP100 soak into the PT wood?
TWP will work on all exterior wood types. See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I am about to purchase materials from TWP to revitalize my family’s deck. 39 y.o., hard wood (not pine), very good condition. History of stain and Red Behr Deckover was applied 26 mo ago. Obviously it must be removed & TWP stain applied correctly.
Please explain the order of steps to do this. Power wash & sand first? Or apply TWP stripper, power wash & sand, TWP brightener/conditioner, the stain?
A stain stripper will not work on this. Power sand all to remove and then clean and brighten with the Gemini Restore Kit for the final prep.
My deck is in good condition, ready for 1501 maintenance recoating. Some Redwood Con Heart 2 X 6′ are much lighter than existing boards, and they are at the edge of a covered deck so they get more sun. Which stain could I use to darken them? It has been 1 year since last application of 1501 They have had several reapplications of 1501 through the years, but are still too light.
Hi Mike,
You cannot spot stain with a darker color to get those boards to match or blend with the older boards. It may be best to strip it all down and start over. Please post a picture.
What kind of stain is recommended for glulam beams. Location BC, Canada.
The TWP 200 Series.
The white cedar deck had a first single rustic 1516 stain 2 years ago.We preped with the kit and brushed the cleaner off with a nylon broom.The 2 part deck is 500sq ft.the smsler section has a white fuss.Dose that need to be sanded prior to staining?
Post a picture please.
Pictures added…
We are working on 2 decks of the same age and wood(white alaskan cedar). Due to the overhang the outer portion of the decks are more weathered. Should this fuzz be sanded? and you recommend any additonal steps in this situation.
You are good to proceed as is.
Hi, I have an old cedar deck that we are currently sanding down to get rid of a worn and bad stain job that is peeling. We need to replace a few boards with new 2×6 cedar boards, and I’m wondering how we should proceed with finishing.
Should we clean and brighten everything at once after sanding and apply only 1 coat to the new boards and 2 coats to the old? Should we wait and let the new boards weather until fall and apply TWP to all the old wood to get it sealed? Should we leave all the old unfinished while the new boards weather?
Wait until Fall. Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit then before staining.
My deck was stained with 1500. Within 3 hours we had a heavy rain for two hours. The deck had plenty of standing water that had beaded up. Do we need to reapply more stain when it is fully dried? How do we assess whether or not the treatment was compromised? Thanks.
Wait until it fully dries from the water. If it looks even in color without water separation spots, then you are good.
Thanks. And what do we do if there are “separation spots”? Just retreat or do we have to wash and begin everything all over again?
Strip and start over most likely.
Can I apply the 1500 dark walnut stain over TWP’s 1500 natural? Or do I have to strip first?
Strip with this would be best: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
How long can a 5-gallon bucket be stored before it thickens/jells? I assume this would be somewhere with no drastic temp swings. Also, could you re-seal the lid with plastic wrap or something similar before storing?
If it does thicken – can it not be used at all?
See this: https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
If it thickens, it has gone bad.
Pictures for Steve’s Q
My contractor applied a refresher coat of TWP 101 cedartone on my deck Mon. He built the deck last year and put on one coat of TWP 101 cedartone after a few mos. The deck is pressure treated yellow pine. The deck now has a slight shine to it but it is not wet or tacky. The color darkened up quite a bit but I don’t mind how it looks. I’m in Alabama and the deck gets extreme sun and high temps. I think he put a little too much on. Should we do anything now or just leave it alone. I assume it will tone down once the sun and weather gets to it. I have 5 gals left in one gallon cans so I can reapply next year. I want to keep this deck looking nice. I have pictures but can’t seem to attach them. Thanks!
Just leave as is. Looks good!
I have already stripped, sanded and washed my cedar deck with other products. Is there any other prep I need to do prior to applying a 1500 Series TWP stain? Thanks.
Please post a picture to make sure the prep is good.
We are getting ready to use TWP on our cedar deck. Part of the deck is under a canopy and large part is in full sun. In the future, when it comes time to “refresh”, can we just put another coat on over this one or does it need to be stripped again?
Clean and brighten for the prep when time to redo.
Could I clean the deck with a light scrubbing with soapy water instead of using your Restore kit? I know you want to sell me your product, but seriously, won’t the soapy water do a satisfactory job? If so, what kind of soapy water solution would I use?
No, the soapy water will not be effective enough prep for this.
I followed your instructions and applied one coat of 1500 TWP last fall to a new 12′ x 14′ premium kiln-dried pressure-treated pine deck. How do I proceed now to apply the second coat to get it ready for summer and what is the best way to clean it first? Also, what should the outside temperature be before applying the second coat? How long will it take to dry before I can place rug and furniture on it?
Hello,
Prep with Gemini Restore Kit and stain with 1 light coat. Temps should be above 55. Dries in 12-24 hours normally.
I have a deck with no previous stain. It is pretty rough with splinters. I am going to sand it. Do I still need restore-a-deck or something else to prep it? Anything else I should know when staining a sanded deck.
Hello, after the sanding it will help to use the Gemini Restore Kit. This will help the TWP to penetrate deeper into the wood grain.
I stained pressure treated pine deck with TWP 100 series Dark Oak 2 years ago. The deck boards seemed very hot to bare feet that summer. Are lighter stain colors cooler on the feet? Can I apply a lighter stain color this year? What prep do I need to do if moving to a lighter stain color?
To go to a lighter color you will need to remove the Dark Oak. Use this kit:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Lighter colors do retain less heat in most cases.
i am getting ready to stain my deck with thw 1500 series. It arrived over the weekend. How warm does it need to be – the contractor is saying we need to wait until the nighttime temperatures dont drop below 55. Just checking it thats right. ‘Im in the New York area.
Days temps above the 55. It can drop below that at night but not below 40.
I have a 1000 Sq/ft pressure treated deck that is 10 months old. I haven’t applied anything to it yet. I’m in North Carolina. What do I need to do? And what colors look the best with pressure treated pine? Thanks!
Hello,
Prep first with this: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain with the TWP 100 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series
Any color you like will work!
Thanks for the response, but why would I use the 100 instead of the 1500?
Better penetration.
I’ve got a new ipe wood deck that was built last fall. It’s been through a rough winter season (snow, ice, rain) already and hasn’t been stained yet (been told to wait at least six months before staining). Living in the northeast, and its year-round tough weather conditions, what would you recommend, and also what would be the best color tone to use to keep as much as possible the natural color of ipe? Many thanks.
Most people use the TWP 1516 Rustic to give that rich reddish brown color that IPE is known for.
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but I’m in Canada. Apparently, I can’t use the 1500 series up here… only the 200 series. Knowing this, is the 200 series still recommended for IPE, and what would be the closest to the 1516 Rustic color tone (TWP 206 Russett seems close enough but not sure)? Thanks again for your help.
No on the 200 Series for IPE. Sorry, but it will have a hard time soaking and curing on an exotic hardwood.
Bummer!
Thank you for your time and honesty.
Log cabin in WV, should I use TWP-100 or TWP-1500? Plan to stain 2 decks and all exterior logs. I know I can use either 100 or 1500 in WV, just asking which one is ‘better’.
The 1500 has slightly better UV protection for the vertical cabin.
What about absorption, protection, is the 100 series better than 1500? Why does the 100 series dry faster than 1500 series?
The TWP 1500 has less solvents so it takes a little longer to dry/cure. They both last about the same.
I studied all the guides here, but now I’ll just ask. I have approximately 400 square feet of redwood decking AND 300 square feet of T&G cedar in the soffits. I am hoping to get a somewhat neutral stain, such as honeytone. Both products have been installed and weathered over the winter. Can I use the same kind of stain? Should I be looking at TWP100 or TWP1500? Same question about the prep – would the rough side of T&G need the same clean & brighten product as the redwood decking?
You can use the same color and the same series. Use the TWP 1500 Series. Use the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep.
How long can I go after stripping and brightening a wood deck and still get good application of the stain? TWP 1500
Try to stain within 2 weeks of the prep.
My previous question didn’t mention which product I was hoping to thin … It’s TWP 100 Series 5 Gallon Cedartone 101
Unfortunately, it has gone bad and there is not a way to thin it so it will work correctly.
I have about 2 gallons left in my 5 gallon bucket from perhaps 3 years ago. I’ve blended it back to creamy life with my drill and mixer attachment. It seems, however, a good bit thicker than before. May I thin it a bit with paint thinner or something similar.
I have a home in Pennsylvania and I just built a deck. It has weathered the later part of last summer and all winter. Up till now I have done nothing to it . What deck cleaner and which series of your product should I use ? I’ve used pressure treat pine to build the deck. Are there any retail stores that sell your product in the Pittsburgh area ?
Hello John,
Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain with the TWP 1500 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
We are an online dealer for the TWP. We ship there to PA in about 2-3 days.
Hi, recently I ordered two stain samples. The clear and the honeytone. I actually think I would like somewhere in the middle. Can they be mixed without harm to the color? Also, I have a 22 year old house with cedar clapboards. We have always stained them clear but have not in a few years. We have pressure washed the siding but am wondering what else we may need to do to prepare the siding. Also my house is a cape measuring 40 x 24. Can you advise me how much stain to buy? Thank you very much, Laura
Yes, you can mix them together. Please supply a total sq. footage of all the siding to determine the amount needed. As for the prep, please post a picture to make sure it has been done correctly.
Hi, here is a picture of the front of our house. We have about 1800 sq. feet of siding to stain. My question was how much stain will we need and do we need to do any further prep besides pressure wash, which we have done. Thanks!
About 15-20 gallons for the 2 coats of TWP applied wet on wet. You should be okay to stain now.
My deck is 3years old, I used other water based sealers and found them wanting. I used your deck stripper with a power washer and got all of the old finish removed. Next I sanded the entire deck and brought it to like new. I then used your brightner followed by a single coat of your 1530 product. Did not do a wet on wet because deck is 750 square feet in size.
How long must I wait before putting a second coat on the deck?
6-12 months. Lightly clean to remove any dirt first.
Wondering when/if I can apply a 2nd coat of stain…My cedar deck is about 10 months old. I used the Restore a Deck cleaner and brightener last week, and then I stained this weekend with the 1500. I applied only 1 coat with a brush to a small section at a time, and then immediately wiped it off with a rag, and moved to the next section. Now I’m wondering if I didn’t let it seep in for a long enough period of time.
For Don Lavin’s question above, you recommended waiting 6-12 months before applying a 2nd coat. Do you recommend the same for my situation? Also, can you clarify what you mean above by “lightly clean?” Just with a hose? Powerwash?
Yes. Lightly clean with soapy water and a light pressure wash rinse to remove any dirt.
Outside Cedar 2X4 deck, 33 years old, 10′ above grade. Deck is 12X20.
I want to stain and preserve the underside of the 2X4s and joists. This area has never been stained or painted before. What concerns should I have using TWP 1500?
No issues. Make sure all wood is prepped properly first. Clean and brighten the wood: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
We bought the 1500 series last year but can’t remember what color we bought. Do you keep records? TIA
Hello,
TWP 1500 Series 5 Gallon. Stain Color Honeytone 1515
I’m getting ready to stain my two year old redwood deck ( previously stained with 1500 honey tone) with 1500 California redwood. I will strip it first and prepare as suggested. You say apply when the temperatures are between 50 and 90 And to try and avoid full sunlight. Are you talking about outdoor ambient temperature for temperature of the deck wood itself? When I stain it’s going to be 80 to 85° ambient temperature. I have full sun in the middle the day and the deck gets quite warm Is it best to stain in the morning and late afternoon and avoid midday? Once I start I Prefer for not to stop!
Air temperature, not deck wood itself. Does not matter on the time of day.
I live in Canada and it looks like you guys only ship TWP 200 series there. I also note that the 200 series is labeled for “Shake and Shingle” to “Enhance the Wood” and a “Repellant” where the 100 Series is described as a “Total Wood Preservative”. I have a couple of questions:
1. What’s the difference between the 100 & 200 series.
2. What would be the difference between the two products be if used on deck boards?
Thanks in advance,
Mike
Hi Mike,
1. The 200 has a higher solid content over the 100 Series. Both are a semi-transparent stain. The 200 has a low VOC of 250 that allows it into your country. The 100 is not allowed as it is a higher 550 VOC.
2. Longevity would be the same. The 200 would take longer to cure and that would be the main difference. Could take 1-4 days to cure fully. Just stay off until then before use.
Our decks are redwood, installed one year ago. No prior stain or treatment of any kind. Have TWP 100 (bought last year) but based on your instructions it is not yet applied. We have cleaned them and are waiting for good weather to apply TWP. Your instructions mention use of a brightener prior to applying TWP. We chose 100 with intent to let the deck weather to a natural gray. Two questions:
1. Would there be any advantage of using a brightener when we are aiming for a weathered gray?
2. Would there be any advantage of using a gray decking stain under the TWP?
Thank you.
1. For the prep, you should clean and brighten. It is best to brighten the wood as it will help the stains penetration into the wood grain.
2. You cannot do that. The TWP cannot be applied over a stain.
Five weeks ago I had my deck sprayed with your TWP 1500 product. The product dried blotchy due to the method of application. Can I use a roller and put a light over coat on top of the cured product to even out the color?
Thank You
Unfortunately, not a good idea. Best to wait 6-12 months, do a light prep with the Gemini Restore Kit, and then apply a light coat. The other option is to strip now and start over.
We installed a pressure treated pine 8×40′ deck last July. I live in South Georgia almost in Florida. Which TWP product would be best for my deck and when should we stain it? Is it necessary to do the bleach wash prior to staining?
For the prep, use the Gemini Restore Kit. For the stain, use the TWP 100 Series. You can do this now.
I have a 10’W x 32’L x 8’H Row Barn made from white pine board and batten. It has been “weathered” for 14 months. What product(s) do you recommend? Can you provide an estimate on how much I will need?
What is the total sq footage of all sides added together? For the prep, use the Gemini Restore Kit. For the stain, use the TWP 1500 Series.
Total flat square footage is 696 sq ft.
I had read elsewhere on your site that new smooth wood should use the TWP 100 series. FYI… I live in Pennsylvania.
This is not new anymore at 14 months. Only the TWP 1500 is allowed in PA.
Sorry for all the questions!
I assume I am applying wet-on-wet, how much do you recommend I purchase for 696 sq ft.
Will (1) 5 gallon get me there? ie. 696 x 1.5=1044 sq ft
Or should I purchase 10 gallons?
For the two coats applied wet on wet, you will need about 7 gallons.
We purchased outdoor furniture from an Amish family in Guthrie, KY. The stain that was used was TWP Dark Oak. Is there a dealer in that area? It is time to re-stain.
Hi Vickie, we ship directly from our website to your area: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series-1-gallon
I live in North Dakota. I have a cedar deck that is three years old. It has never been cleaned or stained. It has weathered to a beautiful gray, which I like. What would I use to keep this color. I plan on using the 100 series What can you tell me about the gray stain you have. If I would use the gray stain can I ever use a different color years down the road? Thanks in advance.
Karen
Hi Karen, you, unfortunately, cannot apply a gray stain over your oxidized gray wood without the proper prep. The prep will remove the current oxidation/graying. Are you okay with this? Many people will then use the Clear as that will allow the wood to gray naturally again.
Thank you for your quick reply. If I use the 100 series in clear, after using Gemini Cleaner/Brightener, will I get the weathered gray look again and still have good protection but no UV protection? How long before it turns gray again? Is the Gemini Cleaner/Brightener the right product for prepping this 3 year old deck? Another question, if the next time I re-stain is there a problem if I switch to a colored TWP stain and not the clear? Thanks again! Ask A Question Here
Yes, the clear weather naturally but protects from other elements. How long to gray depends on the UV exposure you have. The Gemini Restore kit is the correct prep. You can prep again in the future and go with a stain color if you desire.
If I use the clear stain when would I know to stain again? Thanks againAsk A Question Here
In about 2 years.
Will I need to do 2 coats if using clear? How many years do I wait to stain it again? Is the UV protection on the colored stains, just to keep the wood from turning gray? Thanks again Ask A Question Here
2 coats applied wet on wet. The colors do have UV protection and enhance the natural grain of the wood.
Sorry for all the questions, but would I be better off to stain my deck in the fall, when there is no concern for pollinating? I have 2 trees on both side of my deck?Ask A Question Here
You should be fine after the trees are done pollinating. It only lasts a few weeks.
I live in new York and I’m gonna stain my deck for the first time. My deck is 2 years old and is built from pressure treated wood from Lowe’s. My question is which is the right stain for my deck. There are no trees nearby and it’s in the sunlight so no mold. Also how many coats do I apply. Thanks in advance.
Mario
Hi Mario, for the stain, apply 2 coats with the TWP 1500 Series with wet on wet application method. Make sure to prep first. Use the Gemini Restore Kit for this.
3 yrs ago, our deck was professionally stained with TWP 200 Gold. 1 yr. ago,I cleaned it with soap & super washing soda, which caused the stain to become tacky. Didn’t use deck. This year, rinsed off pollen with hose. Dried with a towel, which lifted lots of stain and ground-in dirt. Do we have to completely strip before re-staining with TWP 200 Gold? What preparation do you recommend to reseal? What should I have used to clean the deck?
To clean the deck use this: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
If you strip, use this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Might be best to strip this to ensure you do not have an issue again.
Our deck is large and Heart Redwood. 2 yrs ago we used 1502. It’s time to recoat and we’d like to get a less-red result. We will use the Gemini kit, of course. Can we simply apply something like 1516 over it? We note that we CANNOT recoat with a lighter shade. Which tints would you think will work? PS – Your product is GREAT. Glad (after a lot of research) we went with it, even if not well known in the Inland Northwest (Spokane WA)
The Rustic is still a red color but with a hint of brown. Not sure if that is the look you are going for. When switching colors it is best to use the Restore A Deck Stripper/Brightener kit. It is no harder than using the Gemini Restore Kit, just removes it down to the bare wood.
I used two step stripper& brightner on my deck that had 3 yr old 1500 dark oak. Let dry 2 days then applied one coat of 1500 dark oak. after 24 hours still have several dark spots that are sticky to the touch. how can i correct this.
Hello,
See this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
How long should I wait before allowing light foot traffic on my cedar deck after application of TWP101 (in about 60 degree weather)?
12-36 hours.
I have an ipe front porch surface with an ipe bridge going to it that I’ve periodically applied SS616 Rustic Oak to, and I’m finally almost out of it. Would the TWP 1500 Rustic 1516 be the stain to use now?
Hello, you will need to strip off the old Storm Shield to be able to use the TWP 1516. Once stripped, brighten the wood.
Thanks but is there anything I can just go over and enhance the SS616 with?
Sorry but not. You will have to remove it.
I applied the SS616 in the first place with the understanding that I could go over it occasionally to enhance its appearance, and it worked. If I’m going to have to strip it, I might as well go back to square one and consider other finishes. I want something that I can go over periodically to rejuvenate it without having to strip it.
Whenever you switch brands or types of stains you have to remove. When you switch to the TWP 1500, you can clean and recoat as needed down the road when suing the same.
Stripping is not that hard. Just apply, pressure wash off, and then neutralize with the wood brightener.
I guess I’m confused. The page at https://www.twpstain.com/storm-shield-1-gallon says SS616 is available. Is that not the case? I can’t find it on the website other than that.
It is not available anymore.
Sorry for all the questions, but one thing leads to another. One more: Would the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper work well in removing multiple coats of the SS616? In the description (the Where to Use section), it talks about using it on oil- and latex-based finishes, but nothing about water-based ones.
Yes the RAD Stripper should remove this. Feel free to post a picture to help confirm. Latex-based and water-based are the same thing.
I have a 3 year old cedar shed built by my Amish friends. They used Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck Semi Transparent stain. It is time to re- treat. I was told to power wash and let dry and apply with a pump sprayer. I assume they were referring to going back with the same product. I would rather avoid the extra steps of stripping. Can I get away with this and use the TWP? And if so which do you recommend 100 or 1500? And lastly will your product last longer that 3 years? Live in NE
Texas.
Hello, you cannot apply TWP over the Super Deck. Best is to strip which is very easy to do. Just apply and pressure wash off:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Use the TWP 1500 Series. On a shed, it should last 3-5 years.
I applied TWP 1500 (Rustic Oak) to my deck last year. In previous years I’ve used TWP 100. I was thinking of trying the new WS option. Can I put that directly over 1500 or do I need to strip? (I’m worried the 1500 is an oil-based…)
No, you cannot apply the WS over the TWP 1500. You are better off staying with the TWP 1500. Unless you want to strip.
How well does TWP lay down and not streak between roller or brush strokes? Past oil stains have had poor lapping and shows the differences.
TWP is penetrating stain so it does not show brush marks, etc as long as it is applied correctly and prepped correctly.
In the spring I’ve applied TWP 1500 Cedartone to a deck that is on the south side of my house. I’m in Northern Virginia, and the sun hits the deck most of the day. I’ve noticed the color stays on the deck well, but by the fall, the wood appears to absorb water when it rains. Is this expected, or should the stain repel water longer? I was hoping for at least a full year.
Yes. TWP actually is a breathable stain that is designed to shed water, not bead water.