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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
Hi, I have applied the 1500 series stain about 4 years ago on my new deck, luv the product. This year I will need to re-stain it. Can I simply go over the existing coat (what is left)without stripping it. If so, will it absorb into the wood?
You will need to use the Gemini Restore Kit and pressure washing for the prep before reapplying.
I was in the middle of staining the 3rd part of a 4 part wrap around deck and I ran out of stain. The reorder of the TWP 100 Rustic, will take approximately 4 days to deliver. If I put the second coat on the section that has received a coat, and finish the remainder with the wet on wet method. Will the two methods blend?
Probably not 100% as the TWP is suppoes to be applied wet on wet, not wet on dry. Since the stain has already cured, you may get some shiny spots, etc as well.
So would it be better to finish the unstained section of the deck, let it dry and then apply the second coat after all has dried?
Actually it would be best to finish what you have and then leave alone. Appply a light second coat in 6-12 months or as needed. You will have better results this way.
Can twp be applied on a deck that was prev stained with sikkens?
No. The Sikkens has to be removed first.
Should I use Gemini restore a deck?
No. That is not a stripper, but a cleaner and a brightener and will not remove the Sikkens. Which Sikkens version did you use? Not all can be stripped.
I’m not sure which version, a previous owner used it. It’s semi transparent and he said he applied a coat every year, though the instructions recommended every six months. He said it was $80 per gallon. The deck is mahogany. Hope that helps, but let me kno wif you need more info. Thanks!
Pot a picture, please.
The first picture is from part of the deck covered by the roof, the other photos are exposed to weather. Located in CT.
It is overcoated in spots so you may need to strip a couple of times to remove all of the Sikkens.
Can I store my unopened 5 gallon TWP100 container in an outside closed shelter (in South Georgia) until I am ready to use – I just received the stain.
If so, can it be stored for a couple of months if necessary until ready to stain. Hopefully will not need to do that – but not sure. We seem to be having a lot of rain the past 2 months.
As long as it does not freeze, it should be fine.
What type of stain is best for us? Northern Ms, Treated pine deck @ 3 years old. SW exposure, full sun from 10:00 a.m. on. Previously treated with Olympic oil semi- transparent. About 80% of stain is gone where the sun hits, and wood has turned grey.
Strip off the Olympic and then apply the wood brightener. Use the TWP 100 Series.
Any concerns withy using a TWP stain on a post and rail (4 board) fence?
No issues with this.
Staining a new deck (weathered, and it will be cleaned/brightened), so your suggestion is one coat to start, then possibly another in a year or so. My dilemma is order amount. I’m staining 2 contrasting colors, so I don’t need a full 5 gallon pail of each color. The shipping break and sample rebate makes is tempting to order the 5 gallon pails anyway. How long can I store opened pails of stain? It might be enough to complete a second coat in a year, but I don’t know if it will still be good. What is your storage advice on unused stain? thanks, Mitch
See this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
i have a teak table for the outdoor deck that is now turning black in spots. Can I stain it dark. I love tehe table but dont know why the wood is turning black
Hello, you will need to prep it first before staining. Is there a current stain on the wood now?
We have a pressure treated two tiered deck (16×20, 16×22′) that is close to 20 years old. In the past we have used Sikkens and Behr semi-transparent oil-based stains. We just applied Behrs Wood & Finnish Stripper which has done a sub optimal job of removing the previous stains. We just ordered Restore A Deck’s Stripper and also their Brightener so we hope to get better results. We live in CT and deck is on south side of house so it gets plenty of sun in summer. We don’t know if we should use the 100 or 1500 series. We would like to stick with a semi-transparent cedar stain.
For CT, you will need the TWP 1500 Series. It is semi-transparent.
I will be applying twp 1500 to my deck. How long does it need to dry/cure before I can walk on the deck
12-36 hours is normal.
Spellin mistake on the previous message, it should say sand it.
Hi,
just moved in, the cedar deck appears not treated for many years, completely gray. I wanted to send it before applying TWP1500. Is that a good idea? Or should I do only the restore kit and whitening?
Maybe do both sanding and restore?
Please let me know.
Thanks.
You do not have to sand it. Just use the Gemini Restore Kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
If you need to sand, do it after the cleaning but before the brightener.
Hello. I re-did my deck last summer with brown pressure treated lumber (I think spruce). It gets about 50% sun exposure. The deck surface is 12×12. I would like to know the best product to use on this. I live in Niagara Falls Ontario but I have a US mailing address that I can use to pick up the stain and will import myself if it is one of your products that you can’t ship to Canada. Thanks.
Hello, for Canada and their VOC laws, you will need the TWP 200 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-200-series-5-gallon
Will work great!
My TWP 1500 in Pecan is flaking off in one spot on my deck – it’s where my patio furniture sits – Do I have to re-do the entire deck? Or can I just this one area?
Most likely the entire deck as it is hard to spot apply and have it blend after year(s) of natural weathering.
What is the darkest color in TWP 200? Is the darkest color anything like Dark Oak in TWP 100?
The Butternut 207 and no, it is not as dark as the Dark Oak. Close though.
How long on average can I expect the TWP 100 hold up?
On a deck. 2-3 years. On wall or verticals surfaces, twice as long.
Hello,
We are interested in redoing our deck on a house we bought 2 years ago. We are not sure what was previously used on it but would like advice on how to prep it before staining it. It appears the old stain is flaking off. I have attached a photo for your reference.
Hello, to remove the current stain, use this with pressure washing: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Ok, thank you. Do we need to cover our siding on the house or will the stripper not harm it?
Depends on what the siding is made of?
It is vinyl siding.
No harm to vinyl.
we live in ohio. our deck is about 15 years old but in decent shape. where can we look at TWP stains. Looking at a semi-solid cedar?
Hello, the TWP 1500 is what you would need to Ohio but it does not come in semi-solid colors. Only semi-transparent colors.
Whats the difference between storm shield and TWP 100 and 1500 stains. I have a cedar deck in NE Montana that will see full sun most of the day and brutal winters. Whats my best choice. Deck is 18 months old and never been treated yet,
See here: https://www.twpstain.com/difference-between-twp-100-and-1500-series
Either of those would work for you in MT.
The Storm Shield is discontinued.
What is the difference between TWP 100, 200 and 1500 – other than VOC? If we use one color of stain this year, when we redo it in the future, do we need to use the same color stain? Thank you.
Donna, see this for more tech info: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-stain-comparison-reviews-ratings
When you redo in the future, yes it is best to use the same color and series if doing a maintenace coat. You can if ever needed, remove easily and start over with a different color or series.
The chart you referred me to doesn’t even show Slate Gray as an available color. It also shows that TWP 200 isn’t available in one gallon cans but I got a one gallon can from your online company. How old is this “comparison” chart? And how accurate is it?
We offer it in gallons and in slate gray:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-200-series
We have a cedar deck that is two years old and never been stained. Looking for a product that will make the deck look the yellow color it has after a rain, and stand up to Wisconsin’s weather.
Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and use the TWP 115 Honeytone for the wet look golden color your desire.
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series
Thank you for your quick reply.
I have replaced a 25 yr old deck with a new deck-back in Feb. It has been about 3 1/2 months and I am ready to stain the deck.(Is 3 1/2 mos long enough to wait before staining a new pressure treated pine deck?) I am also going to strip old stain off a screened in porch adjacent to the deck and stain with the same color as I’ll be using on the uncovered deck. I live in central Alabama and the deck gets alot of afternoon sun. Should I use the 100 or the 1500 series stain? I read where the 100 series has a lower % of solids and dries faster so does that mean it is more transparent that the 1500 series? So I assume the 100 series would show more of the grain of the wood?
I think I’m going with Dark Oak.
See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
The 100 and the 1500 both show the same amount of wood grain. Most would use the 100 Series for AL.
We finally stained yesterday with TWP 100 in pecan – It looks amazing!! I notice though that even with back-brushing, there are some spots that still look shiny today. Will these eventually dry or there something we should do now?
You should be okay but see this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
Can the TWP 200 stains be intermixed to get a custom color? Can Slate Gray be combined with the others?
Yes you can mix together the colors of the same series.
How do you choose between 100, 200 and 1500? I live in North Carolina and would like a versatile and durable sealer for new and old wood of many species in outdoor applications. Low VOC is nice but not if it dramatically reduces durability. Generally, it will be used on wood that has not been sealed or stained previously. Thanks!
Most use the TWP 100 Series in NC. See here for tips: https://www.twpstain.com/difference-between-twp-100-and-1500-series
Please advise how to properly reseal the 5 gallon bucket.
I had about 1/3 of the bucket left last year and thought I had it properly sealed however, when I opened it this year, it was mostly solidified.
I opened the new 5 gallon bucket and have only used half of it and do not want to waste another 2.5 gallons so I would like to get it properly sealed this time.
Thanks.
Best to transfer any remainder to a new container. You can use metal single gallons or a plastic pail/lid. They are fairly inexpensive at your local stores.
We used Gemini then TWP stain to stain our soffits which were about 10 years old. Our painter dripped the stain onto our hardy plank siding, then painted two coats of paint over it as we were repainting our house. It appears that when he painted the siding, the drips bled through. How can we avoid this with the rest of the house?
Best to tarp the siding when doing the soffits.
How can we get the stain off of the painted surface?
Try a water-based graffiti remover.
I built a deck out of white cedar, its rough sawn, im going to sand it and then stain. Looking for the best option to protect against UV since the deck will get a lot of sun. I’d like to keep the natural cedar look. Thanks !
Try the TWP 1500 Series: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
Hi – I’m three years out and need to do a maintenance coat on deck/rails but wanted to switch from cedartone to pecan (both 1500 series), am I okay to not strip but just clean/brighten?
You will need to strip and brighten to switch. Very easy to do with this:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Which TWP product is the most mold resistant?
The 100 Series or 1500 Series.
Would your water based product be better on red cedar siding? Does it dry faster than the oil based products?
Best would be the 1500 for cedar siding.
Is there any linseed oil in TWP 200? What types of oils are in TWP 200? Is there a biocide or a mildewcide in this product? The product info states that it “forms a film”. Will that film grow mold/mildew? How long does it take this product to dry on vertical surfaces? Would your water based product be better? Would TWP 1500 be better? We have red cedar shingle siding. What product would be fastest drying and most mildew resistant Thank you.
The 200 paraffin oil-based and is mildew resistant. Best would be the 1500 Series.
TWP 1500 doesn’t come in Slate Gray. We want the Slate Gray color and we live in CA. Why would the 1500 Series be better?
Can TWP 200 be applied in the sun? Or on hot vertical surfaces? Since it’s meant to be used on roofs, I presume it’s not a problem if it’s applied in the sun. We’ll be using it on our cedar shingle siding. Thank you.
Yes, you can do this.
Hi,
I plan on staining my Cedar fence with TWP1500 with an airless sprayer (using a X11 or X13 tip). Where I live it rains 2-3 days a week but is always windy. I now have a window of several dry days but 23 mph gusts are forecasted. What do you recommend for max wind speed during application?? Also, how does this affect dry time. Thanks,
Kris in MA
The wind will easliy gust the stain when using an ariless sprayer and can make a mess on nearby structures. Not advisable. 10 mph or less is ideal.
My daughter recently purchased 2 rockers made from cypress. One was stained with TWP 103. She was told to pressure wash them to remove mildew and restain both, they gave here the partially filled can of stain. After pressure washing, the stained chair was very splotchy (the stain color was not near as deep in some areas). My questions:
Is TWP recommended for outdoor furniture?
If so, can it be coated with Spar Urethane?
Yes it can be used on furniture. No it cannot be coated with a urethane.
Thanks,
-I’m trying to match an existing rocker which has a urethane coating. Why is urethane not recommended?
-Do you think the splotched finish was because of the pressure washing or was the stain not applied correctly?
Will not adhere to the TWP and will probably peel. Splotchy due to the pressure washing.
Why do you recommend the Slate Gray color in TWP 200? How resistant is it to mold? What would be the maintenance/recoat process? Will it need to be stripped to recoat it in 3 – 5 years? Thank you.
Clean and recoat every 3-6 years or as needed. Yes, it is resistant to mildew.
We built our home with Western Red Cedar shingle siding about 10 years ago. We originally used Cabot – Clear Solutions – Weathered Gray – to stain the shingles. We failed to wash the house every year and now we have tons of mold/mildew growth on our shingles. We have been trying to strip the old Cabot stain off and are having some success but to get every last bit of stain off is extremely time consuming. A few painting contractors have looked at the shingles and suggest TWP 200 – Slate Gray – for a new stain. Most of our house is surrounded with a porch and so it doesn’t get much, if any, sun. We have one area that is a Western exposure and one area that ha a Southern exposure. I think the reason they are suggesting TWP 200 is because it will cover over the old Cabot product. Is TWP 200 a solid stain? One contractor say the only thing to use is RADCON. We live n Sonoma County California which is about one hour Northeast of San Francisco.
Any suggestions on which TWP product would be best and that would be the most mold/mildew resistant? We do not want to have to strip the shingles in the future. What is the difference between TWP 200 and RADCON. What would be the required maintenance program for either of these products? Has TWP been bought out by Sherwin Williams? If so, have the formulas changed?
RADCON is TWP 200 in a concentrate. Sherwin Willaims has nothing to do with TWP stains.
The TWP 200 Slate Gray would be a great choice for this home. It is not a solid stain but semi-solid to semi-transparent in the Slate Gray.
Thank you so much. I can’t seem to find sample cans of TWP 200. A painting contractor recommended TP 200 in Slate Gray but I’d like to try it on our shingles before going forward. Where can I buy a sample can?
I am sorry but we do not offer samples in the 200 Series.
My 15 year old Ipe deck treated with Cedartone 101 needs recoating approximately every 6-8 months due to exposure to the Texas Sun. Will the 200 series hold up better?
Can it be applied either full concentration or blended with 100 series? If blended, is their a preferred ratio?
You cannot mix the 100 and the 200 together. The 200 Series and the 100 Series both last about the same.
Treated pine deck and railings. 2+ years old. Never stained or painted. Grayed color may want slightly darkened color. Upstate SC area. Deck to be pressure washed and allowed to dry.
What TWP product would be best. Desire low maintenance.
Three years ago a contractor built a large cedar pergola in our back yard, and also installed custom pine & cypress cabinets on our back porch. They told us they used TWP 206 Russet Brown on both pergola and cabinets. The cabinets get morning sun (and we do live in Texas so it’s hot) and have started to fade and have developed some whitening. The pergola is holding up better but is fading in spots. What do you recommend we use to restore the cabinets and (eventually) the pergola?
Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and apply one coat of the same 206:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
The stain says to not apply if the temperature is over 90F. Does that mean over 90F when we apply it (7:00 AM) or over 90F during the day (anytime after 9:00 AM or so).
When you apply.
I have stripped the old semi-transparent stain off my deck boards with RAD and used the brightener and I am now ready to stain. I am only going to stain the deck boards with the TWP semi-transparent dark oak. I am planning to use an opaque stain by Flood on the spindles and rails as that is what I had on there previously and I have not been able to get the old opaque stain off completely even with sanding. When I used your website to calculate how much stain I would need, it says I need 5 gallons. That seems like a lot of stain. The deck is approximately 15 x 25 with 7 stairs about 4 ft wide (approx 375 sq feet). I also saw on your website that one gallon will cover approx. 150-200 square feet, which would only be about 2-3 gallons, so I am a bit confused about how much stain to order. Please let me know how much you think I will need. I would like to order soon so I can start staining. Also, can you tell me how long it will take for me to receive the stain. I live in Upstate NY. And what is the best way to clean the brushes after i am done staining. Thank you for your help.
For two coats you will need about 4 gallons to cover 375 sq feet. Takes 2-3 business days to arrive to NY. Clean brushes with mineral spirits.
Thank you. And in case it rains before I get the deck stained, how soon after rain can I apply the stain
24-48 hours depending on how heavy the rain.
Hi
my tomahawk log home has been stained by a company called ProWoodcare in WI I believe they have used TWP 200 Butternut Brown last staining was about 5 years ago my east and west side need staining badly so I was thinking of doing it myself. The question I have for you is If I don’t have time to power wash my logs is it ok to just wipe them down do get the dirt and grime off before applying TWP 200 Butternut brown again or is their a better way to clean them dry? I would like to do the staining this weekend as it looks like we are going to have a couple days without rain that is why I am asking. thanks in advance
Craig
Hello, sorry but no. you cannot just wipe for prep. You have to prep correctly and that would consist of using the Gemini Restore Kit and pressure washing.
What is the best way to remove the white plastic “shipping ring” from the gallon cans of stain without damaging the can in the process. Seems somewhat difficult.
Pry inwards and it pops off. Use fingers or pliers. Just grip the plastic part.
We used RAD Stripper on our 10 year old cedar deck that previously had Cabots Semi-Transparent Australian Timber Oil on it- it had worn off most every place that was in the sun, but still looked good under the deck cover and any place that is mostly in the shade. The floor looks great, but a lot of the old stain did not come off the top and bottom rails of the railing (spindles are metal) and on the posts. We used the RAD stripper twice on these areas, letting set longer the 2nd time, but not much improvement. Will these areas all need to be sanded?? Am considering leaving the posts as is because we will be using TWP 100 in pecan, and they are very close in color! Thanks!
Sanding would be the best option. The TWP cannot be applied over the Cabot.
is it ok to sand small areas after brightened has been applied
Hand sand lightly.
I have a cedar sided house at 7000 Ft in sunny Colorado. I’ve used SuperDeck in the past and gotten 8 yrs out of it twice now. Been very happy with results. SW bought out the line and reformulated it with very bad reviews. Looking for a good transparent stain/protectant.
Questions: what do you suggest in your line?
What is compatible with original product?
I can’t realistically prep the whole house- it’s in great shape just has some faded areas from sun UV and hail marks (not damage) so will your product give me good life and protection?
It’s a big house and a big job, can’t do this very often. Need it to last!!! What is best to use?
TWP 1500 Series for this house would be best. You cannot apply a different brand of stain over the Super Deck though as it will not be compatible. It will need to be removed fully first. Strip and brighten with this:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
You, unfortunately, have to prep the entire house to do it correctly.
Dang! What is incompatible? Why won’t the TWP soak in? What would happen if not stripped?
It is not just TWP but whenever you switch brands, you will need to remove the previous coatings. If not prepped correctly the TWP cannot soak into the wood correctly and will dry filming on top of the wood. This could result in an uneven appearance and premature product failure.
I would like help with restaining my fence Fence.
What species is the wood? Treated, but not sure what type of wood.
Older than 1 year.
Was stained originally, guessing 10 years ago with Thompson Semi-Transparent. Has held up really well until the last year.
Is TWP stain available in stores near Aurora Illinois?
That is PT Pine. For the prep, use the Stripper and the Wood Brightener:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Stain with the TWP 1500 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
We ship directly from our site to your door.
Thank you for the info. Does the square footage per gallon recommended on the site account for two coats using the wet-on-wet process? My fence adds up to approximately 1100 square feet. My contractor is planning to use a sprayer, how many gallons would you recommend? My concern with only shipping is that the individual gallons are roughly $13 shipping per gallon. It’s great that the 5-gallon can is shipped free but I’m more concerned about the additional gallons. Thank you!
One coat on the sq. footage amounts. For 1100 sq feet and the two coats, you will need about 10-11 gallons.
I plan to brush TWP Honeytone on white oak timbers. Wood is new and typical raw oak color (wheat). Will honey tone change this warm color much?
See here for samples to test: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
I recently built a green, not kiln dried, cypress fence. It’s been up since Nov 2016. Moisture level checks running between 4-11% Want to do cleaner and brightener and then TWP 1500 series. There’s not much information I’ve found for cypress applications. Anything I should be concerned about?
Nothing to worry about. Good to go.
I had a cedar pergola installed last summer. The pergola was stained with TWP1501. The condo association where we live does not like the color of the product and we must have it redone. What kind of preparation do we need to do to the cedar since it was only stained last summer?
Will the new stain cover properly since the original coat was just put on last summer?
Strip and brighten for the prep: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Once removed you can use the new stain color.
I live in South Louisiana and have a treated pine deck that is about 20 years old. I have used Thompson Water Seal on it a couple of times through the years but have not done anything to it for a few years now. It’s still in pretty good condition. What TWP product should I use to restore and seal the deck now? What preps should be done before sealing?
Strip and brighten for the prep:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Stain with the TWP 100 Series.
So the 100 series is better for my application than the 1500 series?
Either series would work the same.