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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
We put down cape cod gray on a stripped proper deck its to gray the deck is old enough to over coat lightly with 106 prarrie gray to mive the color a little …what do u think ?
No, you cannot overcoat this now once it has cured. The additional coat will not take.
I guess we will have to wait 6 to 12 months ?
Yes, but applying with Prairie Gray over it will not work to achieve what you want. You would have to strip it down and then intermix the two colors first before applying.
Hi. I applied TWP 100 stain in the spring. I read somewhere that it’s ok to apply a fall coat but I cannot find the information on that now. Is there prep required like there was when I applied it in the spring?
Yes, same prep but better to do this next Spring.
Hi, I recently acquired a home in Georgia (Atlanta area). The deck receives direct sun light for, at least, 5-6h in summer (deck is heading west-a little south). Atlanta is very warm in summer, as you might know. The deck needs treatment, for sure (see the pictures). I have no idea about the stain type they used before but, at some areas, the old stain is gone/or stripping out. The color is very dark, and seems to be solid, but I am not sure (not an expert). The wood has some cracks (as you can notice in the pictures) but It seems to be in good conditions, very flat and tighten. I applied some pressure washing in an small area and it seems the old stain easily goes away with it, but didn´t continue just in case. Under the deck there is a metallic ceiling with two fans, that prevents water leaking underneath (picture attached)
So, I want to fix it and my neighbor recommended me to use TWP, so, here I go. I´d like you to help me with the following questions:
1. Should I use the stripper/brightener or cleaner/brightener for preparation?
2. Should I do pressure washing before and after applying the prep chemicals? (I was considering to remove as much old stain as possible with pressure washing before starting with the products)
3. Considering the metal ceiling underneath, can I use the stripper?, I mean, are the chemicals going to damage the metal roof?… or I should simply use pressure washing and the cleaner/brightener.
4. Should I sand it after pressure washing? (Don´t know if sanding it is a good practice… I have read in this forum that it could lock the wood pores)
5. Considering Atlanta and the direct sun light it receives + the extreme temperatures and humidity… Should I go with TWP 100 or 1500 series? (1500 seems to have better UV protection)
I really appreciate your support. I consider myself a good handyman, but, this is my 1st time fixing a deck from scratch. Thank you.
You have a solid stain on this deck. It cannot be stripped. The only way to prep for the TWP stain would be to power sand off 100% of the coating. After the sanding, you would do a deck cleaner and then a wood brightener for final prep. Use the TWP 100 Series.
Thanks for your answer. I have started my power sand (a lot of work!!!). When you said “a deck cleaner and a wood brightener”, you meant, Gemini Restore Kit, Right?. I already ordered TWP 103 (Dark Oak) with RAD combo (got it today at home). Do I have to apply two coats (wet on wet) after all this long prep work?
Just one coat since you are power sanding. Correct on the Gemini Kit.
I’m in Iowa. Temperatures at now mid 50’s during the day and low 40’s at night. Are these temperatures warm enough to stain? I would guess I could stain late morning/early afternoon to get the hottest sun. Will this be enough? Should I cover the deck at night after staining? Thanks.
Yes but no lower than this. Do not cover.
I have a 12-yr old wood front door unit (42″ door with sidelights) on the north side of my OK home with about 10′ overhang. To our utter horror at original installation, stain and interior lacquer were applied. Not surprisingly, the lacquer failed and flaked badly, and there was considerable damage to bottom half of door. My local paint Store sold me TWP101-Cedar. I spent 16 hours properly stripping the lacquer and sanding. I applied one coat of TWP101, and though color isn’t absolutely uniform due to bottom damage (it’s got a little character), it looks gorgeous. I do wonder if there is enough UV protection. Do you recommend applying spar urethane (i.e. Minwax) for more UV protection? Or should TWP101 be sufficient? If I were to apply spar urethane, would I have to spend more hours stripping/sanding when it needs to be refreshed?
You cannot apply a poly/urethane over a deck stain like the TWP. It will blister and peel.
Good to know. I guess I will just plan to reapply TWP in a few years. Thanks.
I live near Boston in MA. My cedar deck was previously stained twice. Once with TWP 101 Cedar, 2nd time with combination 101 Cedar and 1500 Natural. Last time was 3 or maybe 4 years ago. At this point water is not beading and I’d like to stain it again before the winter. 1501 Cedar tone is way to go?
Do I need to sand/strip before staining it again? If so what do you recommend?
Also I understand I can’t get 101 in MA anymore. What would you recommend I switch to?
Last question, I still have half a gallon of 101 that I bought in 2011. I assume at this point I should get rid of it is that right?
The old gallon of 101 is not good. Best to strip and brighten this deck for the prep. It will turn out much better: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
We have an outside pressure treated deck that has weathered approximately 10 months. We live in Northern Kentucky (Greater Cincinnati Area) and are wondering which product you recommend.
The Gemini Restore Kit for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series
TWP 100 Series for the stain: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
I recently put TWP cedar color on a clear fir porch. It didn’t dry evenly for some reason. Can I put another coat on 2 days after? Or other fix?
No, not right now. Best to wait until Spring and lightly rinse off dirt and apply a coat then. Adding another now may not take so soon after the first coat has cured.
We recently purchased a home with cedar siding. The front and sides of the home appear to be old grayish wood that does not look to have any stain or coating on it. The back of the house is also a gray color but has some worn brown colors which looks to be left over from a coating of some type. We would like to prep and coat the house in the upcoming weeks, however we do not know much about cedar and we would hate to ruin it or make the house look worst. Any information you can provide regarding the products needed or steps to take would be appreciated. Additionally, can you also tell me what the likelihood of us getting it back to looking nice and new is? I ask because I would hate to put forth all of this effort for disappointing results.
Clean and brighten the front wood with this: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Strip and brightener the back with this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Stain all with the TWP 1500 Series in any color you like. It will turn out great! https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
Deck has been stained before with 1503. Cleaned and brightened it with Gemini end of last week. Applying new stain today. Some areas seem to soak it up quickly, so we’re using the wet-on-wet technique for 2 coats on horizontal surfaces. First pic shows decking about 20 to 30 minutes after 2nd coat. Some areas already fairly dry. Others still fairly wet. Second pic is an hour after 2nd coat. Same look. Is 3rd coat advisable? If so, how to go about it? I’ve got a good forecast for the next 3 to 4 days.
Do not apply a third coat. More is not better. Continue what you are doing and let it fully dry and cure for a few days.
Hi – I have a new deck installed with redwood boards (dry redwood) and my contractor did light sanding and then immediately stain it using TWP 1500 pecan color.
Can I still use the brightener kit later to remove the black spot and then restain?
No. You would have strip it off first then brighten.
I have a 10+ year old deck which needed to be sanded with 30 grit paper to remove a previous “deck restore” type product. The wood is now is decent to good shape with some boards showing their age. Questions –
• Are you stains suitable for older decks such as mine? Or is another “deck restore” product appropriate.
• If I choose to use your stain, do I treat the sanded wood as new and let it weather since it was sanded with a grit under 80? Or do I use a cleaner and then apply stain?
As long as you removed the coating you are good to use the TWP stains. Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and you should be okay to stain.
I have a REDWOOD deck that was installed the summer of 2015. It has not been touched. I know you have specific directions on how to wait 6-12 months, then do the gemini/power washing steps but Is there anything different, such as 2 coats instead of one or sanding it, that we should do to stain our deck since it is a couple of years past when it should have been finished with your TWP 100?
Do the Gemini Prep. You may need to lightly sand after since it has been sitting for three years. This would remove any “fuzzies” from the oxidation. Do not use grit finer than 80. When done, lightly wash the deck to remove the sand dust using water. Wait 48 hours to stain. Apply the two light coats with the wet on wet method.
Thank you! Did you mean “grit finer than 80”? Sorry, I’m not a painter, LOL
Do not use grit finer than 80. 60-80 grit.
I have Penofin Ultimate Transparent on my redwood deck for 2 years and it is fading faster than desired. I have sanded horizontal surfaces down to fresh wood with 60 grit, but not railings, except for top rails. The vertical railings are not peeling or flaking, and actually still look good, so can I apply TWP over the railings without sanding? I plan to power wash all, and let dry for 48 hours, before applying new stain…
No, you cannot apply TWP over the Penofin. Use this kit while pressure washing and you will be fine.
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Ok, even with ALL the warnings, and I read every article on this sight, I still over applied the stain. So now what? My wood was so bad I thought it would need 2 coats. I didn’t want to wait too long since it says “wet on wet”. So I put a second coat within the first 45 minutes. 2 days later it is still shiny. What kind of problems can I expect?
See this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
Did my deck 2.5 yrs ago and had about 1 gal of TWP 120 [pecan] left over in the 5 gal container purchased. Need to redo. The leftover gal was sealed tight, in the original 5 gal container but today it is a coagulated insoluble glob in liquid. Have ordered another 5 gal container [more cost effective]. Question is, is there anything I can do to preserve the leftover gallon I will have after my redo, for the next time 2 to 3 yrs from now?
Thanks
See this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
Try to put it into a single gallon can. You can get these at HD or Lowes.
Installed new cedar fence in MI.. wood bone dry, intricate design w/ panels, pieces, lattice.. slightly rough surface. Now late Sept. Stain now or wait through winter for spring? Maybe allow it to weather a month? Worried about dropping temperatures. Would rather not use cleaner & pepper in spring. Already have 100 Pecan. Thx.
Weather and prep in the Spring is the correct way. https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
The wood is not rough sawn but smooth for the most part.
Do I need aa sealant prior to staining?
No, you cannot use a sealer prior to applying the TWP.
can i use TWP on a new Mahogany exterior front door? it is east facing, under a porch, in Missouri. loved the color and would like it to perfectly match the rest of the wood trim of the house.
Yes but the wood will need to weather and be prepped first.
weather for a certain period of time? can it be prepped with minwax pre-stain conditioner? or what other suggestions would you have?
See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
You cannot use a preconditioner.
Three years ago I built a patio deck using redwood. Semi-transparent redwood TWP has been applied annually for three years. The deck looks very red and not certain if another application should be made using the semi- transparent product. What about using a preservative without red pigmentation?
Best to stay with the tinted color as a clear will not provide UV protection.
We stained our deck (treated pine lumber, aged 16 months) on Saturday with TWP 100. It went very well! Loved the saturation and smoothness of the product. First coat soaked right in, so the wood was definitely ready. We did 2 coats, wet on wet, per instructions. It had 48 hours to dry after we finished staining, but we knew we were going to get thunderstorms last night (Monday – about 52 hours after we’d finished staining). The deck felt dry, no longer tacky, but we were concerned about the amount of rain so we covered the deck with plastic sheeting. It did storm last night and it’s been raining on and off all day today. The forecast says rain all day tomorrow as well as part of the following day. Should we leave the plastic sheeting on the deck, or would it be better to uncover it? Concerned about the water just sitting on top of the sheeting, not being able to drain.
Take off the sheeting. No need for it.
I had a new deck put on in May-June 2017 and cleaned the deck and applied the TWP1500 Honeytone and TWP 100 Rustic in late October. I noticed early this spring that the Honeytone was fading in some floorboard areas. I used the TWP1500 as it was advertised with great UV penetration/protection. We used the Rustic stain on some of the posts, but none of the flooring. I’ve attached some pictures of the deck below. I’m disappointed this didn’t last more than 6 months before showing fading. The deck does get a lot of direct sunlight, but this stain was supposed to hold up well. I’ve had cheap Home Depot stain last longer than this.
I’m thinking going to a darker color like the Rustic might help, but am hesitant since that would require cleaning and restaining in less than a year.
Hello,
Did you happen to read our article on new wood and TWP: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
It does state how to prep and only apply one coat the first time and another in 12 months or so.
The only reason it would wear like this is if it did not soak in correctly and that would be due to over application and or improper prep.
Best at this point is to prep to remove the Honeytone so you have a nice even and porous surface. Apply two light coats of you TWP stain of choice.
Hi. I used the stripper, pressure washed, brightened and rinsed on Thursday, finally getting 4 days without rain in the forecast. I live in Maine. Temperatures are getting lower… and I’m getting some morning fog, which is dampening my drying deck. I was hoping to stain on Sunday, after the fog burns off. Forecast is dry, (but somewhat humid) for Monday and Tuesday with remnants of florence predicting a soaking on Tuesday night/Wednesday. Considering what my neighbors are going threw in the carolinas, I can’t get too worked up about the stain on my deck. But, my question is this… If I choose not to apply stain tomorrow morning, how long can I WAIT after prepping (stripper and brighter) before applying the TWP stain without having to reprep?
Thanks.
Dave
Try to stain within 15 days of the prep.
Here are some photos (maybe??) I am not at all confident these JPEG pix made it to you. If not,then I’m out of ideas and will move to have another drink.
Thanks anyway. Still need recommendation on if this prep is enough or I need to move to some sort of restore product and/or a belt sander…
JustCradyAgain
You have a solid stain on here so the TWP will not work over this. You will need to sand off fully or use the Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive.
Thanks for the advice. Looks like some more work for me. I appreciate your working with me to get the photos to you- I could not tell if they were posting correctly…
Fore!!
No problem!
My deck flooring was replaced in May of 2016. I cleaned and brightened it in October of 2017, and then stained it with Pecan TWP 1500 that same month. After this winter I noticed that the stain was uneven (see photos) with some boards (the ones more shaded still retaining much of the original stain depth, and others, more in the sun, less so. In addition, I noticed spots where the stain did not seem to soak in, leaving the wood “white.” My plan is to clean and brighten it, then restain it ASAP, weather permitting. Will this be OK, or do I need to strip it and start over?
Yes, you can clean and brighten for the prep. It looks like the white that is leeching out is sap possibly from internally in the wood. There is no way to prevent this,
I have an old deck that has been stained and re-stained numerous times. Due to age and neglect I decided to sand the deck down to bare wood. Attached are a couple of photos showing the deck partway sanded and a photo showing the deck after sanding has been completed (we’ve had a few light rains since the deck was sanded and this seems to have brought out a yellow tone in the wood). Is the deck now ready for TWP stain (I plan to use TWP 120 Pecan), or are there additional preparation steps required?
Final prep with the Gemini Restore Kit. This will help remove any sand dust while making the wood more porous for the Pecan TWP stain.
2 questions here:
1. What products (prep and stain) do I need for a 3 year old deck? Pressure treated pine that is uncovered in Alabama. It has been pressure washed by previous owners and some of the wood fibers are raised. Also, what do you recommend to apply it?
2. What prep and stain do I need for a pressure treated pine fence less than a year old? We are looking at semi transparent or semi solid for both. Leaning more toward semi transparent, though.
Thanks!
1. The Gemini Restore Kit and the TWP 100 Series stain.
2. Same as #1.
I have some left over TWP oil base deck stain and want to use it on a cedar lawn swing I am making. Do I use an oil base wood conditioner first and can I apply polyurethane after the stain dries?
No, you cannot use a conditioner nor can you top coat an exterior deck stain with a polyurethane. It will peel.
I have a newer deck, built winter of last year that I want to stain. I Live in Missouri (64064). It is a covered deck and seems like the wood has aged differently. I will attach pictures. What would you recommend.
Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain with TWP 100 Series: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series
which stain color in the 100 series would be closest to natural Western Red Cedar? Your Cedar stain appears to be quite yellow. Also any retailers (brick and mortar) selling your product in western Washington?
The lightest tint is Honeytone. See this for some help: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series-stain-colors-and-photo-albums/
3 years ago twp was applied to outdoor pergola after construction. Want to have paint crew reapply stain. I seem to remember twp doesn’t need to be stripped? Is that correct. Do you apply straight or recommend cleaning product?
Prep with this: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
How long does it take 1511 to dry before we can use the deck? We are having a party 72 hours after the deck will be stained with temperatures in the 85-90 range and no rain forecast.
We would not advise this. For the most part, it should be dry to the touch but it may not be fully cured. This means it will have an odor and you could have some rub off as well.
How long does it take 1511 to dry before we can use the deck?
Brand new deck. Pressure treated pine. Southern exposure (full sun)in northern Ohio. Please recommend best staining product. Thanks.
See this please about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Here are my pics after cleaning
Looks good for the prep and ready to stain. Use the TWP 1500 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
Thanks so much!
I have an old hickory barn purchased in January 2015. I just cleaned it with pure Clorox down to the natural wood and rinsed it with water. It’s made of Pine and T111 boards. What do you recommend I do next to prep before using one of your staIns?
Post a picture please.
I just emailed pictures of my shed. Thank you!
You will need to upload them here.
We have a treated deck that was coated with Thompson water sealer 3 or 4 yrs ago. Live in Iowa. 1,300 sq ft. Woulf you advise using 100 or 1500 series? How much is 5 gallons?
Use the 100 series after proper prep. You can buy from this link:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series
I Figure i’m missing them but I can’t find real descriptions of the 100 and 1500 product lines. What are the differences and recommended uses for each.
The descriptions are on the products pages:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
See here for difference:
https://www.twpstain.com/difference-between-twp-100-and-1500-series
I know I saw the answer regarding green treated wood but can’t find it. The wood has aged for 10 months. Which cleaner/brightened should I use? Thanks
Use this for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Hi, I just stained my deck yesterday with the TWP 1500 Rustic after stripping and brightening. It looks great! I noticed my top deck boards (2×8’s) on top of my vertical rails look like they could use another coat. They were replaced last year so they were unstained. Could I put another coat on today? Thanks. I really like your product and your website!
Yes but be careful that you do not over apply.
How much stain should I order for a new 42 ft. long x 6 ft. high cedar fence. It has never been stained and we live in the northeast.
About 5 gallons for both sides.
What is the lightest stain you have that offers UV protection? We want to preserve the natural color of our new cedar fence, but don’t want it to turn gray. Please advise. We are looking at the 1500 series.
1515 Honeytone is the lightest tint with UV protection.
What states can I buy TWP cedartone exterior oil base
The TWP 1500 is oil based and allowed in all states:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
We ship directly from the link.
Hello!
I have a two year-old, covered cedar deck/porch. It has never been stained or treated previously.
The wood is currently gray and there are stained areas from food spills and whatnot.
Also note that we have harsh winters.
1) What do I need to do to prep this untreated wood?
2) can I also use your stain for the cedar posts?
3) Which of your products do you recommend?
Thanks!
Use the Gemini Restore Kit for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain with the TWP 1500 or 100 Series for the wood and posts:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-wood-stains
Sir / Ma’am, how much time (maximum) should be allowed to pass between application of the Gemini Cleaner/Brightener (cleaning the deck) and applying the actual stain? For background, the deck already has a coat of TWP stain on it (applied two years ago). Thank you for your time.
Matt
Stain within about two weeks of any prep.
Can I apply TWP 100 over newly sanded wood?
This would depend on the age of the wood and how fine of a grit you sanded?
I believe the deck is 12 years old. 80 grit. THANK YOU
Final prep with the Gemini Restore Kit to help open the wood grain and you should be good to apply: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Which of your stains do you recommend for outdoor cypress furniture? I live in Alabama and the furniture would stay outside all the time.
Use the TWP 100 Series.
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series
We live in Kentucky and installed a western red cedar privacy fence last August (it has been very rainy and wet this year, so I am just now at a point where the weather will allow staining). I have ordered my samples and selected a color from the 1500 series. I have a few questions before I order:
First, I would like to confirm that this is the correct product for my fence (after using the cleaner/brightener prior to staining).
Second, our fence planks are rough on the interior side and smooth on the exterior side; should the application method be different for each side?
I appreciate any advice you can provide.
Yes, the TWP 1500 will work great for your fence.
Same application but you will need to prep this wood using the Gemini Restore Kit.
Thank you. Just to be clear, you are referring to the product attached, correct?
Also, do you suggest one coat since it is “new”/previously unfinished wood or the wet on wet application?
Yes on the product. Two light coats applied wet on wet since it a year old.
i am sanding a deck in butte mt for the last week. there has been rain. Only on the sanded areas that get most sun, dark gray areas around the screws are showing up and are resistant to sanding. 1)What is that & 2)Will it show under 1500 Natural?
1. That is rust from the screws/nails. You may remove the dark spots with a wood brightener but it will come back when it rains again. Most likely you removed the protective coating when you sanded. Might need to replace the screws/nails
2. Yes. A stain will not hide this.
I am in the middle of staining a deck and find the redwood stain I had left over is not the same number as the new can. Is Redwood WS-02 (old) the same as Redwood 102?
No, the WS-02 is water based. The TWP 102 is oil based.