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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
Fairly easy question here: How much TWP 100 (Cedar 101) should I use for an 840 sq ft new cedar fence that is 1.3 years old?
The fence has never been stained…will be pressured washed 48 hours in advance.
Bryant, 7-9 gallons for the two coats wet on wet for the 840 sq. feet.
We bought a log home kit in North Florida (the company is no longer in business) and we have low VOC TMP product. We stained the logs a couple of years ago (wrap around deck) and need to stain our ceiling and railings and would like to restain the logs again. How do you suggest we go about this?
Nancy, I not do not understand your question. Please read this for prepping tips: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/tips/prepping-for-twp-stains/ and this for application: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/tips/application-instructions/
Stan, please read this: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I would wait and do it yourself. It is not that hard. The stain will run down the sides but we also sell a “Crack and Grove” tool that helps between the boards.
Marc, I would prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and only sand lightly if needed when that is done. Stain with the TWP 1500.
I recently restain my deck after a powerwashing, but not the full stripping of stain like I had done the previous year. I put a coat on a 7pm because the forcast looked favorable. Well, about 10 hours later a little thundershower rolls through early in the morning. The deck looked great and had puddles of water on it. I took my leaf blower and got the remaining water off. How long do I need to let it dry until I can place the patio chairs back on it? Also, is there anything else that I need to do? It looked sealed to me by evidence of the water bubbled up on it. Thanks.
MDK, it is more than likely fine from the rain. Wait a day for the furniture.
Lewk, 4-12 months to weather is best.
John, depends on how dry and porous the wood is. Hard to say.
Greg, wet deck first and apply the stripper. Pressure wash off and apply brightener when done while wood is wet. Lightly sand only if needed.
I used the TWP products to prep and stain my deck. I now have several areas that are white mostly around the knots in the boards. Can you tell me what caused this and how can I get rid of the white areas?
Cathy, that is normal. This is result of your wood’s knots being of s higher density which results in your wood take less of the stain color. Nothing you can do to fix this as it is not the fault of your stain but your wood.
The video recommends using TWP Wood Prep on new wood decks prior to staining. I don’t see this product on your web page. Where do I get it?
That product has been discontinued and replaced with the Gemini Restore Kit.
900 sq ft cedar deck. Deck is about 15 years old in Tacoma, WA area. Previous solid color Ace Hardware stain. Currently sanding off old stain, but difficult to get in between planks to thoroughly remove. Using Home Depot Behr stain stripper to get out. Just received 5 gallon of TWP 100 rustic stain this morning. Looking for additional prep steps needed, and best method to apply the TWP stain.
Hank, use a stain pad for the application. After the sanding, use the Gemini Restore Kit to prep the wood better.
After using TWP stain on my deck my neighbor loves how it looks and wants me to do his! He needs a little more prep work than mine as I didn’t have old stain to strip. He added a staircase 2 years after the original deck was built that he had already stained so, I don’t need to strip the staircase. I purchased the RAD stripper, cleaner, and brightener as I know i will need the cleaner and brightener for the staircase. My question is, the area that I am stripping (mostly spindles as he sanded off what has left on his horizontal boards) will I need to clean it after stripping or can I just go right to the brightener? Thanks
Tiffany, no need to use a cleaner of you use a stain stripper.
great news! thanks.
Adam, you would need to remove the Cabot first with the RAD Stain Stripper and use the RAD Brightener when done. TWP should not be applied on top of the Cabot.
Dave, Just make sure the Sikkens is visibly gone and the wood is porous so the stain can penetrate. Bleach first than brighten.
That looks like mineral deposits from the rain after it dries. Try wiping off with a wet rag.
?? I have to wipe the deck off everytime it rains or it gets wet from the sprinkler? thanks.
Tracey, no it will stop doing this in a week or two.
Dave, as long as the Cetol is removed 100% that you can use the TWP. It must be bare wood and free of the Sikkens. It will probably need to be sanded off. The brightener will probably not harm the IPE but the bleach may.
How should I judge 100% removal of the Sikkens? If no gummy sensation as run finger over cypress, or if water absorbed readily, or some other check? Am concerned about TWP penetrating the cypress well. Also, do you suggest using bleach first, then followed by brightener? Tested the bleach on the ipe, it just beaded up like water, then flushed it off. Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help. I have a pine PT deck that looks that it was never sealed or stained and is 20 yrs old. I have presure washed used a deck clear brightner and now want to stain. I don’t want a dark stain so does your 1500 natural have some pigment in or is it clear, or would the honeytone have light pigmentation in it? Thanks Brant
Brant, the 1515 Honeytone is the lightest with the Natural being the second lightest.
30+yr old pine 400sqft deck on N side of house, partly in shadow of house year around in Cleveland, OH. Periodic TWP for last 15 tr. Which grade of TWP is best for preservation? 100, 200, 300,1500? And why. Thanks.
Bob, only 1500 for Ohio and VOC Laws.
Roger, please read this:
http://www.twpstainhelp.com/applying-a-maintenance-coat-of-twp/
Pressure treated deck, 3 years old. Panning to replaced failed Behr stain with TWP 1500 and strip/brighten with Restore a Deck. Our best time window is Labor Day weekend, and temps here in Missouri are expected to be about 90-95. Do we need to postpone until its cooler? Can we work while the deck is in the shade? I saw 90 was the max temp on the data sheet…any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Trisha, you should be fine with the temps. Just make sure you work quick to avoid overlapping.
Can we apply an exterior polyurethane to TWP stain on our fir deck? We had previously used your 1500 Natural ( when the decking was new) which molded and gave horrible coverage. After 7 months and a New England winter, we stripped that and reapplied your Pecan. We are thinking that a clear poly will protect the finish better than the clear TWP did. Thank you.
No you cannot apply a polyurethane or any finish on top of the TWP. The top coat will not work and will peel horribly.
Live in Okahoma. Deck gets some sun. Built in 2012. Pressure treated pine. Power washed as per paint store directions. Now it is streaked from power washer. It has never been stained. Was getting it ready to stain. Anything I can do to get rid of power wager marks? Also, which TWP stain for my area?
Leona H, use the 100 Series for this. Not sure of the marks from washing. Try using the Gemini Restore Kit.
Is TWP an oil or water base?
Oil based.
how long must one wait until the deck is put back into service after installing one coat of TWP 100?
24 hours should be enough.
Confused.dealer and bio wash mill glaze remover says: can stain just built cedar deck . Why are you saying wait minimum 4mos when biowash product is suppose to eliminate wait time?.please answer this question and question re application posed
Dennis, dealer is wrong and this article answers your questions as to why: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/.
If you stain it now it will fail.
I just finished stripping and brightening my treated pine deck using Restore-a Deck products. The deck is 14 years old, treated with CWF-UV. It cleaned up nicely but I did need to lightly sand the surface to remove fuzzy wood from pressure washer. The directions on can say if you sand deck it must be washed 2-3 days in a row. Is this necessary for a light sanding? Getting 4 consecutive dry days here in the UP is difficult.
Thanks,
John
Johh, after sanding you should rinse very well with water to remove any sand dust. Just once should be enough.
Dennis, only 1 coat on new wood. New wood should weather for 4+ months first and cleaned and brightened for the prep. Not sure about the blending the streaks. Most likely but hard to say.
Stained the horizontal part of my deck with 1530 last week. Did not have enough to do two coats. Would like to follow up with a second coat. How long do I need to wait? BTW, ordered 4 sample stains. Was a little disappointedl they were not the 1/4 pint can as noted on the webpage but very small vials. Expensive at $8.00 each. Glad to see you updated this info on the website. I missed the Sample Program paperwork on my first 5 gallon order. Any chance I can get credit retroactive? I placed another 5 gallon order today and was able to use the credit on the second 5. Very helpful, as I still need to do railing and hopefully a second coat.
TiredofStainingYearly, it has always said that the samples were 1.5-2 oz on the sample order page. The cost for them also includes shipping which runs $9-$12 per order. Max credit is $15 per customer, not per pail.
TWP is a wet on wet application procedure for best results. If you apply a coat now it will not penetrate as well. Make sure that it is a very light coat if you do it and back wipe any excess after 20 minutes.
Houston Area, clean and brighten first to restore the color with the Gemini Restore Kit. Stain with the 100 Series.
Do you offer books with your stain colors for comparison? Thanks
Jaret, If you order a sample we can send a brochure as well.
Todd, TWP cannot go on top of Sikkens. It the Sikkens is removed than you can use the TWP. TWP unfortunately doe not have a Mahogany color.
Pat, you should remove the old stain first with the Restore A Deck Stripper and or sanding. Make sure to brighten the wood when finished. Stain with the TWP 100 Series.
Thanks. Can you recommend how much stain I’ll need?
What’s the total sq. footage?
See my first post.
450 square feet, and 251 spindles. No idea how thirsty the wood will be, but I don’t want to run out if I need to apply two coats.
Thanks.
Pat, we need a sq. footage of the railings, not the amount of spindles. Measue linear footage of the rails and multiply by 3. Add that to the sq. footage of the deck to get a total.
Got it.
Total linear footage of the rails is 102.5, so the square footage of the railings is 307.5. Square footage of the deck is 450, so the total square footage of the deck and railings is 757.5.
Did I calculate that right?
Sounds close enough. You will need about 6-7 gallons for two coats and 4-5 if only doing one coat.
Even, try a floor buffer with a “sanding pad”. They will come right off.
I, too, appear to have these “fuzzies” (after running the Gemini cleaner on our 2-year old pressure treated deck). Our deck is small enough that we shouldn’t need a floor sander… I think you mentioned elsewhere that we can use a 400-grit sandpaper to remove them? Is there anything else we have to do before staining, or can we just sand and then stain?
schwinn8, light sanding with 60 grit paper. Rinse well when done to remove sand dust.
how do I get a “promotional coupon” that is referenced on your TWP order form? I want to order 5 gallon pail of TWP 1500.
Sorry but we do not have any coupons at the moment.
Thanks
Hello my deck in PA is a 4 years old treated pine 20 feet by 10 feet . Its located on the southern side of the house but trees are protecting it from sun during the summer . Last year we put clear Olympus stain from Sears but our deck look s like nothing was done . I am planing to use RAD to clean it but what stain will be the most appropriate and how much I will need?
Ann, you will need the 1500 Series for PA. About 2 gallons.
Gary, that is normal. When you apply the stain it will enhance the colors. Honeytone will give a wet look. Red this article on wet on wet: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-wet-on-wet-application/
Jaret, all of the TWP colors are semi-transparent. Darker colors will last longer form UV graying than lighter colors.
Even, since it has faded unevenly it would be best to take it all down to ensure an even application.
Mark, if the wood is rough than you can stain right away. Smooth and you need to wait 4+ months and clean and brighten for the prep.
Marty, TWP is not designed for Trex but it may work. I would do a test spot and see if it penetrates and dries well.
How long will unused TWP1500 last?
Rick, unopened it will last many years.
I have a two year old pressure treated pine deck and railings, no stain or sealant has been applied. Located in central Pennsylvania. The deck is a southern exposure so it gets full sun all day long. I would like a clear coat finish (natural wood, no color added). Which of your products would be better, 100 series or 1500 series?
Also, I have 580 sq ft of decking and 120 ft of railing (there’s a 24′ handicapped ramp and a 30′ “cat walk” along the one side of the house, that’s why there’s so much railing), 1″ x 1″ square balusters, 42″ high. How many gallons would I need for 2 coats? Thanks for your help!
Sarah, only TWP 1500 can be used in PA. The 1500 clear will protect but will not prevent UV from graying the wood. Must have a color/tint of that to happen. Need a total sq. footage with everything added together to give an idea on the amount
The 580 sq ft is the total of all deck boards (deck + ramp + catwalk). What I don’t know how to factor for is all the railing. Can you help with that? Thanks!
Sarah, please measure length and times that by height to get an idea.
I spilled a little TWP 100 stain on our concrete. Any suggestions?
Jessica, Try some Goof Off and a pressure washer.
What is the best way to apply the TWP100 product. Can I use a pump sprayer along with a brush? Really would like to just spray the product. Also I have 2500sq ft. How many gallons would it be recommended I get? Thanks
Jaret, spray and back brush is fine. For two coats you will need about 20-25 gallons. Best to get them in 5 gallon pails for the free shipping.
sks, you cannot apply TWP on top of a stain. Solid stains cannot be stripped and will need to be sanded off.
I have an 800 sq. ft. Purple Heart deck 1 yr. old originally coated with messmers. Am going to clean & brighten with RAD. Should I use TWP 100 or 1500. Live in South Mississippi &
deck has sun most of day. (West Facing)
Gary, for this I would suggest the TWP 100 Series.
I have cleaned & brightened with RAD. Deck looks good when wet but has no color when it dries. Any suggestions as to why? Also, how do you do wet on wet on a 30X28 deck. Thanks .Would Honeytone be best color
I have about 2500 sq ft of wooden fence that is almost 2 yrs old and has yet to be stained or sealed. I have recently pressured washed it. My question is does the TWP100 offer sealing and staining together? After reading many reviews it seems TWP is at the top. Thanks
Jaret, yes the TWP will stain and seal the wood.
Jerry, use the TWP 1500 for maximum UV protection for your verticals siding.
Can i use the clear 1500 on a cedar roof?
Chris, yes you can use the 1500 Clear for cedar roofs.
Joe, I do not think you need to strip. Thompson’s barely lasts a few months. Just clean and brighten the wood for the prep.