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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
Have a rough sawn pine building that we’ve stained multiple times w/TWP (and love it), what would you recommend for a siding wash prior to restaining? Also, need to order more, are their any restrictions on shipping to Massachusetts these days?
You need the TWP 1500 Series for MA: https://www.twpstain.com/wood-and-deck-stains/twp-wood-stains/twp-1500-series
Prep with this:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
this is the prepped area
here’s the missing picture. we live in Alaska
I have an old deck >15 years – pine I believe, sanding down to bare wood, will brighten before applying TWP semi solid pro series. It had a solid stain finish. Hot tub is being moved to the newly sanded area on Tuesday — Problem is TWP won’t arrive in time to do the deck under its new location. So what should we apply in just that area? Is there a big box store product that you can suggest that that may accept TWP semi solid next time we move the tub? Or just any oil semi-solid product, just for under the tub, matching color. Thanks for. your help
No need to stain under the hot tub. Just stain around it when the stain arrives.
We are looking to stain a deck/stairs, and pergola. It is 2 years old, was built with treated pine, but has not been stained or treated since and definitely needs it asap. The wood has some mildew and needs to be cleaned then stained and sealed, but we’ve never done this and would appreciate guidance in choosing the right products.
We live in the mid-Atlantic/South. It’s hot and humid most of the summer and afternoon showers are fairly common. What kind of weather window do we need to look for for application?
Use ths for prep:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain after with the TWP 100 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/wood-and-deck-stains/twp-wood-stains/twp-100-series
Weather needs to be between 50-90f when applying.
How long should 5/4 PT Pine decking sit before I apply TWP100?
What is coverage rate for TWP100 on new deck described above?
I used this product at my old house and really liked it
See this about new wood: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I’ve been looking through many of the questions and comments that people have had about their projects and the TWP product. I would like to restain a mahogany front porch but have not seen any mention of using TWP on mahogany. The boards are in good condition and I would do a light surface sand and restain as I’ve typically done for about 10 years now. I generally get about 2-3 years out of the product Ive been using but would like to give TWP a try. Is the TP 100 Semi-Solid Pro-Series a suitable product for 5/4 mahogany boards? We live in RI by the way.
For RI, you will need the TWP 1500 series which is semi-transparent. Make sure to fully remove any prior coatings before using the TWP.
I live in New York and TWPstain shipped me 100 series a few weeks ago. I tried finding in stores TWP 101 all I can find is 1500 series. Is it the same? Half of my deck is done and need more today.
The TWP 100 Series is not allowed in NY. The 1500 and the 100 Series are not the same and colors are not the same.
how do you apply the stain to the brushes and pads
You dip the brushes or pads into the stain and then apply.
I’ve been using twp 101 on my log home since the mid 90’s, great stuff! Ready to start staining again.. question, I see on the can it says to apply when the temp is above 50 F. No problem there, but it’s supposed to get down to 40 F tonight here, can I still stain today or should I wait? Thanks..
No issues.
Me again. As my name suggests, I was rushed and only had time to put a single coat of stain on. Is there a technique I can use to help the stain be absorbed in a wet on dry setting without cleaning again?
No. Leave as is. Next Spring you can then clean and recoat.
I dripped some TWP 1500 Dark Oak stain on my concrete patio and it dried quickly. What is the best way to remove the stain now?
A graffit remover cleaner like Goof Off and pressure washing.
I’m reapplying TWP 200 stain to a project I did 4-5yrs ago.
Can you confirm the recommended prep is Gemini cleaner/brightener and once dried it’s ready for stain?
Thanks in advance.
Yes, that is correct.
I have an exterior deck with pressure treated wood from Home Depot that I stripped by sanding. The old stain was Cabot acrylic deck stain. Which TWP product do you recommend I use to restain the deck and railings? Thank you?
Where are you located?
I have an unopened 5 gallon can of your TWP 1515-5 that I still have from when I stained by boat house deck 4 years ago. The can has a sticker with the date 5/14/19 on it. Would this stain still be good to restain this year? I would sure hate to waste this as it is expensive.
The life is 2-3 years. It may last longer but we cannot know for certain. Make sure it mixes evenly without any clumping.
I bought 3 cans of TWP 1500 Series 1 stain in March 2022 but never got around to using it. Is it still good to use? 1 year and 3 months later)
Yes, they should be good to use.
Hello, I used the restore a deck stripper and my deck still has a lot of stain on it. I let it sit for 30 minutes and then scrubbed it.
That does not look like stain but internal darkening of the wood. The stripper is caustic and darkens the wood when applied. This is normal and why you must neutralize and brighten the wood after with the RAD Brightener. FYI, you should pressure wash after the stripper, not just scrub.
Ive got a customer with a high end deck just built last year. The existing finish is fading and I’m looking for a product to refinish the deck. Its cedar wood, very good condition, they don’t want a lot of color, just something to protect from the sun. The deck gets a pretty good amount of sun. Ive looked at both Proluxe and Flood products, willing to entertain TWP into the equation. Thanks
Look at the TWP 1500 Series. Honeytone is the lightest tint, then Natural, then Cedartone tone. The more tint/color you have, the longer the UV protection. make sure you prep first.
Hi, I have had TWP 102 on my redwood deck for a couple of years and am getting ready to re-stain.
This will be about the 3rd time I have used TWP stain. The last time I did the preparation of the deck I used Gemini Injectable Safe Strip and it works great. I do not see this offered on the TWP website, has it been discontinued? I really like the injectable feature where is this product?
https://www.twpstain.com/safe-strip-1-gallon
Hello! I would like an opinion on stain color as I cannot find photos of the choices I have selected. Working on a pressure treated Douglas fir deck including a staircase and railing. It was last stained approx 8 years ago with Thompson Water Seal oil based solid. After prepping I would like to use TWP semi-solid pro series and like the tone of dark oak however, I don’t see this color available in the pro series. I also like the pecan but again not available. Not interested in going lighter than pecan or darker than the dark oak, does anyone have input or photos of cedar mulch, musket, app trail in this stain series? Thank you!!
Since colors awlays vary based on wood type and age of wood, it is best to test samples:
https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
We are planning to put T&G southern yellow pine as the roof for our front porch and are wondering which product to use to protect it from New England weather/bugs? Looking to maintain the wood tone so likely a semi transparent color but should we treat the wood before we install it? Thanks!
See this first:
https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
After use the TWP 1500 Series.
Thanks! I am a bit nervous about waiting to stain the tongue and groove until after installation because it will be much harder to get the stain into the grooves/seams between planks and there is the risk of seeing the unfinished tongue as the wood expands and contracts.
I have a cedar playset/clubhouse that is about 10 years old. It is in good shape but has some fading and wear. I recently moved it to a full sun area. What is the best product to apply to rejuvenate the weathered cedar and provide the best UV protection?? I plan to spray it on. How should it be prepped? Should the cedar roof shingles be treated with the same product?
For prep help, post some pics. After prep, use the TWP 1500 Series.
Can any of your stains be applied over tung oil that was previously applied to my 25-year-old deck. It is under a lot of trees, so it gets a lot of abuse. If so, which product would be best and how should I prep the deck first? Do I need to use stripper? I did use your honeytone 11 years ago and it was lovely. Thank you!
Strip and Brighten with this and then you can apply the TWP:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I have a new gallon of TWP 1503 that I want to use on my IPE porch floor. I laid the floor about 7 years ago and have treated it with Messmer’s. It’s been over 2 years since the last Messmer’s treatment and the floor is, as expected, fading to gray. I’m going to sand the porch with a ROS and 80 grit sandpaper. Do I also have to clean/brighten before applying TWP, or will sanding be sufficient to remove the Messmer’s? Thanks for your help.
Yes, clean and brighten after any sanding. One coat of the TWP only for IPE.
We have a cedar deck that we built 3 years ago. The Cabot semi-transparent stain that we applied the first two years wasn’t lasting even a year, so this year we decided to take it off and use something else. Looking into using TWP. Since we’re in Ohio, it looks like 1500 will be our option.
Before finding this site, we used Sherwin Williams stain remover, which caused there to be some raised grain everywhere it was used. We then used 180 grit sandpaper to smooth out the raised grain before using SW Revive to neutralize the wood.
My question is: Do I need to go back over everything with 40-80 grit sandpaper in order for TWP 1500 to take?
You do need to prep again but using the Gemini Kit and a good pressure washing should be easier and better than sanding. Just one coat of the TWP this time since you sanded.
Thanks for the reply. It seems like the Gemini kit is a cleaner/brightener. We already used SW Revive, which is a neutralizer/cleaner/brightener, after sanding, so the deck is pretty clean and bright. I just wasn’t sure if the sanding with 180 grit caused issues for receiving stain.
What does the Gemini kit do besides cleaning and brightening (since it doesn’t need that part anymore) that sanding doesn’t do? Just trying to understand my options.
The Gemini Kit opens up the prose while sanding technically closes the pores of the wood, even with rougher grit. It also helps to remove sand dust.
Hi got a red cedar fence installed oct 2022 in Chicago suburbs. I wanted to stain it but preserve the color. What product do you recommend and how much would I need. I have roughly 241 linear ft. It is a 6ft fence and I need to stain both sides.
You will need the TWP 1500 Series for this. Any color you like:
https://www.twpstain.com/wood-and-deck-stains/twp-wood-stains/twp-1500-series
About 25-30 gallons for 2 coats applied wet on wet to 3000 sq feet. Make sure to prep first:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
We have finished our deck staining, but aren’t sure if we did it correctly as the result isn’t quite what we expected. The deck we were staining is about 20 years old and hadn’t been stained with anything for the last 5 or so (we bought the house a few years ago, so that’s a guess). Here was our process, started 6 months ago.
— Winter came so we paused. In the last few weeks we started up again and
Actually, it’s now day 3. And here is where we aren’t sure if we did it right.
The deck is still fairly tacky.
The stain still “looks” wet (shiny) on about half the deck. It’s a matte finish on the rest of the deck. Where it’s shiny looking is where it’s most tacky.
So I guess my question, is this a time thing and we just have to wait longer? The weather here has been extremely mild (high 50s night, high 60s day). I wasn’t expecting it still be this tacky 72 hours later — though again it really isn’t “wet” or anything (i can drag my finger on the wet-looking areas and it is dry).
Should it fully dry to a matte finish, or is it likely we will have this combo of shiny/matte?
I can attach a picture if needed, though not sure it would show up.
It was over-applied, it is not supposed to have any shine. See here to remove the excess stain/shine.
https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
I have a one year old cedar deck installed in southeast Michigan. The deck was not previously stained and is now a beautiful silver-grey. If I like it that way, should I just leave it without and surface coating (since it’s cedar) or should I add a surface coating to protect it? If I should apply a coating, what product would be best? I don’t want to color the wood or cover any of the grain. Thanks!
Hi, you cannot apply a clear sealer over gray oxidized wood. It has to be prepped and that means the oxidation will come off. What you would like to do actually cannot be done. Sorry
I’m getting ready to restain my cedar deck, old stain (cedartone 101) is about 1 1/2 years old. Planning to use the gemini kit. I will not be able to get to the staining, however, until about a week after I do the cleaning and brightening. Will this be a problem?
No issues.
1 gallon of the cedartone covers between 100-200 sq ft, with 2 coats required. Does that mean the gallon covers both coats, 100-200 sq. ft, or do I need 2 gallons for that amount of coverage?
For 2 coats you will get about 100-125 sq feet per gallon. One coat is 150-250 sq. feet per gallon.
Will the Restore-A-Deck Step 1 and Step 2 cause any issues to my house vinyl siding? Would I have to tape that off? I planned on doing that when I do apply the stain but not the Cleaner/Brightener…….Thank you
It should not but always pre wet prior to applying and rinse overspray while working and fully when done.
Ok thank you. Another question. Will it be ok if it happens to rain within 12 hours or so after using the Restor-A-Deck Step 1&2?
Yes.
Can I switch from Pecan to Prarie in the 100 series without striping the wood?
No, you will need to strip and brigthen. Very easy to do.
I am trying to match Series 200 TWP207 Butternut Brown to a 100 series stain. What would be the closest color match in the TWP 100 series?
Dark Oak is closest.
I have a wood deck – built ~20 years ago in central Ohio. Deck is shaded most of the day and is facing North. Deck gets lots of leaves, bird droppings and the squirrels like to chew the railings. Deck was Stained with Valspar One-coat exterior stain and sealer – redwood color – looks to be many years ago. The deck is in need of staining and resealing, as it is begging to peel and show wear in several spots. Deck has stairs (13 of them) with a standard height railing. Coverage would be a 5 gallon bucket. Wood looks to be in fairly good shape and could withstand a sanding if needed. We would like to stay with Redwood or similar color for the deck.
What detailed process do you recommend – clean or strip?
And what supplies do you recommend? Thanks
Post some pics in the comments for prep advice.
I will add pictures before the end of the day when I get home. Thanks
Pictures of deck part 2
That is a solid opaque stain. You will need to remove it fully if you want to use the TWP stains. Strip and sand to get it all off. Look at the RAD Paint Strip:
https://www.twpstain.com/rad-paint-solid-stain-strippers
Can you put the twp over per over permachink chinking.
It should be fine.
Are the stain oil based
TWP Stains are oil-based.
which TWP stain should I use on a deck that is in full sun for the majority of the day?
Where do you live?
I live in central Pennsylvania. The deck is north facing and runs east to west. It receives full sun from 11 a.m. until sundown. No shade. The deck is pressure treated lumber. It is about 12 years old. No stain remains on the deck.
I have power washed the deck with water, no chemicals.
Do I have to use the brightened?brightener?
Which TWP stain would you recommend?
You will need the TWP 1500 Series for PA. As for prep, post some pics in the comments.
Here are pics of the power washed deck.
Do I need to use brightener on it before the TWP stain?
Also, can disposable shoe covers be worn over shoes during the wet on wet application of TWP 1500?
Looks good to stain now. You should be okay with the disposable shoe covers but soak them in water when done to avoid any chances of spontaneous combustion since they are cloth.
I tried to order a Seafoam sample and it tells me that No results were found.
How can I order a sample?
Kyle Wadley
On this link: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
I applied another coat to a tacky first coat. I couldn’t apply wet on wet. How long should it take to dray (TWP 1500 – 1502 Redwood)
You should not have applied more to a floor that was already tacky and you could not apply wet on wet. It may not dry and cure correctly due to over-application. Hopefully, it does dry and cure out. Give it a week or two. If not, you may need to remove and start over.
https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
I had previously stained my wood deck with TWP 1500 Black Walnut. It’s time to restain it. Can I just wash the deck and restain with the same TWP 1500? Or do I need to use a cleaner solution first?
Use the Gemini Restore Kit when recoating: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
I applied 1 coat of the 101 Cedartone pro series 24 hrs ago. Am I able to apply a second coat? If so, how long do I need to wait?
No. Needs to be wet on wet if doing two coats. Best to lightly clean and apply another coat next Spring if needed.
I stained my screened in porch a few years ago with TWO 100 Honeytone. Now I need to re-stain. I wanto to use rustic this time. Which prep kit should I use for this. Also, there are a few grease spots from grill spatters. With the prep kit remove those or will I need something additional?
Strip and brighten for prep since you are switching colors: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Does RAD Paint & Solid Stain Stripper completely remove Behr Solid Stain?
Yes, if done correctly. Make sure to do a test spot first and follow directions.
I totally ruined the lid to my 5 gallon bucket trying to open it yesterday and I have probably 3 gallons left over. Can you recommend something to store this in to use in 12 months when I do the second coat? Thanks
Best would be to go to home depot or lowes and get some empty single gallons to store the stain in. This way it is 100% sealed.
Metal cans like paint or plastic ones? Or does it matter?
Metal would be best.
Picture of Driftwood semi Solid..
Looks great! Almost like a composite deck but better!
Could you please post these on the semi-solid order page as well?
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-semi-solid-stain-5-gallon-detail
I stained my deck yesterday, God was good & the weather was perfect! I used the semi solid “driftwood” and I absolutely love the color, even though it looks nothing like the chart but I did order a sample so I knew what I was getting and I love the color. The chart makes it look like a tan, but this bad boy is gray with a hint of brown and I love it. I was needing a color to match my dirt when dry because I have a dog, that is on this deck more than I am, and she can be a muddy mess, the mud is still there but you just can’t see it with this color which brings me to my question. How long should I keep the muddy dog off the deck? (I tried to add pictures but they don’t seem to be ‘attaching” lol)
Give it a few days for full cure. Might want to enter our contest?
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-stain-2023-contest-win-cash
I have installed an untreated pine half log siding to my cabin. I want to keep the natural color. What product would I go to for the most protection. My place is in east central Missouri so we have hot summers and cold winters.
It is not possible to retain the natural look. You must use a tinted color to prevent UV graying. It would be best to test some samples. Try the TWP 1500 Series. https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
Hello, I applied TWP 100 cedar tome to the horizontal deck boards 2 coats wet on wet yesterday. The wood is old and very absorbent. I would have applied a 3rd coat, due to how quickly it was absorbed, but had limited stain on hand. Can I apply a 3rd coat today?
No. More is not better. Leave as is.
Will do. Thanks for your prompt response.
my stain is over 1 yr old and formed a semisolid layer on the top of the liquid. Is there any way to salvage this? Mike
No, it has gone bad. The shelf life is 12 months if opened.
Hi, do you have a solid stain?
No, we do not.
I have a new (6 months old) cedar deck that has not been stained.
I purchased and used Gemini Restore-A-Deck and followed both steps on the same day. When I was power washing off the cleaner (step 1), a lot of “pulp” came off my deck. For reference, my deck was very grey/white prior to cleaning. The deck is west facing and gets a lot of sun in the afternoon and has aged under a lot of sun recently.
After step 1, I noticed white areas (pic 1) as if the product wasn’t completely washed off. However, I ran over it multiple passes with the power washer being careful not to hit the deck with too much psi.
The deck dried for about an hour then I used the brightener (step 2). I washed this off with a hose but the white stuff was still noticeable (especially near knots in the wood).
After closer inspection, I believe the deck was “fuzzy” from the amount of pulp that came off. I read that I needed to buff/lightly sand with 60-grit to remove the fuzz. So I sanded it with my orbital and 60-grit. It looked great after this.
However, one day later, after the morning dew, I started getting mold (pic 2 and pic3). It looks like I need to clean and brighten again but this seems like starting all over again.
How do I clean and tighten without getting the white patches and avoiding getting mold from developing long enough to apply the first stain? We get a lot of moisture in the morning and that is when I tend to see the mold develop. There was some on the deck prior to cleaning but not this bad.
Did I perhaps do something wrong with cleaning and brightening? Could this be a mixture thing (too strong or too weak) or time between steps? Does this happen if the cleaner dries on the surface prior to brightening?
Thank you.
Your prep looks good and that is not mold but rust from some of your nails or screws. They should not be doing this. Maybe you sanded off the protective coating. Replace the affected screws and rebrighten the deck. It will remove the rust stains.
Some of the screws did have paint removed when sanding so that is very plausible. Just to be clear, rebrighten (step 2 only) or replace the screws and do both step 1 and step 2 in the Gemini kit?
Thank you.
You need to replace the damaged screws first and then brighten all wood. It is not an either-or. The only way to stop it from coming back is to replace them.
Thank you. I meant to say replace screws first in either scenario. I just wasn’t sure if I needed to go through both steps in the gemini kit (step 1 clean, step 2 brighten). It sounds like just brighten after replace and no need to clean. Thanks again.
Just brighten after.