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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. Planning to restrain my log home with 1501. I have a cedar deck that is fully exposed to the elements. What product do you recommend. Can I use 1501?
Yes, you can use the 1501 for the log home and the deck. Make sure to prep both correctly first.
Hello – I purchased a Backyard Designs Pergola and plan to stain/protect it prior to assembly with the 1500 series. It is Chinese ‘Cedar’, and pre-stained. I don’t know what with. There is no sealer on it. Any idea if I need to or should prep it first?
You cannot stain over a prior stain of a different brand with TWP stains. You also cannot prestain new wood as it has to weather for 4 or months or longer.
https://twpstainhelp.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3452&action=edit
Easiest is to leave it alone for 1-2 years then prep and stain with the TWP at that time.
Have cedar siding. Applied TWP when new, at 2.5 years, at 5 years, and at 10 years. Now after about 7 years from the last application, I am seeing some areas near the bottom of the house (appears worse the lower you go) where it appears the stain is gone – almost grey or even whitish. Any special cleaning needed or just time to apply another coat of TWP stain?
Use our Gemini Restore Kit and pressure washing for prep.
I have rough sawn cedar timber porch. It was sealed with Minwax Hellsmans sealer. Everything faded. Want to stain it now. How do I remove the sealer?
Post some pics of the coating on the wood.
Good morning. Attached are pictures of the sealer used and the porch. It’s a clear sealer.
You have to remove this coating fully first. Use this product:
https://www.twpstain.com/rad-paintstrip-paint-solid-stain-stripping-gel
I applied TWP 100 last fall to a new cedar deck. The wood aged 6 months before staining. I used Restore a Deck before applying, as directed. I have some fading at the end of this summer on horizontal surfaces and want to reapply. What steps need to be taken to reapply a second coat?
Make sure the wood is clean and free of any dirt or mold first.
Do I need to use the cleaner/brightener?
Correct.
I applied two coats of 100 Series Pro Stain today. Can I apply more stain in a couple days to any weak spots?
It will not blend if you spot apply and it will not work to add more than 2 coats.
After using Restore-A-Deck stripper/brightener, how long should I wait to apply TWP Semi-Solid stain low VOC to my previous stained pressure treater deck?
48 hours after prep or rain.
Hi, we had contractors stain our deck last week with TWP 100 series Rustic color. When they switched to another can, the stained area looked noticeably lighter.. I don’t believe they shook/mixed the stain enough prior to applying. They came back out the next day and mixed/reapplied the stain over the lighter areas which resolved the color discrepancy.. but it’s now been 5 days since they “reapplied” and the deck boards are still tacky/sticky. The deck is covered, which I assume can impact drying time.. but wondering if this is expected or if we need to completely redo that section?
Thanks!
Ryan
It should fully cure and dry. Give a another week or so.
My deck is a year old and made of sienna pressure treated wood (attachment). Now it’s time for treating. I like the colour of the the sienna but my question is…should I try and match the sienna colour or would that make it too dark or should I use the clear. Also does the clear stain have the same qualities as the semi-solids. My deck is a covered deck and is all shaded except for the steps.
The Clear has no UV protection. Best to prep well and then apply TWP in a color, not the clear.
If I put a new wood preservative on wood that’s a year old how long do I have to wait before applying your stain.
You cannot apply TWP over a different coating as that could prevent the TWP from properly penetrating into thw wood grain.
So you cannot apply TWP to a pressure treated deck at all?
No, we never said that. TWP works great on pressure-treated wood. What we said is you cannot add another coating or sealer before applying the TWP.
We used TWP 1500 (Honeytone) on a new fence in 2020. We were very impressed with the results. Now it’s time to restain the fence, and we’d like to use the same stain/color again. How should we prep the fence before restaining?
Prep with this kit while lightly pressure washing.
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
can TWP 100 Series be applied in direct sun light ? ?
Yes, but try to avoid both high heat and direct sunlight. You do not want the coating to “flash” dry before it is evenly applied.
Just finished power washing and sanding deck for stain application. Older softwood deck. I think I read to only apply one coat of the 1500 semi..is that true? What happens if you do two?
Do I also need a cleaner/brightener? Is that for looks mostly? I’m short on time and just want to preserve the wood.
If you power sand the deck, you should clean and brighten after to open up the wood grain. Just one coat of stain to sanded decks.
Thanks
which product do i use for the clean/brighten part?
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Can the 200 series (to be used in Canada) be used on pressure treated wood once the wood dries down after a season or does the pressure treatment cause issues with the stain?
No issues.
What product would be best for the exterior of my log home? I want something to condition/protect/seal the exterior logs. It has been treated in the past but I am unsure as to what product was used.
The TWP 200 Series.
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-200-series
For prep advice, reply back in comments with pics.
I have a 5 gallon drum of TWP 100. Cedartone. I stored it in my shed last winter and opened it a month ago to find it curdled with a rubberized ring at the top. Is this still good to use if mixed well? I’d hate to get rid of it with three-quarters full.. Thanks.
It has gone bad.
I’m getting ready to apply a maintenance coat of TWP 1530 stain and I’d like to know if I can use an unopened can of your stain after having it stored for almost two years.
See for tips:
https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
thank you
I have been using TWP cedar tone for my fence for a long time , and I am satisfied with the durability of the stain. Just recently I have my new deck built and wonder what product should/could be used in addition to seal deck in the high traffic area?
You cannot apply a sealer over the TWP. It would peel if you tried this.
I just had my fence stained yesterday with what seems like one coat of TWP 101 Cedartone. Unfortunately, it was a poor application, spots were missed, and there are areas where streaking was noted. The company wants to do things right by reapplying another coat to make things more even but with doing this, I’ll end up with a color that is darker which I’m not too happy about. What else should I be worrying about now that a second application is going to be put on about a week to two weeks after the first application? Will it adhere? Will it end up being more of a mess with more streaking and un-evenness? Should the fence be re-pressure washed before doing this whole process again? The fence was installed November of 2023. Thank you!
You will be fine since it is vertical wood. No issues.
Is TWP Semi Solid Pro and oil based stain?
Yes, it is.
I am planning on using TWP 1501 on some outdoor furniture. I tried to ask questions before but wasn’t able to post all my info, so here goes again. Sorry for the duplication. I have stripped the furniture with 60 grit sandpaper. It appearsl stripped, but not entirely sure as it still looks reddish, but it is red wood . Should I use, finer grit sandpaper as well? Is there any reason to use the stripper, cleaner and brightener. I did bleach it as the twp stain directions asked me to. If I need to use the stripper, cleaner or brightener is there a way to get smaller amounts? Furnture is not too big.
I did try on another piece of furniture, but I did not wipe off in an hour as you asked, I wiped off several hours later. It was very sticky and now the top is kind of dark. Should I resand that piece? Thank you.
No need to sand finer. You should be good to stain. Resand the stained area.
Only 1 coat and wipe off excess.
Hello, I have a pine full log Log Home that was previously stained with sikkens( now prolix) it would cost a fortune to cob blast it and start fresh. Can I use a cleaner brightener then apply the recommended by you, twp cedar tone over it?
No, you will need to remove the sikkens no matter what if switching stain brands.
Hello, I recently received some samples from you to stain our deck.The best result for us seems to be the Butternut Brown TWP 207. which was applied onto a pressure treated wood deck that is 5 years old.I followed the cleaning suggestion and was happy with the result I got.
My questions are
I was thinking of doing the staining this fall. How cold is too cold to stain?
we live in Montreal, Canada.
Thank you very much for your help.
Darrell Pettigrew
For Canada, you will need the 200 Series. About 150-250 sq feet per gallon. Do not stain under 50F.
I’ve built a cubby unit for storing cross country ski gear inside an unheated lodge. The unit will be protected from the weather but damp ski gear and boots will be placed on it. It is made from finished 3/4 inch maple plywood that has not been treated with any stain or paint. I have some TWP 100 from staining my deck and would like to know if this product will work well on the cubby unit.
Sure but it will have an odor for a few days that may linger if applied indoors.
just built a new western red cedar deck. would like to use TWP semi-transparent stain but unsure of shade. Rather than choose from a brochure, is there any where near Bellevue WA where i can a couple of sample cans of different shades? I want to see what it actually looks like rather than rely on brochure for shade choice. Thanks, Richard
See this about new wood:
https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Samples are sold online here:
https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
Thanks for your prompt reply. Regarding the prepping new wood issue – we don’t have the luxury of letting the wood weather for 4-12 months prior to staining. We live in PNW, it is late Aug and rainy season will start soon preventing the ability for dry patch to stain the deck, and we are planning to sell the property soon. So, two questions:
Thank You
1. Not following directions for new wood will lead to the stain failing prematurely.
2. No, all stains have the similar instructions for new wood.
How can I clean dried stain from concrete?
Try a graffiti cleaner like goof off and pressure washing.
I power washed the deck about 24 hrs ago. There appears to be some stain remaining. Do I need to strip and use brightener on the deck? I will be putting down the same Cedartone 1500 stain. It’s cloudy here so it may look darker than it will after a sunny day. Thanks
To get the best uniform appearance, it would be best to strip/brighten.
After stripping and brightening do I need to sand the deck before applying semi-transparent TWP 1500?
No need.
Recently purchased a pre-fab pine shed and would like to know what I should be doing to preserve the natural wood look and minimize graying. I live in Ontario, Canada so the climate can be extreme at times. Any guidance would be appreciated. Also, if you could give some suggestions on how much product I would require….surface area is about 450 sqft
https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
See above about new wood wood. Look at the TWP 200 Series for Canada. About 3 gallons.
Hello, I purchased the stripper/brightener combo. Once these products are mixed with water, how long will they last? In other words, can I use half now and the other half in a couple of months?
You will be fine with the stripper and the brightener to use a couple of months later but they cannot freeze.
Hello, I have a shelf life question. I purchased a 5 gallon can of 1501 Cedartone Series stain that’s still factory sealed. I think it was purchased in Sept 2022. (I injured my back around that time and wasn’t able to do the work to stain my deck.) I have used the 1501 on the deck before as well as the Gemini Cleaner (I bought that at the same time – is it usable?)
Unopened is about 3 years. Mix it well and make sure there is not any large clumping or skinning of the TWP. It it mixes 100% smooth, you are good to use it.
Hello, I stained our old wood cedar deck with 1500 and after drying for two days there are splotches. I live in Portland Oregon and there has been morning dew that may have affected the curing process.
The deck was prepared by sanding off all old stain and cleaning. The deck dried for several weeks after cleaning. What would cause the light colored splotches? How can I fix it, wipe with mineral spirits and apply another coat?
Post some pics in the comments.
Here are some pictures.
That is part of your wood grain/knots. The wood is denser there so the TWP stained lighter. You could try another light coat to see if that helps.
Hi! I stained our new deck last september with a single coat of the 1500 series after it weathered for a year and then followed instructions to add a single coat 11 months later after the initial stain had a chance to fully absorb into the wood. I notice that this coat is “shinier” after wiping off any excess. It’s not tacky or sticky, but it still looks a shiny in places after 2 days of drying. Is this a problem or can I just let it be? Hoping that this may buy me an extra year between applications. Your thoughts? Is there anything I should be concerned about? Pic attached, Thanks!
When shiny, it is over-applied. It is best to let it be. Most likely will dull down and have no issues. It does not last longer when over applied.
Thanks for the great customer service! two follow-up questions:
2-3 years is normal for decking. See this about shelf life:
https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
Hi, I have a fence project consisting of an old section of raw cut cedar very worn from exposure, and a newer portion of pressure treated pine fencing which has not been stained or treated and is about two or three years old. I have purchased a 5 gallon container of TWP 100 to stain these fences. I am now concerned as to the best way to proceed in preparing the fences for stain. I see that there are two products; restore a deck (RAD), and two-part Gemini restore a deck products. The Gemini product seems to be designed to remove greying, but does it effectively eliminate all of the graying? if not, would a bleach product be most effective to remove the grey? Does RAD remove greying? I am having someone come out to do this job for me and need to provide clear, and succinct instructions. I do not want the contractor to perform unnecessary or ineffective steps. I anticipate this job to be expensive enough and do not want to experiment with products which would ultimately run the materials and time cost up higher. Is power washing damaging, or otherwise not recommended? And if so, please explain why. Thank you.
You want the Gemini Restore Cleaner Kit and light pressure washing the remove gray oxidation, not the RAD Stripper kit. Do not use bleach.
We stained our half log sided cabin with 101 cedartone. Now the 101 is illegal in Michigan. Should i restain wuth 1500 cedartone as the cabin needs it? What kind of prep should be done?
The 1530 Natural is basically the same color as the 101 Cedartone. Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and pressure washing.
1. We did the 2 step cleaning process last week, and have some brighter leftover. Unfortunately, we were not able to stain right after we did the process due to rain. Before I stain it should I apply the extra brightener I have , or am i able to just stain.
2. When is the best time of day to stain? Our pressure treated deck gets direct sunlight early on 1/3 of the deck.
We have a 5 + yr old pressure treated deck. Our last stain was the 1500 and we did the 2 step process 1 week ago today.
1. No need to redo brightener.
2. When not in direct sunlight.
28 year old 2×6 pine. Recently cleaned. Surface in good shape. One old area with dark 100 stain remaining. Plan to use 102 Cedar Tone. How to remove remaining stain?
Please post some pics in the comments for help.
Been looking around the site for 15 minutes, reading Q&A and can’t find anywhere how much coverage in sq. ft. one should expect in one gallon of stain. Isn’t that important to list in product specs?
It is on the product pages of our eCommerce site under “Techinical Info” tab for all our stains. Example:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp100-5gallon
Stupid question, how do you open the stain can
For the single gallons, you pop off the protective white ring by prying inwards.
Do you have TWP 301 available? If so, what is the cost (with shipping) for a 1 gallon can and can it be shipped to Illinois?
Sorry but we do not.
Should I apply 2 wet coats of TWP 100 or only 1 to a new fishing dock deck of pressure treated pine? (15% moisture on meter now)
See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/