Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by TWP Help
TWP Wood and Deck Stain Update for 2024
Welcome to the official help site for TWPStain.com.
TWP® 100 Pro-Series will keep your wood beautiful, fresh, and looking new longer! The ease of application and maintenance will allow you to enjoy your investment for years to come. Containing unique ingredients that protect the wood from damage, TWP 100 Series has been a leader and respected product for over 25 years.
TWP® 100 Pro-Series provides a broad spectrum of weather protection, is water repellent, and aids in color retention. TWP® 100 Pro-Series resists water absorption that causes warping, cracking, splitting, and prevents freeze damage in colder climates. Use TWP® 100 Pro-Series to Restore and Protect YOUR GREAT OUTDOORS!
TWP 1500 Total Wood Preservative is an EPA-registered wood preservative for decks, fences, gazebos, cedar siding, wood shakes, log homes, outdoor furniture, and other exterior wood surfaces. TWP wood preservative offers outstanding protection from UV fading, wood rot, water damage, and mildew for all types of wood species.
The TWPStainHelp.com site is designed for exterior wood and deck owners looking for solutions to their wood maintenance questions. We have gathered information based on years of experience. From TWP stain tips and wood maintenance advice to prepping new wood and how-to articles, we will guide you step by step to achieve professional-like results using any of the TWP wood preservative products.
Please read our articles and feel free to ask any questions that you may have about restoring your exterior wood or decking surfaces. The information you need regarding wood and deck restoration and TWP deck stains are all here. Please enjoy and remember that we are here to help.
I live in Minnesota and have a 4 year old cedar deck that
previously had been sealed timber shield. And never been stained, should I go with the 100 Series or the 1500
Series? Any reasoning behind going with either one, And how does it last?.
Use the 100 Series for MN as it is still compliant there. Typically lasts 2-3 years.
Try wiping the deck done with rags and mineral spirits.
No you cannot add a sealer on to of the TWP nor would it will be needed or help. You might only want to do one coat now on the sand deck and another light mainteance coat late in Fall or next Spring.
Best to do it all at once.
Just had my fenceprofessionally refinished with Honetytone TWP. The solution was sprayed on and some of it drifted onto my neighbor’s car. What’s the best way to remove it from the car?
Susan, I would suggest taking the car to get detailed asy you do not want to harm the finish.
2 coats wet on wet. About 150 Sq. feet per gallon for first coats and 200-300 for second.
It seems most if not all of the instructions/tips are geared towards decks. I want to stain my new fence. Will the 100 series work for that?
Absolutely and it will last 2-3 times longer on verticals as well!
Can I apply TWP 1500 cedar tone over my Olympic Maxim oil based semi-transparent? I am in Ohio and my cedar fence and the color needs to be refreshed.
Mike, you should remove the Olympic first for proper results.
Sanity check, please…
I have a NEW deck constructed of redwood decking and railing, with pressure treated wood as foundation frame.
I read your article “Prepping New Wood For TWP Stains”. I intend to use “Restore A Deck Kit”, then apply TWP 100 Honeytone 115 so the wood grain shows through.
I live in Colorado with VERY low humidity and LOTS of direct sun. I want to protect my deck ASAP.
Questions:
Will Honeytone 115 provide enough UV protection?
With low humidity, can I prep deck and apply 1 coat of TWP 100 in around 4 months, with second prep & stain application 8 months thereafter?
billn, the Honeytone it the lightest tint and lighter colors will fade quicker than darker colors. You can do a light coat in 4 months and a second coat 8-12 months later after light prepping.
Need to strip one year old Olympic on two year old deck. I think it is yells wood and is splitting a lot. I am going to use RAD and then the brightner. I was going to apply the stripper with a sprayer and then power wash off. Will this work on the fertile surfaces???
Also how strong can the power washer be?
TC, yes this should work. Pressure washer pressure varies based on distance. You can use a 3500 psi pressure washer but when you are 10 inches away form the wood, your pressure will drop in half. Use a wide fan tip as well.
My TWP 1500 California wood arrived. I tested it on a piece of pine common wood and the color is way to light. On the edge of the wood, however, the color is way darker. What do you think is causing this? I tried sanding the surface with some 80 grit sand paper but that did not help. I am building a fence and it’s not feasible for me to weather the wood before I put it up. Are there any ways to make the stain penetrate better?
Johnny, darker areas probably mean it is more porous. Sanding will reduce absorption which means a lighter color. Not muck you can do to get better penetration beside natural weathering. Removing mill glaze will helps some.
Thanks!
Thanks. How do you go about removing mill glaze?
Johnny, done with a deck cleaner and wood brightener. We sell the Gemini Restore Kit for this.
I have a PT deck with 5 yr old (old formula) Olympic Maximum on it. Can I strip this and use TWP100? Thanks
Mike, strip with the Restore A Deck Stripper and brighten when done with the RAD brightener. Once prepped you can use either the 100 or the 1500.
I received an answer to use the product “Restore a deck Stripper.” where do I find this product? Doyle White
On this link: http://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-detail
Rick, mold can grow on top of any surface or stain and there is no way to prevent that completly. I would finish cleaning the rest of the deck and apply another coat of the TWP. Applying a product called “Wet and Forget” on top of the stain after it dries will help a lot with surface mold prevention. As for the TWP fading, this is normal for new wood. Please read this article: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I just finished installing a picket fence with rough sawn treated pine pickets and posts. I would like to use cedar tone color. Which twp product do you recommend and do I need to wait any time before applying stain (pickets were in my garage for 4 months prior to install)? What is the average square footage coverage per gallon for your recommended product? I also live in Indiana. Thanks
Adam P, is it all rough? If so you can stain now with the 1500 Series for IN. Coverage is about 150-200 sq. feet per gallon.
Christi, try washing lightly with water and a small amount of detergent to just remove the dirt and grime before applying your maintenance coat. Only 1 coat.
I have an ipe deck installed over a rubber roof so that its dry underneath. For ipe, TWP is far superior to other options I tested, and Im very pleased with how it looks.
My concern is…Will reapplications of TWP damage the rubber roof below? Im assuming that some of the stain will drip onto the rubber surface. My rubber gloves that I used to apply the TWP eventually disintegrated.
jhafner, I highly doubt it would ruin the roof.
Elaine, the clear will not prevent UV graying at all. You must have tint/color for this.
Hi, our deck is just about completed using new cedar boards and we live in Minneapolis, MN. I’d like to treat with 1 coat of TWP 100 Honey/cedar tone but am concerned that if I wait the 4-12 months before treating it that will mean untreated exposure to a Minnesota winter which might make the boards wetter than they are now (new). 1)Do you think this is a reasonable concern or could I just wait until October and apply early? 2) If I do wait only a month, should I still apply the Gemini restorer solution? Thanks!
David I, If you do it early it will fail and you will have to redo next Spring. You always need to prep first before staining new wood.
Adonica, if you apply a second coat now you need to make sure that it is a very light coat and that it does not puddle and absorbs into the wood 100%. I would just do the floors.
Thanks! I will do it today. Should I use a roller or a different applicator? How long should I wait before I walk on it.
Use a stain pad applicator.
Michelle, the stain has been over applied at this point as it is not supposed to be shiny. I would leave it alone if it is not sticky or tacky. It will be fine.
ok. Will it stay shiny and will those areas start to flake or peel while the rest of the deck stain keeps its integrity? Those shiny areas are now dry. Thanks!
Michelle, it will probably dull out. It is possible that they shiny areas fail faster as it is on top of the wood. More prone to happen in cold winter states.
Getting ready to sand and seal and stain antique heart pine columns. Wondering which series would work best outside in Louisiana on the pine to keep the natural look.
Robert, try the 100 Series and the Honeytone is the lightest color.
Tfir, I am sorry but I have no idea what jarrah brown looks like.
I live in Auburn Ca, how long do I have to wait before applying TWP 1500 to my new redwood fence?
Amy A, if the wood is rough sawn you can stain right away. If smooth you should wait 4+ months.
Forrest, either 1500 or 100 would work. The 100 is more popular for GA but the 1500 may give slightly better UV protection.
Bill, you can after proper prepping first with a deck cleaner.
Molly, apply the brightener as soon as you are done with the stripping completely.
Milky white deposit on deck after rain. Rather than a mineral deposit from water, could it be mold or mildew? It is on part of deck that has two coats. It will wipe off but leaves an outline of the spot on the deck. It didn’t happen while there was only one coat of stain on deck.
Jim, mold or mildew would be black. The outline might be from the water as the stain may not have fully cured yet.
staining year old yella wood deck and am getting milky white spots throughout the deck, seems to show up after rain dries. What causes it and how can I fix it?
Jim, probably just mineral deposits from the water as it dries. Should wipe off with a rag.
I have 600 sq foot 10 year old cedar deck 5 year old coating of Sikkens CRD Oak. deck and top of railing worn bare, posts and skirt finish is in tact. Planning to powerwash, then finish with TWP100 Cedar tone (or your recommendation). Do I need to strip the intact areas of the old finish, if so what stripper do you recommend? Do I need to use the Gemini Restore a Deck kit, if so, after the powerwash?
Thank you
GP
Patrick Dunn, you do need to remove the Sikkens first with the Restore A Deck Stripper than followed by the Restore A Deck Brightener. The TWP 100 clear does not provide UV protection from graying. You need a tint in the stain for that.
I have a cedar log home what caulk do you recommend to caulk the joints between the logs
Does not matter as long as it is high grade of caulk.
Portland, Oregon
Cedar face, PT frame
Rains, molds, rains, rains more
I am retreating our deck. It has a semi transparent stain on there I know I will have to remove. Will using the stripper, then cleaner, then brightener work, or will I have to sand too? Also, we get a lot of moldy slick here, should we go 100 or 1500? The 1500 looked as though it had mildewicides in it. Read everything, ended up loading cart full of everything, then realized I could be over thinking it. I’m also not opposed to sanding whole deck instead of stripping. Whatever will get the best results. Labor isn’t an issue.
Cliff, strip and brighten for the prep. Sand only if needed. Stain with 2 coats of the TWP 100 Series. No need for the cleaner.
We are installing a new deck with KDAT grade 1 extra dry wood. Do we still need to wait for the wood to season before staining?
Denise
Denise, yes you should still wait and prep before staining.
Scott Paul
OPW/TheSealerStore
248.299.2512
I have approximately 600 ft of cedar fence (2+ years old) and I would like to stain it with the TWP 100. I figure I need 20+ gallons to complete the job. Do you offer a discount for larger orders?
Thank you.
Jay, we do not on that quantity. What is the total sq. footage and are you doing both sides?
Alan, yes you can mix TWP colors together.
Tyler, please see these articles on colors. You can also order samples: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/tips/need-help/twp-color-tips/
I have a new pine deck that is almost 1 year old, located in Indiana and getting a lot of south and west sun. I plan to use restore-a-deck cleaner and brightener before staining and wonder if i should use TWP 100 or 1500 stain (probably cedartone or honey tone). What do you recommend?
Bill, for your area you can only use the 1500. Either color would work well.
Hi Mark, I just built a brand new deck with treated lumber. It is 12×25 sq ft size. Please let me know which stain should I use and how many gallons do I need? also let me know whether I can stain it now or do I need to wait for few months before staining. Also my wall wood color is bisque. Which color stain would go good with that. Thanks.
Vasan, you need to wait. Please read this article: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
CC, 2-3 gallons should be enough.
If I order 5 gallons, and a sample can. Use the sample can and want to switch colors can I exchange it?
Not without paying the shipping back and forth for the stain exchange.
JC, we do not know of any companies in the area. Please read this about staining new decks: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Lazlo, hard to say but the stain color is depenedent on who absorbent the wood is. The more absorbent it is the darker the color. Color also varies on the age and wood type. Not sure if it is possible to make your deck come out lighter. You could lighten the Dark Oak by adding some clear into it. You would need to remove the stain that you have already applied by stripping or sanding.
Thank you! Will plan on mixing clear into it in future maintenance coats.
Where can I purchase this product in Edmonton Alberta? I don’t shop online.
My deck was stain with Sikkens many years ago. Will TWP cover?
TWP cannot be sold in Canada. It is not legal there.
We prepped a five year old deck before applying with TWP 1500, dark oak color. The color is gorgeous, EXACTLY what I wanted! I am pleased with the results, but was wondering if it should be shiny or dull. We have some random shiny spots on both the back deck and front porch, so I wasn’t sure if I should be applying another coat to get a shinier appearance, or if this is an anomally? Please advise. Thanks so much!
Kacey, TWP is not supposed to be shiny at all. If you have shiny spots then the TWP did not penetrate due to over applying or incorrect prep. Do not apply more.
I didn’t buy enough stain (I bought the cedartone) maybe our deck is old so it absorbed more, but, we didn’t have enough to finish, nor to even start a second coat. My question, can we put the second coat on a week (or possibly more if we get rain) later instead of several minutes? Since I now have to buy more stain and it won’t get here for a few days… plus, we’re looking at rain 3 days from now, so it’s going to be several days. Help!
Pam, TWP is a wet on wet application. If you apply a second coat after the first coat dries you run the risk of it not penetrating correctly. It can be done but make sure that you apply a very light coat and it does not dry “shiny” on top of the wood.
Thank you for your response. One more question. What would be the results? effects? of just leaving the deck with one coat?
Nothing really. Maybe need a light recoat a little earlier.
I live in Ohio and have a newly installed white cedar scalloped picket garden fence (installed Oct 2012). I would like to seal/stain it and use a tinted sealer, probably the cedar color. Should I use 1500 series? Also, I have measured square footage to be approx 325, allowing for gradiated pickets and halo that is 8′ high but just 4″ square wood. I will be brushing it on as I have a garden already planted but just seeded so I will put a tarp down. Second question, I am guessing 2 gallons would do the job?
Gabrielle, the 1500 is the only one you can use in Ohio. More like 3 gallons.
We are thinking of using the twp 1500 on our old, but cleaned and ready pool deck. Will it be extremely slippery around the pool when wet? Also, the website states you have dealers in my city of marietta ga, but when putting in a zip within 100 miles, no dealers come up. Can I buy locally?
Georgia,
TWP is not a slippery stain. We are an online dealer for TWP.
Hello, I have a pressure treated deck that is around 15 years old and I would like to know what product to use. Should I use the 100 or 1500? It has never been coated and I live in Michigan.
Thank You!!
Karl, you should use the 100 Series in Michigan. Make sure to prep with the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit first.
I have a 320 Sq Ft, 18 month old Cedar deck in Illinios. It was stained Sept 2011 with Cabot 7406 semi Solid (Oil based). Failed miserably. Recommendation on next steps? Do I have to Strip?
mikmax1, you would need to strip and remove the Cabot first with the Restore-A-Deck Stain stripper then use the the wood brightener to neutralize. Once the Cabot is removed you can apply the TWP.
What brand/type of pump sprayer can I use to apply TWP Natural Cedartone 101? I do not want the nozzle to clog. Thanks.
James, you would want a high quality pump sprayer that sprayers in a fan pattern. Makes sure it has a large orifice for the nozzle. Chapin makes decent sprayers.