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.
My pressure treated pine deck was built last August. Nothing has been done to it since then. What needs to be done next, what products do you recommend and can I apply TWP series1500 on a new deck? You mention in your blog that it will not penetrate new deck. How many coats do I need to apply? Sue
See here about new wood. You can prep and stain now with TWP 1500 Series:
https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
While staining the siding for our new home, we got TWP on the tyvek house wrap. What effect will the TWP have on the tyvek? Should we replace the tyvek? What effect does TWP have on concrete?
It will not harm either.
Pacific North West, 12 month old cedar fence, which product gives maximum protection?
TWP Semi-Solids: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-semi-solid-pro-series
I built my deck about 7 years ago out of pressure treated pine. I gave it about 2 years to dry out/weather. Then I cleaned and brightened the wood with TWP product per the directions and stained with TWP 100 series. This was 5 years ago and it finally needs a re-stain. Very happy with this.
Now that it is time for me to stain the deck again, could you please let me know exactly what steps/products to use?
Thanks,
Ken
Hello,
Very easy. Prep with this kit while lightly pressure washing:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain with two coats wet on wet of the TWP 100 Series:
https://twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-wet-on-wet-application/
You ordered TWP 120 Pecan in 2017:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series-5-gallon
Okay thanks. So I don’t have to use the stripper? Just the cleaner and brightener?
Just one more question for clarification: By “lightly pressure washing” do you mean to do this to rinse off the chemicals/dirt after I scrub? Or do I not need to scrub?
Ken
No need to strip this. You pressure wash off the cleaner at 1500-2000 psi.
Sorry I do have one more question. I just ordered a 5-gallon bucket to take advantage of the free shipping. I expect that I will have extra stain which I will use to stain my fence next year. What is the shelf life of the TWP100 stain?
https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
Help! I just stained my deck, wet on wet, wood was nice and dry, turned out beautifully….. then a pop up rain shower an hour later. What do I do?!?!
There is not anything you can do about it right now. Let the rain water dry off fully to access the damage if any. Send pictures then.
I stained with twp 1500 24 hrs ago and now it’s raining….will it be ok?
Yes.
I have a bamboo fence and have used a TWP 250 series on it in the past. It would appear that the availability of this series is limited and quite expensive ($80 + per gallon). I am wondering if the 1500 series would be suitable for a bamboo fence (each bamboo pole is1 inch thick and they come in panels of 4×8). Or, which series would the company recommend for this project?
No, the TWP 1500 cannot be used on Bambo. Only the TWP 300 Series is for bamboo.
Have a 8 year old cedar deck, had twp redwood stain on it. It is time to redo. I want to remove all redwood stain and either go with clear coat to go back to natural looking. I plan on using RAD stripper and brightener, after that am I good with going with clear coats or would you recommend staying with semi transparent?
The deck is 25ft by 100 ft so once the stain starts to fail it looks rough since it is such a big deck. Wondering if starting with clear coat and just cleaning and brightening it every couple years would be easier.
You will need a stain color for uv protection as a clear will gray naturally in months.
Would it be best to go with a lighter color so the West doesn’t show as much?
Does not matter.
We successfully applied your TWP 1500 cedar tone last year. This year we wanted to touch it up . We used a deck cleaning and a mild power wash and dried.
Brushed on a thin coat followed by a second wet on wet coat just as we did last year. However it is not drying after four sunny days in the 60-70 degree range.
Please help.
You over applied it. You can lightly wipe your deck with rags and mineral spirits to remove the excess stain that is on top of the wood.
Note: it is very important to saturate all oily rags with water once done. Lay the rags flat on the ground outside to dry fully.
Hi,
I have deck that has TWP 1504 Black Walnut on it. It was applied on both top and bottom of the deck since our deck has patio area below it. The underside, pickets and porch columns all look good. Only the top boards appear to be fading some and need reapplication. What prep steps can I take to prep so the bottom of the board does not get stripped of its stain and need replication? What is best reapplication type brush or spay? Thanks in advance!
Use this for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Use this for applying: https://www.twpstain.com/deck-floor-staining-push-brush-detail
I placed the order for both. How long do you wait between applying the cleaner and then the brightner process? Also how long do we wait before apply the TWP stain after performing the cleaner and brightner steps? Thanks for all the help in advance, looking foward to having out deck look like it did when TWP was first applied.
Brightener goes on as soon as the cleaning is done and the deck is rinsed. Wait at least 48 hours to stain after prep.
Thanks for the quick response. What if it rains after the cleaning has been done before the stain is applied in the 48 hours. Whats the average wait time that wood should be dry before staining? In NC where its nice 60-70’s days so far.
If it rain after prep then wait 48 hours after the rain to stain.
Great thanks my last question. I have half a bottle of the restore a deck brightner and cleaner from late 2017 order. Does this stuff expire or is it ok to still use? Just curious I have new set coming may just use the new set.
The older prep should still be good.
I ended up using the exiting bottles of restore cleaner and brightener from (Gemini Restore-A-Deck) on TWP 1504 Black Walnut porch. I followed the instructions on both bottles and this is how it turned out. My assumption is it won’t completely remove the existing stain and when we restain it will absorb better, is that right? Also what happens if we stain portions of the deck that are not prepped with Gemini Restore-A-Deck like the columns/spindles if we want them to be a bit darker and brush them with some stain while doing the floor boards that are prepped with the ?
Your prep looks good. You always have to prep when reapplying so you cannot just stain over the old stain without prep.
Thank you I truly appreciate =the feedback! I’ll post some pics post staining for your gallery. 😉
Located in northeast Louisiana.
16 year old pressure treated SYP deck under very large Live Oak and originally stained with Olympic Semi transparent Redwood. Almost a year ago I did major repair so have mixture of original and newer and replaced planks. I will attempt to attach photo. I am thinking semi transparent or semi solid TWP. What are your recommendations for procedure?.. and would TWP 100 be better that 1500?
Please post pictures. Saiz of the photo needs to be under 3mb to post.
Here are some pics
Prep all with this kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain with the TWP 100 or the Semi-Solids for this.
Thanks much. Ordered cleaner kit and 4 semi-solid samples today.
Last year I sealed my Cedar Deck with Pittsburgh Paints & Stains® Ultra Advanced Clear Alkyd Oil Waterproofing Exterior Wood Sealant.
I’m looking to buy your TWP 200 Series this year, Can I just apply this over last years?
Thank You
No, you will have to remove the old coating first.
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Thank You!
What is the best ratio and standing time for old, hard to remove TWP stain using TWP stripper an deck wash?
Post some pictures.
I want to stain my deck Saturday and it’s supposed to rain Sunday afternoon (hard to get multiple dry days here). Takes 2 hours. My deck is in full sun from about 11a-4p. Usually I try to stain in the evening but worried this will be less than 24 hours before the rain starts. Would it be better to do it really early (6 am) and expose to full sun after just a couple hours on Saturday, or do it in the evening to avoid the sun but have less dry time before the rain starts?
Do it first thing in the am.
I remember seeing a link to the lumberyards and other stores who sold TWP, I can’t seem to find it now
We only sell online from our website as a dealer for TWP. http://www.twpstain.com
Is this website connected to the Franklin, Mi store?
We are on Franklin Rd in MI. You can pick up at our store if you prefer or we can ship online.
I bought some product at your store last year. Can you give me a ball park number for shipping 1 gallon of TWP 100 Cedartone, and a gemini restore a deck kit to 48629 zip code
Please add to cart and enter your shipping info for total cost:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-100-series-1-gallon
and
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
I bought over 150 gallons of your 1500 stain which was sprayed onto my fence in July thru August 2019. The stain is starting to fade out in a lot of places. I have just respected over 20 gallons and ordered another 25 gallons today. Should this stain fade within 18 months? Do I need to put a sealer on it? Thank you.
We do not see any online orders from our website in your email. Did you order from us?
Depending on the color, it is normal to restain every 2-3 years and it does fade lightly through the years. You can never apply a sealer over a deck stain like TWP.
I have 25 year old cedar deck and have used 200 series many times. We are going to use the semi solid pro this time. If we replaced a few boards would we get a consistent look with the semi solid?
More so than a semi-transparent color would but it will not be exact.
Last year I refinnished my deck with an oil. During the summer it became very dirty with mildew. I used a cleaner, elbow grease and a pressure washer to clean it. As you can see there are spots of oil still in the wood. Will I have to resand to get all the oil out before useing your series 200 product. I’m looking at a semi transparent stain as I would like to keep the wood grain showing. I am in southern Ontario Canada with very hot summer weather and my deck faces the east, southeast and no shade till 4PM.
No pictures.
I installed new decking last year, 2020. Deck boards are Menards AC2 pressure treated yellow pine with their CedarTone pigment/color which they claim to be good for two years before staining. The deck has now lightened some as they predicated and it will be 9 months after installation plus going through a Minnesota winter. Boards appear fine and I note water does not bead but puddles. 1) Reasonable to apply stain now?…. I plan to use TWP100 ProSeries semi-transparent Cedartone 2) I think one-coat now is sufficient…do you agree? 3) Should I consider using TWP deck prep…..I detect no problems now and thought a mild washing would be sufficient.
Do I watn to use the stripper if I have any kind of stain on my deck that isn’t the current TWP that I am going to use, correct? Then in the future I just use the cleaner?
Strip and then brighten is correct.
I want to restain with TWP 100 Rustic. 5yr old pressure treated pine deck was stained at about 1 year old with an oil based medium brown Olympic stain. Most all of the stain is gone from decking. Much remains on balusters/railing and perimeter rim boards. I have neglected this deck for the past three years. A contractor wants to pressure wash and then apply the TWP. He thinks the pressure wash will be enough to remove the old finish. I need advice.
You will need to strip and brighten to remove the old stain: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I have Cypress Post on my front and back porch that were stained with TWP100 Dark Oak about 3-4 years ago. The front side of the post are heavily exposed to the sun and weather. The other sides of the post are still in great shape. See pictures attached. Two of the pictures shows the deteriorated portions on the front of the post. One pics shows the condition of the other 3 sides. I live in Louisiana. What would you recommend be done to re-stain the post? Can you just redo the bad side?
Prep with this and redo all sides: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Thank you for the very quick response. TWP is a great product. Did a patio addition and used TWP100. Wouldn’t use anything else.
For use with a pump sprayer, can I dilute the TWP1501 with paint thinners to make it spray better?
No, do not dilute or thin the TWP. It will spray with a pump sprayer.
I have a bench (4×12) on stone legs. I used twp 101, cedar tone, on the wood. Can I put a coat of marine varnish on it, or is this unnecessary? Or, do you all have something else I can put on to insure the wood won’t rot.
No, you cannot top coat the TWP. It will peel.
Great. Thanks for the quick response. I use this stuff on my deck as well. Best stuff for the wet NW.
I need a more opaque stain. The sun in northern California is so intense: I have stained with 1500 series each of the past two summers and it is faded and aged looking by the following spring. The semi-transparent 1500 is not doing it here. I love the color and the look for the first two months (it is SO better than the crap at the big box stores). What can I use to resist the intense heat here (20 days over 100 last summer). Thanks
I am sorry but TWP does not come in a more opaque stain and that is allowed in CA.
Have pressure treated deck installed in Sept of 2020. Ready to stain deck with TWP 101 cedar tone. Do I need just stain or do I also need deck restoration kit. Deck is 668 sq ft and is in mountains of NC.
You will need the kit. See this for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Last year I sanded down my 30 year old deck and applied 1501 cedartone TWP. Best ever and longest lasting I have ever used. What is the best course of action for second year? Do I have to use every year or is there a maintenence application?
If it looks good then leave it alone until year.
then clean and redo with same 1501 maybe in third year?
Yes, correct.
Do you have interior stains?
We do not.
Is twp safe to use on a pressure treated deck? Deck has been complete for a year and has never been sealed or stained
TWP works great for pressure treated wood.
What product would you suggest for Ohio? One being a pool deck…. I’d prefer to stay clear or light colored. Probably honey toned coloring.
Thanks!!!
TWP 1515 Honeytone for this.
We refinished our deck with TWP over 24 hours ago and it is still tacky. I’m pretty sure we may have applied too much stain (101 Cedar Tone). We prepped the deck by power washing and using a deck cleaner and then applied two coats on both verticals and horizontals but did apply it wet on wet but my definition of wet on wet might have been different than what can specified. Unfortunately your website is far more informative than instructions on can and I should have come here first. The dew point might have been somewhat high since we are expecting rain on Thursday/Friday and it was Tuesday when we applied stain. Should I give deck a certain amount of time before taking any action to fix? If deck remains tacky what would be best to do? Thank you in advance for your help.
You over applied but it should dry. Give it another few days. You can also wipe your deck with rags and mineral spirits to remove the excess stain that is on top of the wood to help speed up the process.
Note: it is very important to saturate all oily rags with water once done. Lay the rags flat on the ground outside to dry fully.
Thank you very much for the fast reply! I really appreciate it.
I am trying to preserve the natural color of yellow pine live edge siding. The TWP dealer recommended 115 honeytone. The product went on nicely and looked like a good color until it dried. I now have a very mustard colored siding especially on the softer trim boards. Would there have been a better color to use and will anything soften the dark yellow hue?
It is not possible to soften the color but it will fade over time. Honeytone is the lightest tint with UV protection.
Installed a bamboo fence mid fall of 2020. how to clean and prep for staining and what products to use?
Sorry but the TWP 100, 1500, and 200 Series that we sell will not work on bamboo.
Hello. We have a new 6 month old deck; Pressure treated pine; never stained. There appear to be a few “weather” stains. We live in a suburb of NYC.
Any answers / feedback to the following questions would be very much appreciated:
1. Is TWP 100 available in NY?
2. If not do you recommend TWP 1500?
3. Are they any distributors in Westchester County?
4. We would like a transparent or semi-transparent stain color that comes
closest to the original pine color. Which
colors would you suggest?
5. Will we need to power wash the deck before it’s stained?
6. How many days of dry weather are required both prior to and after staining?
Thanks!
Twp 100 annual maintenance …..I like to apply a maintenance coat annually…Is it ok to just use one coat if the original looks good? jim
As long as you prep first prior to applying: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
I am having a new front porch constructed at this time . We have 2 vertical peeled cedar posts (recently peeled). They are about 10 foot tall and a foot in diameter. I would like to keep the posts about the same color. What is the stain that would be recommended for this project and will I need to wait 2-3 months before staining? Thank you, Dean D
See here about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
It is not possible to maintain the same color. For UV protection from graying, a stain must be tinted and that means the color will be changed based on the color you choose.
Can you stain over twp if I don’t like the color results? I used pecan on cypress and it is to orange.
You would need to remove it for prep and then restain.
Looking to stain outdoor furniture newly constructed from Douglas fir (two chairs and two chaises). All of the furniture will be exposed to the Arizona sun and occasional rain/monsoon season. We plan to cover the furniture when not in use though.
The wood appeared freshly cut when we bought it, but it started drying quickly because we had to store outside. It hasn’t been stained yet.
I saw that you recommend waiting 4-12 months before staining for decks. Is this true of furniture, as well? Can TWP be used for outdoor furniture?
Yes you have to wait and prep. TWP can be used for furniture.
I have replaced some boards in my deck. I know I have to wait on them to weather. Can I go ahead and stain my old boards. I have already pressure washed them and will clean them with Gemini Restore Cleaner.
You can but it is much easier to do all at the same time.
I will be applying TWP 100 to my prepped deck…my husband wants to roll it…(a friend who recommended TWP said he used roller with great results) what kind of roller and nap should I buy? I did buy your recommended deck brush but they are reluctant to use it….
Do not use a roller. Use a stain pad or brush. Rollers splatter and make it hard to get on evenly.
https://www.twpstain.com/wood-and-deck-stains/application-tools/brushes-stain-pads
Hi I am reading about this great TWP Deck Stain. I sanded my pressure treated deck ( 6 years old) completely and used a plant oil base solid stain that looked great after I finished.
This spring after the winter where ever there was a knot in wood board the stain came off.
Will this TWP stain stick to any knots on the surfaces of the wood board?
You cannot use TWP over a different stain nor can you spot apply to just the knots. You will need to 100% remove the previous coating first.
I plan on removing all the stain by sanding.
Question will TWP stain come off where ever there is a knot in the board?
TWP is a penetrating stain so no, it does not come off in spots around the knots.
I am concerned if the stain will come off when it is applied to the top of the knot
No, it is a penetrating stain.
Ok, thanks for your help.
Have a good day.
Dave
For the past 35 years I have put series 100 cedartone on my log home. I am cleaning my home with restore a deck. If I strip the whole house with restore a deck stripper, will I be able to change color to series 100 redwood? Thanks for any help or suggestions.
Yes.
I have 2 cans of TWP 1520. Side of can says “low VOC” the other can says ” 350 max VOC “. What is the difference? Where is the manufacture or expiration date?
Same product. Mix them together before use.
Please where is the manufacture or expiration date on the gallon can?
Should be on the bottom or side.
What caulk matches cedartone 101 the best?
Sorry but no idea as the final of your stain on your wood will vary based on wood type, age, prep, and amount of coats applied. Best to test a few.
I’m noticing the tip section does not mention application by roller. Is rolling out 1500 not recommended?
Stain pads and brushes are much better for applying vs a roller. Rollers splatter and are harder to get the TWP evenly applied.
thanks for the timely reply. I failed to mention that i was going to be applying to about 1200 ft² of fencing
Spray with a pump sprayer and then back brush it.
Hi, I have a couple of questions. I’ve never used TWP before but have an older gentleman who’s asked me to quote restaining his deck. He has had TWP200 used on it before and it is in great shape even though I see the 200 is not for decks, though I don’t know why there’d be difference. We’re in the Raleigh, NC area and his deck is very shaded being bombarded with leaves and acorns currently. Anyway, my hopefully quick questions:
1) There is no way to keep the leaves and acorns off during drying aside from a lot of tarps. Also it’s been very dewy and I saw where the website says to avoid dewy conditions and I think temps below 40 degrees. Is this a bad time to consider restaining? That seems to be the gentleman’s main question.
2) The deck is fairly old but as I said in great shape. Has some green in places, otherwise just regular dirt and worn spots from foot traffic. Does the 200 stain need to be stripped or just cleaned? He wants to keep the color the same. They’ve been using 206 Russet.
3) Would I need 2 coats because of the wear from the foot traffic?
4) If there really is a valid reason for switching from 200 to the 100 or 1500, is the “Rustic” essentially the same color as “206 Russet”?
1. Leaves or acorns would not harm the stain while drying.
2. Cleaner and Brightener for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
3. Just one coat.
4. Stick with the same. Colors are not equivalent.
Thank you very much!
Per TWP’s recommendation on square footage and age of cedar fence, I purchased 25 gallons of TWP 1500 stain. I stained this weekend and only used 17 gallons. I have a brand new, 5 gallon bucket still in the sealed box left over (aside from the 3 gallons still in the open container). Can I return the unopened 5 gallon container that is still in the box? Thank you, I appreciate it.
The order arrived on September 9, 2020 for reference. Thank you
See policy here: https://www.twpstain.com/refund
What is the shelf life of opened leftover 1516 stain?
See here: https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
In San Antonio, TX where we have very hot summers . We had many days 100 or above this past summer.. Deck gets sun and shade. We have both humid and very dry conditions.. Should we go with 100 or 1500? Is there a chance the 100 will go away as it has in some states.. I want to be able to re apply as needed in future without all the stripping…
Use the TWP 100. Texas has not changed their VOC laws.
Can I apply twp 1500 over previous twp 100 without stripping?
You should strip to ensure there are to any issues: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I used TWP 101 (two coats) approx. 3 years ago but I need to reapply a new coat due to color fading. Since this is a reapply of the same stain, is it necessary to power wash the deck? Thanks
Yes, you have to prep. Use this kit while pressure washing: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
How long should deck dry after rain before I use TWP
48 hours.