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.
This is a new deck (Feb 2017), that was professionally stained using TWP
100. Obviously it was not applied evenly. They tried using mineral spirits, which did nothing. What should be done?
You will need to strip it and start over to fix their mistakes.
Any good tips for cleaning and maintaining deck after staining? I stained a few months ago and was very happy with the result until the first time it rained and my dogs carried muddy feet all over the place. It took quite a bit of effort to clean. Was this just a mistake on my part to use a dark stain or is there something I can be using to clean deck after rainy days? Also, their claws seem to be digging in the wood in certain areas to where the original wood color can be seen. How concerned do i need to be about the longevity of the protection provided by the TWP 1500 stain I used? Thanks!
Based on your excessive wear, you may need to reapply the stain every 1-2 years. No penetrating deck stain can prevent dog claw wearing.
As for cleaning, a light wash with warm water and dish soap should help to remove mud.
Do you recommend staining joists and boards under the deck structure with TWP, the deck floor is composite.
We have a bid from a roof company that includes treatment with TWP 200 series 3% stain. We are interested in the slate gray product, but he rarely uses it, so doesn’t, have a sample. Any way we could get a small sample to see how it looks, before committing to putting it on our roof?
Sorry, but we do not have samples of the 200 Series.
After using the deck brightner I waited 48 hours and planned on staining the next day but it ended up raining overnight. How long after rain does the deck need to dry prior to staining?
24-48 hours.
What caulk do you recommend using with TWP1500
TWP will not “stain” caulk so it blends. Use any quality caulk brand in a color that is similar to the TWP color that you will be using.
I have a new deck at my house installed April, 2017. The tag on the board says it is UC4A ESR 2240 Micronized Copper Azole. We have already purchased from you a cleaner kit, a stripper kit, and TWP natural stain. Please advise the proper procedure for staining the deck. Do we need brightner on the new wood? Can we apply stain on the vertical parts of the deck without all the cleaner and stripper? We’d have to apply all that by hand, which would be very labor intensive….
You need to use the cleaner and brightener on all. See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Which tip is needed for 1500 series simi transparent being applied with a Graco or Titan airless sprayer, 1500 psi.
Use the wider fan tips.
Which stain 100 or 1500 for new deck in Tennessee?
100 Series for TN. See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Hi, great to see there is a highly regarded oil based wood stain on the market. I don’t like the water-based options. I have a newly constructed barn in rough sawn ship lap pine that will be finished in Sept/Oct. My understanding is you want 4-12 months before staining. Assume OK if I do in the spring? Will it be too soon to stain before winter? Will I need to use your prep materials on this type of siding? We will use the 1500 product since we are in NH. Thanks
If rough sawn cut you can stain right away as long as the wood is dry. No need to prep if you do now. If you wait until Spring, you will have to prep.
Can I apply TWP 100 in direct sunlight?
You can but you will need to work quickly so it dries evenly. I would avoid high temps above 90 and direct dunlight.
Can’t find a list of the 35 states that allow this product. We live in upstate New York.
For NY, you will need the TWP 1500 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
Hi,
I just stained my deck yesterday with TWP 1500 Rustic. It was not supposed to rain until Friday so I decided to do it Monday to give it 4 days to dry, Guess what? It rained over night 🙁 Is all my work ruined? it had like 8 hours of drying time before the rain.
Looks fine to us in the pictures!
Ok thanks. What would I look for after it dries as for any rain damage?
Water spots that looks like circles.
I have power washed a cedar deck approximately 2 years old. It had one application of TWP after a year of weathering. There are spots where the TWP did not come off, what should I do? I assume if I stain the deck like it is it will look splotchy, will your deck stripper and brightener take these spots off or do I need to sand those spots with Random Orbital sander with 80 grit? If I have to sand those, will I have to sand the whole deck to make sure stain application is taken uniformly? Thanks
Best to not spot stain but strip and brighten for the prep. Out Restore A Deck Stripper Kit will work for this.
Hi for a New wood requires a light maintenance coat 12-18 months after the first initial coat was applied. Which the first time I did it turned out fine. What do you have to do to the wood for a maintenance coat thanks
Use the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep.
After sanding (60-80 grit) peeling paint off 70-year-old pine siding to bare wood, should I let it weather 4-12 months before stripping/brightening, and TWPing?
Wait a month and prep before staining. No need to wait 4+
I’m looking for the best product to use on cedar shake shingles on my roof. A friend recommended your TWP 1500 product but later he heard that you now had a TWP 2000 product that was even better for this application. Please provide your recommendation and information for your best available product.
For cedar shakes, use the TWP 200 Series:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-200-series-5-gallon
Got 3 samples of TWP 100. Clear, Honey, and Cedar. All look the same on sample board. I think the color separated during shipment. I shook them up but can’t seem to get the color to mix back in. Can you offer suggestions?
Shake vigoroulsy, it wiil mix back in.
My first application ever of TWP 100 on siding is now 2+ years old in hot humid Florida; I’ve noticed fading and it’s time to reapply. Recently, blackness has appeared. To test for dirt, I moistened a white rag and rubbed it on black. Only stain appeared on the rag, no black, so I immediately scrubbed the wall with bleach/TSP/water solution & it’s drying as I type this. Should I just wait until winter to TWP? I will have to let the wood sit bleached and bare until winter when I will clean/strip a second time, then brighten and TWP. Yes, there’s been a lot of heat, rain, blowing tree pollen for months. Or what could I have done wrong at first? I did not use your Gemini restore kit, but a milder stripper. However, this time I wanted to just get rid of the black, so I really went to town with the bleach and TSP. Thank you.
You can prep now and stain or wait a few months and do it. Does not matter.
I stripped my 40 year old PT deck of all old Penofin and followed with brightener. Pressure washer was used as well. The wood looked almost like new wood after doing all this. I followed with cedartone (100)using two coats. The deck is beautiful in spite of the boards having age issues. My question: About a dozen boards now seem quite pale in color and look as though they need another coat. Is this likely? Both coats that I applied were absorbed well and there is no shine. It has been three weeks since I finished.
Leave alone, they are fine and adding too much stain is an issue. It may not soak in.
Hi,
This is one of your stains, could you please tell me what color this is?
Thanks
Looks like Rustic color.
I stained two coats yesterday, however, because of the sun the 1st coat dried before I could get to the second. The second coats went on fine around 5pm but is still wet and shiny the next morning. Do I attempt to wipe down w mineral spirits and rags? Will this ruin the finish or only remove excess?
Let it air dry for another day or two before wiping off any excess stain. It will harm the finish.
Hi,
What color is this?
Good morning,
I’m planning to use the Gemini Restore 2 step product this week and then apply TWP 200 stain 48 hours after that. The wood is less than a year old but had been stained two months ago. However that new stain had to be stripped since the contractor left a lot of sanding marks that showed through the finished staining. It’s now been stripped for about 8 weeks and ready for restoration and re-staining.
When are you supposed to use the power washer when using the Gemini? I had thought that one of the stages was actually applied with a power washer, or perhaps even both. But according to the bottle instructions, both say apply with a hose spray pump. With the sand marks issue I’d like to power wash at some point. Please advise what the correct preparation sequence would be to achieve the best results prior to staining
Thanks in advance for your prompt response.
You apply the Step 1 first with a pump sprayer and then pressure wash off. Rinse and apply the Step 2 right away. Rinse this after 15 minutes.
Hi. We cleaned and brightened the deck (new wood), and started the 48 hour clock to wait for applying the stain. At about the 36 hour mark (morning), we had dew on the deck.
Is that a problem? Can we still start staining later today at the 48 hour mark? Or does it reset the 48 hour clock?
The reason I ask is because if it DOES reset the 48 hour clock, we’ll likely have to wait a while since we might run into some rain…
Thanks!
I have a 2 yr old cedar deck that was stained when new with TWP1530. Now, due to some pocking from hail, fairly deep gouges across the decking from a wind storm blowing furniture around, as well as some apparent staining (maybe mildew?) I am planning to sand the entire deck and re-apply the same stain. Are any other preparations required after sanding (e.g. brightening) or can I stain right away?
After the sanding, use the Gemini Restore Kit for the final prep.
I applied one coat of TWP 1500 today. I don’t seem to have enough for a second coat. I order more stain, is it ok to wait a few days to a week between the first and second coats?
What is the best product for a new deck/ext. walls that will be subject to intense sun in the summer and sub-freezing temps in the winter?
See this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Use the TWP 1500 or 100 Series. See this about new wood:
https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I used twp 1500 on my exterior Douglas fir beams. Can I use the same stain on my interior Doug fir beams and pine faux beams to match?
Yes but TWP is oil based so you will have an odor until it fully cures.
I’m going to re-stain my fence and want your recommendation on what product and color to use. It was last done using Sherwin Williams Deckscapes semi-transparent oil based stain in Cedar Bark (product #A18C50602). Let me know if you have a similar product and color. Thanks
You will need to remove the SW with the Restore A Deck Stripper Kit before applying the TWP. The TWP 1501 Cedartone should be a similar color.
Can anything be added on top of TWP to make the surface shine? I have it on cypress beams and columns.
No, you cannot do this.
Can TWP be applied over newly painted Restore a Deck Product?
Restore A Deck is a prepping system, not a paint. If you meant something different, the answer is no. TWP cannot be applied over a stain or paint of a different brand.
We have a 20 month old cedar deck that has never been stained. IT has been cleaned and sanded. Do you recommend one coat of stain or two?
Two light coats applied wet on wet.
What about air temperature and sunlight during application? Is there an ideal temperature range when applying? An upper limit? (working in Atlanta) Is it safe to apply in direct sunlight? My deck gets about 5 hours of full sun starting in the late morning. If I’m taking the time for 2 coats wet on wet, should I wait till the sun goes away or can I start in the sun and continue when shade takes over?
Avoid direct sunlight if above 90. You cannot stop and start when doing a wet on wet application. The second coat needs to be applied within 60 minutes or so of the first coat.
Good Day: We have a 500 square foot deck on a home in the Caribbean. Our problem is that we don’t often see 48 hours with no rain as is specified in the drying time. If the 100 says it is dry to touch between 4 to 24 hours would it be possible to put clear plastic sheeting over the deck once it is dry to the touch to protect it for the 48 hours in case of a shower. Thanks Ken
No need it needs arflow to cure correctly. It can take a rain 12 hours after applying.
Thank you for the knowledge and the quick reply. Will do.
I have sanded down approx. 1500 sq feet of my back yard Porch —leaving us a
Good Morning
Two weeks ago we prepared deck by sanding – and had a sanded” raw wood
…The porch and railing were installed 12 years ago and stained at that time.
I recently purchased TWP 1500 Rustic 5 gallons with bug spray last week.
We applied TWP to over 2/3 of the Porch and railings.
My Questions:
(1) There are areas of the wood that has been acting as a SPONGE – leaving uneven and unabsorbed results after applying the new TWP deck stain.
What should I do next ?
A) – Purchase Stripping and Brightener?
to apply over the “spongy” areas of the stained wood
OR
B) Gemini Retore a Kit ?
OR What —to do next …
In order to obtain an even finished Deck Stain result on this Porch.
I will also order additional Deck Stain ( as we ran out of the 5 gallon quantity that we purchased).
Kindly we await your Response.
Thank You.
Hello, you cannot “spot” prep and treat areas. Please post a picture.
Hi, I stained my deck with Twp 1500, 24hrs later a surprise thunderstorm came through. What kind of damage will the water have on stain?
It is most likely fine.
what size tip and at what pressure do you reccomend for a novice
1200 psi and a white or green tip.
Last summer (2016) we used TWP to stain our deck. 1). When will we know to re-stain it? 2) Is there maintenance we should be doing every year on the stain to keep it fresh-looking and doing its job? 3) When we do re-stain, will I have to strip the old TWP before re-applying another coat?
These questions are important because in two weeks I’ll be using TWP to stain a 650′ deck that I stripped this past weekend. It’s a rental property for us and it’s SUPER DUPER prone to mold, mildew and algae due to lots of shade. I’d like to know how often I will have to work on that deck to keep it looking good.
Typically your need to redo every 2 to 3 years. Clean and brighten with the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep. The exception would be if the wood was new lats year. New wood requires a light maintenance coat 12-18 months after the first initial coat was applied.
I am using 1 in. x 6 in. x 12 ft. Premium Tongue and Groove Pattern Whitewood Board for a fence. I do I need to wait before I stain/seal it? It is stored inside and should have a low moisture content. Boston, MA., USA
Please see this about new wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Thank you, just confirming/trying to get away with less labor/expense. 🙂
I read on the new wood prepping portion of your site, “It is best to follow the directions of the stain manufacturer when it comes to applying a coating to new wood for the first time, not the lumber yard or the paint store’s as they do not understand the proper prep needed.” Since I believe you are the manufacturer, can you please advise me on the “wait time” prior to staining new non PT, as well as new PT wood? Thanks
Hello,
Just as the new wood article states, 4-12 months. Does not matter the wood type.
See this for more info. Thanks!
https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I keep seeing all these different types of TWP, “ie” TWP 100, TWP 1500, ect. Nowhere can I find the difference in these. Live in central Iowa. Deck is less than 1 year old. Decking is treated 5/4 pine boards.
We have a couple of articles on this:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-stain-comparison
and
https://www.twpstain.com/difference-between-twp-100-and-1500-series
Which one would be recommended for my location and application to wood type.
Hello,
We responded to this yesterday:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-stain-comparison
and
https://www.twpstain.com/difference-between-twp-100-and-1500-series
I live in western Nevada, dry and sunny here. I have a cedar fence, 7 years old, not previously stained. It still looks fairly good, not grayed. What stain would you recommend for this application?
The TWP 1500 Series. You will have to prep with the Gemini Restore Kit.
I am staining my deck with TWP 100 SERIES DARK OAK. I started with the lattice and ony did a small area. After drying it looks kind of purple. Will it stay that color. I don’t like it, what can I do?
There is no purple color in the Dark Oak. How did you prep it? Please post a picture.
Hi,
I have 3 questions.
1. Does your product TWP 1500 work on treated wood?
2. Do you sell samples? We can’t decide between Honeytone & Cedartone for your TWP 1500 & would like to try them first before buying 2 gallons.
3. Do you have a dealer in WA state?
Thank you
1. Yes
2. Yes. https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
3. We ship to WA from our site.
Thanks
Should TWP 1502-1 be top coated with Thompson Seal? Or it better to just apply another coat of TWP 1502?
Hello, you cannot top coat a sealer over the TWP.
I have read that the oil base stains are prone to mildew as the oils attract mold spores. Why is the TWP 1500 any different than that of other oil base stains? I have sawn cedar siding. Very nice wood and don’t want to ruin it or have to redo it anytime soon.
TWP is the only oil based exterior wood stain on the market that is registered as a “Wood Preservative” by the EPA for mold and mildew prevention.
Can TWP 100 be shipped to North Webster Indiana Zip 46555
No. The TWP 1500 is allowed in Indiana based on VOC laws there.
We applied TWP 1500 Cedartone to our deck last evening in Mt. Airy NC. No rain for the next 3 days so it is perfect timing. It appears I over applied rolling it on at dusk and there are many shiny spots on the 630 sf deck and stairs this morning. Should I wait 48 hours (it has been 18 hrs. or go back over with a sponge or cloth with paint thinner to absorb some of the shine or just wait the full 48 hours? Any other suggestions if it is over applied? Company from the west coming Tuesday and hate for every thing to get sticky or oil with many small children coming. Thanks
Wait another day or two. If needed, wipe down the deck with rags and paint thinner. Saturate any oily rags in water when done. Lay flight to dry outside.
Hello, I have several post application questions for you: We have Bamboo fencing encased by pressure treated pine installed last summer on our new pool deck. We had to seal the bamboo right after instillation (with TWP for bamboo) per the bamboo seller instructions, but now we need to seal the pressure treated pine railing. I even had to seal the bamboo one more time this summer already! A few questions:
1) I am guessing we have to sand the railing it since we can not clean with TWP cleaning product as it will get on the sealed bamboo?
2) If sand, we just sealed the deck floor yesterday. How long should we wait to sand?
3) Also, the deck floor appears to have a few minor areas that need more stain…should we do that now or wait until fall? (bc the wood was so absorbent I was able to do light wet on wet application. It looks great, just a few small areas around knots that look like it needs a bit more). See pics…though the pic shows the areas darker than in reality.
4) if wait until fall, how to clean exactly? light pressure wash to remove dirt/grim or use some type of cleaner?
Many thanks for answering all these questions! J