TWP Stain Tips for New Wood Decks
Preparing New Wood for TWP Stains
- New smooth wood needs to weather for 4-12 months after installation to reduce moisture and oxidize from UV exposure.
- Use the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit with Step 1 Wood Deck Cleaner and Step 2 Wood Deck Brightener to properly prep the wood.
- Apply only 1 coat of TWP Stain the first time; back wipe any excess that does not penetrate within 30 minutes.
When applying TWP Wood Stains to new wood for the first time, following the correct preparation steps is crucial. New smooth wood or decking is not ready for staining before installation or immediately after. Always adhere to the TWP Wood Stain guidelines rather than relying on advice from a lumber yard or paint store, as they may not fully understand the prep requirements for optimal results.
TWP and New Smooth Decking or Exterior Wood
New smooth wood is not sufficiently absorbent for TWP Stains due to higher moisture content and the presence of “mill glaze.” Mill glaze is a waxy film that forms during the milling process when high-speed blades heat the wood, drawing out sap and moisture. As this cools and dries, it creates a coating that prevents TWP Stain from properly penetrating the wood grain.
Important Note:
- New Rough Sawn Wood/Fencing: Unlike smooth wood, new rough sawn vertical wood or fencing can be stained immediately after installation without waiting or extensive preparation, as it lacks mill glaze and is highly absorbent.
- Ensure the rough sawn wood is fully dry before staining. If it has aged or oxidized (turned gray), prep it using the Gemini Restore Kit before application. For newly installed rough sawn wood, one coat of stain is usually sufficient.
Proper preparation ensures your TWP stain delivers its intended durability and beauty, whether you’re working with smooth or rough sawn wood.
Tips for TWP and New Wood
Let the Wood Weather First
TWP wants the wood to weather and dry out for 4-12 months after installation. This will allow the moisture content to drop and the exposed wood cells will oxidize from the sun’s UV, turning slightly gray.
Prepping New Wood for TWP Stains
After letting the wood weather it is time to prep the wood. This step consists of using the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit. This kit contains both a Step 1 Wood Deck Cleaner and a Step 2 Wood Deck Brightener. The Step 1 cleaner will help remove the dirt, graying, and mill glaze from the wood while Step 2 Brightener will neutralize the cleaner and help restore the natural color.
Staining New Wood and Decking for the First Time
Even after the waiting period and the proper prepping, new smooth wood is still not as absorbent as it will be in a few years. We strongly suggest only applying 1 coat of the TWP Stains the first time. Do not over apply as the TWP may not penetrate into the wood correctly. Make sure to back wipe any excess stain that does not penetrate properly into the wood after 30 minutes. For new smooth wood, the TWP 100 Series if allowed in your state, otherwise use the TWP 1500 Series.
Maintaining TWP Stains
Apply a light maintenance coat to the flooring in 9-24 months. If just slightly dirty prep with soapy water to remove grime and reapply one light coat. If you wait 18-24 months make sure to prep again with the Gemini Restore A Deck. After the first year or two, your wood will be able to absorb more TWP stain which results in a longer stain life and protection!
TWP Pro Tip:
TWP is a penetrating wood preservative. It performs properly when it penetrates 100% into the wood. Over applying will not result in longer protection.
Have a Question? Please Ask Below.
Staining new cedar that is kiln dried and recently sanded, do I have to rinse the wood with cleaner and water or can I shop vac wipe off wood and stain, live in a cold climate and it’s difficult to get nights that don’t drop into 40’s, boards will be kept on garage at night
A shop vac and wipe down is not enough. Sanding closes the pores rather than opening them, so the wood needs to be cleaned with the Gemini Restore-A-Deck Cleaner, followed by the Brightener, rinsed, and allowed to dry before staining. Kiln-dried wood also still needs about 1-2 months weathering outdoors after it is installed; time stored in the garage does not count toward that. Prep and stain between 50-90 degrees and do not let it drop below 40 degrees the first night after staining, and apply one coat only on new wood.
Just cleaned then brightened my 1 year old fence of rough sawn & milled cedar for the first time. Upon drying, things look great except it’s white around the knots on the milled boards. I thought I hadn’t rinsed off the brightener well enough so re-rinsed thoroughly. But no satisfaction. After research in the forum, I’m wondering if I didn’t clean well enough.
Questions:
Details on Cleaning/Brightening process I used:
I pre-wet the wood, sprayed on the cleaner, let it dwell 10-20 minutes,then scrubbed with a short hard bristle brush, all the time not allowing the wood to dry. After rinsing for 10+ min w/a hose I then applied the brightener: 10-20 dwelling, then rinsed with a hose (10-20 min).
It looks fine to stain, we wouldn’t worry about it too much. Dense knots will stain a little lighter no matter what.
Applying the 100 series to new pressure treated, non incised 2×6 decking. Wood has dried for 4 months in the sun and I am now debating whether to put a coat on pre-fall or wait until next summer. Wood doesn’t absorb water droplets that well but also has a mill glaze. I live in a wet, rainy environment so would have to stain in the next week or wait 9 months. What is your recommendation? Thanks
Four months is the bare minimum of the 4-12 month weathering window for new smooth wood, and the mill glaze you are seeing means it is not fully open yet. Prep with the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit (Cleaner + Brightener), let it dry, then sprinkle water on the boards – if it soaks in you can stain now, if it beads it needs more weathering. If you do stain this fall, apply one coat only, back wipe any excess that has not penetrated after 30 minutes, and you need 50-90F during application with no drop below 40F the first night and at least 12 hours of dry weather after. If the weather will not give you that window, waiting until next summer will not hurt the wood.
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Can I stain pressure treated pine that was stored/dried for 1 year in a barn, but has been outside for only a few weeks?
Time stored in a barn does not count toward the weathering period. The wait is about porosity, not moisture content and that clock starts when the wood is installed and exposed to the weather. If it is smooth/planed PT pine and has only been outside a few weeks, it needs 4-12 months of outdoor weathering, then prep with the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit (Cleaner + Brightener) before staining. If any of it is rough-sawn, that can be stained now since rough-sawn has no mill glaze.
I’d like to add my frustration is due to the fact that in reading instructions on dry time, I did not see any reference to the importance of taking a moisture reading to determine dryness. All I have seen in length of time which could never determine actual dryness due to the extremes of locations and seasons and the like. So with my pin moisture reading of 10.8, AI tells me that my Cedar is dry enough to start the process of removing the mill glaze. Telling me to wait 4 months just does not provide me with useful perameters. Your thoughts please.
Moisture content is not the parameter for readiness, which is why it is not referenced in our instructions.
Reading the other posts you are telling people to wait a few months for the mill glaze to break down. I am confused as I am under the impression the your Gemini Restore a Deck 2 step process is used to break down the mill glaze. Please expound on this. It is now September 1st and if I wait much longer to stain my cedar, it will be too dry and might start cracking. We have had a very hot August. What is the purpose of the Gemini Restore a Deck if it isn’t to remove the the mill glaze on new Cedar?
The Gemini Restore A Deck Kit is the prep step you do after the wood has weathered, not a substitute for weathering. The cleaner and brightener remove surface dirt, graying, and mill glaze residue, but they cannot make new smooth wood porous enough to accept the stain — only outdoor exposure over 4-12 months does that. As for drying out, checking and cracking are normal characteristics of the wood and are not prevented by staining, so waiting will not hurt the cedar.
how long is cure time?
TWP is dry to the touch and ready for light foot traffic in 24-48 hours. Full cure takes 2-3 days, so wait until then before putting furniture back and use pads or felt sliders instead of dragging anything across it. Keep rain off it for at least 12 hours after application. Cooler temps will extend both the drying and curing time.
Do I need to apply 1 or 2 coats to a new rough sawn cedar fence?
2 coats.
What wood preservative do you recommend for old,weathered window sills and pressure treated steps?
The TWP 1500 Series.
I ordered two samples for 20 bucks it said that there free if u order up too 15 bucks but when ordering I don’t see it taking the 15 off
On the sample page is says this:
Here is how our sample program works:
-Pick as many colors as you would like by choosing your color in the above dropdown color choice and then click “Add to Cart”. Color swatches at bottom of the page.
-Samples are $10 each to cover our shipping costs.
-Once you decide to purchase a stain from our site, you can use the money you spent towards the purchase of a 5 Gallon Pail of Stain!
-Maximum $15 discount per customer/household. Instructions on how to get a credit will be included with your samples.
*Sample program cannot be combined with any promotional discount coupons!
How To Claim Sample Credit
-Enter your sample order number into the “Order Notes” during checkout. The sample credit will be issued after the order for the 5-gallon pail is placed. Typically the next business day and will post to your Credit card or Pay Pal account within 3-8 business days.
I’ve long been a fan of the TWP deck stain (such as 1503) and it’s really done me well. I’m preparing to stain some pressure treated 6×6 porch posts, and I have the Step 1 cleaner, and then a container of “Gemini Wood Prep” show on right in photo attached. Is this the same as the Step 2? I can’t find any info on the Gemini Wood Prep product, or if it’s the same as the Step 2. Will it be adequate to use the wood prep alone before staining with the 1503? Thanks 🙂
No, it is not the same as the Step 2 and would not work well in this scenario. For a Step 2 Brightener, see here:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-wood-brightener
It is a rare sunny day in the PNW, temps in the 70s, possibly to 80. Is it okay to apply TWP115 in those conditions in direst sunlight.
Temps in the 70s to 80s are fine — TWP applies best between 50-90°F. The issue is the direct sunlight, not the air temperature. If the wood surface is hot to the touch, the stain can flash dry and leave a splotchy, uneven finish with inconsistent color.
Stain first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon, or work in sections and follow the shade as it moves across the deck. Stir well before you start and every 15 minutes while you work.
What is the shelf life for TWP 115? Also, I sanded with 80 sandpaper and restored/brightened the deck surface after 3 years, should apply wet on wet?
https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
I have sanded and restored my cedar deck that was treated with TWP 115 three years ago. Will applying one coat of TWP 115 be enough for the winter and then a maintenace coat in the Spring?
Yes.
I am renovating a house and using recently purchased cedar to wrap the exterior porch posts and beams. For the porch ceilings, we are repurposing 40-year-old cypress boards that were originally used as the house’s siding. The boards have been planed to expose fresh wood before being installed on the ceilings.
I am considering TWP 1500 for both the cedar and cypress and would like to choose a color that will complement both species. I prefer a more natural brown tone rather than anything with strong red or orange undertones. What color or colors would you recommend?
I also have a few questions about preparation and timing:
Thank you for any guidance you can provide.
Cedar (new, smooth stock): needs to weather outdoors 4–12 months before staining — this isn’t about moisture content, it’s the mill glaze from milling that has to break down first. Once it’s weathered, prep with the Gemini Restore-A-Deck Cleaner + Brightener Kit before staining.
Cypress: No, it is older wood, not new.
Both should get one coat this time around since some is new.
For color, TWP 1503 Dark Oak is the closest match to what you’re describing — a straight dark brown with no red or orange cast. TWP 1520 Pecan is a lighter option if you want more of a toned-down cedar look. Order samples of both and test on scraps of your cedar and cypress before committing — color varies by species: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Thank you for your response. Is it possible to speed up the weathering by sanding the cedar or do we just need to wait and give it the time you recommend?
No, that is not possible; it cannot be sped up.
I have previously used Olympic brands semi – transparent oil base stain. I want to apply your TWP 100 semi-transparent oil base on top of this 6 yr old coating. Is that possible?
No, the Olympic need to be fully removed first. Add some pics in the comments for prep help with this.
So I’ve asked questions before and was not told that everything would have to be stripped before using your product? I’ve used oil base different brands and never had a problem! I just purchased twp 100 pro series, had deck power washed and now I’m reading below that old oil needs to be stripped? I’ve questioned this site so many times and was never told that!!
You have to fully remove it whenever switching stain brands. This is normal with every stain brand (not just TWP), and it seems you may have been doing it incorrectly in the past. TWP is a penetrating stain, and if there is a prior stain on the wood of a different brand, it has to be removed so the TWP can properly penetrate into the wood grain.
4 year old treated pine never stained before whats my best option? Wood a bit greyed in good shape
Use the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit for prep and then apply 2 coats of the TWP stain, wet on wet.
100 series or 1500 ?
Either one.
I have stripped and sanded to 120 grit, a cedar garage door as well as a fur front door and applied one coat of twp1500 cedartone. it has absorbed well. I noticed that the test spot where i applied stain about 5 days ago has more of a “sheen” than the rest of the area which was just stained. Does additional coats result in added sheen or is that simply because it has set in that area?
TWP is not supposed to be shiny as it is a penetrating stain. It was over applied in that area. Do not add more to try and achieve a shine as that can lead to premature product failure.
ok thank you, so one coat is all that should be applied? what is the recommended touch up/maintenance to keep the look? we are located in cape cod, a salt water environment with warm summers and harsh winters.
One coat on sanded wood, plus you sanded to fine. Never sand finer than 60-80 grit. Too fine and it cannot penetrate fully. Clean and brighten in a couple of years or as needed, and then reapply.
I bought a few samples of twp1500 (california redwood, pecan, honey, cedar) to try them over redwood fence (installed about month ago, above 90F daily temperature, so it dried out enough. i think).
i made sure that stain pigment is properly dissolved in liquid and applied it with brush.
it’s been a couple of days, but area of application seems just “wet” (today less than yesterday), but there is no color difference between different stains .
is it still not dry enough or is it the case that over redwood they all look same ?
thank you
If the fence boards are smooth/milled, one month of weathering isn’t enough — smooth new wood needs 4–12 months before it will accept stain properly (mill glaze blocks penetration). Rough-sawn wood can be stained right away, so that’s not the issue if it’s rough-sawn. Staying wet/tacky after a couple days points to over-application or wood that isn’t ready to absorb the stain yet — wipe off any excess with a rag and give it more time to cure. Color differences also won’t show accurately until the stain fully penetrates and dries; on redwood especially, different colors can look nearly identical while still wet.
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
What do yall recommend for cypress rough cut.
My customer wants to keep the natural color
Any color you like. Honeytone is the lightest tint with UV protection. Look at the 1500 Series.
They aren’t wanting any color. They want the natural cypress color. Is it possible to get some samples?
It is impossible to have no color in your stain and have UV protection. They do not have a choice if they want to prevent the wood from graying.
https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
Stain Refresh –
I stained a deck a few years ago with Natural 1500. Portions of the stain flaked off in the section exposed to some sun and snow. This has been completed with 80-grit sandpaper. The other section looks very good. Yesterday, all wood was power washed with plain water after sanding. Do I need to clean and brighten all wood or can I move forward as is? My plan is to wet-to-wet the sanded sections and single coat the other. Please advise…
Just one coat for wood that has been sanded. You should be okay to stain now.
how long to wait to a stain new redwood deck in the desert? is it sooner if it been hot and sunny?
No, same as the article explains.
How long of a wait time is required before prepping and then applying 1500 to newly installed KDAT pine decking?
KDAT pine only needs about 1–2 months of weathering before prep. After that, prep with the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit (Cleaner + Brightener) and apply TWP 1500 — one coat is typically enough on new smooth wood.
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I have new cedar shutters and posts should I follow all of the advice for cedar decks?
Yes — the same rules apply no matter what the wood is used for. If those shutters and posts are smooth cedar, they need the same 4–12 month weathering period before staining, then prep with the Gemini Restore-A-Deck Kit (Cleaner + Brightener) just like you would a deck. If it’s rough-sawn cedar, you can stain it right away since it doesn’t have the mill glaze that smooth wood does.
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
If the wood is sanded with 80-grit, can the wood be stained thereafter?
You still need to use the Gemini Kit after any sanding.