Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by TWP Help
TWP Stain Tips for New wood Decks in 2024
When applying TWP Wood Stains for the first time to new wood there will need to be proper steps taken. New smooth wood or decking is not ready to be pre-stained prior to installation or stained right after installation. It is best to follow the directions of the TWP Wood Stain 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.
TWP and New Smooth Decking or Exterior Wood
It is important to understand that new smooth wood is not absorbent enough for the TWP Stains. New wood contains a higher moisture content and a “mill glaze”. Mill Glaze is a waxy film that results from the fast turning blades that cut the profile on a manufactured log. The high speed of the turning blades produces heat that draws sap and moisture out of the log. As it cools and dries, it creates a film or coating on the logs. This will hinder the TWP’s ability to penetrate into the wood grain.
Note: New Rough Sawn vertical wood/fencing can be stained right away with no wait and with no prep as it does not have mill glaze and is very absorbent. Just make sure the wood is fully dry. If Rough sawn wood has aged or oxidized (grayed) then it will need to be prepped with Gemini Restore Kit. One coat for most instances of newly installed 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.
I have a question about preparation for twp. On one side of my house I have stripped off the old Behr solid stain, (well, mostly) with your restore a deck stripper, followed by the restore a deck wood brightener. This brightened the wood, but did not remove the graying in some areas. Not much of a problem, as I will be using Rustic 1500, which is a dark stain. Other parts of the house, I will be using a light stain, and would like to remove the graying.These areas are un-stained. Is there something else that I should be doing, to get this result, or, should I use instead your Restore A Deck product? thank you.
Beverly, for removing gray wood fibers it is best to use the Gemini Restore Kit, Apply the step 1 cleaner, pressure wash off, apply the step 2 brightener.
New non treated Douglas fir deck. Kiln dried to 15-17%. I’d like to treat before winter if possible. What do you recommend?
Christina, wait until Spring and clean and brighten for the prep.
I have a new swingset made of pressure treated lumber. I was told to “waterproof” it. How do I know a) the right time to apply product and b) the right product to use
Captain, please read this article about new wood: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Either 100 or 1500.
Tomr, please read this article on new wood: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/.
Need a total sq. footage for the amount.
martymoose, have you tried a a stain stripper with the pressure washing to get the rest of the stain off? That is the easiest way. Try applying with a sprayer then back brushing.
I just prepped my deck for staining yesterday night (Tuesday) and it appears, according to the latest forecast, that the deck won’t be dry for 48 hours straight until about next Tuesday due to rain.
Is it ok to wait that long to stain? This weather in Ohio seems like it’s always raining lately and I wanted to get the deck finished before fall and winter hit.
Brain, yes you can wait that long to stain after prepping.
My new deck was installed 2 weeks ago (08/31-09/05). The treated pine was
purchased from lowes and it looked beautiful – until a few days ago. Now there
are large areas of mold throughout the whole 550′ of decking. I went back to
Lowes and asked about it, and the manager said “the wood must have been exposed
to something while it was waiting to be installed.” The deck was installed over
a 5 day period and the wood was not stored in a shady area. I live on Long
Island, NY. I was planning on staining the wood the 1st or 2nd weekend in
October. Lowes said to wash the new wood with a bleach solution as soon as
possible; that the wood will not take the stain with mold spores on it. What
are my options? Should I bleach before I stain and what about the underneath? If
there is mold spores on top of the wood where there is sunshine, won’t the
underneath part of the wood also have mold spores? I am planning on using the
twp1500 dark oak stain.
tbert6, wait until Spring. Please read this article: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I will, thank you. Do I need to do something about the mold now? Can I wait until the spring and use the Gemini restore a deck before applying the stain? I’m worried about people walking over the mold spores and tracking them into the house. My house was badly damaged by sandy and I’ve already had to treat the house for mold.
Theresa, I would just treat it in the Spring. Never heard of mold spores getting tracked into a house from a deck 🙂 I guess it is possible but not likely.
Maggie, you can use a semi-transparent stain for rough cedar fencing with no issues.
Thanks
Was too anxious (and stupid) and stained a 1-1/2 month old KD cedar deck with TWP100 in MN. It rained about 40 hours later. Now have what looks like water spots all over the deck…am kicking myself for not waiting until next spring/summer…is this really bad for the wood? Are they water spots or something worse? Do I strip it all off now or in the spring and start over? I just don’t want to start mold or anything worse in the wood. I foolishly didn’t clean it more than washing it off well with the hose and a brush before hand, and air dried for a couple of days.
HELP!!
And can one use a different (darker) TWP stain color for later, maintenance touch ups, or do you have to stay with the same color?
Pat, I would leave it alone and redo it in the Spring. You will need to lightly strip it off and brighten the wood first. You did not “hurt” the deck but it probably does not look very good right now. You can change color in Spring as well.
Maggie, you can stain now. Use the 1500 stain and the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep.
Thanks for the response TWP.
I’ve just made the possible error of researching on the internet. It seems like many people don’t recommend a semi-transparent stain on rough cut pine (like mine). Any truth to this? I have zero knowledge in this field. Do you have any pictures of TWP on rough cut pine fencing?
Should we use 100 or 1500 series on new pine wood deck in NC. One light coat in 4-12months? Rolled or sprayed on ?
Kenny, 1 coat of the 100 Series. Use a stain pad applicator.
I have new Cypress beams 12×12 on my house. I am having trouble matching the color of the stain on my doors with a twp stain available. Can I stain the beams with a stain color of my choice and then apply twp clear on the stain color I choose. Or should I have the stain color I desire mixed with the twp clear.
Trey, you cannot do either.
I am going to install a new deck with regular cedar 2×6. I really want to make sure its weather proof. Do I have to stain each 2×6 all around before I install? Or the product need to apply after the installation?
Eric, http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I’m getting ready to prep my 1-yr old PT pine decks in GA with Restore-A-Deck. I know you said not to sand, but the boards were so rough, I lightly sanded only the top railing and stair railings with a small light-weight finishing sander. Should I wait for these sanded places to weather? How long?
Also, should I stain the undersides? Front deck is on a slope and goes from 1 ft. to 3 ft. above ground. Gets very wet under there. Back deck is 4 ft. from ground.
Also, if I stain now with only 1 coat of 100, which I understand is your recommendation for GA, could I re-stain next fall with a different color in 1500? I still don’t understand the difference between 100 and 1500. Thanks!
Sandy, if you only lightly sanded then you are probably okay to stain. There is no benefit to staining the undersides. If you use the 100 Series now than you should stay with the same series next year.
I have just installed my new deck but I have had the wood setting in my garage for about 17 months. Do i still need to wait the 4 to 12 months before applying the stain?
Keith, yes you need the wood to oxidize some and you need to remove the mill glaze.
I’ve read just about his entire website and am planning on choosing the TWP 1500 in the dark oak as I want a rich, but not too dark, brown color. My remaining question is about prep. We had our brick patio covered last December with pressure treated wood and a solid rolled roof. We will be staining the underside of the roof and the posts. They haven’t accumulated a lot of dirt since it is not a flat surface that is walked on and is solid covered. Also, there is no real graying as mentioned above in your how to. Should we still use the deck cleaner and brightener? Is 9 months long enough to wait? One year would put us in December when it will be too cold….until about April. Also, the stubborn hubby thinks it all needs to be freshly sanded smooth. I’m thinking that’s not a good idea from what I have read on this website???! Thanks in advance for your help!
Jeannine, no sanding but apply the brightener to help remove the mill glaze. Only one coat is needed for this. Watch drips on the pavers!
Will the cleaner and brightener damage painted surfaces or vinyl siding? Thanks, Dawn
Dawn, not it should not but always best to test first.
I just finished up with the RAD cleaner and brightener and
wow what difference!! But I’ve got a few
questions…
The mildew that I didn’t remove (tough to get it ALL) can
it be removed with next years cleaning or will it be sealed away and locked up
forever when I apply the TWP?
When I power washed everything I developed the “fuzzies”. They don’t really bother me that much if they won’t be a problem and wear away after time, or should I sand them down (before or after stain)? If sanded do I have to re-rinse the deck and wait 48 before sealing it?
Thank you–Matthew
mtaswt, the “fuzzies” typically do not show when stained. If you cannot see them when wet with water than you most likely will not see then when stained. Not sure if the mold will stay permanently. I doubt that it will.
Caryn, 48 hours is normal unless it rains.
Sorry to be dense, so…if it rains, start the clock on 48 hours again once the rain stops?
Yes!
Sent from my iPad
I just installed a 300 sq ft redwood con heart deck outside of San Francisco. I plan to use the black walnut stain and would like a deep dark color. The wood was dry when installed and has aged nicely due to the warm weather in the last 6 weeks. How long should I wait to stain the deck and should I use two coats to get the dark coloring I am looking for? Does a light sanding help with the wood to soak in the stain?
Anthony, please read this: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Jeremiah, just leave it alone and let it weather through the winter.
Installing new B grade redwood deck surface and top board on railing, would like it to be protected for winter as we are about 9000 ft up in Rocky mountains. What would be your best process and stain to use?
Thanks you
Ray, please read this about staining new decks: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Yes it would be okay.
I live in the Pacific Northwest, so lots of rain in the fall/winter/spring then lots of sun in the summer. I recently had a cedar fence put up (2 weeks ago, rough wood). Is it really okay to stain it now or should I wait? Also, do you recommend 100 or 1500? Also, can I apply it to pressure-treated wood?
Summer, you are okay to proceed now. I would use the 1500 for this.
would 100 still be okay to use?
I have a porch area that was installed about 25 years ago. It is a covered area and has been primed and painted all these years. I have stripped and sanded down the wood. It looks like it has a combination of woods like cedar,redwood, and may be a few pieces of mahogany.(I’m sure that’s why it has been painted.) It is beautiful though and I don’t want to cover it up. Is sanding it all down enough prep? I doesn’t appear to need a brightener or anything else. What other prep do I need to do? I plan on using the 100 series honeytone.
Bhymas, after the sanding you should use the Gemini Restore kit to help open the wood grain for the stain.
Jeff, for your area I would look at the 1500 Series.
We have installed new vertical 1×4 clear cedar on the exterior and under the eaves of a new house, and also have a new “Carriage House” brand garage door with horizontal 1×4 cedar. The garage door manufacturer says to “Sand prior to Finishing,” and also finishing prior to installing. The garage door wood is very tight and mill glazed, even moreso than the siding, and would undoubtedly not accept a drop of TWP. Is there any other way — like sanding the garage door — to expedite the wood’s ability to accept the stain? Do you ever recommend another type/brand of stain in situations with such new wood for folks that aren’t comfortable or don’t want to wait to stain? Thanks!
kw, there is really no way to expedite the staining process with new smooth wood. It need to weather for 4+ months then cleaned and brightened for the prep.
Do you recommend 100 or 1500 for a new redwood deck in Albuquerque, NM?
Jeff, please read this: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Yes. That is the page I left this comment on. What I want to know is, when it comes time to stain my deck in 4+ months, which would be the best TWP stain for Albuquerque, NM? 100 series or 1500?
The weather in Pittsburgh, PA has rained and I’m having a hard time getting several days together to prep and stain my PT deck. I was wondering if I could prep the deck one weekend and in a couple weeks later or whenever it dries to stain it. Does it have to be done 48 hrs right after you prep it or can it wait?
Cathy, you can wait a week or two after the prep to apply the stain.
Frank, please read this: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I have a new redwood fence and planning to apply Redwood 1500. How long do i need to wait to prep the wood. Planning to spray then back brush! Do i need the cleaner or just brightener? thanks
Roy, is this wood on the fence smooth or rough? Rough wood can be stained right away. Smooth needs to dry for 4+ months then cleaned and brightened for the prep.
Cathy, please read this: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/twp-1500-colors-explained/
Our deck is pressure treated lumber about 5 years old. Old deck was sanded to bare wood and about a month later we applied TWP 100 (redwood). We applied two coats….we have lots of glossy patches. Is there anything we can do to get rid of the shiny & glossy patches? Would lacquer thinner work?
Rudy, you could try the lacquer thinner. Basically the stain did not absorb properly due to over applying and the sanding.
Dave, two toned decks are nice looking. Basically solid colors for the verticals and the TWP semi-transparent for the horizontals. Any quality solid deck stain should work.
Joe, wait at lease two then clean and brighten for the prep. Natural is a semi-transparent.
Hello
Recently Had a new pressure treated cedar combo fence installed 50*50*50*21
What are the proper procedures for protecting and staining .I am a little confused on the difference between stains and protection. Would like to use a translucent finish a little darker than it appears. Also What is the best way to apply and how much do we need for coverage.
Thanks Any help would be appreciated.
Peter
Peter, All your questions can be answered from the articles on the help site. We need to know the total sq. footage to give the quantity needed.
We have just built a new garden shed with pine siding and plan to useTWP 1500. Do we really have to wait a year before staining?
Sharon, is this smooth or rough wood?
Smooth, like interior woodwork My husband is not going to wait long – he’s afraid of rot. The trim is rough cedar, though.
If you do not let it weather then u will run the risk of it not penetrating well and prematurely failing faster. Verticals though are less prone to issues then horizontals.
Scott Paul
OPW/TheSealerStore
248.299.2512
Then how long SHOULD we wait until we apply the stain?
4+ months.
we are rebuilding our deck. Live in Minnesota, it will be cedar and is on the north side of the house so for the most part about 1/3 will get morning sun, then in the shade remainder of day. We are looking to use TWP stain. I read elsewhere that with cedar you don’t have to wait to stain, but from reading your site, we should. Can you advise on this? also, what type is best to use the TWP 100 or the 1500?
JJ, wait 4+ months the prep with the Gemini Restore Kit. Just 1 coat the first time with the 100 Series.
Best to prep the wood with a cleaner and brightener before the staining. The Gemini Restore Kit is the product to use.
My pressure treated pine deck near Chicago was built one year ago and left to age without stain. Should I apply one or two coats of TWP 1501 Cedartone now?
Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit then apply one coat of the 1500.
Brendon, please read this: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I live in Miami and want to apply TWP 1500 to a recently installed Western Red Cedar fence. Do you recommend I sand the fence prior to applying the stain? Thanks.
No need to sand the fence. Is the fence smooth wood or rough?
Jade,
You can apply to a damp deck. Do in sections but of you cannot get to an area within 15 minutes, make sure to keep it wet and not dry out. If it gets dirty between prepping and staining just rinse or sweep off the dirt. The use of a pressure washer will make this project much faster and more efficient, especially with the pergola.
We are about to power wash the deck in our new house. It’s weathered wood that’s never been stained (7 years old). It’s bleached and has minimal mold.
Based on your selector tool, it’s recommending the 1500 series – would you agree? Also, do we need to use any prep / pre-treatment and or sealant once we’ve stained?
Thank you,
Tara
Tara, you should prep with the Gemini Restore Kit then stain with the TWP 1500 Series for this deck. Thanks!
Janice, yes the wood should weather. Clean and prep with the Gemini Restore Kit before staining.
I installed a new western cedar deck last October here in Minnesota. I am looking forward to getting a coat of stain on it this spring. I am planning to use TWP 100. I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to do any sanding before starting, especially in places where the mill glaze is thick (the ends of the boards, for example)? Or does sanding actually interfere with the best-practice process of Cleaner–>Brightener–>Stain?
2. I think I will only need around 200 square feet of stain this time around, since the above article suggests I only apply one coat this first time. Being economical, I wonder if it would be OK to buy the 5 gallon pail? I only want to do this if I know I will be able to use the remaining stain over the following years. Will it keep well in the pail over time, with application ease and performance being equivalent to purchasing new/fresh stain each year?
3. Do I need to buy the Gemini-Restore-a-Deck kit, or can I use any deck cleaner and brightener purchased at my local hardware store?
Jason,
1. Please read this about new decks: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
2. It will not last years if opened.
3. The Gemini Kit works better for TWP but it is probably okay if you find an equivalent.
I would get a 5 gallon pail to be on the safe side.
We have a 10×12 deck with railings that is ten months old pressure treated wood. We also have a six yr old wood glider and some random planters that could use TWP. My question is on how much to order. I think 3 gallons would be enough, but dont want to run short in the middle of the application. If we order the five gallon pail, will any remaining TWP stay usable for a year or two?
Mardev, what is the total sq. footage for everything?
about 285 sq feet for one coat
I would 2-3 gallons then.
Well the deck is 10×12 so that would be 120 sq feet. there are steps, maybe another 40sq ft and I am not sure about the railings…but lets say 100 sq feet. The glider is about 25 sq feet? — I guess that would be a total of 285 sq ft, plus some random planters…but they are optional:) I was planning on doing two coats, wet on wet, which I think would double the amount needed – right? making the 285 double, or 570 sq feet.
i have a new pressure treated deck. it has now aged 9 mo. & am ready to stain. why do i have to buy “restore a deckt” ? can’t i just use a bleach & dish soap solution?
Bleach damages the lignin that holds the wood cells together and it is not very environmentally friendly.
I am getting ready to install some green cut cypress for posts on our porch. I was told we want to seal them as fast as possible to trap the moisture inside. What are your recommendations? We wanted to stain them after we sealed them as well.
Trapping in moisture is a bad idea. You do not seal then stain on top. It would not work. You need to let the wood dry out, prep with a cleaner, then apply the TWP stain.