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 bought pressure treated pine deck boards for a trailer 1.5 years ago. Finally got around the putting the deck on the trailer. Since the boards have been sitting inside, they’re very dry and clean still. Do I still need to prep the boards before applying TPW 100 or do I just do a water test and see if the water beads up or soaks in and let that be the judge?
I guess I should ask too, TPW 100 would be the best for this? Because it’s for a trailer I”m looking for the most durable stain possible.
Yes, you will need to prep: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
As for which stain to use, that would be based on where you live and what is allowed there.
I live in michigan. What’s the reason for the prep. What am I trying to accomplish because the wood is clean and has had 0 UV exposure so it isn’t grayed. The reason I ask is because it will double the cost of doing my trailer and it’s only a small 5×9 trailer.
It has to weather outdoors for 4-12 months and be prepped so the stain can absorb correctly. It is not about moisture content but porosity. It will not penetrate correctly in your scenario.
Sorry, this might be a little deeper than most people get, but you have me curios, what helps with the porosity because the only difference I see between storing the boards inside vs letting them weather is the sun. Is UV what helps with the porosity and the only difference or are there other factors?
UV Oxidation needs to happen then the need to remove that and the mill glaze for new wood.
We have a 4 month new PT deck and will be building a cedar pergola over the new deck. 2 questions: 1. Should I use the clean prep kit you sell on the new deck? 2. Should I apply 2 coats on both the deck and the cedar wood (wet on wet) or just one coat as I have read somewhere in your guide?
Thank you,
outsideandy
1. Yes on prep kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
2. One coat for new wood.
The pergola needs to weather. All answers are in the above article.
Thank you
My fence is about 10 months old. I planned on staining now, but hesitant to spend the money with the whole economy falling apart. If I was to wait until the summer to prep and stain would that be terrible?
No, you will be fine to wait.
We built a new deck in November 2019. The horizontal boards have dried considerably and are very light in color compared to the railing, steps, and privacy fences. Can the horizontal boards be cleaned and stained now and the rest of the railings and steps done later in the season after they have weathered more? If so, will cleaning the railings, steps, and fences affect the horizontal decking if the cleaner gets on them? And can rinsing the cleaner be done with a hose rather than a power washer? Power washing makes me a little nervous afraid of damaging the wood.
Best to do it all at once. Much easier. You can do it in the next month. You should use a pressure washer but as a high-pressure rinse.
We built a new cedar deck 2 years ago and stained the deck with 101 Cedartone to quickly (about 2 months later). The stain did not penetrate the wood and would rub off if you applied any pressure while cleaning. We hired a company 1 year ago to come in and they power washed the deck and applied brightner saying this would solve the issue and remove the mill glaze. The company stained the deck using 101 Cedartone but we have run into the exact issue where the stain did not absorb into the wood (see pictures). Should we have the deck sanded and not stain it for 6+ months following the new wood protocal? Should we sand and stain sooner?
At this point, you should strip it all down and then brighten the wood. This will open the pores: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Do not sand. That will close the pores.
When the company power washed the deck did that close the wood pores so the stain would not absorb?
The power washing also broke down some of the top wood fibers in areas leaving the wood with a fuzzy texture. How do you recommend handling these areas if not by sanding?
Pressure washing does not close the pores. Buff off the fuzzies areas if needed.
I’m still not clear why the stain didn’t absorb into the wood after the deck was power washed last year. Our contractor told us that power washing the deck would allow the stain to absorb into the deck but that was not the case as we ended up with the same issue as before which we had attributed to the mill glaze issue. What would cause the wood pores to still not be open and/or absorb stain after the power washing?
In your first response you said sanding will close the wood pores so will sanding out the fuzzy areas cause the wood pores to not absorb and we have a similar issue as before?
Use a floor buffer with a pad, not sandpaper. Hard to say what happen the second time. Not sure if he stripped the old stain down to the bare wood. He also could have over-applied the stain.
California fence – additional question. The rough sawn cedar I described for building the fence is going to be used to picture frame panels of galvanized welded wire, 4 gauge. Will the stain, strippers, or brighteners adversely affect the galvanized wire?
Thank you.
No, they should not.
I just installed a new deck that is redwood. My deck is partially covered and faces south east. After inspecting the wood, it’s easy to see it was last years cutting as the wood is already quite dry and I live in Colorado so I’m dealing with humidity levels in the 20’s. The uncovered portion of the deck is already fading. Water dropped on the deck readily soaks in both on the covered and uncovered portions. Given these conditions can I shorted the wait period and stain the deck 3 weeks from now?
No, you still have to wait the 4+ months and then prep correctly first.
This is a two part question:
Question one: I applied TWP 100 to my cedar fence two years ago. There is some fading in the areas with high sun exposure and would like to apply another coat of the same stain this year. Would pressure washing be sufficient prep or do I need to use the Gemini cleaner?
Question two: Two years ago I had a new deck installed and per your recommendation, have let it “age”. This year I would like to apply the same 100 stain to the deck as the fence. Will the deck also need the Gemini clear and brightening system prior to staining?
Thanks
1. Use the kit with light pressure washing.
2. Yes, use the kit for the prep.
Use the kit with pressure washing as well? What pressure do you recommend?
Yes, always best to pressure wash with the kit. About 1500-2000 psi but that can vary.
Can twp be used on carbonized bamboo Fencing.
Sorry but no.
What should be used on carbonized bamboo fencing?
You would want the TWP 300 Series but we do not offer that series for sale from our website.
I just read your instructions on prepping new wood before staining where you suggest waiting 4 to 12 months before staining. However, I have read some recommendations that it is good to treat or seal the backside of of the wood before installing. What are your recommendations??
No need to stain the backside nor would that actually help. Install, wait, and then prep is the correct way.
I have waited over a year and ready to clean and stain my deck. It is pressure treated pine. Some areas are splintering and I want to smooth with a orbital sander. Will I need to wait for the color to match the outside on sanded portions or should I sand the entire deck? Any other tips on preparing deck by sanding prior to staining?
Power sanding too smooth hinders the stain’s ability to penetrate and is not suggested. Best to clean and brighten for the prep. After you can lightly sand with 60-80 grit with a pole sander to remove any splinters. Do not use a power sander. You will need to sand all wood to ensure an even application of stain.
Will the clean and brighten step restore original wood color so that the hand sanded area will not be noticeable?
Yes, it should.
The clear stain has an asterisk next to it regarding UV protection. what does this mean? I am contemplating using this on portions of my deck which receives direct sunlight. thanks.
The “Clear” does not have UV protection from graying. All the other tinted colors of the TWP will provide UV protection.
Hi- I am getting ready to install a new rough sawn red cedar fence but its winter here in Utah, temps in the 30’s currently… I have metal posts already installed and will be installing horizontal cedar 2×4’s into a track welded onto the side of the posts… am I better off to apply the stain in the garage (where I can keep it warmer) then install the boards, or install the boards now and wait until spring to apply the stain… is 1500 the best product for my application? Hoping for as clear and natural finish as possible on the rough sawn cedar… any prep or application tips specific to the rough sawn cedar would be very appreciated! Thanks!
We would suggest waiting until Spring to lightly prep and then stain. Use the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep. As for the color, try some samples: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
The TWP 1500 would work very well for this fence. You can spray it on and then back wipe any drips or runs to ensure an even application.
I am afraid I already know the answer, but—can I stain 1″ pine trim (fascia) boards before installing them. It would be about one hundred times easier to stain them while they are on a sawhorse on the ground rather than when they are 40′ up in the air. Plus, obviously I can’t stain both sides, which I’d like to do, once they are installed. I can sand any mill glaze off before using the stain, Thanks.
No, not if smooth wood. You will have to let the wood weather and prep. No need to stain backsides, only exposed wood.
We’ve got newly installed KDAT that flows from a covered screened porch out to a small grill deck. Deck is uncovered. What product should I be looking at if I want the color to remain the same throughout (recognizing that the uncovered will fade faster)? To complicate things a bit further, we’ve also got french doors made of fir that lead out to the screened porch. Would like to stain those as well.
Thanks for the help!
Use the TWP 1500 in any color that you like. You can also use this for the doors. Best to order some samples for testing: https://twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
Also, see this about KDAT: https://twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
Your product has been recommended for a cypress trellis system. Wood is kiln dry could product be applied immediately or still need 4 to 12 mouth before application?
See here for kiln-dried wood: https://twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
That article is for KDAT wood, which is treated and kiln dried. What about untreated kiln dried wood?It’s already dry, so how does leaving it exposed to the elements dry it out further? Wont it absorb rain, snow, etc and warp?
It is treated the same so the article applies to your wood type as well. It is not about drying out the wood more but opening the pores of the wood and that takes weathering and then prep.
I’m currently putting up new pine log siding on a garage, located in Massachusetts. The siding is kiln dried and so I’m wondering if I still need to wait 4-12 months after installation to let the moisture content drop before staining it. I plan to stain it using TWP200 series since that is what the rest of the log house was stained in last year.
See this about kiln dried: https://twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
What is the lowest temperature I can apply the stain?
50-55.
Have a large porch framed out of 6×6 rough sawn cypress. Has weathered 6-7 months. Live in Arkansas. Can I stain now with twp 100 since weather still is nice or do i need to wait till spring ?? Do i need to prep since it hasn’t turned gray yet ??
Yes, you have to prep: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
You can do now or in Spring.
Have a new deck (9/2019) and want to protect for the MI winter. Planning to use Thompson’s Advanced Water Seal now and then TWP in the spring/late summer. Any problems with applying TWP after using Thompson’s Advanced Water Seal?
You cannot apply TWP or any stain over the Thompsons. You will need to strip that off first.
Thanks. Would leaving the deck untreated for the winter be a problem? Concerned about ice and snow.
It will be fine.
So things did not go so well this weekend with trying to get deck done. Rain did not cooperate. So as it stands now, today is 2 weeks since I completed Gemini prep, so I know I will obviously have to do it again before staining. So here are my questions:
1: Do I have to clean and brighten, or can I just do brighten?
2: Since I have already cleaned and brightened, have I stripped the pressure treated pine of its protection layer, and does that mean that I HAVE TO get the stain done before winter arrives? Or will I be ok until next spring?
1. Brighten and light wash with water after.
2. PTP is treated internally, not at the surface. If for some reason you cannot get it done this Fall, redo the prep in Spring. You will be okay.
Hi! I am using rough sawn cedar for my house shutters. I live in Colorado where the sun can be intense with the altitude, and I also live in the dry/farmland side outside of Denver. After reading the options of the TWP 100, 200, or 1500 series, I am having a hard time deciding what series would work best for the rough sawn cedar. Also, what is the best way to apply to apply to rough sawn vs smooth board? Is it still the wet to wet method? Would the stains also cause any runs on my house paint once I screw the shutters to the house?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you
Use the TWP 1500. Apply with a brush. Once fully dried and cured, it will not run.
will dog urine ruin the cleaner/brightener step? just want to know if we need to keep our dog away from the fence after we clean/brighten. also how long should we keep him away after staining?
The urine could potentially discolor the wood after prep and after staining.
Hi, I got a new pine fence installed early June and I’m looking to stain with TWP1500. I live in North Carolina and it has just now dropped below the mid 90s, but it has now swung to 40s/50s overnight. Is it ok if I prep and then stain while it is in the 60s/70s during the day, but possibly 40s at night?
Yes, that is fine to stain.
thanks, if I held off til next March/April would that be ok as well? (I’d like to get it done now, but we have a lot of rain forecast in the next month).
Yes, you can wait.
All of the top rails of my deck were replaced, plus some horizontal boards and steps. The deck was cleaned and pressure-washed (not the new boards). There are some places where sanding needs to be done. Is it okay to wait the 4 months to stain the entire deck? Sand now or before staining? I’m just worried that the old wood won’t be treated for that long of a period. Thank you.
It will be fine. Clean and brighten all wood prior to staining and after the wait.
Im sure its been covered but I’ll ask again. Applied the cleaner and brightener a few weeks ago. Rain has been horrible and not giving any breaks, finally have a window of dry weather this coming week. Do I need to clean or brighten again or both? I believe you recommend 2 weeks but will 3 weeks really make that much of a difference? What would happen if it’s not properly cleaned?
Apply the brightener and rinse well to remove any dirt if longer than weeks.
No cleaner? Just brightener? Hose or pressure wash off?
You do not need cleaner if only a few weeks.
Rinse with pressure washer or hose?
Pressure washer.
Ok. So I started the cleaning portion of the Gemini kit last week doing what I could every day after work and finished cleaning Saturday. Unfortunately, I came down with flue and could not get to the brightener step. How long after cleaning should the brightener be applied? Is it necessary to do the brightener immediately after the cleaning? I’m hoping to get to it this weekend.
Best to do it right away but still apply if a week later is better than not applying it at all.
I recently installed Douglas fir (not pressure treated) deck boards on my covered porch and I am starting to notice speckles of what appears to be black mold. We have had a lot of rain here recently in Wisconsin. I am concerned if I leave it unfinished until spring as recommended by TWP application instructions that the mold will continue to grow and that it will permanently stain the wood. Should I apply TWP sooner to prevent it from spreading or will the Gemini Restore-A-Deck Kit remove these black mold speckles?
No, you cannot apply it sooner nor is the mildew permanent. It will come off in the Spring when you prep. BTW, it might be rust stains as well.
Hi, I have a newly installed red cedar fence. One side is rough cut and the other smooth. Should I stain the rough cut side now before winter or just wait and do both in the spring?
Do both in spring. Prep first.
Thank you
I thought the TWP120 also may be used on logs and log siding as well. However, I don’t see any mention of log homes. Please elaborate on the use of TWP120 Pecan on spruce logs and syp siding.
Yes, TWP 100 Series works very well for logs and wood siding.
Hi,
I’m in Connecticut & about to strip and stain a 15 year old deck made of pressure treated wood.
Four questions:
#1. I’ve replaced 3 boards on a 400 sq ft deck with new ones straight from the lumber yard. Can I strip & stain or do I need to wait out the winter? If I can stain, should I treat these boards any different – maybe only apply 1 coat?
#2. Can I start stripping even if the deck is damp from recent rain?
#3. Is there a video showing how ‘back-wipe’ works? I mean using a brush to wipe off excess stain after a few minutes?
#4. Am I OK to do all this as long as the nights are above 40 degrees or so?
Thanks a lot,
Brij
1. Wait out the Winter would be best.
2. Yes.
3. There is not a video.
4. Yes.
Hi there.
I stripped and sanded my 10 yr old pressure treated wood deck. But I have been unable to stain because of rainy days in CT.
Can I leave the deck unstained over the winter? Or should I cover it with a tarp of something?
Thanks a lot,
Brij
You should leave it uncovered. In the Spring, you will need to prep again using the Gemini Restore Kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
1+ year old pt pine deck in the NE. Used the gemini cleaner and brightener along with the hose and a deck brush. Got a lot of fuzzies and some super light gray spots i didn’t get brushed entirely off.
Lightly(?) sanded the fuzzies down with palm sander and 60 grit, and took some of the gray off also.
Can I stain after 48 hours? Or do I have to wait for this all to reweather because of the sanding? Will I have to buy another gemini kit and do that all over again?
Thanks in advance
Yes, you can stain after the 48 hours.
If it happens to rain between now and then do I just wait the 48 hours again for it to dry out? If it happens to rain more than once am I still safe to just wait the two days? Thanks again for your timely response I appreciate it.
Yes, correct.
Do we need direct sunlight to property cure this product ?
No need but it does longer to cure if in full shade.
We have an 8 year old deck made of outdoor wood. We have just replaced half of the boards. Do we need to wait 4 months before we can stain.
Yes.
Had a painter Gemini clean and brighten new (12 months since build) pt pine pergola then spray 1500 on it yesterday. As you can see they did not get good coverage on the edges of all the battens. They are coming today to touch up. Is this okay?
Yes.
New redwood deck built 5 months ago (in April 2019) in San Jose, CA. The redwood was not kiln dried and is clear (no knots). It doesn’t rain in this area from mid April to mid Oct. Is it better to stain now after 5-6 months, or wait until next spring after the rains stop? Our deck is on the south side of the house so it’s had 5 months of hot sun every day. The current color is slightly darker than when newly installed and no greying yet.
You can do now or Spring. Does not matter.
We built a new cedar deck last Spring. We were planning on staining it this fall. We prepped w Gemini Restore a Deck (twice actually bc we didn’t get all the oxidation off the first time) and now are set to stain with one coat of 100…and the weather has not cooperated. We are 1.5 weeks out from the prep, and are supposed to stain tomorrow (Thursday). The weather is now saying there is a chance of a storm on Friday. I feel like this is our last chance to stain before winter due to our schedules…I know that you said 12 hours is what is needed to be rain safe, so maybe we will be ok? My question is, if we are not able to stain because of the weather, will it be bad for newly prepped/cleaned cedar to weather the winter before trying this again next summer (did we take off the wood’s protection by removing all the oxidation)? Do you think we are better off staining with a chance of rain the next day, or letting it weather a Michigan snowy winter? Thanks in advance!
You should be fine if rain is the next day.
I am staining my new log cabin with water based permachink stain. My builder wants to stain the deck as well with the same stain as labor wise it will be cheaper. My deck is spruce, dried, but not treated, delivered to our site in April . If I apply this stain now to my deck and railings , can I apply TWP 100 over it as a second coat next summer? Thanks for your help and great website!!
No, you would have to strip/sand off the Permachink first. TWP cannot be applied over a stain of a different brand.
Ok. I just received my order and I am ready to get busy. Hopefully the weather cooperates. Just a few questions before I get started. This is a 13 month old new pressure treated wood deck that I will be staining with TWP 1500 Rustic
1- I know you have to let the deck dry for 48 hours after using the Gemini kit, but how soon after cleaning and brightening and dry time must you get the stain on. Does it have to be stained right away or can you go a few days past the 48 hour dry time?
2- If it rains any time after Gemini kit and dry time, do I have to re-clean and/or re-brighten?
3- How long after mixing cleaner must it be used?
4- How long after mixing brightener must it be used?
5- I have one section of the 2×12 box structure that has been oozing sap. What should I do about this?
6- Since the brightener lowers the pH of the wood, I assume it is basically an acid. How strong of an acid? What precautions if any need to be taken when working near the vinyl siding on the house or the swimming pool top rails?
1. Within 2 weeks.
2. No but let t dry for 48 hours.
3. 4 hours.
4. Does not have a shelf life.
5. Nothing you can do to stop ore prevent sap.
6. It will not harm any vinyl.
Hi,
I have a new deck made with pressure treated pine in Colorado where it is extremely dry and somewhat hot, the deck has been sitting in the hot 80-90 F weather in sun for 1-2 months depending on the part of the deck (took me a few months to build). I bought a moisture content reader and it reads approximately 7-8% in most places which seems well below 15%, am I good to stain or do I NEED to let it weather 4-12 months? If I don’t stain it soon it be very cold with lots of snow during the winter and I want to protect it from the harsh winter, water getting in the boards and freezing, ect. In this case is it better to stain now to avoid having to go through the winter and wait till next summer?
Thanks,
Ian
You have to let it weather for the 4-12 months. It is not about moisteu content but the porosity of the wood. Do in Spring. Make sure to prep.
Hi,
I am planning to reapply the TWP100 series. My deck (new wood) had been stained for the first time ~9 month ago (after proper drying and aging time) and I was wondering whether it needs to be re-cleaned with soapy water (if so what does this mean) as per your website or whether i should use again the Gemini kit (as per some comments i had read). Also, when applying my new coat, should i just add one light maintenance coat or use the wet-on-wet technique to apply 1.5 coats?
We live in Raleigh NC and the deck gets quite a bit of sun exposure.
Thanks so much in advance
Katja
Use the Gemini kit as the directions state. One coat.
My deck is pressure treated pine and has been stripped, sanded and will be cleaned prior to staining. Part of the deck had to be replaced with new pressured treated pine and has been weathering from 4 to 12 months. Your application instructions call for only one coat on new wood. should I use one coat for the entire deck and wait 12 months for the second coat? I am worried about color difference if I put two coats on the old deck (deck built in 1992) and only one coat on the new part. I live in N. VA and the 100 series is not allowed.
Did you ever get an answer to this question? I’m curious to know about the old v/a new wood colour difference as I am facing the same situation.
Hello,
Ir is not possible to have new and old wood match when staining with a penetrating semi-transparent stain like the TWP. The new wood is less absorbent and therefore will sain lighter in color. It will blend the second time when you redo, jus tno way to get it to blend the first time
Two questions about brightening:
1) Will it be OK to do the brightening step a couple of days after cleaning? We’re prepping cedar, new construction, seasoned for 4-1/2 months. (We started the cleaning step today, but rain is impeding our schedule re. completing Step 2.)
2) Will the BRIGHTENER have to stay on for 15 minutes, like the cleaner? The container instructions don’t say anything about leaving it on for 15 minutes. It just says to spray it on and rinse it off. It sure would speed things along if we didn’t have to wait so long. We’ve got a lot of area to cover.
Thanks in advance for the help!
1. Best to do it while the wood is wet if at all possible.
2. Yes leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse off. It is very easy to do.
Good morning! We’re getting ready to clean/brighten our cedar deck & railings. It’s a new construction, weathered for 4-1/2 months. I know we’ll have to make sure the wood is fully dried (2+days) before staining.
There’s a “chance of rain” every day during the next week. So for staining, we’re going to be waiting for a window of opportunity for when the wood is fully dried and no rain in the forecast.
We would really like to get this cleaning/brightening step done so that we can hit the ground running with staining when the weather is right. If we clean/brighten today, how long can we go before having to re-do the cleaning process?? Would it make more sense to wait for an extended period of good weather and then get everything (cleaning/staining) done at that time?
If we could clean/brighten this weekend and then possibly go a few weeks before staining, that would be optimal. Would this work?
I think I saw your answer on another question. We would need to stain within 2 weeks of cleaning/brightening, correct?
Yes, correct.
We’re getting ready to clean our deck with the Gemini cleaner and brighter before staining. We have vynil siding on our house. will we need to cover or protect the vynil siding while cleaning and brightening the deck. Thanks
It will not harm the vinyl.
Thank you. This will make things alot easier. Will plastic and lots of water heip protect bushes and ornamentals?
Yes.
I have an oceanfront home in NC with PT pine decking. The decks were installed new in February of 2018. We had the decks stained for the first time in April of 2019 with TWP 100 Cape Cod Gray. They were prepped with the recommended cleaner and brightener. (The decks look great, by the way.) If I recall correctly from my research on your website, these decks should be recoated in 6-9 months, following up with maintenance coats every 1 to 2 years. I have two questions. 1) is my recollection correct on the timing of 6-9 months for the first recoat, and 2) if I recoat in 6-9 months, do I need to clean and brighten or just clean with soapy water (which I also read on your website)? And what do you define as soapy water? FYI the decks do not get a lot of wear and tear and appear very clean. Thank you for your assistance.
For the prep and recoat, use the Gemini Restore kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Thanks
New log cabin. Eastern White Pine. Fairly rough, not sanded smooth, but milled square logs. Kiln dried though… should I still be waiting to season the wood? My builder is concerned about protecting the wood before winter/snow here in New England. There’s already a good amount of checking and I feel like getting the TWP up into those ‘checks’ is a good idea sooner than later.
What do you think?
Also, what are your thoughts on borate treatments for new wood prior to staining? Any cause for concern, reactions with the finish? Is it going to cause the color to get splotchy if the treatment is soaked in at different rates throughout?
Thanks!
Not sure on using borate first is a good idea. If the wood is rough, absorbent, and dry, you can stain now.
Do you scrub or power wash the Gemini cleaner and brightener or both.
Pressure wash off.
I just read above where it says that “after waiting period of 4 -12 months for new wood and prepping, it is strongly suggested that only one coat of stain be applied. However, back when I was first inquiring about the 1500 stain and how much I would need for my project which now about 13 month old wood, a TWP representative suggested that I get enough for 2 coats. This is what I did. I ordered 7 gallons, and now I am wondering if I over did it. Was this misinformation? How much should I apply? Will there be a restocking fee and a shipping charge if I have to return the extra if I was misinformed?
2 light coats is correct if the deck is 13 months old.
New PT deck and screened porch just put on in N. GA. It’s been about 2 months. If I use the cleaner and brighter can I stain with the 1500 earlier than the 4-6 months?
Nope. Need to wait longer.
We just cleaned and brightened our Cedar Deck yesterday and today we have heavy rain. I am assuming I just need to let it dry for 48 hours before we stain or is there something else I need to do now that the deck has been rained on? How soon after the cleaning and brightening should the deck be stained?
Just let it dry for 48 hours. No need to do anything else. Stain within 2 weeks of the prep.