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.
One week ago we built a new redwood deck in the San Francisco area. It seems that your advice would be: (1) do not apply TWP for at least four months, (2) in the meantime, leave the deck exposed to winter rain, (3) do not walk on the deck with dirty shoes until after we apply the TWP, (4) use Gemini RAD before applying the TWP. Do I understand 1-4 correctly?
Additional question: One comment about the Gemini RAD mentions power washing. I’m a homeowner, without any “power washing” equipment or experience. Maybe I’m out of my league?
Yes, that is correct. You can rent a pressure washer.
Does the stain need mixing or shakened after sitting in unopened container for three months?
Yes, you have to mix it.
How do I mix a five gallon container
You can buy a 5-gallon drill mixer at your local hardware store for about $5. Attaches to any drill. Very easy.
Is it ok to take the 5 gal pail to a hardware store and have them shake it or is stirring the preferred method?
You can shake it.
About to stain my new P.treated pine deck with twp100 dark oak after 12months weathering….there are a few ink stamps that i forgot to sand off… any concern with sanding small areas b4 i clean & prep?
Also, what do recommend that i can get locally to fill a small or loose knot hole or two prior to staining? Only need a small amount… maybe just use wood glue & sawdust? Thoughts? Thx
If you spot sand them now, your stain will be lighter in those spots. It would be better to sand now, let the wood weather to Spring, and do the prep/stain then.
Wood filler will not work with deck stains. TWP will not stain to blend the filler with the rest of the deck. It will look bad. Just leave it as is. No need to fill.
Thx… if ink stamps are 50% faded on treated pine… do u think dark oak would hide them without sanding?
No, you cannot hide them with the stain but it is possible that the cleaner will remove them if the spots have faded a lot already. You could try a spot and see.
I cannot view your last reply? Please resend… thx
It is on the website. Just click the link.
I have a railing I need to put up on a deck. It is hemlock. I am using TWP101 to stain the deck. The railing needs to be sanded. One, after sanding, do I need to apply a pre-stain wood conditioner? Two, after I apply the TWP101 stain should I apply a sealer such as a spar varnish to protect the wood? Thanks.
You will need to install the wood, let weather, prep, and stain as the article above states.
You cannot pre-stain with a conditioner nor can you top coat the TWP after.
Do you think the ceiling will look drastically different from the rest given the different types of wood?
Hard to say. Maybe a little but not a huge difference.
Deck built in January of this year. PT wood with tongue and groove non-PT ceiling in the covered portion of the deck. I bought dark oak 103 for the entire project. I’m wondering if cleaner and brightener will be necessary on the ceiling wood. Do you think the ceiling will look drastically different from the rest given the different types of wood? Can you send me a link with instructions on how to apply the cleaner and brightener? No pressure washing required if I use the Gemini kit?
Yes, you have to prep. https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
If I pressure wash my 12 mos. old never stained or finished SYP covered front porch this week (highs in low 70’s day/high 40’s &mid 50’s at night), wait 3 days, then apply TWP (100 or 1500?) then what amount of time must be waited til another application? Please and thankyou! zip 27312
After staining this year, apply another light coat in 12-18 months. Then every 2-3 years after that.
What parts of Ohio can TWP100 be shipped to? I live in south central Ohio with a zip code 45601
TWP 100 cannot be shipped anywhere in Ohio. Only the 1500 Series.
I have a 10 year old mahogany deck previous stained with Cabot several times. The stain is dark and hides the grain. I want the grain back with new treatment. I plan to sand the deck as much/little as necessary to remove the current coloring, and then treat it with TWP Clear or some light stain. What should I worry about? (The deck is covered.)
By the way, I will be very annoyed if after sending this message, I get a lot of SPAM from your company. I will not buy your product if that happens.
You must remove all of the Cabot prior to using the TWP. The “Clear” will not provide UV protection from graying. You must use one of the semi-transparent colors. Honeytone is the lightest tint.
We do not SPAM people.
I bought TWP 1500 Pecan. The wood on my back porch is 15 years old and has never been stained. Just treated wood. I power washed it last week-twice. But now our temps have fallen from the 80’s to the mid 50’s and 40’s at night with rain. I have a three day break from the rain. Is the three day break and these lower temps good enough for proper staining my porch with no overhang?
Yes, you should be fine.
I forgot to say I used the 1500 TWP dark oak.thanks again
Hi. Well I got my deck stained Sunday but it was a bit hotter and more humid then I hoped it would be, so much for weather reports, so do I wait for 6 months or a year to restain by washing with soapy water (if it is needed) or prep it with the restore kit which I have enough left for another use as well as stain not used .Btw will the Restore-A-deck kit left over 6 or 12 mts be ok to use…Thanks for Your help….Mario
When restaining, you need the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit for prep. The kit will be fine if in powdered form. Make sure it is closed and stored in a temperature controlled room
Im getting ready to stain my deck and I keep getting high moisture reading 29% on two boards where the rest are about normal <18 so I took a look under my deck and there are 3 deck boards located closer to the house where the deck is shaded and they have black spots (mold??) underneath the broads,the spots run about 2' from the edge and its only on 3 boards, the rest of the boards look normal….The deck is 3' high 12×16 and there is a concrete pad appx.4×6 under it (where the bad boards are) where the rear concrete steps used to before the deck, the rest under deck is dirt…..What can be used to clean these spots (besides bleach) after the deck is stained. Thank You…
Bleach should work to kill the mildew on the undersides.
TWP 100 or TWP 1500 for CharlotteNC
TWP 100 Series.
Hello, I just had a pine deck installed two months ago in the mountainous region of Boone, NC; lots and lots of moisture. With that said, I want to clean and stain my new deck using TWP products.
I have read a number of your articles but I just wanted to be sure. Is it a problem if I clean (sap from a large pine tree and acorn stains from acorn droppings) and stain using cedar tone? Not sure if I should use 100 OR 1500 when the time comes. DO I need to sand the entire surface, railings etc?
I prefer to hand brush the entire deck rather than roll or spray. Your thoughts? How often would I need to stain my deck in this region?
It’s a very large deck.
Any assistance and guidance you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ray
As the article above states, you will need to wait longer than the 2 months. 4-12 months and then clean and brighten for the prep. You do not have to sand fore prep. Use the TWP 100 Series. One coat the first time.
Thank you for your great advice.
You are welcome 🙂
I plan on using a airless sprayer to apply your product to a deck I built and let weather for 18 months , it’s been power washed and looks abundantly dry . Will this method of application work ?
Yes, but you should back wipe to make sure it is evenly applied.
How do you test wood for dryness after prepping
Just let it dry for 48 hours and you will be fine.
We cleaned our wood deck 3 months ago. Looks good. Just getting to stain now, as we had rain all summer. Please tell me we don’t have to clean again. There’s no time for another cleaning before this weekend when we will stain…
Yes, you will have to prep again. Lightly clean and brighten the wood.
Hi.I understand the need to let P.T.wood dry out for a long time but what about cedar? The cedar Decking I used is dry (kiln dried) and 2 months installed now. Do I still have to wait 6 to 12 months? Or can I just use a cleaner and then stain it?
Yes you will have the wait the 4-12 months.
I am reading conflicting advice for kiln dried cedar is the wait time still 4-12 months or just 1 month?
If KD cedar, yes you should wait: https://twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
If KDAT, you can do sooner.
New cedar fence (rough sawn), completed in May 2018. Wood stored indoors all winter prior, thus fully dried on install. Has weathered all summer. Ever so slight silvering, no heavy oxidation and still retains natural cedar color. Ordered 10 gallon of 1503 stain. With this being a new wood install with very light silvering, can the fence be pressure washed only to remove dust and pollen, dried and immediately stained (brushed on, wet on wet). Or does brightening step need to be actioned. Confused on this step, as this is still new, un-oxidized wood.
Since it has started to gray/oxidize, you will need the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep. This is both a cleaner and a brightener. Brightener alone will not work.
http://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Redoing our 12′ x 14′ treated pine deck. I have removed and scrapped the railing and top cap but left the four 4″x4″ posts. The flooring was in good shape so I have sanded it and the four posts (plus the upright beams and cross pieces) to remove all the water born stain that was on it. The deck is 15 years old but the stain that was put on was only on for 2 years. I did the sanding as I was told that sanding old wood helps reduce the penetration of stain which will be darker than on new wood. I also sanded the new (wet) wood railings and top cap as I was told that by removing the glazed film caused by the high speed mill cutting blades that the wood was made more open and will allow more stain to penetrate the wood in hopes of getting a better color match between the old and new stains without having to try using two different stain colors. I tested some stain on both the sanded old wood and sanded new wood and got a very large difference in color shading (darkness) due to the depth of penetration. All the wood is cut and the railing /top cap ready to install. Based on what I read in a couple of posts here, I believe your instructions stated that I should leave everything as is after installation and wait until next year (now Sept.9th) maybe early / mid summer and then use a kit called RAD to prep the wood before staining everything. Is this the best way to go to try to match the two woods color wise or is there some other pre-stain / wood conditioner that I should do before staining. With all he work I did I don’t want to skip a step that would bring the two wood colors closer to a good match. I think I also saw a comment by you that matching old and new wood was very difficult with the first stain but when a re stain is done maybe 3 years later the match will be very much closer. Am I correct is saying this or did I misinterpret the comment. Thank you for your help.
Can this be applied on new 1/2″ plywood
Yes it can.
We have a store here in Cleveland, TN that sells TWP deck stain. Are you saying they are not selling genuine TWP products?? Perhaps they are placing an order with your online store for customers of their paint store. I will probably avoid any problems
Once a 5 gallon can is opened how long does it store? I will use one coat for my new deck then as you said 9 months later put on another coat. If I have left over from the first coat I just need to know if it will still be good to use 9 months later.
We are an online dealer for TWP, not the manufacturer. We never said or implied that physical retail stores are not selling genuine TWP products. I am sure they are.
See this for Shelf Life info: https://twpstainhelp.com/shelf-life-of-twp/
I pressure washed a cedar swingset 6 months ago and put some of the parts in my garage to stain. I had a back issue and was unable to do the project. I sanded all the parts in the garage using 100-150 grit orbital sander and after reading here, i am afraid i should have left it to weather some before staining. I already stained them with TWP100 rustic. It absorbed pretty good and took 3 or 4 coats before it stopped absorbing and was wiped dry. The frame parts are completely dry now in my garage. It looks great. Do you think i will be ok?
Also, The main tower of the swingset is still out in the weather and turned gray again. How should i prep the main tower part of the swingset? Thank you.
Probably okay as long as it soaked in fully. Prep with a deck cleaner and a wood brightener.
I am using new cut cedar inside a bathroom when should I stain it with clear two the wood will be planed to smooth
This will not take correctly unless it weathers and is prepped correctly. TWP is not suggested for this type of application as well.
Hello,
I have a deck which has been partially replaced by new treated wood as in attached link :
I will be sanding the rest of the deck to remove the old paint with a coarse grit ( around 40) and preparing it with gemini RAD kit. I have several questions :
1. After installing the new treated wood, should I stain it or leave it to next year ? if I leave it to next year , is preparing it with RAD is enough ?
2. for The wood which i should sand this year, if my understanding is correct , i should use RAD kit to prepare it. should I sand it with a fine grit ( around 80) after or before using RAD kit ? or maybe it is necessary at all ? please note that the old wood has been there for more than 20 years but after sanding some of it , it still look ok but dirty.
Thanks!
1. Wait until next Spring. Yes, the RAD will prep it correctly then.
2. Sand the wood now and leave it until next Spring as well. Prep all the wood with the RAD then. Do not sane any finer than 80 grit.
Thanks for your quick reply. additional question about 2. : for the old wood, after sanding it to remove old paint , isn’t it preferable to prepare it with RAD and stain it with twp 201 (cerdartone) which i just bought also ? I feel it is not really good to keep the wood sanded without any protection.
Thanks.
It will be fine through one Winter and you will have much better results with blending and penetration if you do it this way.
Thanks but it is not clear… it is preferable to stain it this year ?
Thanks but I am sorry it is not clear to me… it is preferable to stain it this year , the old wood which i will sand ?
No, best to let it weather through the Winter, prep with the RAD, and stain all in the Spring. 🙂
Thanks and sorry for double question.. i thought the first one was not posted.
No issues. It will look great when done!
One additional question : is Gemini’s RAD good only to re-stain a deck or it can be applied on an already stained deck. On other words, can we use RAD just for annual maintenance on an already stained deck which will not be necessarily restored ?
Thanks.
The Gemini RAD is to be used for the prep only when restaining with the same TWP, not as general cleaning.
Ah ok ! what should be done to just maintain the deck ? is there any special product or just power wash it ?
Lightly wash with water.
What stain series are available in Pennsylvania?
The TWP 1500 Series: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
I’m replacing a few pieces of decking, stairs and top rail with select pressure treated lumber along with some balusters.
The product on the decking now is opaque so I’m sanding it off. I’ll leave it to weather with the new decking.
Which product would be better to use with the mixture of old/new wood (after cleaning and brightening, of course)?
The TWP 1500 Series after the wait and prep.
I’m building a new cedar deck. When it comes time to stain the wood do I stain all sides? So the exposed undersurface as well?
Just the exposed side.
Do the hand rails need a different stain since they are exposed to the sun? My deck is covered.
No. Use the same stain.
We just installed a new KD cedar deck. There are a few rough places between boards that we wanted to sand down and smooth out. If we sand a few select places on the deck, will we need to go over the entire deck with a light sand paper to even it out before staining? I am concerned that the wood will absorb the stain differently where it has been sanded. Is this true? Also we live in Seattle; is there any harm in sanding the wood and then letting it weather for months through the rainy season? Is it better to just leave the new wood alone?
See this about KDAT (cedar): https://twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
Sand now lightly, let it weather for a month, clean and brighten all before applying. Only one coat.
My deck has “aged” for a little better than a year now. I have the stain and the Gemini cleaning kit, but is there not a need to power wash it or sand it or anything first?
You use the pressure washer while using the kit to remove the oxidation of the wood.
My deck is new with pressure treated lumber and I live in Florida .. What time frame do you recommend to let moisture content to evaporate before applying TWP 100…
Hello,
4-12 months as the article above states. Prep after the weathering with the Gemini Restore Kit.
Sirs,
I am putting new White Oak down for my decking material. What recommendations do you have for my use of your product? I do not want to stain the wood, if possible, due to the color and grain. The wood was just milled a few months ago and the current moisture is 12% and what about the ends.
Recommendations.
Thank You
Hello, you must “stain” or have color in your coating if you want to prevent UV graying. After you wait and prep, use either the 100 or 1500 Series in one of the semi-transparent colors.
We are expecting a pergola kit this week. It’s kiln dried Western Red Cedar with 15% moisture according to Outdoor Living Today, the manufacturer. They say it needs to be stained without any weathering prior to assembling it. The owner said it needs only to be sanded on all surfaces with 100 grit sandpaper prior to any staining. Is your product something that can be applied to new, kiln dried WRC? We are are going to apply the finish in our garage. The directions for staining new cedar had said to let it dry for 24-48 hours to make sure it’s dry before assembling. Please provide any advice you feel applicable; ie is there a TWP product suitable for the conditions above. Thank you!
Sorry but no, the wood will need to weather and be prepped. You should always follow the directions of the stain manufacturer you choose, not the wood builder.
Spell check hates me. I meant cypress.
Live in Georgia, metro Atlanta. I have a deck with Cyprus decking 3 years old. I used TWP 1500 on it when new. I just stripped it with pressure washer, Sherwin Williams stripper and neutralizer. I plan n sanding prior to staining. What would be the best to use the TWP 100 or 1500? Do I need to use the Gemini prep?
Use the TWP 100 Series. Do not sand. That will reduce the stain’s ability to soak in.
Stain both sides of deck boards? I assumed I should stain both sides of my cedar decking board, also the end grain at the cuts. Everything I read here suggests to install the deck, let it weather for a year, then stain. So then I will have to remove the boards to stain all sides and ends? Sounds like a lot of work. But doesn’t the wood need to be sealed all around? Especially the end grain?
Only the exposed wood is needed, not all sides or end cuts.
I have just installed kiln dried, half log, Hem-fir siding on my home. It was stacked, covered in the yard for approximately three weeks and has been on the house for two weeks to three weeks. I’m in Oklahoma so it’s in the nineties a lot of days and high humidity and the house is in full sunlight. Being kiln dried do I still need to wait four months? What tells me the wood is ready? Am I looking for a certain moisture content or just letting time lapse? Should I caulk the screw holes and gaps now or wait until after I apply TWP? The siding is approximately 1600 square feet so how many gallons for the initial single coat and then how many for the next application in a year? We will be using the honeytone if that makes a difference. It sounds like I should use the 100 and it’s legal in my state. Is that the correct product for this application or do you recommend one of the others? It sounds like I should prep it with the Gemini Combo Kit first. Will one kit be enough? Is there a number I can call for technical support if I have other questions?
With kiln dried, install and wait 1-2 months. Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit prior to staining. Just one coat of the TWP 100 Series.
Never use caulk on wood. it will not work or blend. Just leave them as is. About 8-10 gallons for the first coat. Same in a year or two. 2 Gemini Kits for the prep. 866-856-3325
Ready to stain a new 1460 sq ftoot cedar deck that has been weathered approx. 10 months. Looking to use the 1500 series stain, how many gallons should be purchased of the stain and what cleaning product?
Thank you.
Deborah
Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit. About 10 gallons for the one coat on newer wood. See this for combo kits: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series-5-gallon-and-gemini-cleaner-brightener-kit-detail
I am staining a BBQ bar with TWP 100 (as well as a fence). Because the railings on the top of the bar will see much wear, I want to add a finish coat for additional protection. I know you recommend against this. However, it seems that many boat owners have had success using CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer)after staining but before applying varnish or spar urethane over the CPES wood. Apparently, the CPES does not interfere with the stain (as long as you allow the stain to dry for 2-3 days) and it provides greater longevity to the varnish/urethane. I am contemplating using this combination only on the top rails/trim of the bar. Do you have any experience with TWP stain and CPES? I am going to try a test piece, but if you already know this will fail I’ll save my time.
You cannot top TWP with any product. It will peel, creating an issue when you need to fix it.
We have a new kiln dried wood deck. Do we use 1 or 2 coats of the 100 series stain?
One coat. See this about your wood type: https://twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
We have installed a new 1,000 sq. ft. bee grade redwood deck 2 months ago. We are located in Sacramento CA. Temperatures have been 80 to 100 degrees in the last few weeks. Humidity has been low. Wood is starting to gray and some boards are showing checking and splitting. Concerned with the cracking that it needs to be stained now.
You will need to wait the 4+ months and then prep with the Gemini Restore Kit. It will remove any graying.
Should we be concerned that the cracking that’s started is an indication the would has dried out?
Wood cracks are normal in exterior wood. No way to prevent them and you will always get them.
3 year old stained cedar deck. Looks terrible. Do I start with stripper and brighter or Gemini restore a deck
Depends on what brand of stain is on the deck now?
I just stained my decked with 100 series rustic oak. I prepped my deck exactly as directed with restore a deck stripper filled by the brightener. Before I stained it I had touched up a few paint areas on my ceiling of my porch and a couple drops of paint dried on the deck. I just lightly sanded those areas after (after the restore stripper and brightener). As you can see in the photo those areas did not take the stain. Any suggestions? Could I just tape off those individual boards with plastic, strip and then re-stain the individual boards. Unfortunately it’s not an area where I could cover it up with the rug, it’s our main walking path.
That is from spot sanding too smooth in those areas. You can try to spot treat but will most likely not blend perfectly but should be better.
New pressure treated deck built almost 4 mos ago. I have a contractor lined up to clean and stain the deck soon. He is planning on sanding down the wood and pressure washing. If we use your cleaner and brightener can we skip the sanding and pressure washing?
( we would probably at least pressure wash the black stamping off the lumber.)
No need to sand if you are using the prep.
But you will need to pressure wash with the prep kits.
which product is best suited for new treated pine fence & proper application?
The TWP 1500 Series.
thanks. I’m in Texas, do I need to allow fence to “dry” since it is treated lumber? used your product in past on untreated cedar but don’t know best approach with this treated wood.
Brush or Pad for best results for deck?
Stain pad.
Just got some TWP 100 stain. Wanted to sand our deck first (8 months old, but lots of rain in WA and some pressure washing to clean the boards raised some of the fibers enough to warrant).
What grit would you recommend? Was going to use 50 grit then maybe 80 – 100 grit to smooth it out some, but if 50 works I’m OK with that.
Start with 60 and no higher than 80. Lightly clean and brighten the wood after.
Newbie – just received my TWP kit. New deck, Douglas fir, just shy of 2 months old, located in the SE part of Washington state. The deck hasn’t seen much rain, about 6 hours of solid sun for the past month.
Still advised to wait at least 4 months?
Yes. Need to wait.
Thanks for the response – I will wait at least another few months. No sanding required? Just clean and brighten?
Yes, that is correct.