Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by TWP Help
Tips on Rain when applying the TWP Wood Stains 2025
Key Considerations for a Successful Deck Staining Project with TWP Stain
Staining your deck is a rewarding project, but proper planning is essential to achieve the best results. Weather, wood preparation, and timing all play critical roles in the success of your staining effort. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you complete your project with confidence.
Step 1: Plan for Ideal Weather
Rain is the biggest challenge when staining a deck with TWP or any stain. For optimal results:
- Check the weather forecast several days in advance.
- Ensure no rain is predicted for at least three consecutive days:
- Day 1 & 2: Time to clean and let the wood dry.
- Day 3: Ideal for applying the stain.
If rain occurs after washing but before staining, allow the wood to dry for an additional two days.
Step 2: Prepare the Wood
Before applying TWP stain, the wood must be clean and prepped:
- Use a high-quality wood cleaner to remove dirt, grime, and old finishes.
- Follow with a wood brightener to restore the wood’s pH balance and enhance stain absorption.
After cleaning, let the wood dry thoroughly. Use a moisture meter to ensure the wood’s moisture content is between 12-15% before staining. If you don’t have a meter, waiting two days after cleaning is typically sufficient under dry conditions.
Step 3: Staining and Weather Challenges
Once the wood is ready and the weather is clear, apply TWP stain under dry conditions. However, TWP stain offers a unique advantage:
- As a deep-penetrating, oil-based stain, it is not film-forming.
- A light rain, even as soon as 1 hour after application, will bead on the surface without causing damage.
Despite this resilience, dry weather remains the ideal scenario for both application and curing.
Why TWP Stain is a Great Choice
TWP’s deep-penetrating formula ensures long-lasting protection by blocking moisture deep within the wood fibers. While it can handle light rain soon after application, proper planning and preparation will ensure your deck looks its best and stays protected for years to come.
We used Gemini 2 part kit and then TWP 100 on new deck after waiting 9 months for “ curing” stain applied June-July 2023. Now that it’s raining , the water seems to be soaking into deck, no repelling action. Is this correct?
Yes. TWP is breatabble and will not bead water but shed water. This is normal as you do not want the wood to dry rot by 100% sealing it.
Hi! How is the cleaner and brightener applied? Do both require scrubbing or are both just a spray and rinse? New deck, never stained, is 18 months old. I’m assuming from what I have read I should do both before applying 1500 stain. Thanks!
Apply them with a pump sprayer and then pressure wash off.
I was caught by a surprise rain shower while staining. The next day, the boards that weren’t completely dry yet have shiny areas and are darker in color. (for example, 4 floor boards in pic) Will this correct itself with more dry time, or if not, what do you suggest? Thanks.
Leave it alone for a week or so and see if it dries and evens out. If it does not and you cannot live with the appearance, you will probably have to strip and brighten the floor and redo it.
We are installing our new deck in June. We cannot wait for 4-12 months to stain. We live in Northern Virginia . What should we do given this situation?
You have to wait and prep. See here for tips: https://twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Does the TWP stain has a sealer in the stain or is it separate?
TWP is a stain and sealer and you can never seal over a deck stain.
I’m waiting for appropriate weather to apply my stain. If I apply at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, is it ok if the temp gets down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit over night?
Yes, that is okay if in the 40s. It cannot drop below freezing at night.
Applied TWP 4 days ago to a older deck that was treated With TWP 4 years ago. It has had 4 very warm days to dry.
Had planned to put a second coat on the horizontal sufaces. Getting confused about putting a second light coat on that would not be wet on wet
It may not take but that really depends on how porous the wood is. Test a spot and see if it soaks in. If it does, go ahead and do another coat. If not, wait until Spring.
I cleaned my cedar fence yesterday with the gemeni cleaner. Today I used the brightner. I was planning on using the Cedar 100 stain tomorrow but now they’re forecasting a chance of rain all next week. Will I be ok to stain the next dry couple of days we get?
Yes.
Summer has arrived what is the temperature range I can apply my new stain?
50-90.
How does morning dew effect stain application. We are into September with daily heavy morning dew and temps into the lower 40s at night. Is it too late in the year to stain? Should I wait till spring?
You can apply later in the day after the dew dries off. No issues with staining in the Fall.
I stained the deck yesterday. Fully dry boards, 90 degree day all day. Weather said that there was a 20% chance of rain which in Nebraska means that it won’t rain. After I finished at 8 pm the chance went to 40% then to 90% by 10 pm. At 1 am it stormed until 8 am this morning. So much for meteorologist. After everything dries out I plan on inspecting. What do I need to do to fix or touch up if the application isn’t very good?
Best to wait until dry and send us a picture to see if it was affected by the rain or not.
Looks OK; considering the amount of rain we got. There are some blotches shown on the close up pictures. My only complaint is that it looks like the color lightened up some. Is there any way to darken it? Can I apply a maintenance coat to darken?
Best to do this in the Spring. Lightly wash to rmeove dirt and apply a light coat then.
OK; thanks for the help
Pressure treated 48′ deck was stained and finished around 4:30 PM Saturday. It rained hard on Sunday morning around 1:00 AM. Sunday morning deck had many puddles. Today is Monday and deck still looks wet in spots. Will it be ok? Thx, Paul
Hard to say. Let the rain water dry off. If it looks even and not blotchy, it is fine.
Today is Monday evening and there are still many wet areas on the deck which was sanded and stained on Saturday and finished around 4:30. Now what?
Thx
Paul
Let it continue to dry fully and then assess.
Used 1500 cedartone yesterday on 2 month old kiln dried pressure treated pine. Started deck around 10am and completed around 4pm. Full sun all day. Full sun again all day today. Passing thunder storm today at 7 tonight. Poured rain on deck for 1/2 hour or so. Think it will be ok?
Yes, you will be fine.
Hello, it’s been dry here in NJ for the past 4 days and i just got done yesterday (Thursday) washing the deck and applied a brightener with the hopes of staining on Saturday. Now all of a sudden we have a forecast of possible rain Friday night. If it does in fact rain Friday night and i still get a reading of 12-15% with a moisture meter on Saturday can i still stain or do i have to wait?
That would be too soon after a rain to apply.
I applied TWP 100 and it rained the next morning. What do I do now?
Wait until it dries and make sure it dried without water spots. Most likely it is okay.
I am planning to stain our older deck with 100 series (after stripping, cleaning, and drying). This week was all clear weather, however, rain was moved up in the forecast giving the stain about 36 full hours of dry, sunny weather before 1/2 day of “scattered thunderstorms” and then another clear day to follow. The next few weeks won’t have another stretch of clear days, so now is my chance, but I don’t want to do it if that is not enough time to dry. Will 36 or so hours be okay?
You should be good to stain.