39.2K
Last Updated on April 11, 2022 by TWP Help
TWP with Wet on Wet Application Tips
TWP Stains are to be applied “Wet on Wet” when the wood is absorbent enough to handle more than 1 coat of the stain. This is typically for wood and decking that is older than 12 months and has been exposed to the elements. Applying the TWP “wet on wet” is similar to applying 1.5 coats of stain. The second coat covers twice as much square footage as the first coat.
Applying TWP “wet on wet” is very easy and not complicated once you understand the simple steps.
How To Apply TWP Wood Stains “Wet On Wet” to a Deck:
- Apply the TWP to the verticals first. This would include the railings, benches, and any vertical walls.
- Lightly apply one coat of stain to the horizontal flooring. Apply to the entire floor surface. If your deck has multiple levels, do one level at a time before moving to the next level.
- Wearing shoes that are disposable, walk back onto the “wet” stain and reapply another coat to the “tops” of and railings, walls, and benches. You may walk on your first coat of stain 10 minutes after finishing.
- Apply your second coat of stain to the horizontal flooring. Take care to not step in or leave footprints in your second coat!
- Finish stairs last, repeating the above steps.
TWP Staining Tips
- Do not apply 2 coats of stain to new wood or decking or to recently sanded wood that was sanded finer than 60-80 grit as the TWP stain may not be able to fully absorb into the wood.
- In most cases, a second coat only needs to be applied to horizontals as the verticals will last twice as long.
- Apply your second coat of stain within 10-60 minutes of the first coat.
- Watching for puddling on the floor. This usually happens under railings and benches.
- Wear shoes and clothes that are disposable. Do not wear shoes that have black soft rubber soles. The TWP can “soften” these soles, leaving black residue marks on your deck if you step in the stain.
- TWP Wood Stains can be applied with a stain pad, brush, roller, or sprayer.
If You Need any Help, Please Ask Below!
So is this stain recommended to be applied wet on wet for wood that is not new? I asked this question in another section and it was removed. I am confused based on the above information
Please read this about what “wet on wet” means: http://www.twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-wet-on-wet-application/
It does not mean to apply it to wood that is “wet” with water. That is what we thought you were asking earlier.
Sorry guess I didn’t do a good job of reading. Basically it’s applying one coat then soon after applying another?
Correct! It is slightly confusing as most people would assume you cannot walk on the first coat while wet but you can. Just do not step in the second coat and where shoes you do not care so much about.
I will be using it to stain a fence but I assume the same instructions apply the same? Thanks.
Yes. Only difference is fencing coverage is usually less as it is more porous.
Is there any specifics on knowing how much to use for a fence?
Plan about 100 sq. feet per gallon for two coats of stain on a rough sawn wood fence.
I have a 15 year old cedar deck. The last time the deck was treated was 3 years ago with Cabot Semi-Transparent, not sure of color. (Had Cedar in name). The deck is faded and dull looking. A few areas have exposed wood. Does the existing stain need to be stripped or can I use TWP product over stain after power washing and what product would you recommend to use. Please advise.
Margot, yes it is best to remove the Cabot first. Use the Restore A Deck Stripper and the Restore A deck Brightener for the prep. Stain with TWP 1500.
So I did over apply. So sad. Please advise on how to “clean it up” and start over. Mineral spirits? Thanks!
Monica, you cannot remove excess over application with mineral spirits. You would need to use the Restore Stain Stripper, pressure washing off, apply Restore Brightener. Sorry 🙁
thanks for getting back to me regarding my deck. I guess I stepped from puddle to puddle not to leave prints. I didn’t know puddles have to wiped up. I’m learning.
I’m in the process of staining my rear deck. My neighbor is helping me and he’s saying that you can walk on newly laid down stain and not leave any footprints. How can this be? thanks
Mike, you can walk on your first coat to apply the second coat. You should stay off your second coat as to not leave footprints.
Had my untreated 5 year old deck as well as a new addition that was built last February stained with pecan. It came out beautiful. The old and new deck are closer in color than I would have thought. Can I reapply stain again this year? Will the wood absorb the new/additonal stain? If I can stain it again, do I use the “wet in wet” process or simply 1 light coat over the entire horizontal surfaces, while wiping off any “pooling” stain along the way. Also, where can I purchase the product here in southeastern Michigan, our zip code is 48169. An Internet search did return any results.
ps. I loved your product and chose to use it after many hours of research and sampling of different stains. I hope that it holds up as well as it looks!
Thanks for the reply.
Rob
Rob M, yes you can apply one light maintenance coat this Spring as long as you clean and prep the wood first. We are located in Bloomfield Hills MI if you would like to come in and purchase.
We are having our 8 year old log home stained. The logs were cleaned using safe strip. They have applied the stain with a sprayer and backbrushed. Not sure if it was one or two coats. My guess is they just kept going over the same area until saturated.
When finished for the day, the logs had a sheen and were wet to the touch. The next morning they were still wet to the touch. Now 24 hours the stain has continued to dry but is still wet in some areas. Will the stain continue to dry and if so will there be any surface flaking issues?
Tim, it will continue to dry but it is hard to say if it will or will not have potential issues. TWP is a penetrating stain. If it has a shine/film after fully dried then it was over applied. This could create issues down the road.
I have a large covered porch and it was recommended that I use a 1500 stain. The painter is applying it by brush because of the gaps in the boards. He does about 6 boards then wipes it down with a shirt. Is the method ok?
Cynthia, yes that is fine.
Odd question but do I need to stain the underside of my deck?
When calculating the amount of stain does the label include both sides of the deck when looking at square feet or is it for only the top?
Frank, no need to stain underside of decking. Coverage is for one side and one coat.
Some of my cedar boards on the floor of the deck needed replacement. With those boards about a month bold now. The rest of the deck is 8 year old cedar that I stripped the previous coating off. The old cedar will no doubt absorb the 1500 stain . However I am cautious about the new replacement cedar planks. I really would like to put two coats down on the old cedar, would two coats on the new cause problems? I was wanting to use a roller. Thanks in advance for some advice.
MIKE, the new wood will be lighter in color and will not take two coats.
I understand the concept of wet on wet application, but I have a big deck and am worried that before I get done putting the first coat on all the horizontal surface that the area I started with will already be dry. If it does dry, I am guessing I shouldn’t put another coat on, correct? Also, what is the “optimal” approach for application (e.g. spray, brush, deck pad, roller)? Thanks!
Bob, you really only need to do the two coats to the horizontals. I would suggest lightly spraying the floors first. This will take less than 20 minutes. When done apply your second coat with a stain pad applicator. This may take 2-3 times longer but that is okay.
applied twp 1500 on the deck, 2 coats wet on wet. light rain arrived unexpectedly about 4 hours after and heavy rain about 9 hours after. water is now puddled up on the deck with a slight oil sheen. Should I blow off the standing water with a backpack blower or let it slowly evaporate (high humidity that may take a while)? under the eves, the rain dripping off the roof lightened the deck. I assume it washed some of the surface stain off in the areas where the water washed over it with some force. should I try re-applying the stain lightly?
Jeff, I would leave it alone until it stops raininig and it dries. It may be okay. If not a very very light coat might work.
Scott J, http://www.twpstain.com/pdf/twp-100_pds.pdf
Scott J, I would leave it alone. More stain is not the best. You want the TWP to penetrate into the wood and not dry on top of the wood.
I am in the process of staining my 15 yr old redwood siding. Previous stain I used was a behr product (oil penetrating with silicone). After many unsuccessfull attempts to remove the old stain through strippers I finally had to sand the siding to get it off. Now I have a beautifull redwood, freshly sanded finish and wood like to know if I need any chemical prep work before applying the TWP 1501 stain and how many applications. The redwood looks like new after the ardous sanding.
Rodney, I would use the Restore Wood brightener and heavy rinse to open the wood gran and remove sand dust. Two coats wet on wet for this.
Leave a message…ok. Im a painter and I’ve stained many a deck and didnt read directions till after 1st coat – 1st coat on handrail and spindles and stair treads since it seemed treads and hand rails were going to need 2 coats. Main floor deck has not been done. Hoping to go back to customer tomorrow and 2nd coat handrails and stair treads and one coat deck floor. Is it too late to 2nd coat hand rail and treads? And on main deck floor I know not to leave puddles but can I put it on thick? Using it today, it did seem more like an oil than a stain. It applied nicely but Im a little uncertain about outcome now. ( Should have read directions first but have stained quite a few decks and just jumped in. Any advice?)
Jon, only 1 coat is need on the verticals. Lightly re coat the horizontals that you already have done and do the rest with 2 coats wet on wet.
my 5 years old pine deck 20 X10 plus 13 steps is ready for staining how much stain TWP 1500 I need. Please advise
Ann, what is the total sq. footage including the deck, stairs, railings, etc?
Kay, you could apply a very light coat of the TWP this Fall after prepping correctly but you will need to redo next year.
I know that you recommend waiting 4-12 months before staining a new PT deck. But I’m in Upstate NY and am concerned about going through a winter plus the effects of UV over this time. The deck has already been sanded and prepped. Does the seasoning of the wood before staining still make sense under these conditions? Would I have to re-sand and re-prep? Thanks!
Yes you should wait. If you do not than you will need to recoat next Spring.
I am having cypress decking installed this week. It is kiln dried. The supplier has told me that I should stain and seal it right away.
I see that your saying to wait 4-12 months (for cedar decking). Should cypress be treated the same way as cedar deck boards?
thanks
David, yes you need to wait but probably not as long. maybe 2 months and prep first with the Gemini Restore Kit. Only 1 coat for new wood.
Karen, if you apply a second coat after the first coat is dry you will need to make sure it is a very light coat and that it does not puddle. If the stain looks good I would not suggest doing it.
To trim, they used a brush on the deck from the house for about 10″,
then sprayed the rest. The brushed area has dried darker and to me looks
like how I feel the rest of the deck should look. That’s my dilemma, should I try a light coat or just let it go? When I rained, only about 1/2 the area beaded up, the rest looked wet.
Karen, beading water is not important. I would let it go and see if it evens out in a week or so.
Hi,
I have a
deck that needs stained. It is roughly 2-1/2 years old and hasn’t been stained
yet. I was wondering, do I have to apply two coats “wet on wet” or could I
apply one coat, let it dry, and then apply a second coat? The deck is
completely enclosed around the outside of the deck and has no access on/off the
deck outside. The deck is attached to the house and the only way to get on the
deck is through the patio door on the house. If I were to apply the stain “wet
on wet”, I would apply the second coat and would need to walk off the deck
through the patio door and directly into my dining room in the house with wet
stain on my shoes, possibly creating a big stain mess in the house. Obviously,
I can lay covers down on the floor inside the house, but even with my best
efforts, stain could still get somewhere I don’t want it and I wouldn’t feel
comfortable walking into the house with wet stain on my shoes and clothes. In
this instance, I would much rather apply one coat, let it dry, and then apply a
second coat to reduce the chances of getting wet stain inside the house. If you
could let me know if it would work to apply one coat, let it dry, and then apply a second coat or if I really should apply the stain “wet
on wet”, I would appreciate it. Thanks for your help.
Dave, best to do it wet on wet otherwise you may have issues with proper curing and drying. Take you shows off after the second coat before you walk into the house.
Allen, not sure what TWP531 is? You could try wiping down the excess with mineral spirits. Make sure to dispose of rags properly. Saturate with water after done wiping decks.
I have applied 2 coats on the flat surface of a 1 yr old cedar deck yesterday. (prior to that I applied the cleaner and the brightener – a week ago).
The TWP 1500 has not yet dried and the second coat seems to be sitting on the surface.
Even the posts and railings, that had a single coat, have yet to dry.
The weather has not been full sun nor has it rained.
How long will it take to dry out – or what can we do about it?
Neil
Neil, it was over applied but it will dry. Leave it alone for a few more days.
Amy, the stain did not penetrate into the wood 100%. That means it could be prone to failing a little faster by wearing quicker. Depends on your climate and traffic.
Hi, I stripped the deck over Memorial Day weekend then wasn’t able to stain. 2 months later, I had the time to stain. Did the cleaning, waited the drying time and did a wet on wet application. Now, 3 full days later, I’m still seeing areas where it doesn’t look like it’s quite dry. When I touch it, it’s sticky. My question is 3 days after application, did I apply too much or do I need to wait longer for it to completely dry? Also, I did use all TWP products to strip, clean and stain. I’m in SW OH. Thanks!
Amy, you must likely applied to much. I would leave it alone to dry, it will eventually.
Because it is taking to long to dry, is it more likely to fail?
Pacific NW coastal application on weathered 20+ year old cedar shingle siding. Just finished cleaning the siding for the first time in over 20 years. Now looking for what to put on to prevent mold/mildew. Don’t mind the silver look of weathered siding. Estimate sq.ft. to be 1800. Can spray on and brush back? Your assistance is appreciated.
NWCoaster, it you want it to gray naturally then you should use the Clear in the TWP 1500 Series. You can spray and back brush. Two coats wet on wet. About 15 gallons
Yes
Becky, 2 very light coats would probably work. Make sure to prep with the Gemini Restore Kit first. I would not reduce the drying time after rain.
I am having my deck replaced with new cedar. I read on one review that the wood should age before TWP is applied. Is this correct? I would rather have both sides of the boards stained before it is placed. Is that okay? Does new wood only need one coat?
Alison, only 1 coat on new wood. Please read this:
http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Pam, leave it alone until the water dries off the deck. If it looks okay with no uneven spots than leave it alone. I would give a good chance that nothing is wrong if it was say 6-9 hours after application.
We bought the TWP 100, Pecan, didn’t read instructions:-( pressure washed deck, let it dry and applied stain. ( Waited a couple days, thinking we were supposed to let it dry.) Applied another 2 coats. Two days later and It looks kind of like vanish instead of a stain in spots and is still a little sticky. Will it dry eventually?
Pam. it will eventually dry but now you are prone to premature failure as it may peel. It is not supposed to be shiny like a varnish. You over applied. I would leave it alone and strip it off in a year or two and start over.
Mark Lorenz, I would use the 100 series for these posts and yes all wood does split some.
Hard to say. Open it and stir it well. If it looks good than it is probably okay.
I applied TWP 101 yesterday evening when the temp was hovering about 90. Overnight the temp was down to upper 70’s and today up to 100! The pergola beams have been mostly shaded and don’t have any residual stain “puddles’, even thought, the cedar was thirsty and took a good two coats. I’m a little worried I lost patients and stained when it is too hot. Now, 24 hours later, just a light wipe with a cloth removes a little pigment. I’m just hoping the high temp is only slowing the dry time and hasn’t caused a failure!
Mark W, give it time to fully cure. It will probably be okay.
Gray, he did over apply. Not much you can do except remove and start over. In addition sanding “closes” the grain of the wood and is not the best way to prep as it reduces the stain’s ability to soak deep into the wood. if you sand you should not sand more the 60 grit and you should use the Gemini Restore Kit after for the prep. One coat of stain may be all the it is needed as well.
On Friday I power washed my deck and used the cleaner and brightener. Today, (Sunday) I put on TWP 100 and it looks great. As it is drying I noticed that there are some places that appear wet. I am assuming that I might have put too much stain. Should I just give it more time or try to brush it in?
Mike M, I would leave it alone for a couple of days.
Jonathan, you cannot use TWP on top of poly or put poly on top of TWP. TWP is not designed for front doors.
Brooks, after sanding it would help to use a cleaner and brightener to open up the pores of the grain.
Collen, hard to say for sure but it will probably be okay.
Thanks!
when applying TWP 1500 using stain spryer, do I need to perform “back brushing” as suggested for almost other Deck Stains? If “Back Brushing” is not needed (when applying TWP 1500 by a spryer), which applying method, Brushing or spraying, would achieve better result?
chu, yes you need to back brush if spraying.
Hello,
Sorry if this is a double-post but I was not sure if the Disqus login worked. We stained our deck with TWP 100 redwood yesterday. It was not supposed to rain overnight, but it did — a small amount in the very early hours of this morning. Now, in some parts of the deck, the second coat looks to be beaded-up, like there’s a fine residue on top. If we touch it, part of the stain rubs off. What should we do? Do we have to start over? Or, can we wash it with a deck cleaner and then apply a new coat when it’s dry? Please help!
Rebecca, leave it alone for a few days after it dries from the rain and see it there is an issue or not. I would think it is probably okay.
OK thanks, that is a relief to hear. It looks great, there’s no spotting or anything — it just seems to be drying sloooowly in a few places. Hopefully it will dry out in the sun and be fine!
Mack, you can use a palm sander for this at 60 grit or less. Brighten when done and rinse well. Wait to dry.
We have a ‘new’ pressure treated deck, built in October 2012 and have purchased the TWP 100. We applied the Restore a Deck Cleaner and Brightener 2 days ago but have had rain each day since. How long does the wood need to dry before application? How many coats do we need? There appears to be a difference in the color/finish of the last section of the deck that we cleaned. Do we need to redo that before appllying the stain?
Mack, wait 48 hours after the rain. 2 coats wet on wet. Might want to rebrighten the whole deck to even it out?
I’ve looked at the deck more closely. The difference in the appearance of the deck is furring. What causes that? And, what do we do now? I read that we should use a buffer, but I don’t have one and there is no rental store in our area. Can I use a palm sander? And, after we sand/buff, what is the next step? Another brightener and another 48 hours? I really need the step-by-step of what to do. We are in South Carolina, with summer weather pattern, temps in 90’s in afternoons and a chance of afternoon/evening thunder showers daily. Thanks for the help. Looking forward to seeing this deck when it’s finished!
I used TWP Stain on my deck in GA last summer, but I would like to put another coat on this summer to brighten up / deepen the color a bit. Is any preparation needed besides a cleaner?
Jim, just clean and apply a light coat. Just one coat.
Hi, I live in Chicago and have a 400is sq ft Western Red Cedar deck that was put on in July 2012 in 90 degree heat and has gone through a good winter and semi wet spring. The deck is greying and has a “fuzzy” appearance, like the fibers are lifting. Do you think I need to use the restore a Deck kit or will power washing be enough? Do I need 1 or 2 coats? How do I get rid of the fuzz (I hear sanding clogs the wood pores thus allowing the stain to not work as well)? Thanks.
All newer wood should be prepped with a cleaner and brightener. Since the grain will probably be raised, it will would be a good idea to lightly buff the floor with a sanding pad then rinse with water when done.
Shoudl I buff after the cleaner or before?
After the cleaner.
can I use 100 or 1500 in Chicago, IL? 1 or 2 coats?
Only 1500 in Chicago. 1-2 coats depending on the age of wood and the absorption into the wood.
deck is not quite 1 year old (western red cedar). how can I tell about absorption if it needs to be applied wet on wet? sorry this is my first time staining a deck.
I would just do 1 coat this time around.
Hi. I have a little over 900 sf of old deck. I’ve pressure washed, used a cleaner and brightened and am close to staining….TWP 1500 Sierra redwood. I’m concerned about how much stain to buy given that the old wood may drink up the first coat. I was going to buy a five gallon bucket….do you think that will be enough? Thanks
You would need 2 of the 5 gallons pails for 900 sq. feet and the 2 coats of stain.
Jerry, it shouldn’t. Just blow or sweep off any dirt.
How long do I have to wait before light foot traffic on the second coat of a wet on wet application?
Becky, wait 24 hours for traffic.
I’ve already power washed my deck and have decided to stain with 1500. Would you recommend using the Gemini Restore a deck product first. Also, how much darker is the California Redwood (1511) than the Honeytone (1515).
Thanks
Harvey, if the wood is clean and prepped properly then you may not need the kit now. The kit does do a better job with the prepping though and makes it easier to clean as well. The 1511 is slightly redder in color.