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Ask Questions on Stains for Exterior Wood, Decks, Fences, etc. Questions can be on what is the best deck stain for your deck? Application help, etc.
I have two decks both pressure treated hem-fir 2×6 lumber from Lowes. One is brand-new, just put it down. The other is one year old. What product do you recommend to protect this wood?
You cannot stain the new wood yet:
https://www.opwdecks.com/when-to-stain-a-new-deck.htm
Do both at the same time in 3-4 months or longer. Prep first.
I have a mahogany deck, 20 years old, covered, stained originally with Cabot Australian Timber oil, mahogany flame, much darkened, and restained at least twice. The new formulation of the stain is not acceptable and is difficult to work with. Can I use Armstrong-Clark hardwood mahogany over it, or does it need to be stripped, sanded, etc. In the past all that was needed was to wash the deck down.
You have to strip and brighten when you switch stain brands. Good news, the older Cabout ATO is an easy strip.
https://www.opwdecks.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.htm
I used Armstrong Clark natural semi transparent on cedar siding a couple of years ago not real happy with longevity. Can I just clean with RAD and restain with TWP natural or will I have to strip the Armstrong Clark. Thanks
Strip and Brighten with the RAD products, not clean. Very easy.
living by the water what is better for my deck semi or solid stain ? also which will last the longest and which is easier to recoat .
Thank you
Semi-solid is better all around. It needs to be a penetrating brand. See the Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color.
https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
best stain color for a new pine deck
Sorry but not possible to answer this as it is 100% a personal preference.
Rich 8/20/23 What is the difference between TWP 100 and 1500? This is a new premium 5/4 deck half was started last year and has weathered to a light gray the other half is dry and still has a pine color to it I’m wondering will there’s two areas stain the same color or will one take the stain differentl,I’m thinking of using Two 1520 pecan,thanks
The difference is VOCs and what is allowed for certain states. You cannot stain the new wood for 4+ months after install. Clean and brighten for prep.
I am ready to install a pre-fab shed made of red cedar. The manufacturer says that the wood is dry and can be stained immediately, without further preparation. However, the manufacturer of the water based stain I want to use (Ely Ultra) advises to wait 6 months and clean and brighten it first. What advice is best? Or do you recommend something else?
The manufacturer is wrong. New wood has to weather and be prepped. it is not about how dry it is but how absorbent the wood is and new wood needs to weather. We carry much better stain brands for this. For example: https://www.opwdecks.com/defy-extreme.htm
I used Armstrong Clark Semi Trans stain to restore my deck. I used stripper to remove all old stain and a brightener. I allowed to dry for 2 days. Although rain was not forecast the morning I applied the stain, it did rain about 3 hours after I finished applying the stain. Stain had mostly soaked in, but there were a few wet spots that I intended to wipe up after 12 hours if they were still there. When it rained, the water did pool up on the newly applied stain making me think that I had applied enough and didn’t need a second coat. Now I’m unsure how to evaluate the end result — not entirely happy with the way the deck surface looks. Photo attached. Do I need to do anything else?
It actually looks good in the picture. We would leave it as is.
Thanks
I have an untreated porch, 8 years old that needs to be stained. I live in MT with dry/cold climate/snow in winter. I have arrived upon TWP 1500 or Armstrong Clark semi-transparent as the optimal products. Do you recommend one over another for dry climate subject to cold snows, older deck? I was under the impression that Armstrong Clark puts oils back into the wood which might be helpful here.
Thank you
They are both excellent and would last the same for your area.
Who makes Armstrong deck stains
Armstrong Clark makes their own stains.
I used Thompson sealer mistakenly first on my new deck. What do I put on it to make it a solid color? Help!
You have to strip and brighen first to remove the sealer.
Then use a solid stain after:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-solid-stain-1-gallon.html
During a house renovation our builder installed a mahogany on the floor of our front porch and small back deck. About 3 months later he had a floor guy sand both of them and coat with what I believe was Olympic Elite Mahogany Sealer. The sealer has failed in certain areas.
From reading your information I am guessing that I will have to use a wood stripper and then the brightener before putting any kind of restorative product on the floors. The front porch is covered, faces south but there is a large pine in front of it. It does get early morning sun on the east side and late afternoon sun on the west side which is enough that we can not find a shady spot for a couple of hours between 4:00pm and 6:30 pm.
I was considering using the Armstrong clark stain in mahogany but will that make it a lot darker than what a wet piece of mahogany would be? Is there a better solution than what I have mentioned to make sure these decks are taken care of properly.
Strip and Brighten for prep are correct. Use the Amber color as that is closest to a clean wet look.
Thanks so much for your help!
Where can I purchase your product in Canada?
Online for shipping only.
What is the best stain for construction grade redwood decks. I like the look of the wood as is.
https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
Used a transparent waterproofing sealer on my deck 1 year ago. I now want to stain my deck. Is it best to use a stripper or cleaner before staining? Thanks.
Stripper and then Brightener. https://www.opwdecks.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper.htm
For the first time last fall, I stained my new IPE deck with IPE Oil from Deckwise.
I have more of this stain and I like it except it holds too much odor. I there a
top coat I could use to “seal” in the odors? Thanks in advance, Bob
No, you cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain.
If I have a oil base stain on my deck now can I use any brand of stain as long as I use another oil base stain?
No, you have to remove the previous stain when switching brands. Base of the stain has no bearing.
On a new cedar deck in central Indiana, what is your recommendation for a best stain with UV protection in mind? And is it best to allow some weathering first or apply early to protect fresh boards?
See here please for new wood tips: https://www.opwdecks.com/when-to-stain-a-new-deck.htm
I have a new fence that I installed heart redwood what is the best stain on the market
Armstrong Clark is excellent: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
and Defy Extreme: https://www.opwdecks.com/defy-extreme.htm
I have a new redwood deck finished thanksgiving. Have sampled Armstrong Clarke semi cedar and am ready to stain. How should I prep?
It has to weather for 3-4 months and then prep with this kit: https://www.opwdecks.com/rad-300.htm
We have an Ipe porch, 40′ x 10′. This is our 3rd year of using Ipe oil to protect it. This year however, the oil didn’t get absorbed as well and we are left with a sticky porch. What can we use to get the stickiness off?
Strip and brighten to remove all down to the bare wood.
https://www.opwdecks.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper.htm
I have two cedar docks on a lake that the natural cedar stain I use scapes off over the summer with pets running over the docks. Also the stain doesn’t seem to soak into the wood. When I pressure wash in the spring it all comes off clean – I want something I can apply that lasts more than 1/2 a season
In the North East – high sun
Use the TWP 1500 Series after fully removing the current stain in the Spring.https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-1500-series.htm
I have an Ipe deck. I’m in North Carolina, so the sun is fairly intense, although only for a few hours a day because of the location, which is in the shade for long periods. I have not stained the deck for several years. I am now trying to choose the best product to use and have read up on a few but am still not much the wiser :). I would like the deck to retain its color for as long as possible. What would be my best choice?
Prep to remove all the old stain and brighten after. Stain with Defy Hardwood Stain: https://www.opwdecks.com/defyhardwood.htm
Thanks. Can I ask why you recommend Defy over Armstrong Clark?
Teh Defy would prevent mildew a little better if in shade. Either way, they would last about the same. AC is an excellent stain.
Thank you again for being so helpful. I didn’t realize that a water based stain for ipe existed. Presumably it works just as well as the oil based ones or you wouldn’t recommend it :). Two coats is a bit more work for a lazybones like me, but on the other hand cleaning up with water is easier. I assume that the stated coverage areaapplies to coverage with 2 coats?
Only one coat is needed for IPE wood. Coverage is for one coat.
Thanks. I will order that one. Just need to decide between Cedar and Walnut. You might want to change the Tech Info, where it say 2 coats “wet on wet.”
Oh, one more thing. What is the best way to apply this stain? Mop? Brush?
https://www.opwdecks.com/deck-floor-staining-push-brush.htm
I have a large mahogany deck–going on 20 years old and still in decent shape, with a few boards replaced over the years. I used Cabot’s Australian Timber Oil for many years but my painting contractor told me two years ago that the product was no longer the same quality based on environmental regulations that forced a formula change for Connecticut. We used Penofin instead two years ago–clear penetrating oil–but I’m told that formula has also been modified and that it’s not as effective/long-lasting in its new formulation. Contractor is powerwashing the deck this week in preparation for treatment. What would you recommend–for decking and mahogany railing tops?
Armstrong Clark hardwood stain: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
Building a tigerwood deck and looking for recommendations for sealer. Seen various recs for ipe oil, messners, and similar. In idaho, weather is generally dry but can be damp in winter/spring. Cold winters, hot summers. Deck gets afternoon sun and tons of debris from mature trees above.
Defy Hardwood Stain: https://www.opwdecks.com/defyhardwood.htm
Thanks! Would natural pine be the most natural looking color? Not looking to change the color of the tigerwood simply preserve it
No color change means 0 UV protection from graying. It must be tinted to prevent graying. Natural Pine is tinted.
We are repurposing cedar. It has been planed and is ready to use. My husband wands to saint the boards before he lays them down. What do. you think of that?
Sand? No, do not sand as that will reduce the stain’s ability to soak in.
I heard on the radio that you have new excellent deck stain that can be tinted to any desired color with superior coverage. What do I order or shop for?
Sorry but none of the products that we sell can be custom tinted.
I am ready to stain the deck. It is redwood, and will be exposed to snow / cold in the winter and a lot of hot sun in the summer, as the house faces W/SW. We also have a large dog who runs up and down stairs a lot. We have stripped and sanded down to bare wood. Got deck cleaner. Finding a LOT of confusing and contradictory information on line (oil vs water-based, product ratings etc). Thinking semi-transparent to minimize variations but show my nice grain. What is easiest for a novice to apply? What will give a nice satiny finish? What will last best? Do you make product recommendations?
Use the TWP 1500 Series:https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-1500-series.htm
I would like to stain a one year old deck. It has some small gray spots in a 2×2 ft area and a large dark spot from a fire pit. Which cleaner would remove these spots and do I need a wood brightener? The wood is otherwise very clean.
You will need to clean and brighten all wood for prep and to remove any gray oxidation:https://www.opwdecks.com/rad-300.htm
I stained old lake pine dock with Defy Marine Seal. Put two coats on it about 2-3 weeks ago. Looks good, but wondering if I could apply a third coat for more protection now. Didn’t apply a third coat originally as we were trying to stretch the amount of stain we bought, so only did two coats at the time. Please advise if we can, and if so, any special prep besides sweeping dock clean before stain application.
No, do not add more stain. More is not better.
Hi! our IEP wood deck is 30 years old, we live is Southeast NC on the Coast so it has survived many Hurricanes but it has aged to a dull flat gray- tried basic deck stain but was BEAUTIFUL for 3 days before it faded back to dull within one month!! What can I do?
Clean and brighten the wood with this: https://www.opwdecks.com/rad-300.htm
Stain it with this: https://www.opwdecks.com/ipe-stain-1-gallon.htm
Hello — in southern/central ontario. Mish mash of docking that needs some TLC. Some is still the brown pressure-treated, some is greying and some in between. None of it has even been stained or painted. We have about 450 sq’ of surface to cover. What do you recommend, and do I have to use water based products? Also, are the products brushed or rolled on? Thank you!
Most use the AC: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
orTWP 200 Series: https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-200-series.htm
Both are oil based. Clean and brighten for prep: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
Can you recommend quantities for 450 sq’ of decking?
About 3-4 gallons for one coat. One prep kit.
We live in Québec Canada and have harsh weather.We have a wood deck with some older planks and some brand new ones both in treated deck wood. We are planning to have the older planks sanded and to have the whole deck stained with an oil based product with a grey color. Can you please recommend what process should be followed in order to have this work done and for it to last for many years. The deck is in full sun but half of it will be protected by a hard top gazebo. Thank you very much in advancePS I see you ship to Canada, hope we do not have to pay duty and how much would shipping be for either 4 individual gallons or a 5 gallon pail? Again many thanks
See here about new wood first as you cannot stain it yet: https://www.opwdecks.com/when-to-stain-a-new-deck.htm
After the wait and sanding, you will need to clean and brighten all wood. Try TWP 200 series for the stain: https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-200-series.htm
We ship there. For cost, add products to cart and enter your shipping info.
We live in MI and have been using Timberoil on our 20 plus yr old cedar deck for many years because of a previous issue with peeling after using a DEFY water based stain. Timberoil is something that OPW recommended and applied after removing the water based stain. Could you compare the advantages / disadvantages of Timberoil/ TWP 100 series and TWP 1500 series moving forward? Thank you!
Those three will all work about the same in MI. Easy to prep and stain as needed.
My 8 year old wooden dock has been painted with Behr Solid Stain several times. Have had issues with peeling before, but is peeling badly now after a summer of hurricanes that caused my dock to go underwater several times, sometimes for multiple days at a time. I used a Diamabrush on my angle grinder to remove all the old finish down to the bare wood. My plan is to use Defy Marine Cleaner, then Defy Brightener to prep for a new stain. I won’t be going back with any solid stain. I liked the look of the light gray solid stain I had, but didn’t like the peeling problem. I’m sure my dock will go underwater again in the future as it has many times in the past 8 years, so I’m wondering which of your products you would recommend, if any. Also, most of my dock boards appear to be dry, but a few still appear to be wet. How long should I wait after the wet boards appear dry before applying a penetrating stain?
Try Armstrong Clark: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
I live in South GA. It’s hot and my deck is not shaded at all. We just had it built 6 months ago and I want to stain it. I bought a cleaner and brightener in one. Is this a bad idea? Also, I saw on this site that oil based stains were easiest to apply. I’m really scared of messing this up since it’s so new and pretty. Also, if I use oil based semi-transparent, do I have to put sealer on it? Any advice or product recommendation would be appreciated! Thanks!
Use separate deck cleaner and then a wood brightener. Use the TWP 100 Series for the stain: https://www.opwdecks.com/twpwoodsealers.htm
Thank you!
We have a number of 6×6 timber posts around the full-sun, southern-exposure back porch of our Tennessee home. After 4 years I’m needing to refinish all of them due to flaking and graying. The builder used Minwax wood stain top-coated/sealed with Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane for a semi-gloss finish which we loved. I want to now use a semi-transparent deck stain, hoping for better weathering, but I also would like to achieve that same semi/glossy finish. Do you have a clear sealer product that can be applied over the semi-transparent stain to give me a glossier finish … and most importantly, not flake off in a few years??? Help! Thanks, Roger
Sorry but no, exterior wood stains do not come in a gloss and they cannot be top-coated with a glossy finish. It will peel.
I’m considering installing and IPE decking on several exterior locations and one interior location in a large scale home gut renovation. We were hoping to stain the wood to give it a bit of a grey look. Is that possible with IPE? Furthermore, we are in south Florida. Are there any other recommended treatments for our harsh conditions?
IPE will gray naturally. No need to stain it gray.
Living in a temperate rain forest, dodging the rain to get the staining done is a challenge. I understand that the deck needs 48-72 hours after a rain to fully dry out before staining. But I have a question about how long AFTER the second coat of stain, until it is safe to have it rain on the stained area. We don’t want to do all that work and then have it be harmed in any way, by rain coming too soon after staining. How long after staining until it is safe to have it rain on the deck? Thank you – the pecan TWP looks beautiful in the bucket and we’re looking forward to getting it on the deck!
12-24 hours.
Thank you for the 4 samples of deck stain. We picked Pecan, and tracking says it will be Friday, so thank you, first of all for all your help with that. We have a hurricane coming and though we are up in Western NC, away from the coast, we will get rain. We are trying to figure out how long we need to wait after the rain for the deck to dry out enough to stain. We are in a temperate rain forest area, so we get a lot of rain, so the humidity can stay high a lot of the time, and drying is slow. But we want to be sure the wood is dry enough to soak up the stain/oil and not be repelled by water in the wood. How can we test or know when it is dried out enough?
Second question: We have deck furniture that also needs to be sealed periodically with a water-based sealer. The furniture came with a 16 oz. bottle of ‘Amazonia Teak and Eucalyptus Sealer’, but it is almost gone. We want to continue to use a water-based teak/eucalyptus sealer for this hardwood furniture, not something like an IPE Oil. The chairs are Teak and the table is Eucalyptus, we think, but may also be Teak. Do you sell a water-based sealer that is for Teak and/or Eucalyptus? If not, can you suggest a product, or type of product, we may look for elsewhere?
Thank you on both questions! We are looking forward to staining our 12 year old virgin wood deck Pecan once it dries out from whichever hurricane is in the Gulf this week!
48-72 hours should be good to let the wood dry after rain. For the furniture you can use the Defy Hardwood Stain or the Extreme Clear but you will have to remove the current coatings first.
https://www.opwdecks.com/defyhardwood.htm
https://www.opwdecks.com/defy-extreme-clear.htm
Hi, Pacific NW Puget Sound Washington. Confirming amounts before Order:
1924 Sq Ft of Decking
800 linear feet of Railing
Need to Clean and Brighten (How much of that? Web calculator said 3 kits.)
Want Restore-a-deck cleaner and brighter
TWP 100 series (How many Gallons? web calculator said 20 gallons.)
Thanks, will order today.
3-4 kits for prep and 20-25 gallons for two coats of the TWP stain.
Looking at semi-transparent penetrating statin for a pressure treated plywood shed floor. Tractor may drip diesel and hydraulic fluid. Would you choose TWP 1500 or Armstrong-Clark for this application and why?
Either one would work well and last about the same.
I just built a new dock for our pond with treated lumber. I want to stain with long lasting stain and preserve well. What is best choice? Do I stain the underside as well or just the top?
See here about new wood tips: https://www.opwdecks.com/when-to-stain-a-new-deck.htm
I am looking for a semi transparent stain that won’t peel. What are my best choices dor a 12year old cedar deck?
Try the Armstrong Clark: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
Thank you!
I just stripped semi-transparent stain off my 12 year old cedar deck. I will sand it and brighten it. What stain and finish do you recommend? I have been told to use a solid stain because of the age of the deck. The previous stain only lasted about a 1 year and it was peeling badly after@ 6months.
Thanks
Try Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
We put all new boards on our deck a year ago. We liked the natural look and decided to put on a sealer. Not a good idea. We now do not like rhe look and are thinking about doing a translucent stain. Will this work? What do we need to do to make it work?
You have to remove the sealer first. Strip me brighten.
We applied timber oil today and it is uneven in coloring. We applied one coat and one section is darker than the rest of the deck.
Any suggestions on how to fix it?
You would have to remove all and start over.
Ok, that was what I was afraid of…
We just had a new seawall and deck installed. Eastern Michigan coast of Lake Huron. Deck boards are 2 x 8 rough-sawn pressure treated oak. What do you recommend staining or sealing with? Not really interested in changing color of it.
See here about new wood: https://www.opwdecks.com/when-to-stain-a-new-deck.htm
Also, if you want UV protection from graying then it must be a tinted stain and that will change the color.
I had stripped a semi-transparent stain that was used on a 4 month old PT deck because of light-dark variations in color. That was back in early March. Plan to use a Defy product in August after brightening. Can I mix the clear and cedar (50-50), or will this create a problem? Also, one coat or wet-on-wet (assuming the second coat does not pool)?
Thanks,
Jeff
You can mix colors but you will reduce the UV protection for this if you do by half. Only one coat for new wood.