Help Arrow 1GreatRead101DeckTips 200pxStep 1 - Prep the Wood

Prepping Tip 1: Choose a  Wood and Deck Cleaner if gray, dirty, reapplying the same stain, etc.

Prepping Tip 2: Choose a Stain Stripper if you have a failed stain that has peeled or worn unevenly. 

Prepping Tip 3: Choose a Wood Brightener to neutralize the wood cleaner or stain stripper. 

Prepping Tip 4: You do not need both a deck cleaner and a stain stripper. Just choose one. If you are unsure what to use, we encourage you to ask here: Questions On Products

Help Arrow 1Step 2 - Stain the Wood

Staining Tip 1: Choosing a stain with a "color" will prolong the graying. The darker the color, the longer it will last.

Staining Tip 2: Choose a semi-transparent or semi-solid deck stain that penetrates into the wood grain will make future reapplication easier.

Staining Tip 3: Our most popular deck stains are the Defy Extreme, Armstrong Clark, and the TWP Stains.

If you are unsure of what stain is best for you then ask here: Deck Staining Questions

 

Help Arrow 2Need some more Help? Please Read the How-To Articles Below

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    Laura · 05/14/2023
    Stained deck with you product last fall.  What is best for general cleaning?
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    Marie · 07/30/2022
    I purchased a hemlock board and batten shed. How long should it dry for. What’s the best product to put on it. I’m not too concerned about color as much as durability. Live in New York. Thanks. 
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      The Sealer Store · 07/30/2022
      New wood should weather for 3 or more months. Clean and brighten for prep with Restore A Deck kits. Stain with Armstrong Clark Stains. Or TWP 1500. 
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    John · 07/15/2022
    can this be used to stain a cedar shingle roof?
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    Theresa · 05/28/2022
    Looking for a long lasting deck stain.  Have a cedar deck and porch.  Definately don't need to strip anything.  But the wood is gray - I want to restore the natural beauty.  What do you recommend?  
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    Svet · 05/15/2022
    Have IPE deck went completely gray would like to restore to original color, which products provide the best result?
    Also have IPE siding on the house (different source) same question except siding isn't grey just needs to be refreshed?
    We are in NJ.
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    George Cipolletti · 03/07/2022
    I have used the armstrong mahogany stain every couple of years on my mahogany deck. My wife would prefer to see the deck a bit lighter, so I ordered the amber sample. If we like this color, do I need to strip the deck or can I use my deck cleaner and brightener? (I love the fact that this can be applied in direct sun here in New England)
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    Gabriele Armstrong · 05/06/2021
    I bought the restore a deck stripper and brightener for my, covered IPE wood,  porch.There are still some black spots on the deck after stripping it.Should I use the brightener first and go from there or should I try the stripper again with the booster additive I just ordered ?We are planning on only oiling it in the future.The stain was put on about 5 yrs ago and I don't know what the guy used.
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      The Sealer Store · 05/06/2021
      Post a picture or two in the comment area.
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        Gabriele Armstrong · 05/06/2021
        Picture to above post
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          The Sealer Store · 05/07/2021
          Brighten it. When you use the stripper it darkens the wood by raising the pH balance. The brightener will restore this and lower the pH balance.
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    Ken Richards · 09/30/2020
    Hi,
    We purchased a home in Cape Coral, FL. It's boat dock has been partially repaired, re-stained (see attached picture - you'll see the "multi-color problem"). The wood seems fine. But what stain would you recommend here ? We like the lighter colors (cedar). I assume we will need to use a semi-solid stain, or maybe even a solid stain, to get uniform color across the whole deck. We'd like to avoid "solid" but it seems that might be difficult to do.
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      The Sealer Store · 09/30/2020
      The only way to get a uniform look would be a solid stain and we do not offer any solid stains on our website.
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    Nancy · 09/21/2020
    So we are ready to stain. We received your shipment, but we don't have a drill mixing attachment yet (ordered it 4 days ago from Lowe's and it hasn't made it into shipping yet). We would like to get started. Any suggestions about how to effectively get the solids in the stain mixed well without the drill mixing attachment? I am concerned that if we just stir the 5-gallon bucket with a stick that we'll only move the solids around on the bottom of the bucket and not effectively get them moved up to the top of the bucket. Should we just wait for the drill mixing attachment (we only have 3 weeks left before we leave for the winter, so time is an issue and we have to do the deck in 2 stages - 2 coats on one side, let dry 48-72 hours, move all furniture to newly stained side, then do the other side, then let that dry 48-72 hours, then move all the furniture back where we secure it for the winter.). Thank you.
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      The Sealer Store · 09/21/2020
      Wait for the mixer or go pick one up locally at a Lowes, HD or SW store.
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    JohnB · 08/17/2020
    I purchased & just recieved your Armstrong Clark Cedar Semi-transparant stain for my new pine dock which I aged for 3 for months. Problem is FL is in the rainey season. Rains almost everyday, unpredictable, mornings, afternoons, & nights. Using weather radar can only count on a few hour window of drying time. Should I wait until Oct, as FL rainey season ends around then or is a few hours of drying time enough?
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    Susan · 07/23/2020
    I have mahogany decking floor in a 4 season covered sunroom. What should I use to protect the wood as we do have a door leading to the outside. I don’t want to use anything that might cause the floor to be slippy once applied.
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    Dan H · 07/13/2020
    Hello - Our deck is concrete but our railing and roof supports are wood. The wood has darkened over the years in spite of using only transparent stain. We'd prefer to have the external wood close to the same tone as our inside, untreated wood. Is there any way to do that? Thank you!!
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      The Sealer Store · 07/13/2020
      The only way to do this would be to power sand the posts to remove the current coatings. Then use a light color penetrating stain like TWP Honeytone: https://www.opwdecks.com/twpwoodsealers.htm
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        Dan H · 07/14/2020
        Ok thank you. Sanding everything down is going to have to wait until after I retire, whenever that is haha! I ordered a sample of your clear sealant today. Hopefully it won't darken the wood further as a 'natural' color product from a competitor did the last time we treated everything. Thanks again for your prompt response.
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    Tom · 06/15/2020
    A few days ago I cleaned, brightened and put down a maintenance coat of TWP on my deck. I have a couple of spots where it is still tacky. Will it eventually dry out or do I need to fix it? Weather has been cool but headed to 90 tomorrow.
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    Dennis · 06/05/2020
    I have a deck that I prepped using your 2-step cleaner & brighter. Unfortunately, that was several weeks ago. It has rained quite a bit since then, and I’ve been waiting for it to dry out. The deck faces north. Will I still be able to apply the Woodrich stain once it is dry enough?
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      The Sealer Store · 06/05/2020
      If more than 2 weeks lightly wash the deck again.
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        Dennis · 06/05/2020
        Will I need to use the cleaner & brighter again? I have noticed some moss/green growth in spots?
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    Dan · 04/18/2020
    I just bought a cedar shake house (1800sqft) it was built in ‘93 and has been “resealed” once since then. It could use it again. I live in a rainforest in Alaska if that matters. Any suggestions on what I should use?

    I am planning on pressure washing then re-sealing the shake. I will also be adding kick out flashing to the lower roof.
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    Bob Nielsen · 03/25/2020
    Our 1000 sq ft treated lumber deck is about 3.5 yrs old, though 100 sq ft is about 30 yrs old. We last treated it with Pittsburgh Ultra Advanced Acrylic-oil clear sealer 2 yrs ago. The deck surface is in pretty good shape, though mildew is growing on the shaded, exposed areas. What would you recommend for 1) cleaning the deck, killing the mildew and 2) re-treating the deck? Thanks in advance.
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    Jacquie Childers · 03/24/2020
    I'm looking for a Black Semi Transparent Stain with good reviews. I've used TWP in the past and been happy with it but they don't appear to have black. Ill be using it on new T1-11 barn doors and want the grain to show but no wood tone (the look of Shou Sugi Ban)! Any suggestions?
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    Mike · 03/08/2020
    What products are best for composite deck cleaning and sealing?
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    Daniel · 01/06/2020
    Do you have any product (pre-stain/stain) for wood(interior) stair treads (Red Oak) that I can use.
    Any suggestions is greatly appreciated.

    Thank you.

    daniel
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    John · 10/01/2019
    Is there any difference in performance between TWP 100 and 1500 stains? I have a south facing fence.
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      The Sealer Store · 10/01/2019
      They perform is about the same. The difference is mainly VOC laws.