This post was updated on November 6, 2024
Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My Armstrong Clark Wood Stain review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing. See here for more info about me.
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain Reviews
Here at DeckStainHelp.com, we take pride in our ability to become the Internet’s number-one reference for all things exterior wood and deck restoration related. Our customers who have used Armstrong Clark wood deck stain continue to be satisfied with the appearance and longevity of their deck stain projects. If you have used Armstrong Clark wood deck stain, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.
The newer for Armstrong Clark, which is the espresso semi-solid color, a rich deep brown tone that promises excellent UV resistance.
Armstrong Clark Deck Stain Review
Important Note: This is our 3rd Review of Armstrong Clark Stain.
Armstrong Clark Wood Deck Stain is a highly regarded oil-based stain formulated with five generations of stain industry experience. It is available in several formulas: transparent, semi-transparent, and semi-solid colors.
Armstrong Clark Deck Stains are uniquely blended with drying and non-drying oils that are isolated from each other during application. The non-drying oils penetrate the wood fibers and help rejuvenate and condition lost natural oils, while the drying oils cure on the surface to lock in the conditioning oils and form a barrier of weather protection at the surface.
Armstrong Clark Stain Review
How I Rated Armstrong Clark Deck Stains
My Armstrong Clark Deck Stains review contains an 8-step process and the final average score. Each step is on a scale of 1-10.
- The appearance of Armstrong Clark Deck Stains after the Application
- Preventing UV Graying
- Peeling or Wearing
- Cost Per Square Foot
- Preventing Mold and Mildew
- How Easy was the Application
- Color Shifting for Armstrong Clark Deck Stains
- Ease of Reapplication
- Armstrong Clark Deck Stains Final Score
8-Step Review of Armstrong Clark Stain
1. Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 9
Armstrong Clark’s initial appearance was a rich, deep finish with naturally enhanced wood grain showing through the stain formula. Our choice of the Cedar Semi-Transparent color had a rich cedar tone.
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain Photos
2. Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 8
Upon our 2-year inspection, Armstrong Clark Wood Deck Stain in the Cedar Semi-Transparent color produced above-average UV resistance. With the Armstrong Clark, the transparent colors would deliver slightly less UV shielding due to less pigment in the formula, while the semi-solid colors would have slightly better UV protection when in full sun.
3. Wear/Tear and Peeling: 9
No peeling was detected at the 2-year point. There was slight wear on the high traffic areas, around the furniture, and on the stairs.
4. Cost Per Square Foot: 9
Armstrong Clark Deck Stain can be purchased for $49.99-$69.99, depending on the opacity of the formula. In our test experience, Armstrong Clark had one of the best spread rates of any stain. We used 3.5 gallons on our 600 square foot deck applied in one coat.
5. Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 8
At 2 years we noticed some slight mold growth on top of the Armstrong Clark stain in some shaded areas. We did not detect any mildew spores within the stain as the mildew spores could be wiped away using a wet towel.
6. Ease of Application: 9
The Armstrong Clark Deck Stain was super easy to apply and extremely user-friendly. Upon the manufacturer’s claims of being able to apply in direct sunlight, we tested our application on a 90-degree day in full sun. We were surprised the stain did not dry too quickly and applied evenly in those conditions, avoiding potential issues with Applying a Deck Stain in Full Sun. There were no excess dripping issues on the railings even though we applied using a pump sprayer and back wiped with a stain brush. The semi-transparent stain applied well using this method.
7. Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 8.5
Our 2-year test of Armstrong Clark Stain in Semi-Trans Cedar color did show signs of slight darkening from its original color. We figured this was likely due to the formula’s higher solid content. The AC is over 70% solids containing linseed and paraffin oils.
8. Difficulty of Reapplication: 8.5
Because Armstrong Clark Wood Deck Stain penetrates well and does not overly darken, it would be easy to recoat. A simple cleaning with a wood deck cleaner to remove dirt, grime, and mold spores would be sufficient prior to reapplying.
Overall Score Armstrong Clark Stain at 2 Year Period: 8.5
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain held up well at our 2-year test mark. Its easy application and terrific coverage rates raise Armstrong Clark to a high level. No peeling and only a slight darkening color shift were more than acceptable. It is also easy to maintain and prep prior to recoating. Armstrong Clark is definitely one of our top choices for a professional, durable finish that lasts and is easy to work with in the future.
Product Information:
More Info: Armstrong Clark Stains
Cost: $59.99 per Gallon, $299.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Transparent, Semi-Transparent, Semi-Solid – Oil-Based
Available Colors: Transparent Natural, Transparent Cedar, Transparent Redwood, Semi-Trans Cedar, Semi-Trans Rustic Brown, Semi-Trans Sierra Redwood, Semi-Trans Amber, Semi-Trans Mahogany, Semi-Solid Mountain Cedar, Semi-Solid Woodland Brown, Semi-Solid Oxford Brown, Semi-Solid Sequoia, Semi-Transparent Chestnut, Semi-Trans Natural Oak, Semi-Trans Black Walnut for Hardwoods
Application Temperature: 50-110 F
Coats Required: 1 Coat
Coverage Per Gallon: 200-250 sq. ft
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 8-72 Hours, Depending on UV exposure and air temps
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: Under 50 VOCs. Compliant in All 50 States and Los Angeles Counties
More Info: Product Data
Manufacturer: Armstrong Clark
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Pressure Treated Pine
Deck Square Footage: 600
UV Exposure: Full Sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: Semi-Transparent Cedar
*All products tested and results are from our experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Consider that results may differ due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.
Armstrong Clark Wood Deck Stain Review Video
I just stripped and stained my old redwood deck with Armstrong Clark Natural Oak semi trans and I’m happy with it. The directions on the can are great, but I’m surprised they don’t recommend pad application. Nonetheless, I used a pad and it worked really well,
Looks great!
Deck Stain Help,
We just wanted to give you a big thank you for all the prepping and staining advice. In the end we decided to go with Armstrong-Clark on account of some advantages it offers. We have a large south facing deck. The fact that we could put it on in the sun is a big plus as it is too hard to time a dry deck with an overcast day and no foreseeable ran here in the NW. The other big advantage of this product is that you let it sit and soak in for 24 hours instead of having to towel it off 30 to 60 minutes after application. This is a huge labor saver that keeps you from trying to towel up stain while you are still trying to get it on other areas. Within 24 hours it was all soaked in and looking nice. We used the Armstong-Clark Cedar Semi-Transparent on cedar deck boards. Thanks again for all the help!
Lee
Looks great!
I wanted to wait several years before posting this to be certain my recommendation was well founded and accurate.
It has now been seven years and I can confidently recommend the Armstrong Clark stain product for exterior, element exposed cedar. I am in Portland, OR and have cedar carriage garage doors.
The house was built in 6/2008. I had wanted a smooth furniture finish on the doors and so the painter applied numerous thin coats of lacquer to all exposed wood; mahogany front doors, cedar soffits, the cedar ceiling over the enclosed deck, and the garage carriage doors.
By 10/2013 the lacquer had peeled off the garage doors due to the direct southern exposure to sunlight, rain and snow but I will say all other exterior wood was and is still fine.
After researching and finding this site I removed the garage doors, stripped, brightened, properly sanded (going through each grit until 1200) and then applied the Armstrong product as four thin coats.
One gallon was sufficient for two doors (3 Car)
Throughout the years there have been no problems with the product or with any type of greying or fading of the wood.
Despite my best effort at sanding this is still not a smooth, glossy finish which what I desired but I see that that is not practical nor does the product purport to deliver that.
However due to the slight roughness on the surface I do find that pollen and dust stick to the doors so I just wipe them down monthly.
In considering all attributes that this site uses to rate stain products, the Armstrong is superior to the other products I have dealt with.
I helped a family member with his deck and he insisted on a using different product because of the price. What a foolish choice he made!
The cost of the stain is so minimal when compared to labor and time costs.
In 2020 I did give the garage doors a very light sanding and added a single coat before I sold my house.
It looked beautiful and I believe the doors were a contributing factor in selling the house, even during the slower housing market.
I highly recommend the product and I will use it again.
Extremely impressed with this stain. After a backbreaking job of sanding and brightening the cupped pressure treated 7’x28’ front porch and four 5’ wide steps, I was praying the finished product would be worth it. I wasn’t disappointed. A complete transformation. Very easy to apply, and huge bonus not having to time application to avoid the sun. Used two coats applied only about 20 mins apart but dries enough in that time to not have worries about leaving shoe imprints on previously coated surfaces. Finish was rich and smooth. After almost a year signs of wear are minimal, and only on steps used to drag bicycles and scooters up and down in addition to very heavy foot traffic.
Will recoat steps this summer and that’s it. Highly recommend,
Do you have any pictures to post?
I’m out of town for a couple of weeks but can get take some pictures when I return and post them at that time. I never think to do a before and after. If you had seen the before, you’d be amazed by the after.
Afters would be great. Thanks!
Does fence need to be stripped to original wood before stainingg
That varies based on the condition and if stained prior. Post some pics for advice.
I live in Massachusetts I want oil stain I can’t buy oil here or New York
Yes, you can have oil-based stains in NY as long as they are VOC compliant. Examples would the Armstrong Clark and TWP 1500 Series. You can order online and have them shipped.
I have an IPE deck and was using Deckwise solid color stain. It looks great when applied but turned black after 6 months in the south facing sun. I end up stripping it off every year and reapplying it. I looked at Armstrong stains and even tried a sample of their Amber color. A little orange to my liking but I could live with it. I don’t mind reapplying in a year or two but I’m tired of the stripping routine. What would you recommend for a stain that doesn’t turn dark in the sun?
Restore A Deck Stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-for-exotic-hardwoods-review/
A water based material on a previously oil stained wood that is inherently oily? Really?
Bill,
If you strip/remove the IPE Oil, you can use any stain brand or type. We have done this 1000s of times.
I appreciate your feedback
🙂 No issues. I edited the misunderstanding.
Cleaned cedar deck a few weeks ago but didn’t brighten. Unforeseen weather & then vacation got in between & the deck has grayed/bleached in sun. Can I still brighten at this point before staining? Putting Arm Clark semi trans Cedar for stain
Thank you
Redo the preo with both the cleaner and the brightener. Brightener alone will not work.
Can this product be sent to 80128 zip code (Littleton, Colorado)? Thank you.
Yes, it is allowed everywhere.
I have an 8 year old redwood pergola and just sanded the old home depot stain with 120 grit. Based on your recommendation, I just purchased RAD cleaner and brightener, as well as the Armstrong Clark Semi-transparent deck stain in redwood color. After sanding I saw your article that suggested using 60-80 grit. I haven’t cleaned or brightened yet. Should I go back and sand again with 80 grit before cleaning and brightening?
Yes, that would help.
Hello! I live on the beach in Hawaii and I just ordered brand new African mahogany garage doors. They still need to be sanded and stained/oiled. I am looking at AC semi-transparent oil in Chestnut. Hoping it will have enough UV protection and that it will hold up well with high sun, lots of rain, bugs, and strong winds that are full of salt. I also do not want to have to sand the garage doors or disassemble them in order to reapply the protective stain/oil when the time comes, even with all the salt in the air. The garage doors are west-facing, the ocean is on the north about 100 meters away, and the trade-winds usually come out of the northeast. Do you recommend the AC semi-transparent oil for this project? I’m a first timer at a project like this, so I really appreciate any guidance, thanks!
For hardwood, you would need one of the 3 Armstrong Clark Hardwood colors. Amber, Mahogany, or Black Walnut. It works very well. You can stain the wood after the doors are installed. You do not have to take them apart.
Thank you! I’ll choose on of those 3.
i have two old treated pine boards in pic, curious as to why it’s different colors when I first wet the boards or if it matters. They eventually all turn uniformly dark when soaked but want to make sure not an issue when staining. I did clean and brighten but will be doing it again as it’s been about 5 weeks.
Internally they are darker. They might stain darker as well. Might want to brighten it all again to see if that helps.
Hello! Been 2 years since I last stained with ArmClark. Needs a coat this year as it’s faded off & darkened in places. Will re-apply same stain…the semi, what should I do to prep again? I know I can’t just go right over old correct after cleaning?
Thank you
Use the Restore A Deck prep kits and then recoat.
Cleaner & brightener? Thank you
Yes.
About 8 years ago I stained my pool deck with Sherwin Williams semi-transparent water based stain and repeated the application a couple more times over the years. Every two years it was flaking and peeling so I just sanded the bad areas and cleaned the whole deck with a deck cleaner product. I got tired of doing this every two years so I switched to Benjamin Moore Arbor Coat solid color water based stain. Same thing is happening.
After reading many of your product reviews, I’m wondering if I could apply the Armstrong Clark product on the deck. I sanded the entire deck and got most of the old stain off, then cleaned it with a deck cleaner product.
Do you think I’d have better luck switching to the Armstrong Clark product or now that I’ve completely sanded the deck, maybe the Arbor Coat product would last longer?
Thanks,
Rick
You will have to fully remove the old stain before switching to the AC. AC is a far better stain then BM or SW products. It will not peel as it is a penetrating stain. If you want prep advice, post some pics of the deck.
Can I use this over Cabot Australian oil based?
Whenever you switch brands of semi-transparent stains, you need to remove the old coating first. You will need to strip and brighten for prep. Use the Restore A Deck Stripper/Brightener kits.
have a redwood deck, trellis, and fences to be stained. All are at least 10 years old.
The original contractor I hired became discouraged that the original chemical stripper didn’t remove all the existing stain, and he essentially abandoned the job around mid-November. While he hadn’t requested a deposit and I’m thus not out any money, it’s taken a while to find a new contractor. The one I’d like to use just informed me that he won’t be able to begin the job until mid-January. He’s booked through the end of this month and then will be off for the holidays until mid-January.
Is it safe for the exposed wood to remain exposed for almost 2 months? While some stain remains in spots, much already has been removed by the earlier chemical stripping and also some later sanding.
If you advise the work should not be put off until mid-January, are there contractors who work in San Francisco that you’d recommend? The one I’d like to use who isn’t available until mid-January is Sammy Alfadel at Envirotek Restoration in San Mateo. Other contractors I’ve interviewed didn’t seem knowledgeable. For example one didn’t understand what 2 coats wet on wet meant; he thought it meant apply one coat, let it fully dry, and apply the second coat a day or two later. Another said there was no need to remove all the old stain, it would be fine to apply your semi-transparent over the remaining stain. Another wanted a blank check at $85.00/hour for any and all sanding he deemed necessary. All those were of course no-go’s.
Thanks for your advice and help, much appreciated!
Post some pics for prep advice. Your wood will be fine until you prep and stain in a few months or later.
A film-forming stain was applied to some pressure-treated wood on the sides of a deck. In preparation for restaining, is there a safe way to sand the film-forming stain off? We’d prefer not to use a stripper product and brightener. A contractor has used that already, but apparently missed most of the sides. Thanks.
See this for sanding tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-sand-your-wood-deck/
could I use semi solid over a previously treated deck (used pittsburgh semi solid,latex,a few years ago and it didn’t hold up very well)
No, you have to remove all of the old stain first.
I have a 10r old cedar deck with a clear natural stain on it applied three years ago. . I can hardly notice the stain exists anymore . 1. Can I go over this with RAD stain? 2. Can I cover it with a solid acrylic stain. 3. what solid acrylic stain do you recommend?
You do have to prep and then you can cover it with the RAD Solid Stain. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-solid-color-stain-review/
We have used AC semi-transparent cedar tone on our cedar deck the last 3 applications but have not been impressed with the durability of the stain, typically having to re-stain every year, though we usually only apply one coat. Our floorboards look especially bad. I have prepped with RAD cleaner/brighter every time. Was wondering if the AC semi-solid cedar tone would hold up better without hiding too much of the wood grain. Also, would we be able to apply it without stripping the old semi-transparent stain. Thank you
More pigment = longer UV protection so yes, a semi-transparent will always give longer results than a transparent color. Clean and brighen for prep.
Would I need to strip the semi-transparent stain to apply the semi-solid stain? Both AC products. Thanks
It would be best to strip.
Hi,
I bought the ARMSTRONG CLARK STAIN 1 GALLON for my new deck last summer. I applied two coats on it. I thought it would be the best exterior oil-based semi-transparent stain for deck wood. But it turns out that the surface became quite oily and during the winter of 2022, it started building dust which make the deck looks like black mold grew on it. In spring, we washed the deck thoroughly with soap and water, the “black mold” appearance looked better. But after couple months, the surface of the whole deck looked oily and very dirty again. I attached the picture here. Could you provide some advice on how to clean the surface and remove that oily kind of looking? Is it necessary to power wash the old paint and re-do the painting using different piant? Thank you so much!
Hi,
New wood and Armstrong Clark is only 1 coat (you applied 2 coats) after 3 or months of weathering and prep with a deck cleaner and wood brightener. It seems this was not followed and that is why it is a little oily.
We would stick with the AC but strip and brighten for prep so you are starting over with a bare surface. Just do one coat.
Thank you ! I did weather and cleaned the new deck before applying the paint. so 2 coatings within one week might be the cause. what kind of product should I use to strip and brighten the surface if I want to re-do the painting? should I apply such product before power wash? and then sand the surface?
Use the Restore A Deck Stripper and Brightener Kits. You use them while pressure washing. No need to sand.
location mountains NE TN. I have 2 decks se & nw sides of house. Nw under porch roof haven’t cleaned any & that side no mold…just dirt. SE 52′ with 30 under roof. Sun & weather hits the two uncovered ends hard. SE is 2 story deck with 20′ posts supporting deck roof, I am wanting to stay as close to clear & natural as possible and understand uv issues. PT pine 8 yrs old & never treated. Have PW all SE. Deck surface no issue but the posts had blackened prior to pw and boards not under roof more faded. Is AC transparent natural best choice as like color cleaned wood? Not sure how much color the cedar version imparts. Only online purchases possible & need to get everything sealed up…not want to order samples & then additional wait for full product.
oh, if use the transparent & down road want semi-transparent or semi-solid on deck surface can that be applied after cleaning or require stripping?
Try Restore A Deck in Natural, Armstrong in Natural, or TWP in Honeytone. As for recoating, if you switch brands and transparencies, you will need to strip and brighten for prep.
I’ve read your review on Flood but wondering if Pro Series CFW-UV5 with pentrol same? It is available locally. Natural tint base. Can just the base be used? If suitable product (tho possibly not the best) would their honeygold be close to the natural fresh pine color? I want stick with natural coloring or protection with natural graying. I only want an oil based product. Modified oil makes me bit nervous but you would know more.
If not Flood I will probably mail order Armstrong. Their application & timing seems easier than some. Especially when can’t always tell when thunderstorms might show up…less frequent this year but then its intense heat.
Thanks! This website is a wealth of information & I’ve looked at it over the years. I too noticed Cabot took a fall. Their product was only thing worked on our CA deck & mine here different area TN. Used semi-solids tho.
Modified oil means water based so we would not suggest it for you. Use the Armstrong, much better.
Scott, Your BIO suggests to use one of your endorsed eCommerce sites if we want to express our appreciation of you and the site. How does one do that?
For which product?
AC semi transparent stain and the restore-a-deck kit
Thanks for asking. I updated the Bio page to reflect some of the more popular sites for our eCommerce:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/author/administrator/
We just barely stained our deck with oil-based stain that resulted in a color failure. Can we apply Armstrong semi-solid to cover the undesired color? I really do not want to do any stripping so trying to figure out if I could possibly avoid any unnecessary work. Thank you for your advice. For your reference, the product we used – STORM SYSTEM Storm Protector Penetrating Sealer & Stain Protector – Deck Protector, Fence Protector, 1 Gallon, Hickory.
No, you have no choice but to remove and start over. You cannot apply another brand over the Storm Stain.
Thank you! Is that Storm Stain specifically or oil-based in general?
Whenever switching brands of semi-transparent stain, you should remove the prior coating. Does not matter the base.
Also, what would be the best removing solution in this case? I searched through the whole internet, so many opinions. I don’t want any hiccups anymore… Thank you for your help.
Strip and brighen for prep. Use the Restore A Deck Prep Kits.
Thank you so much!
I have a brand new deck that was finished about a month ago. The sun beats down on it mercilessly (plus georgia humidity) and after only 30 days it’s totally dry and ready to be stained. It looks like for a new, pressure treated pine deck Armstrong Clark is the way to go. Im likely going to go with transparent so I can enjoy the color of new wood. For a new deck would this brand be your top recommendation as well?
(Also, I’m so glad I did more research and found your site as I was going to go with Behr Premium and that looks like it would have been a horrible choice from the reviews.)
See here about new wood if you have not see it yet: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
The AC stains would work well.
I just applied AC semi-solid (espresso) onto my ~10yo redwood deck in Northern CA. Previously there was unknown old stain that was very uneven due to wear and some areas of the deck being more sun exposed than others. I prepped with RAD stripper and brightener with good results in removing all the old stain. After brightening some of the individual deck boards were much lighter in color than others (Pic 1) – and to my surprise this persisted even after the stain was applied (Pic 2, 36hrs after staining). Since the boards were different colors after prepping I assume that the difference is just due to them being from different lots of wood with different characteristics. I also noticed that the more sun-exposed boards in the center of the deck generally ended up lighter post-staining.
I had amazing results with this stain previously, getting a much older deck to a really nice uniform dark brown color, so I was surprised that this deck ended up with uneven coloration between the boards.
Is there anything I can do to achieve a more even look, or something I could have done different during the process?
The final color is always based on the wood’s age, type, and porosity. The one in the top left actually looks like a new board that was replaced. Same with the two in the top right. This is not a stain issue but the reality of using a deck (unless a solid opaque) stain.
Can this transparent stain be applied with a sorayer