This post was updated on April 4, 2025
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain Update 2026
The Armstrong Clark Wood stain has been a solid performer since we started reviewing and using it about 12 years ago. We really like how it penetrates deep into the wood grain and applies easily. Reapplication is simple as needed with a good deck cleaner for the prep. One thing we have noticed is to make sure you do not over apply. You want the AC to soak completely into the wood for the best results.
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain Review Below
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain is an oil-based stain backed by 5 generations of experience in the exterior wood stain industry. Armstrong Clark is offered in 3 different versions: Trans parents, Semi-Transparent, and Semi-Solid Colors.
Armstrong Clark Wood Stains are composed of drying and non-drying oils that separate during the application process. The drying oils cure and protect the exposed surface of the wood from natural weathering and UV radiation while the non-drying oils condition the interior of the wood by lubricating the wood cellular structure.
Armstrong Clark Stain Review
Armstrong Clark Stain Scores (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8
– The Armstrong Clark showed a rich deep enhanced color after application. The natural grain of the wood showed throughout the deck surface. The Mountain Cedar color was a “tannish” cedar color.
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain Photos
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 8
– The Armstrong Clark Wood Stain in the Mountain Cedar offered better than average UV protection. When using a semi-solid stain we expected to achieve excellent UV protection and the Mountain Cedar delivered. We would expect that the semi-transparent and transparent colors to offer slightly less UV protection due to the lesser amount of solids.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 8
– Armstrong Clark Wood Stain had little to no peeling. The only wearing of the stain was on the steps. This most likely was the result of the homeowner’s dogs.
Cost Per Square Foot: 9
– Armstrong Clark sells for $41.99 per gallon for the semi-solids ($36.99 for semi-transparent). This is an average price for a quality deck stain. We found that Armstrong Clark has one of the best square foot coverages. For our 600 square foot test deck, we used only 2.5 gallons of stain for the required one coat. The final appearance was even with no noticeable bare spots.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 7
– The Armstrong stain did have some very minor mold spores on top of the stain. On further inspection, it seemed that the mold was not growing in the stain and could easily be wiped off with a wet towel.
Ease of Application: 9
– Extremely easy to apply! Armstrong’s manufacturer states that their stain can be applied in direct sunlight. We tested our application at 90 degrees in full sun. We did not experience any flash drying or unevenness of the stain. No noticeable drips on the vertical railings.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 8
– The Armstrong Clark Wood Stain in the Mountain Cedar darkened slightly in color from the original application. Most likely due to the high solid content of the semi-solid stain.
Difficulty of Reapplication: 8
– Armstrong Clark Wood Stain would be an easy product to recoat after a light cleaning. The stain does not darken and penetrates extremely well. Key factors when it comes to reapplications.
Overall Score Armstrong Clark Stain at 2 Year Period: 8.2
– Armstrong Clark performed at a high level after the two-year mark. Our favorite aspects of the stain were the ease of application and the coverage rate. There was very little to no peeling of the stain and color-shifting was acceptable. We would expect that applying a maintenance coat would be easy with a wood cleaning and wood brightening.
Product Information:
More Info: ArmstrongClarkStain.com
Cost: $51.99 per Gallon, $259.99 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
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 1 Coat
Coverage Per Gallon: 200-250 sq. ft
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 4-12 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in All 50 States
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: Mountain Cedar
*All products tested and results are from our experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Take into consideration that results may differ due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.
Armstrong Clark Wood Deck Stain Review Video
This is Natural Oak Stain. Looks amazing and was really easy to apply after cleaner/brightener!
Looks great!
I now am the proud owner of a new redwood deck 36'x24'. In order to preserve the redwood color, do you recommend a transparent or semi-transparent stain?
The richer or darker the color, the longer it will prevent UV protection. See this about new wood:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
We would wait the 3 months and prep with a deck cleaner and wood brightener before staining. We normally use the semi-transparent colors.
Installed a new pressure treated deck in June '16. Full sun in Atlanta, Ga. The deck boards had manufacturer stamps 'inked' onto/into the wood. I sanded with palm sander to remove but now have left several sanded lighter places to already aged original places. How can I get the lighter patches to better match the surrounding wood? Do I now need to wait 2-3 months for sanded places to evolve to accept the stain? If so, I'm into Oct/Nov before applying and will this be too late and should I wait till Spring? Would like to use a semi-transparent to allow wood grain to show.
Need to wait a couple of months and then clean and brighten all the wood for the prep. Just wait until Spring.
We have a 25 yr old cedar deck in very sound condition, but was not regularly stained. The past two summers we have tried to restain it only to have it peel. What would you suggest? Also, is it possible to obtain a white stain for the railings?
AC does not come in a white. Start by removing all of the current stain that was peeling. If you want a two toned deck, then paint the railings with a solid color stain made by Flood. Use the AC for the flooring.
Is A&C stain available in the DC area
Not sure, contact manufacturer for help.
just built a new pressure treated pine deck around the pool. Decking has been installed for 2 weeks now. I would love to apply stain asap to avoid the pressure treat from any more twisting and cracking. Its been in full sun now the entire 2 weeks with very little rain if any. I know the warnings for staining new wood too early. Would you recomend to use an AC semi transparent on this new wood? And how big of a crime will it be if I stain it in 2 weeks. The pressure treat is really taking a beating in the sun right now with no rain in the forcast here in Rochester, NY. What is worst… Cracking twisting deck boards that are unprotected in the sun or staining to early? Or is there a better product for new wood with very little wait time?
No you have to wait 2-3 months and prep first. If you stain too early, then it will most likely fail within a year and you will need to strip and start over. If you want to do this, then prep well first to remove mill glaze and only apply 1 very light coat.
I have been using this stain for many years. I used to use Superdeck but that stain did not hold up as well as the Armstrong after two years. I reapply every two years and the stain has helped to maintain all of my decks since 1990. That's right, 26 years at this point and going strong that my California decks have lasted for the most part because of Armstrong stain.
I have a large Brazilian hardwood deck, We have never been happy with any of the other products we have tried. We have used Penafin, Thompsons water seal and Behr deck stain( supposedly transparent, but unfortunately not). Last year I learned about this product. I ordered 5 gallons. It arrived within three days! It was so easy to apply and had a beautiful finish, I just finished staining my deck this year and still have some left over from the original 5 gallons.
Is Armstrong both stain and seal? And semi-trans should be good enough that allows me to see the pretty of the wood?
Yes to both.
Stain, seal? How to treat a brand new Port Orford cedar deck attached to a conventional cedar lattice privacy screen on one side, with conventional cedar board fencing all around. Shaded Washington DC site. The deck wood is gorgeous. Will they all fade to the same gray if the deck is "transparent" and the fencing not treated at all?
Prep with a deck cleaner and wood brightener before using the Armstrong Clark. They should fade evenly through the years if they are both stained.
I live on the Atlantic ocean where wood never totally dries. What stain should I use for my deck? Won't an oil based stain just sit on the surface and peel off?
Oil based stains are penetrating. Prep well and let it dry for two days with no rain. Apply the AC stains.
Do i apply a sealant after staining with Armstrong or is the sealant in the stain?
Thank you,
Deck stains do help to seal the wood. You cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain.
We are looking to buy lots of your samitrasparent oil base
Please contact me back my name is Christian monterroso
Business name cp brothers construcion
We do not own that product. Contact the manufacturer directly for help.
where can I find this product Armstrong deck stain?
Contact manufacturer for help locating or order online.
We were extremely pleased with the experience we had with Armstrong. We had a number of questions and got to speak to the company president who was a great resource. Service was great with fast delivery and overall cost (because less stain is needed) was just about the same as poor stains from box stores; yet when you factor in the reduced labor from using higher quality stain you are talking about huge savings and a very obvious decision. Again, wish I had found such high quality stain earlier, but very happy with results now.
I am looking for a Dark Brown stain for our new Cedar Garage door. I have a sample of TWC 1500 Black Walnut in which i love the color but after 15 hours, it is still wet and did not seem to penetrate the wood very well. So I have ordered samples of the semi-solid by Armstrong Clark. Which one would you recommend or is there another one of than these you would suggest?
Kim, you cannot stain new wood right away unless rough cut. It will not absorb very well. Have you read this article?: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
We have been using Oxford Brown from Armstron-Clark this spring & summer on very old cedar shingle siding with fantastic results. It is giving us a dark chocolate type of color. We needed a penetrating stain since the shingles had not been stained in 40+ years, and with the correct prep products (from their Restor-A-Deck line) application with full penetration has been a breeze.
We have most of our siding finished with AC transparent natural, but have a little left to do. We'll have a few hours of dry, but humid, weather today in the high 50s, followed by rain for the next three days. After that, temperatures will drop — 50s during the day, 30s at night. So, should be apply the rest of the stain today, before it rains? The siding is under a 3-ft overhang and won't get wet, but it will be humid. Or, should we wait for a sunny day afterwards? How long does it need to be 50 degress or higher for this stain to dry properly?
You are fine to apply today as long as it is dry out and not raining.
Hi. I'm not sure what you mean by "dry out", since I said the siding is under an overhang, and it's humid and will rain later in the day. Is that "dry" enough? The air is pretty much 100% humidity,
Also, how long does it need to be at 50 degrees? The nights are going into the 30s now.
As long as it is not raining out and the wood is fully dry. It should have at least 4-6 hours of adequate dry temps. Cannot drop below freezing at night.
I put down Rustoleum Restore and it failed the first winter. Now at 2.5 yrs later I have been sanding and scraping for a week. I think I will be able to get it off before another week goes by but in the cracks and between the boards I can't get it off. Now I'm in a pickle, what can I cover it with? Of course it won't budge with pressure wash, it's a horrible product.
Covering it will not fix the issue. You need to remove it by sanding or scraping it off.
We live in northern Georgia. We have just completed a new second story deck constructed of (non-pressured) pine. It was completed in mid July and has full sun with a southerly exposure. I have 4 questions: 1) What stain would you recommend? 2) Can I go ahead and stain it now? 3) Since the bottom of the deck is exposed to another cement patio below, should I stain the top of the deck first, or underneath the deck first? 4) Any tips on how to best apply the stain underneath? Many thanks for your help.
See here about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Use the Armstrong Clark. No need to stain the undersides unless you want to for appearance. You would do the top first then underside right after to catch any drips of stain on the undersides.
Will this cover white leaching stains ?
No it does not cover white leaching stains. You would need a solid stain or paint.
We need help with the after-effect of using your "oil base formula, Armstrong's Wood Stain, wood satin for wood decks and fences siding". The stain continues to wipe off on people's clothing and hands. We have wiped the entire deck down several times no no avail. Please give us some ideas that will help with this problem as soon as possible. Thank you.
FYI, AC is not our stain. It is a full drying stain and cures so it should not do this. Did you happen to back wipe right after applying? If you do this then your remove the curing oils and leaves you will just the non-drying oils and that is why this would happen. I would contact the manufacturer for some help with this.
Applied ac deck stain on 20 yr mahogany deck 2 days ago. Wiped off excess, but deck is still very slippery any ideas? To prep I pressure washed, brushed, use wool man deck rite, brushed, rinsed, dried for a week, swept,and applied ac amber with sheep skin and back brushed. It has been very humid andcloudyhere. Please advise. Should I pressure wash it off?
You cannot back wipe the AC. You removed the curing/drying oils and that is why it will not dry properly. Might want to contact them for some advice.
Who sells it? I kive in Gordonsville va
Call manufacturer for help locating.
Hello, I need help deciding the best transparent stain. I have seen the Defy extreme clear and its good reviews and armstrong is also an option. Does the armstrong transparent make the wood look wet or is it absolutely clear like defy? wet look is preferable. Any advice? thanks.
The Armstrong Clark in Natural is not a \”clear\”. It will darken the wood grain similar as if wet with water. It is also the lightest color of the AC stain. Take note that the lighter the color, the quicker it will fade from UV.
We put in new Western Cedar decks last September and are ready to stain. (20 x 24 ft., and 6 x 12 ft.) What would be the best product to use and how many coats? Should it be restained next year? We live in St. Louis area, so snow, ice, and humidity are issues. Thank you!
Try the Armstrong Clark but in a semi-transparent or semi-solid color. One coat this year and another light coat on the horizontals next year if needed.
We had our deck built about 6 years ago with treated lumber. After the first year we power washed it and applied a clear sealant. We have repeated this process every year since and our deck looks horrible. The boards are gray and it looks like it has never been treated since it was built. We applied the sealant again this spring, and now are wondering if we can reapply a different sealant/stain with a color, or should we have to wait until next spring?
Wait until next Spring, clean and brighten for the prep so all gray is removed. Stain with Armstrong Clark then.
I have a very large (650 sq ft); very old (20+ yrs) deck, and I needed something that would "revive" this relic, and this worked beautifully! It helped "soften" the brittle wood, making it more bare-foot friendly. Now, two years later, the color is still great but I would like to apply a clear sealer, or something that will "soften" the wood again, as the slivers are starting to rear their ugly heads. What would you suggest as a clear coat and do I need to condition the wood again as I did the first time?
You cannot apply a clear coat on top of the Armstrong. You would need to clean the wood and apply the same color you used last time.
We have a commercial passenger boat decked with Douglas Fir. We've just done work on the decks, adding new caulking between the boards and sanding the boards down, replacing those areas that had rot or large splinters. This is used on the Chesapeake Bay with heavy foot traffic for 7 months. We don't have time to allow a complete refinish since we're busy when the weather is nice. So, what deck sealer/stain would be best where we can touch up as needed and not have to do a strip down in the middle or late in the season? We'd need the product to be quick drying and ready for traffic within 2 days of applying or touch up. We also wash the decks down with fresh water daily after use (using Simple Green). We've had bad experiences with all kinds of products and have let these decks turn silver gray and thus have needed these repairs. Penofin was bad. Flood's deck product was bad. And there were more. Will A-C be the best choice in semi-transparent?
AC is a good choice but with your high traffic and constantly washing, nothing is going to last very long. Might be better off just cleaning the wood to keep it looking good.
Simple green is not supposed to be discharged into waterways, Chesapeake Bay included!! (According to the back of the bottle)
The very best stain I have ever used and I have just about tried them all. I am now an Armstrong-Clark fan forever! Easy to apply and coverage was great. Looks awesome and is standing up to the wear and tear of snow shoveling. (I live in Maine) A little pricey but you only get what you pay for, and this stain is well worth it.
I live in Northern Virginia and just stained our deck with Armstrong Clark transparent. This after several weekends of flipping old boards, sanding, Restore-A-Deck and power washing. It's been fun!
Should I put a second coat of the stain before the winter?
Not now. Add light coat in the Spring if needed.
Actually, a second question tagging onto my prior…the previous product was 350 VOC, is the newer 250 VOCs equally as effective, or would it be better to acquire one with a higher VOC (which I could do in neighboring Nevada, I believe)?
Armstrong Clark only has one version of VOC and it is currently 100 VOC and compliant everywhere. They switched to the current formula a couple of years ago and we did not see any difference in performance or application. Prep with a deck cleaner and would brightener will work for reapplying.
Thanks…after doing a little more research, I believe the contractor who did the job 6 yrs ago used Sikkens Cetol SRD – Cedar (VOC <550). There still are some areas with residual stain, especially on front porch railings. Would I need to strip that or just prep as mentioned?
You would need to strip if switching brands.
I have a very old Redwood deck in California Sierra foothills (full sun, snow). It was last treated with Armstrong's Weather Shield – Clear about 6 years ago. It has held up fairly well, but definitely in need of stain. Does it matter which AC product I use now (and then for subsequent stainings)? Do I merely need to clean and brighten?
I have 4 month old 14" x 25" wood deck. I live in central Virginia. What stain do you recommend? I'm going to wait until next March/April to do any staining.
Thanks!
Armstrong would be a good choice for this.
The cost estimates don’t include shipping, which are relevant since the products can’t be bought locally.
I stained my new cedar deck 3 days ago and the weather has been fine but it still feels sticky now. I used Armstrong Clark semi-transparent (amber). Is it because I applied too much? I can wipe off some areas with a rag. Should I remove it with mineral spirits as suggested by someone online? Really need help here!!! Thanks a lot.
Wipe with rags to remove the excess oils that have not absorbed. No mineral spirits. It will dry but it takes more time when wood is new and the temps are cooler.
Excellent stain! Very smooth consistency and the blend of oils was quickly absorbed into our ten year old deck. We selected mahogany and the color was perfect for what we wanted. Unfortunately I underestimated how much we would need, but their delivery was quick and convenient. I also am very appreciative of the information available on this site as it helped me to learn about st6ain and choose the best one for my needs.
We have a 9 year old pressure treated deck, which has been stained 2 or 3 times over its life, which I just sanded to bare wood and then applied armstrong clark amber stain. I am not liking the result so much…the color of the deck actually looks slightly greenish (through the amber color) in the sun. Worse than that, the deck boards actually turn very green when they are wet. Definitely not what I was hoping for. So, my question is how can I fix this? I suppose that I could sand the deck again…but how challenging is that going to be given that the AC stain is "penetrating"? Alternatively, how difficult would it be strip the stain at this point given that it has been on the deck for only a week? Or, could I try applying a different, more opaque, AC stain on top of the existing stain…? If I wanted to try this last option, how long should I wait until I give it a shot? Thanks…
You can strip the Amber AC with no issues with a product like the Restore A Deck Stripper. Brighten when done. I would not apply a semi-solid AC on top. Not sure what would make it green as there is not green tint in the AC products. Can you post a picture in our forum?
Posted pictures in the Deck Stain Questions and Answers Forum. Thanks.
I have used Armstrong Clark for the past two years and am NOT very happy with it. My deck is in direct sunlight and have a major problem with mold and mildew. The deck turned almost black which gets on our feet and is tracked in to our house. We had little rain or humidity this season in the Northeast (Long Island) so I am very surprised at the poor results. I will clean it in the spring and find another brand.
Sorry to hear as we never had this issue on 100\’s of decks we have used AC on. If the mold is on top of the stain as you say (tracks into house) then nothing can stop this from occurring. Stains can prevent mold from growing in the stain but no deck stain on the market will stop mold from laying on top of it. Mold con grow on top of any surface. Most likely you will continue to have a similar issue when you switch brands as it may be related to your particular weather or a pollinating tree nearby. Pollen seems to be the number one cause of mold growth.
I purchased two 5 gallon cans of this product based on recommendation of someone at this site and only used 1- 5 gallon can so spent twice as much as needed. Now this product is looking awful. It went on beautifully and looked OK but very dull for 10 months or so but now it seems to be very patchy. We were disappointed at how dull and lifeless it made the deck look and this new issue is depressing. I don't understand how a product that worked so well for most users is failing so abysmally for our 1000 ft. of decking.
Looking at your old comments it seems that you had Behr on the wood previously and you had trouble getting it all off? Usually prep is the number one reason for failure.
You also mentioned that the AC was dull? AC is a penetrating stain and does not have a shine. This is normal for decking stains.
Looking for help with color choice for cedar deck. I'd like to mimic the look of a mahogany deck. Tried samples of TWP. Rustic was too red and I wasn't happy with Pecan either. Would Armstrong Clark Mahogany be a good choice?
You cannot get cedar to look like Mahogany wood. Maybe somewhat close. You would need to start mixing colors. A combination of Rustic Brown and Mahogany might work.
Thanks for your help. I'm still struggling about which stain would be best. Considering TWP, AC and Defy. The cedar deck is sanded to 100 grit which I'm now worried will make penetration more difficult. I will not be able to re-sand to 60 grit before the rainy starts. I have spent countless hours hand sanding and never want to have to do that again so picking the best stain possible is very important. Mold is a big issue as the deck will have lots of rain over the majority of the year. I also want to be able to reapply easily every 1-2 years. What do you suggest? Do I really need to re-sand? should I leave the wood untreated till next summer and then sand to 60 again?
Try washing lightly with a deck cleaner and a pressure wash rinse. This will remove any sand dust and swell the wood grain for better penetration. For deck with mold issues, look at the Defy or TWP 100 Series. TWP is a little easier to reapply in the future.
I live in Seattle (North Capitol Hill/ Montlake/ Arboretum area), and I have 2 samples of TWP and 2 samples of Armstrong-Clark Deck stain, if anyone wants them-FREE (I ordered these for testing and only used them once). I have:
TWP102-Redwood
TWP116-Rustic
Armstrong-Clark RedWood Tone
Armstrong-Clark Semi-Transparent Sierra Redwood
Just call Karen at 206-328-4047 if you want to come by and pick up these samples.
Karen – Bainbridge Island here. I'm considering the Armstrong-Clark Redwood because vs TWP it says it requires only 1 coat, which is a huge difference in labor and time. And I've been SO disappointed in the Home Depot and Lowe's products (Behr in particular, which gets the top rating on Consumer Reports). Would you care to share any thoughts on your comparisons between the products you've tried?
Can you place another coat of stain on a cedar deck one week after the first application. There is one area that seems a little lighter than the rest of the deck. This area was applied while the sun was on it. thanks
We have done it before without issues. Apply a very light coat.
We have a 3 story apartment building near downtown Chicago. The back porches are made of pressure treated wood and are located on the north side of the building. They were built 27 years ago and have not been treated since. We want to power wash, stain and seal them. Can you tell me the products and steps you would recommend?
Prep with the Restore A Deck products to clean and brighten wood. Once done, stain with the AC. Might want to use a semi-solid color for max protection for this older wood.
We applied AC semi-transparent cedar to our old deck 4 days ago. Deck was sanded first to remove all old stain, then prepped with RAD cleaner/brightener. We applied really thin layer, and it was dry to touch within 10 min. There was no rain since the application – basically the ideal weather.
But the whole deck is still leaves reddish marks our hands or rags. I would expect the oils to be fully absorbed by now, but it's not the case.
Is there anything we can do now other than wiping the whole deck? It's about 500 sq.ft to deal with.
Thanks for any tip!
I good rain will wash off the excess oil that has not absorbed or you rinse well with a hose.
We just had a cedar privacy fence installed and are considering whether to stain or let it weather naturally. I like the look of stain but am uncertain about committing to the upkeep and maintenance required if we stain… Comments/ suggestions welcome. I personally am leaning towards staining as this fence was an investment and I'd like to increase its longevity. I need some guidance regarding when to apply stain, what application method to use( brush, sprayer, etc), and whether transparent, semi-transparent, or solid provide the best protection- especially from long, harsh winters and high winds. We live in Sioux Falls, SD and our fence receives full sun and partial shade. I do like the look of wood grain showing through as much as possible, but would probably opt for the best protection over aesthetic if it came down to it. Finally, a main consideration is when to apply the stain. The fence was installed in mid August- does the fence need to 'sit' a while before being stained, and if so, for how long? The winter here starts early ( I hope we make it to November with no snow), and temps could definitely be freezing by then. I want to compromise the stain by applying in suboptimal conditions, by applying too soon, or waiting too long. We can wait until next Spring to stain, but I'd be concerned about exposing the untreated fence to a long Sioux Falls winter. Or is this not a concern? Also, how long do I need to wait to apply stain after a rain? I appreciate your help- this is a great site.
Staining a fence is good for the wood and fence stains will last 4-6 years with a good quality product. Most fence wood is rough sawn and that means it can be stained right away. If so go ahead and stain now with the TWP 1500 Series for this.
We. Live in central Michigan and have 2, 7 year old ceder decks that have never had anything on them. I power washed it last week and it looks good. Do we have to use a brightner? The decks are stacked and on the west side of the house so we have both lots of sun and partial shade. What stain would you recommend?
If prepped well you do not need a brightener for this. Use the AC in a semi-solid color for a deck in full sun.
Just finishing up new redwood deck with doug fir posts/beams. I want to use the AC semi-transparent or transparent stain, and you indicated we should let the deck dry for 2-3 months with that product. That will be rainy season and winter up here in the mountains. (It is hot and dry now – no rain). Would it be ok to use the AC stain after a month of drying to beat the rains, or should I let the deck weather thru the winter? A contractor told me it would damage the wood to let it go thru the winter w/o stain. Appreciate your thoughts on it. Thanks for a great website!
Jeff
If you do it in a month then you will most likely have to do a light maintenance coat next Spring. Up to you but if worried about the winter then just plan on this.
Once opened and half used, how long can 5 gallon bucket be good for? Can I use it 2-3 years from the opening?
Doubt it. Might want to ask manufacturer to be certain.
Thought I would share my experience with Armstrong Clark Stain. We have a 20 year old house and one of our projects was to convert our cottage style front porch, complete with white picket railing, into a more modern looking front deck entry. Consequently, a mix of old wood and new construction along with very extreme temp ranges over 100 degrees to below zero with snow and ice. The products we had used previously were acrylic based and failed miserably.
I called the 800 number on the Armstrong Clark website and the phone was answered immediately by Jake Clark, president of the company! We spent a good 10 minutes talking about my project and my home's location, which he was familiar with having visited our nearby resort. He finally said, " you know, I'm going to send you a box of samples so you can check out both the semi-transparent and the semi-solid along with some colors." And, true to his word, within a couple of days I got this box of samples in the mail. Just in testing colors I knew we would be thrilled with the product. I called back after my wife and I agreed on the best look and ordered a couple of gallons of semi-solid in Oxford Brown. Again, process and service over the phone was super easy and personal. The stain shipped out that very day and we had it 2 days later. I had been concerned about how messy a mail order of stain might turn out to be, but it was packed perfectly, arrived in great shape, super fast and at what I consider a good price. The stain went on very easily. I am really impressed with how much pigment is in the semi-solid. It really tied in the look of the old wood and new construction making a uniform appearance with a really rich look. The oils penetrated the wood and I look forward to seeing how much better this is going to last over the coming winter. In short, great company, great product, super service. I just could not be more pleased and have recommended them to friends and family.
We are getting warm sunny weather, followed by some rain every couple days. How long must the AC semi transparent, cure before it can withstand some rain. I guess I am asking if I apply early in the morning and we get some evening rain will it be OK? Can't seem to find this on the AC website.
According to AC their stain can take a rain within a few hours after application.
Built a new red cedar deck aprox. 2 months ago. I have learnt the importance of cleaning and wood brightening a deck before staining it thanks to this website. We will be buying the Defy cleaner and wood brightener for the prep work.
We have decided on a semi transparent stain because we love the look of the wood grains but would also like to avoid the re application every year. We live in Southern Ontario with a southern exposed deck.
Looking for your help with a deck colour, my wife and I like the rustic brown color but do not want an orange or yellow look. Are we making a mistake buy choosing this color? Any other suggestions? Would Defy be a better choice for our location?
I would use the Armstrong and the Rustic Brown is a medium brown color and is not orange or yellow.
Hi Time, Were you able to buy the AC stain in Canada, on line or elsewhere? Thanks
I've just installed a new poolside cedar deck in Ontario. From the comments on this site I'm sold on AC. But should I go with the Transparent Cedar or the Semi-transparent Cedar? Any comments on the pros and cons of each? Thanks much.
Semi-trans will hold color longer than transparents.
Thanks DeckStainHelp! Another thought I had is to leave the cedar uncoated and simply clean/brighten it every spring — or even more often. Will that keep it at its natural light-reddish color, or will it turn grey anyway? Are there major downsides to doing it this way, other than maybe less-rich color?
It will turn gray in 3-6 months. Wood should be protected from water and sun damage.
scott, did you find a place to buy this in Ontario?
Hi Scott, We just bought a cedar gazebo and are looking to buy the Armstrong Clark Wood semi-transparent stain but it seems that you cannot buy in Canada. Were you able to find a way to buy it in Canada or elsewhere? Thanks for sharing.
There are no dealers in Canada. Seems many will buy online or contact manufacturer for some help with this.