Best Wood Stain for New Pressure Treated Pine
Pressure-Treated Pine
We appreciate you visiting Deckstainhelp.com as we continue to be your go-to source for the latest in deck restoration news and trending topics through 2026. Below, we talk about the Best Stain for New Pressure Treated Pine. Feel free to leave a comment below with any pictures you may have.
- Pressure-treated wood is not weather-protected. The chemical treatment only deters insects, so a water-repellant stain is still required.
- New pressure-treated pine has high moisture content, making stain penetration harder than with older, drier, more porous wood.
- Wait 3 to 6 months before staining a new deck, until moisture content reaches 12% or less to avoid trapping moisture.
- Always clean a new deck with a quality deck cleaner first to remove dirt, contaminants, and mill glaze before applying stain.
- Choose a stain designed to penetrate dense wood, like Armstrong Clark, to avoid surface buildup and prevent peeling.
Best Water-Based Deck Stain for New Wood | The Easiest Applying Deck Stain for New Wood | Best Oil-Based Deck Stain for New Wood |
Months to Weather New Wood: 3 months for both semi-transparent and solid stain colors. | Months to Weather New Wood: 2-3 months for transparent and semi-transparent colors. 12 months for semi-solid. | Months to Weather New Wood: 4 - 12 months for all TWP Series and Colors. |
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Whether you have had an old deck replaced or simply had a new deck added on, there are certainly a lot of benefits. Wood decks increase a home’s curb appeal and value. They add extra outdoor living space and are the witness of many come to family gatherings and get-togethers. A new deck’s strength and sheer durability make you feel like it will last forever. But as some homeowners soon find out, that newness can wear off and that once beautiful deck becomes a neglected eyesore.
But there is hope and to keep your new deck looking new and lasting for many years to come, you merely have to take care of it. Weather and elements like moisture and fading UV rays are a new deck’s biggest enemy. So the goal of keeping a deck looking good is to provide it with some protection.
Best Stain for Pressure Treated Wood
Some deck owners are under the false impression that “pressure-treated” means the wood has already been treated from the weather. The truth is that the chemical treatment added to pine is to deter bugs and insects from eating the wood. There is no water repellency or sun blocking treatment in the wood whatsoever. So let’s be clear, new pressure treated decks still need to be treated with a water-repellant wood stain.
Staining a new deck is much different than staining an old deck. Older wood is drier and very porous. It will absorb almost any type of wood stain and be adequately protected. New pressure-treated pine, on the other hand, has higher moisture content and therefore is much denser making deck stain penetration more difficult.
You want to allow a newer deck to age because initially, the moisture content is entirely too high. Trapping moisture in the wood by staining it too soon is not good. Once the deck has dried for 3-6 months and has a moisture content of 12% or less, it is ready for stain.
Even new decks need to be cleaned. During the aging process, some dirt and contaminants will embed into the wood. There may also be some mill glaze present that could keep a new deck stain from penetrating. Wash the new pinewood deck with a good deck cleaner and allow it to dry.
When looking for the best stain on new pressure-treated decks choose a formula that is specifically designed to penetrate the dense surface such as Armstrong Clark Stains. The new pressure treated deck stain needs to penetrate well to be effective. A stain that lacks in performance will remain on the surface and will be prone to peeling.
New wood can stay looking new with little care and regular maintenance. Clean the wood as needed and apply a quality pressure treated deck stain that can penetrate the new dense wood. This will guarantee increased effectiveness and outstanding protection for your new deck.
Staining a New Deck Tips Video – DeckStainHelp.com
Post a Question Below
We live in the northeast and have an existing deck with pressure treated yellow pine. Replacing about a dozen boards due to cracking/rotting with new pressure treated boards I know the new boards need to be seasoned before painting, but am having difficulty in determining the best paint, primer, procedure, etc. for the older boards. Appreciate your thoughts.
Hi Jeff,
You do not use primer or paints on decking. You need a wood and deck stain. They come in different types of opacity so it depends on what you where looking for.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stains/
8 month old pressure treaded pergolo best stain to use. Thanks
Look at TWP 1500 Series or Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain.
Hello Scott,
I have hand rail that was installed about 2 weeks ago.
This is treated pine 4×4 ground contact general use wood and other types I do not know since my contractor bought it at home depot. So whatever is at home depot. I have. Probably treated wood.
I am at the mercy of the contractor for finishing the job, which includes staining or painting.
He said to wait a few weeks to allow the wood to dry more. (this is all new to me)
He also filled in some holes with stainable woodfiller in some areas, because he was rough with the driver and over sank and splintered a lot of different segments.
So I have woodfiller on top that needs to be sanded in several spots
He is supposed to come back this week to apply my chosen stain or paint and if I don’t get this person to finish now, I probably won’t be able to get this finished at all as he won’t come back.
What is the best way to deal with this at this stage so that I don’t shoot myself on the foot and make this worse?
I am sure he will want to come and sand down the woodfiller with a power sander, clean dust with a rag and then stain or paint one coat and be done and gone.
I already paid him. I have attached a picture.
Need to know what to have him do so this project is finished the best way possible with what I am having to deal with.
Thank you for your comments.
You need to wait a few months, not weeks. Prep before staining.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
thank you for replying Scott.
Should I ask him to just sand down the wood filler or remove it completely maybe?
What about the split wood and splintered wood from driving the screws, is there a way to fix these? Maybe smooth down the poking splintered areas by sanding or using a scalpel?
Thing is this contractor will never come back after this, so I might as well get him to do something so that I can later prep more easily and stain.
I would really appreciate a few words on what to tell him to sand and how or how to try to make the rail look better for when he comes.
They are always in a hurry and do as they please. :( have a great day
Remove the filler as it will not “stain” to blend. No issues with split wood, that is normal. Just leave it as is.
I stained my deck with cider mill stain.
Applied it with a foam pad. All crevices were covered. It looked great until it rained on it.
Not it is blotchy and sticky. It is a water based stain. Where water ponded on deck has left spots….it’s as though the rain diluted the stain.
The tackiness of deck also revealed itself after the rain.
The deck looked great prior to rain.
What to do ?
Most likley you will need to remove and start over with a better stain that fully cures without issues. Post some pics and what brand did you use?
Should I have sealed deck after staining it ?
You cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain. It will peel.
We have a new, screened Trex deck with pressure treated pine columns and knotty pine ceiling. Will be gathering our prep materials and stain over the next few months while allowing wood to dry out. Advice on application tools and techniques (especially for ceiling) will be greatly appreciated. Also, since ceiling pieces are so much thinner than columns (they’re 6×6) should we stain them sooner? Thank you!
See this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
Cover the Trex well when staining. Use stain pads or brushes when applying.
Hi
I am wondering is a oil base stain better for longevity ? Also what do you think compares to sikkens stain ?
Thanks Brenda
Sikkens is not made anymore in the US and PPG ProLux the replacement is not very good.
Hello…added a new deck to an older deck that is covered already. long story short to be able to make the two decks the same color we used Behr deck over and we regret it. We waited almost 6 months for deck to weather and applied the product. well we have dry rot in places, black streaks, and peeling of the deck over product. We plan to sand the entire deck, new and old to remove this horrible product. what is your suggestion to use after we sand the deck. we want a solid color, like a deep mahogany. Any suggestions would be great appreciative since we are upset in having to completely start over just after 18 months of applying the deck over.
See here for the best solid stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/
I have a pressure treated deck, three years old. I did clean it once last year, and have not applied any stain or sealer. The deck is in good shape. Is there anything I need to be aware of as it pertains to this situation. Leaning towards Armstrong Clark or TWP. Thanks BTW deck is located in WV, 3000 ft elevation, zone 5.
Just prep again before staining with a deck cleaner and a wood brightener.
Been replacing michigan deck boards with severe weather boards from lowes. 90% new. Old have solid color cedar from last year. Plan to sand all to remove old solid stain on remaining boards and even out color. Sounds like brightener after sand is good for absorption?
Stain…semi transparent ( no more peeling solid@) cedar tone . looking at defy extreme or ready seal. Defy good reviews but others like oil / ready seal for treated wood. Concerned that need to complete before winter cold and snow but want to be sure wood dry. Thoughts on brightener? Stain choice? Timing?
Thx!!!
Clean and brighen after sanding for best results. See this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
Defy is a better stain than Ready Seal.
Thx Paul. Still replacing more flooring this week…pressure treated. In michigan. Can I stain into winter temperatures to give time to dry (maybe late October) and/or is it OK to leave it all winter and brighten and stain in spring.
Do it in Spring, it will be fine.
Hi, New pressure treated wood deck put on last August. Seasonite put on 2 months later. Is it best to use a water base transparent stain or an oil base transparent stain on the deck. (Water base is more convenient). Thank you.
Either would be fine as long as it is a good brand: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Make sure to prep correctly.
How do I identify what type of wood my deck is? Our home is a new construction finished in February and we’re wanting to stain and seal it.
Pressure Treated Pine that is also KDAT:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-kdat-deck/
I built a pergola with a privacy fence using above ground pressure treated southern yellow pine. I live in Indianapolis, IN. What is the best finish to apply and should I wait until Spring? It’s, Nov 7.
Thank you.
Spring. Try TWP 1500 Series.
I live in Central Kentucky. We just had a new pressure treated pine deck built last week of August 2021. The deck has no roof and gets much sun exposure and full exposure to the elements, wind, rain and again sun. I know recommended time to wait to stain is at least 3 months. But because winter is it better to stain deck now or wait until Spring? It is first week of October 2021 and I did sprinkle test water absorbed within 10 minutes.
Spring.
I built a small deck, more like a stoop, over my crumbling concrete steps. The framing is green treated lumber, the platform, railing and steps are cedar. I’m considering using Restore a Deck Stain or Defy. My concern is problems with mildew, mainly because the old concrete steps are still in place and there is minimal air circulation. I was planning on placing the stain on both sides of the platform boards to deter mildew. Will this work? I live in Minnesota.
You should not prestain and no need to stain the undersides. See this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Any reviews or comments on YellaWood Protector semi-transparent stain? Thank you, Jackie.
Sorry but never used it.
Great video/help! We are building a deck with BROWN pressure treated lumber, but the top decking will be Trex and the railing is all black metal.
The lumber seems to already allow water flicked on it absorb, but I know what with the run on lumber lately, these boards can not be that “old”, so I would guess we still wait?
Also, do we really even need to stain/seal the vertical posts/beams/joists under the Trex?? Is that “roof” of Trex enough to protect it all?
And if we DO, would using anything with a hint of color (cedar-ish) even show up on the newer dark brown PT lumber?
THANKS! :)
(We are in Payson, AZ- 5500 ft, dry alpine eco system.)
There is no need to satin the frame and posts under the deck.
Hi, I just installed a new deck and I’m waiting the minimum four months before staining. My question is, Is a water sealer or spar recommended after the staining process? If so what do you recommend?
You can never apply a sealer or coating over top of a deck stain, it will peel.
how long to wait before I can put oil stain on anew treat pine deck, or I can putting it straight on with out waiting
Did you read the article above? It does answer that question. See here for more info: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
One year old deck, had some mildew in the framing and used a 3-1 bleach water that that left some bleached marks on the joists. Probably dried quicker than expected before it was rinsed. Pressure treated pine framing. Is there a recommendation to treat or will staining be fine at this point. Any stain recommendations?
Post pictures of prep. As for the stain, use one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Here are some pics.
Here are the photos
Go ahead and stain.
I just replaced my deck with new pressure treated 5/4″ lumber. Most advice seems to wait 3-6 months before staining or sealing. (two different treatments). after 3 -6 months,which application should be applied first and how long before the second procedure? Location North New Jersey, spring 2020. full sun.
Clean and brighten for prep and then stain with one coat: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Hello, I just had a new deck built with pressure treated premium wood. After reading all the articles I’m afraid to have it stained due to moisture content in new pressure treated wood. The contractor says, it’s okay to go ahead and stain, because the wood has been dried to remove the moisture. The deck has been up 2 weeks now.
Should I wait or let them stain now? They are not pressuring me, they will do whatever I want.
Please advise.
Also advise on best stain for my deck.
Deck Location State: North Carolina
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade: Full Sun
Wood Type: Pressure Treated Premium Pine
Mold or Mildew Issues: No. New Deck
Reason for Previous Stain Failure: New Deck
Previous Stain Brand and Type of stain: n/a
Wait: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
I have a 2-year old brown pressure treated deck that was never sealed or stained. It is starting to fade in spots looking a bit more grey than brown. What do I need to do get it sealed and looking brown again?
Your advice here is much appreciated!
Tom
I should also state that I am in Canada. Thanks!
Clean and brighten wood for prep and then try one of these stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
I want to neutralise/minimise the yellow green colour of the treated timber.Is there anything that can be done about it?
You would need to stain it. Try a brown-tinted color. See here for the best brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Hi! We just terraced part of the hill behind our house with pressure-treated wood. It looks quite orange and we’d like to give it a weathered gray look. Could you please tell us what product to use to achieve that look. Thank you!
See here about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
After the wait and prep, ty Restore A Deck Wood Stain in Cottage Gray or Armstrong Clark in Driftwood Gray.
Quick note: our project does not involve a deck, it’s basically a bunch a railroad ties stacked up on top of one another to create a succession of small 36″ high garden walls that retain dirt from top to bottom of our hill, but do you think we can use the same stain as we would for a deck..? Thanks a lot!!
Yes, you can after wait and prep.
Thanks!
It’s October, my deck boards were replaced 3 weeks ago. We have had some moderate rain. I wish to stain my deck, but it’s too late in the season. What can I apply to stabilize my new deck boards to make it through the first New Hampshire winter?
No need to do anything. Just leave as is and prep and stain in the Spring.
What is the best stain to use on a new pressure treated pine wood fence?
Try Restore A Deck Semi-Transparent Stains or TWP Wood Stains.
Living in Ohio does it matter what series to use TWP 100 or 1500 series on my new pressure treated pine fence?
You will need the TWP 1500 for Ohio.
We just completed a pressure treated deck. It doesn’t have a top over it has been in hot sun. I noticed small cracks in some of the boards what do I need to do.
As the article says, wait 3-4 months, prep, and then stain. You cannot do it now, too early. Use one of these stain brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Just had a new deck put on and have some rust stains from the furniture. What’s the best way to remove them? Will they come off?
A wood brightener will help to remove the rust stains.
I have a 10 year old deck with PVC decking and pressure treated lumber structure. The supporting posts were wrapped with cedar to flush them out to be cosmetically attractive. This was a problem as water gets inside from the spacing of the deck boards above thus causing rot and ants. I am planning to wrap with PVC trim boards instead, but I am wondering if it would help to seal the posts before I enclose them with the PVC trim boards?
No need.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, pressure treated wood is made from Douglas fir. Does that wood require any different treatment than pine? I’m about to install a new deck using pressure treated doulas fir. Thanks
No difference in treatment.
My pressure treated wood deck was installed in 2005 with no stain or preservative put on at that time as we were told nothing more was needed. It was cleaned with a Behr product and looks pretty good but I now want to use your product after doing some research on stains. I am thinking the semi transparent stain, natural colour to make it look fairly natural not too orangy or red. My question is :
!. How long does this stain last
2. What prep do I need to know before I restain the deck
3. What is the shipping cost to Toronto, Canada
1. What stain brand are you inquiring about?
2. You will need to clean and brighten for the prep.
3. This site does not sell products but offers reviews and advice.
Hi, I would really like to find a suitable color semi transparent stain that would enhance my newly installed yelloiwsh pitch pine pressure treated wood. My ceilings are stained darkish oak and my walls are a light coral color. any suggestions on a color for the pitch pine deck flooring? It also has some skirting around it as well from the same wood.
A pic of the area
Make sure to weather and prep this wood. If you want to match the ceiling, try Armstrogn Clark in Rustic Brown or TWP in Dark Oak.
Help! I’m applying wood stain to my one year old pine fence. It is looking like white paint, not the mixed stain color, ‘Maritime White,’ from Benjamin Moore.
Waited 24 hours. Solid white. Ugh.
Semi-transparent. Arborcoat
Sorry but not much you can do about this to the area you have already painted. It cannot be stripped. You would have to sand it off.
BM Arborcoat makes poor products BTW.
Hi again! We have removed the stain with Benjamin Moore Remove, 20 hours of scrubbing later.
Instead of darkening the wood, it actually brightened it. Am concerned to apply their Brighten product. Any suggestions how to prep these sections of wood, along with the prior sections of wood?
And what semi-transparent stain would work best on all this? Thank you.
You still need to brighten the wood after stripping to neutralize the caustic of the stripper.
For stain, use Restore A Deck Wood Stains or Armstrong Clark.
Would you recommend an oil-based or water-based stain. I am not familiar with these brands. I researched Armstrong Clark and found “Amber” in the Hardwoods and Softwoods section. Would this stain provide a natural-looking wood finish? or do you have a better suggestion? Thanks
Water or oil-based is fine. Amber is a great color. Similar to a clean ‘wet” look.
Is there a trick to applying brighten to vertical surfaces? I used a garden sprayer and applied liberally from bottom to top via instructions after light cleaning. It left lighter looking “drip” marks all over the fence. I have not yet received my RAD brightener so I used Ben Moore product that was sitting in garage. Do they just have inferior products? I am not sure what do no now…will the AC stain appear as drip streaks. Should I reapply RAD brightener on area that I already brightened/ruined or leave it be and try to stain.
Post a picture.
Sorry, I posted this in the other forum- please disregard that as it fits in here I realize. We have a new pressure treated fence (wood is AC2 Pine from Menards…) What is the best thing to seal it with to help minimize leaching of the chemicals for small children? I don’t care about color etc. Thank you! The company that put it in said I could seal it in a week or two… They recommended Thomson’s but I am reading that might not be the best choice here.
Try TWP 1500 Series.
HI! We sanded, cleaned and repainted our deck surface last year with one of the paints you recommended– FLOOD Pro Series– and it’s been great thus far. However, during that process the railings all fell apart and we’ve had to replace them all.
We bought pretreated preassembled pine railings, and would like to paint them to match the deck taupe color and white window trims. Should we put the rails in place and let them dry for a few months? And then, should we use a PAINT or opaque STAIN on them for best absorption and lasting color? We didn’t really have to think about the pretreated thing with the deck surface bc it was so old anyway ;)
Many thanks,
Install, weather and the prep. Us the same solid stain as you used before.
I live in Chicago where it is cold and windy. I’m installing a new rooftop deck and am considering different pressurized woods AC2 (Menards)is one that was recommended. Then I spoke with a lumber yard that suggested a “grade A” version of pressurized you typically find at places like HomeDepot, due to it having fewer knots and being kiln dried AFTER treatment, which they say is better to prevent warping/movement. Is the grade A worth the additional cost? Is what Home Depot sells same as AC2 that Menards has?
Also, if you seal, will that prevent the toxin from the treated wood from looming outward into the air. Pesticides don’t sound good to me, but in tough weather, I think pressurized may be my best option outside of Ipe (too expensive).
Thoughts?
I am not sure on the wood type differences between those and we prefer cedar or redwood over any treated wood. I am sure there are other wood type rating and review articles out there. Our experience is on the maintenance side.
A sealer will not prevent any chemicals from leeching out of the wood.
Hi there. My new Cedartone deck was completed in January. I live in Minnesota and we just went through a very snowy winter and are experiencing a very cold and rainy spring. With all the snow and rain, how long should I wait to seal the deck? I had a privacy wall done at the same time with the same wood. I assume I should seal all of it. Which product is the best to use?
Thank you.
3-4 months so should be okay now. Lightly clean and brighten for prep. Just one coat of stain the first time applying. Try Armstrong Clark or TWP 100 Series.
My Decking got completed a few days ago & in 2 weeks time a new shed will go straight on it. Should I stain or just leave it as it is for the new large shed a obv it will cover the area anyways. I want to protect the wood underneath the shed as it won’t see the light of day of course for many a year once shed is on top. Some advice here would be good. Thanks.
Leave it as is. It does not need a coating under the shed.
OK thank you and good advice. I’ll leave it as it is then..
I have a new pressure treated deck installed August/2018. What is the best semi-transparent stain/cleaner for this deck. Also, do I need a brightener? I live in northern NJ. Thank you.
Clean and brighten with Restore A Deck Kits. Stain with Armstrong Clark or TWP 1500 Series.
On a deck that is a few years old do we use oil base stain or water base stain?
Either. Just make sure they are penetrating stains that do not dry on top of the wood. Look at one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
What is the best sealer for a new pressure treated wood deck? We get sun all afternoon. A friend told me TWP is good but I’m so confused as there are so many on the market. I also want to keep it to the natural wood color. Suggestions?
After the wait of 4-12 months and prep, try the TWP stains. 100 or 1500 Series.
What is the best way to remove pine tar from a deck prior to treating it with a stain?
Sand it off.
Hi,
I had a new PTP deck installed approx. 7 months ago. Approx. one month ago two boards were sanded down level with the other boards bc they had warped/risen up higher than the other boards on deck. I live in the NC mountains and have lots of shade and rain. How long should I wait for those two boards to weather before I stain, and what stain do you recommend for my climate? Also, what deck cleaner/brightener set do you recommend, if any, to use?
One last question…what is the best method to get rid of those dang wood stamps?
Thank you so much, this is a very helpful site!
Patti
8/19/18
See this about the ink stamps and the rest of your questions will be answered as well: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-remove-the-ink-stamps-from-new-decking/
Thank you for your quick reply, but since I didn’t sand the stamps when first installed, do you think one month is long enough to wait before staining for 1st time (deck is @ 7 months old)?
Do you think TWP 100 (one coat) & restore a deck cleaner/brightener would be best for my deck in NC mtns (shade rain, mold? If not, any recommendations?
Thanks again!
Sand the stamps now and then wait a month before prep and stain. TWP and the RAD will work well.
Thank you so much!
I had a new large deck built a few weeks ago. The contractor used Weathershield pressure-treated boards which is advertised to have a factory applied water repellent coating that is supposed to last more than a year. Water beads on it like on a freshly waxed car. I want to apply a stain to darken the color. Will I have to wait for water to stop beading?
Yes and see this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
We just had a pine pressure-treated perimeter fence put up about a month ago. The installers said to wait about 2 weeks before staining. Reading some of these other comments though, should we wait another couple of months? It is a 3 board with goat panels between posts. Any recommendations on how to stain it, when to do it, and a good product to use? Thanks!!!
If rough sawn wood, do it now. If smooth wood, wait a few months, prep, then stain.
I just installed a pressure treated deck (hemlock). We live in WA. the deck is elevated and faces north. So it is hot in the summer and cold, wet and mossy in the winter. Our lumber folks recommended an oil based stain.
After the weathering and prep, try the Armstrong Clark wood stain.
We have just installed a new deck and handicap ramp. It was done last week in July and our weather has been nothing but rain for two weeks. With Fall coming up and if I have to wait 3 to 6 months for the wood to dry, it will be November before we can use Thompson’s stain on it. Will the wood be harmed if I wait that long?
Do not use Thompsons stain unless you want it to peel. You can wait until November or Spring of 2019. Use a better stain brand: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
I have a new deck that is pressure treated lumber bought new and it’s been installed now for around 6 months what is the best product to stain it with a water base or oil base I’ve been a commercial painter my whole career but I have never done a deck always commercial buildings and such please feel free to call or text me if you prefer 636-578-5034 my name is Jeff
Use the TWP 100 Series or the Restore A Deck Wood stains for this deck in MO.
Will semi-transparent water based stains penetrate pressure treated wood? Or should oil only be used on pressure treated wood? Have you heard of Thompsonized wood which has a water repellent embedded in it?
Yes a water based stain will work. Thompsonized I believe was used like 20 years ago. Similar to “wolmanized”
That is what I am worried about. What if you apply a water based stain to a pressure treated deck that is Thompsonized or Wolmanized etc.? Might not penetrate.
No, that is not an issue. Those are internal treatments to help with rot and decay. They have no effect on a stain’s ability to penetrate.
I just had a new fence put up and love the natural look of the wood. The installer said to wait 2 months but it looks like you say longer … I want to use clear. How do I prep and do I seal or just stain??
Clear = no UV protetion from graying. You need tint in the stain for this. Use one of these top products: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
You mention waiting 3-6 months for treated wood to dry. I am putting up a dock which is frequently under water. Building it and wait in for the wood to dry is not and option, what can I do?
I am sorry but you do not have a choice but to wait and prep.
For a new pressure treated pine deck 3 months minimum before staining even in the Texas summer heat? Also when staining the first time are 2 coats better than 1 coat? If so what are the substantial benefits of the 2nd coat?
Yes that is correct. Just one coat the first time staining.
Hi there,
I just put up a 6×6 pressure treated pine post as a support on the corner of my front porch. We live in central PA and the post gets sun in the morning/early afternoon. It is exposed to rain, snow, etc. How long should I wait to stain & seal? Also, what product would you receommend? Thanks in advance for the advice!!
Jeff from PA
Wait the 3 months and then prep. Stain with TWP 1500 or Restore A Deck Wood Stain.
Hi We’ve just put a new brown pressure treated deck on our house. My initial reaction was to get something on it right away but I am reading otherwise. Is the best thing to wait until next summer to do anything? There are green patches and some green goo on parts of the boards do you leave that for now? sand or wash it off? We also put a pergola type structure above it and the larger boards have perforations or little indents is it a bad idea to sand them or what do people do? Someone at the Benjamin Moore retailer recommended something called Pressure Plus and sanding before but now I am second guessing his advice. Thanks!!!
Wait about 3 months and then clean and brighten the wood for the prep. Just one coat of the stain. Try one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
is superdeck oilbased transperat stain sealer good for pressure treated pine fence
The Super Deck oil-based has a tendency to darken in color. See this for better brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
putting in a new pressure treated deck exposed to a lot of sun and wind…… we long winters with tons of snow, and hot and humid summers……what is the best stain the provides the best protection for our weather………other than TWP or Armstrong what brand would you recommend (looking for a darker color stain)
Try Defy Extreme in Butternut.
Hi, thanks for this site… lots of great stuff here.
I did a PT pine deck last July and want to stain in the next month. Would you recommend TWP or Armstrong Clark?
I’m in New England with snowy winters and hot summers, and the deck gets full afternoon sunlight year round. I’ll clean and prep the wood ahead of staining with either brand’s recommended method.
Anything else I should be thinking about?
Thanks
Actually, either would work very well for you now and when it is time to redo. Your plan sounds good.
I live in Central Florida, and I just built one mont ago a Southern Pine 30 by 14 deck out of DSS pressure-treated lumber. After 2 weeks the lumber seems to be completely dry, and the supplier said to seal the deck immediately, and he is going to replace 20% of the boards. My question is, should I go ahead and treat the entire deck and seal it, then have the replacement boards put in after that sealant dries? Then I can go over and restain just the boards that are new once they are dry? Or is there a possibility the old stained and sealed boards will react with the new still drying treated boards that are alongside of them?
Your supplier is wrong about staining right away. Always follow the directions of the stain brand you are using when it comes to new wood and applying their stain. Waiting 3-4 months of natural weathering is normal and prepping with a cleaner is required after the wait.
Best to replace the wood now, wait the required time, prep, and then stain.
I built a pressure treated pine deck about 1 1/2 years ago. I never stained it or treated it. I have now added onto it and would like to stain the whole thing. I am assuming I need to let the new one age and dry before I stain but how long? When I go to stain both, will they look the same? The older one has already grayed.
Age for 3-4 months, clean and brighten all after, stain with a TWP or Armstrong Clark.
Colors betwen the wood will be close.
I’m in Raleigh, NC and have a treated pine deck about 9 months old that I did not have a chance to stain before now. What should my next steps be? And what is the best transparent/semi-transparent stain?
Prep with a deck cleaner and a wood brightener. Look at the Restore A Deck Kits. Stain with one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Maybe TWP 100 or Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain for this deck in NC.
I am going to stain a new PTP deck that I built 9 months ago. I read your tip on not sanding, but I am going to use a floor sander to level out the boards. This deck is covered and will be screened in after staining. Since I am sanding, will I need to wait longer before staining? I am going to use TWP 100.
After sanding, wait a month and then lightly clean and brighten for prep.
Make sure to not sand with a grit finer than 60-80 grit.
I am from Western PA with a new deck 9 months ago. I do not want to let the beck turn grey, however I want to be able to see the natural grain while still protecting the deck from the UV and weather. What would you suggest?
Hi Dave,
Any of these 6 Stains will work for you:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Installed new Pressure Treated Pine deck in Sept 2017. Deck is in Western PA, full sun and weather exposure. I am looking for a product to waterproof, yet allow the material to develop a natural grey. Suggestions?
Defy Extreme Clear or TWP 1500 Clear. Will seal and protect but gray naturally.
We live in South Florida and we are installing a new Pt Fence horizontal using deck boards for slats. How long fo we have to wait? (we are coming into rainy searson in a few months). What would be the best stain? Also the other side we will not be able to stain once it is up, can we stain with restore a deck before in our garage, since the deck boards will still be slightly wet and then side them in. Our side of the fence we can wait. We are looking for a dark walnut color. Thanks
Wait about 3 months after install and then stain. Look at Armstrong Clark or Restore-A-Deck Stain. You cannot prestain brand new wood. Will not soak in correctly and will fail on smooth decking boards.
My Wife and I are having a fence put in with #2 yellow pine treated,
what stain would you suggest using? We also would like something that could give it some color.
After the wait and prep, try the Armstrong Clark or the Restore-A-Deck Stains.
I just put down treated pine deck with a stain already in it what clear decking oil do u recommend thanks
Peter, you cannot apply a clear deck sealer/oil over top of a stain.
I have a new pressure-treated pine deck (installed ~9 mos ago) and pergola (installed ~4 mos ago). We are located in Upstate South Carolina. Gets full afternoon sun. What prep and stain would you recommend?
Prep with a deck cleaner and wood brightener. Use the Restore A Deck Kits. For the stain, try TWP 100 Series or the Defy Extreme.
The deck is in North Georgia. I’ve stained a pressure treated pine deck and stairs about 2.5 years ago with TWP. It is weathered worn and grey appearing. The handrails are warping, nails popping. (I didn’t know to stain it until 2.0 yrs after it was installed.) In it’s present state; is it salvageable?
—should I use stripper and brightener or cleaner and brightener?
-How often should I restain? Thanks (picture included)
Yes you can salvage this. Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and restain with the TWP.
Live in farmingdale, Long Island, ny. Just had a 16 x 20 ft deck pretreated wood built in July. Have had lots of rain and the water is sitting on top of wood. When do you suggest we should stain and what is the best to use. Thinking of a cedar tone. Thank you for your help
Try Armstrong Clark.
I Live in Guelph Ont , 50 miles north of Toronto, lots of sun and lots of snow , what is the best stain to use on a 10 year pressure treated wood deck, and is ONE TIME deck stain a good product
Try Defy Extreme or Armstrong Clark stains. One Time as issues as you will see from our review and comments from consumers: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/one-time-wood-deck-stain-review/
I live in Colorado Springs and just built a pressure treated pine deck its getting into the colder months and I’m cautious on sealing my new deck too soon…any advice? FYI water does not bead on the deck boards so I’m assuming its ready to accept a stain/seal. Also, we get extreme temperature variations daily throughout the winter months. My worry is with snow coming in for the next 4-5 months. If I wait, will the wood be destroyed? On the other hand, is patience a virtue?
We would wait. Prep in Spring and stai then.
1. New pressure treated SYP fence. Installed 4 months ago. Western South Carolina – humid weather just ended about a week ago. Reckon it’s dry enough to stain? If not, when do you think?
2. Carefully, with wide fan and distance from fence, I plan to pressure wash. Will spot check first to see I’m not hurting the wood. Are there specific cleaners you recommend, to mix in the pressure washer?
3. Assuming no rain after I clean the fence, how long should I wait from when I finish washing to start staining?
4. Plan to use Sherwin Williams waterborne solid stain. Lots of pigment to sit in the wood, and product improvements to get stain to penetrate. In fact, this stuff penetrates so well, SW told me they plan to phase out their oil based stains. Do you recommend two coats? SW did, but I didn’t ask them about 2nd coat timing. If so, how long should I wait between coats? I read somewhere to wait 12 months, so that the 2nd coat has a place to go other than just sitting on the surface.
1. Should be good to go.
2. Deck cleaners will not mix into pressure washers. Use the Restore A Deck producst for the prep.
3. 2-3 days.
4. I would do what they suggest for the coats.
Thank you.
1. Do I even need Restore A Deck since the fence is fairly new and I’ll pressure wash?
2. Is there any other cleaner that you would recommend, or is RAD clearly the best?
Since it has been 4 months the wood has most likely started to oxidize and that should be removed first. You can use other cleaners but make sure they are not bleach based and you brighten after.
Why not bleach based?
BTW, I’ve decided to go with an Armstrong Clark semi-transparent. You think 1 coat will do? Their site says 2 coats if 1st is absorbed w/in 30 minutes.
Bleach harms the wood and destroys the lignin. Bad for wood.
Hard to say if you will need 1 or 2 coats. Plan on 2 to be safe.
What is the best water proof sealer Thomasville or Behr
Neither.
Behr Review: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/behr-deck-stain-review/
Thompsons: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/thompsons-waterseal-finish-review/
I have a pressure treated deck built approximately 9 months ago. Will the “deck make over” paint products stick
Most fail and peel. See this: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/tag/deck-resurfacer-stains/
The Deck Revive by Gulf does seem to work correctly.
I have a pressure treated deck (50×12) that it about a year old. Can i treat it with any of the “deck over” products? I really don’t want to retreat it every couple years.
I used sikkens cedar stain on pine siding and let it go too long before redcoats. The wood got sun damaged ,is there anything I can do to make it look nice again?
Strip and brighen for the prep. Stain with TWP 1500 Series or Armstrong Clark.
I want to use a solid color on a new pine deck because other wooden areas have this color. When can this be done and what prep is needed?
Depends on the brand but normally after a few months. Cleaner and wood brightener for the prep.
I stained my new deck with TWP Cedar Tone after waiting three months for drying time. I have a 4×12 ft area that is lighter than the rest of the deck. It’s been three weeks since application. Can I re-apply stain in order to darken this section?
It will most likely not take now. It would be better to leave as is until next Spring. Lightly wash and apply another coat of the same color.
I have a treated pine deck and some of the wood has a yellow and teal green color going through it I was wondering what color stain will counter the hint of yellow and teal that’s in the treated deck boards. Plus there is a roof system on the deck with pieces of plexiglass on the roof but the roof system is built out of regular pine boards, do you have any idea what I could get that would match the treated boards?
You cannot really counter colors that are internal. The stains typically enhance the natural grain. I would suggest trying a few stain samples to see what works for you on this.
Are you an independent reviewing organization or is this web site affiliated with the company that manufactures TWP Stains and Armstrong Clark?
TWP and AC are made by different companies and they are not affiliated.
See this about Who We Are: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/who-are-we/
Does treated pine wood turn grey?
And if so, how long doors it take?
All exterior wood oxidizes and grays from the sun. How long depends on your UV exposure.
Hello,
I have two questions that hopefully you can help me with. I had a deck built that is less than a year old. The deck is pressure treated pine, I allowed it to dry out and I stained/sealed it with Thompsons. This sealer must be the worst sealer in the history of sealers. What is the best way to remove the previous sealer and recoat? What seal do you recommend? The deck is currently a semi transparent Acorn Brown color. Any color similar would be perfect! I live in West Central Florida. The humidity is high, it rains nearly everyday in the summer, and when it’s not raining it is extremely hot!
My second question is regarding a fence that I recently had installed. Pressure treated pine, board on board. The fence was $5,000 so I am looking for best weatherproofing sealer I can put on. We like the look of the natural pine so a transparent sealer would be ideal or any sealers that bring out the colors to be more vibrant are also okay. Thank you kindly for your assistance.
Remove with the Restore A Deck Stripper/Brightener kit and pressure washing. Not sure on that color but look at Armstrong Clark stains for both the fence and the deck.
have a pine deck (atleast 7 years old) in South Carolina. getting ready to stain and or seal. have most of the paint off now, and still working on some areas. have power washed and now using a sander. We had a very heavy rain , the wood looked beautiful when wet. how do I get that look with stain or sealer
TWP 115 Honeytone or Armstrong Clark in Natural.
I have a cottage in which I just built a large wrap around deck. I’m located in New Brunswick, Canada, and directly on the ocean. The salt, high humidity, and temperature extremes convern me. I’m wanting to protect the deck so it lasts, but the appearance is somewhat secondary as I don’t mind it graying.
I was going to do a Thompson water seal, but the reviews here have made me second guess this. Can you recommend a product?
If you want it to gray naturally, try the Defy Extreme Clear. If you want a semi-transparent stain, try Armstrong Clark.
I just has a treated pine deck with 2*6 boards installed. What would be the best stain to use to keep the grain and have the redwood or mahogany look in Houston, TX. Hot and Humid climate.
New wood? https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Yes new treated pine.
Western PA here. I’ve used Restore Deck StainX2 the past 2 yrs. We’re not pleased with this product. It needs done every year. I’ve power washed, scrapped, and sanded the bad areas. Is there anything out there that will cover or go over the Restore. 1500 sq. ft. deck that I don’t want to strip the whole thing. Thanks.
Nope. Needs to come off :sad:
I have a 20 year old, 2,000+ SQ ft. pressure treated lumber deck in Central Oklahoma that we have been treating with Cabot Semi-Solid (New Redwood) every 3-5 years. I have just ordered the RAD stripper/brightener to attempt removing the old, worn, Cabot stain. I keep reading unfavorable reviews about Cabot’s new formulas, so I was planning to use TWP 100 on it after reading many of your articles and comments, but want advice as to whether another brand/series would be better considering the age of the deck and climate. The deck runs along the the east side of our house and is exposed to sun most of the day. We have hot summers with high humidity and can have a lot of rain in the spring/fall with occasional snow/ice and lots of wind in winter. You had recommended the Armstrong Clark or Defy Extreme to a question from south Texas. What would be your stain product recommendations for a the longest lasting, best protection, and simplest maintenance?
Corey, you may need to strip and sand some to remove all. I think you would be fine with the TWP 100 Series for this. You will need two coats applied wet on wet. The other option would be the Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color. Little longer UV protection. Sequoia color by AC would be similar to the New Redwood.
I live in Indiana and I have a 10 deck with treated lumber. I’ve cleaned it extensively and am ready to stain. What would recommend? I’ve heard too many horror stories regarding deck restore products. I want something that will last and easy to maintain over the next few years.
Look at the TWP 1500 or the Armstrong Clark stains.
I am in South Texas with extreme heat and humidity, I have a wood deck that is approx. 7 years of age that has never been stained but it is treated pine wood, what is the best stain to use, I want it to keep the grain showing in the wood but I want it to look a brownish color.
Look at Armstrong Clark in Natural Oak or Defy Extreme in Butternut. Clean and brighten for the prep.
Hi,
What is the best product to put on a new deck?
Also,it must be coloured
Try Timber Oil Brand: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/timberoil-brand-stain-review/
I built a wood deck at 1 end of my pool, used PT, thinking it would be better to seal and protect the wood as I went (NEVER ever built a deck before) started back in July of 2016 finished in Oct. Anyway here it is 8 months later and the deck with the stain (I used Thompson’s WaterSeal Timber Oil Teak) I applied it to both sides. The decking looks like it’s dried out and the wood is ready for another coat, how bad did I do by applying the stain when the PT wood was wet and not allowed to dry out?
Don’t know why a couple of the pics loaded sideways, they are not like that on my PC.
I had to remove the pics because it was going out/posting!
Thanks in advance!
Hard to answer this question as there are no pictures. Prematurely applying stain typically means it will fail faster than normal.
Yes, For some reason your site would NOT let my post, post UNTIL I removed the pics that I attached to my post
Not sure why this would happen. Might be the picture files were too large. Maybe post one at a time or reduce the file size of the pictures.
We are installing a 3 or 4 rail, split-rail fence at a farm. We will most likely go with a pressure treated pine and would like the end result to be a white fence. This is a restoration of an historic farm and the photographs show a white, 4-rail split rail fence.
What would you recommend in terms of a stain for this? What is the typical life span of a stain on this kind of fence? How often do you think we will have to re-stain? The farm is located in SE Michigan, so we get all 4 seasons here. We appreciate your help!
Use a solid stain if you want a white color. Flood SWF. A few years before reapplying will be needed.
I am adding on to a 6’x 24′, 20 year old deck and replacing the entire existing railing with pressure treated pine. The existing 2″x 6″ deck planks are weathered redwood. if I keep the redwood planks, can I resurface them to match new redwood planks? If so, what type of stain will keep the redwood looking natural? Should I just replace all the 2″x 6″ planks with treated pine and stain that?
Thank you,
Mike
It is very hard to match new wood to old wood. It is mostly about the prep. Once all is prepped, try a semi-transparent stain to blend.
Which product do you recommend for a new pine deck on the bayou in Louisiana!
Armstrong Clark or Defy Extreme once it is weathered and prepped.
What should I use on a 1 year old treated lumber deck
TWP 1500 or Armstrong Clark.
What to use to keep natural wood deck same color what to use
It is not possible to maintain the color with a clear sealer. The tint/color in a stain is what prevents UV graying. The amount of color/tint is realted to how much UV protection you will have. For example a darker semi-transaprent color will last longer than a lighter semi-transparent color.
I have a new deck that is about a year old I want to keep the color of the wood I don’t want to stain it so what is the best product to use to keep the color of the natural wood
Our builder suggested we only stain our pressure treated lumber posts on three sides. He said that staining on all four sides would cause peeling. We would appreciate your comments about this. The pressure treated lumber posts have had 9 months to dry. The builder suggested we don't put any finish on the posts. i haven't read any recommendations not to . I also get conflicting opinions about whether to prime and paint or to stain. I also get conflicting views about a water base semi transparent or an oil base stain. We would sure appreciate clarifications about what finish to have applied to our 6×6 pressure treated posts.
See this about staining all sides: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/stain-all-sides-of-d…
You do not prime and paint a deck, you use a stain. See this about water vs oil:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stains/
I have a 2 yr old pt deck that i used cabot mahogany flame timber oil on . Do i need to strip it to refinish it ? What do u recommend? Showing a lot of weir and tier in the heavily travelled areas.
Yes you should strip if switching brands. Use the Restore a Deck products. Try Armstrong Clark or TWP stains.
I am looking for a deck stain for the following. In North Carolina (central), new pressure treated pine wood, full sun (afternoon – very intense) and an upper deck (15 ft off ground). I have tried to do research on a good quality stain and have become overwhelm on the choices. This is a new deck that replaced a rotten, sun dried out, peeling deck!
Thank you!
Please see this about new decks: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Look at Armstrong Clark stains.