This post was updated on June 22, 2024
Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood cleaning. My Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top deck stain choices. See here for more info about me.
Update 2024: Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Review
I would love to hear if you have used the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper on your wood or deck. Please post a rating in the Consumer Star Ratings below. Consumer reviews in the comment section below have shown excellent results when using the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper.
If you have any pictures of your experience with Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper, you can add them in the comment area with a detailed description.
Note: There are 2 new additives for the RAD Stain Stripper. The Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster and the Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel. These products will increase the overall effectiveness of your stain stripping. These two additives greatly enhance the removal and ease of your stain-stripping project.
See here for more info:
Restore-A-Deck Stripper Booster and Thickening Gel Additives
Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain Stripper is a biodegradable, powdered concentrate that quickly removes worn finishes to restore wood surfaces. It removes stains, coatings, collected dirt, mold, mildew, and mill glaze.
The Restore A Deck system is a multistep deck cleaning system, and the best results are achieved when using all 3 products. This product is Step 1 Stripper of the Restore A Deck system and can be substituted for or used after Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner.
The Restore-A-Deck Deck Stain Stripper needs to be neutralized with a wood brightener.
How I Rated Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper
My Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper review contains a 5-step process and the final average score. Each step is on a scale of 1-10.
- Removal of Graying and Dirt
- Cost Per Square Foot
- Removal of Old Stain
- Ease of Application
- Final Appearance after Cleaning
- Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Final Score
5-Step Review of Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper
1. Removal of Graying, Dirt, Grime: 9
The RAD stripper easily cuts through the dirt. All mold was removed from the deck.
2. Cost Per Square Foot: 10
Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper covers up to 1000 sq. feet for 2 pounds, $39.99 a bottle. The RAD stain stripper is a bargain to use for the cost! Less than $8 per gallon when mixed with water.
3. Removal of Old Stain: 9
The Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper was used to remove a buildup of TWP 100 Series stain. The stripper was very effective at removing over 95% of the TWP. There was a little difficulty in a spot where a doormat had sat there for years. We applied the RAD stripper to this spot with the pump sprayer and it came off easily.
4. Ease of Application: 10
The RAD Deck Stain Stripper in the 2-pound container mixes with 5 gallons of water. We tested the stripper by using a pump sprayer for application. We covered our 800 sq foot deck in less than 10 minutes. We needed most of the 5 gallons to do this.
5. Final Appearance of Stripping: 9
Great at removing our semi-transparent stain. We needed a wood brightener to neutralize as the RAD stripper is extremely strong.
Overall Score Restore-A-Deck Deck Stain Stripper: 9.4
It’s great at removing stains, easily applied, and costs pennies a square foot! This is our highest score to date. Other deck stain strippers are just as effective, but we like the option of injecting the stripper.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Restore-A-Deck
Product Type: Powdered Concentrate Deck Stain Stripper
Available Sizes: 2 Pound Container Makes 5 Liquid Gallons
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coverage Per Container: 750-1000 sq. ft
Application Tools: Scrub Brush, Pressure Washer, Pump Sprayer.
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Cedar
Deck Square Footage: 800
The condition of Deck: 2-year-old TWP Stain was removed
How Much Product Used: 2 Pounds. Retails for $39.99 with Free shipping.
*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.
How To Strip With Restore-A-Deck Stripper – DeckStainHelp.com
This was an excellent product to remove the water based semi transparent stain that I used on a one year old cedar deck.
The application was easy; the removal was better than I thought it would be and clean up was easy.
Any stripping process is going to take some work but this product wasn’t that bad.
I didn’t take before pics but I will submit some after pics in the Brightener section.
Thanks for your feedback!
Now that I finished my deck project I thought I’d submit a review of the RAD products. My 500 sqft deck was stained with Pennofin back in 2010 then completely neglected since then. And I mean “completely” neglected. I didn’t have very high expectations coming into the project.
I couldn’t be happier with the results. I used RAD stripper and brightener kit for the project. This is industrial strength stuff so I took all the safety warnings seriously. I wore long sleeves, rubber gloves, painters mask and eye protection. I applied the stripper to 3/4 of the deck via sprayer before it clogged, then applied it via brush the last 1/4. After 30 minutes I rinsed it off with a 1600 PSI pressure washer using the green nozzel. It ended up removing 95+ % of the old stain.
After applying brightener to the whole deck I wasn’t completely satisfied how the brush application section turned out so I took another pass at it with the stripper. Then via a suggestion to a question I submitted earlier in this thread I applied another application of brightener to the whole deck and let it dry into the wood. Fantastic results. I ended up staining it with TWP Honeytone.
Before, stripping/brightening, and after photos tell the story.
Looks great!!
I stripped an 850 sq ft cedar deck with the RAD stripping kit with excellent results. I mixed the stripper at 1/2 pound per gallon in a pump sprayer. The four gallons (two pound bag) turned the Cabot 3000 stain into goo within 30 minutes, and with the aid of a pressure washer, removed 99% of the failed and peeling stain. After stripping, I neutralized with part 2 of the kit with equally impressive results. As an aside, I had a local quotation of $2550 to strip and re-stain my deck. Do the math; RAD stripper is a bargain and does a fantastic job.
Contrator mistakenly USED 2 coats of ARMSTRONG OIL bast semi-transparant deck stain on 2 week old, new redwood deck & Immediately got foot prints & sap seepage.
It’s now about 1 month old & looks HORRIBLE.
Contractor now wants to scrub it with soapy water, weather the wood for 2 months & then re-stain with WATER base semi-trans stain. Will that work please?
No, you need to strip it off and then brighten. Then properly weather it for 3 or months.
Can I use this product to cleaning an IPE deck?
Dp you know what stain brand is on the deck currently?
Yes, Cabot Australian timber oil
Use the Restore A Deck Stripper with both additives:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-booster-thickening-gel-review/
Make sure to brighten after.
I used this product before stain/seal with Armstrong Clark (natural) last year. Worked great & really like AC! In prep for adding railings this year I reapplied AC to the ends most exposed to sun. All well. However, I made huge mistake in building the railings. I used galvanized goat panels & had to do final metal trimming to fit up on the deck surface. Well…long story short…that area is black (fortunately did all cutting in this end). Tons of rain since then so all those virtually invisible pieces of metal that I didn’t get swept away when dry have produced dark staining. I’ve been trying to sand & then use a product that some said would get stain out but it doesn’t, it did make a very minimal change tho. Will Restore a Deck get that stain out? Seems fighting uphill battle as anything that uses water just causes it to come back. Maybe its heavy sanding & using compressor to blow dust off cause that dust contains the particles & just seems to be spreading the problem. Maybe I will have to resort to replacing boards. Can’t turn them over, Any suggestions appreciated as need to remedy boards on that end before can put up final railing. I really don’t want a colored stain to try covering it up. Too much other wood invested in the natural & no time for re-doing all of it. Thanks!
Post some picks. It might be metal that has rusted in your wood.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/remove-rust-black-stains-from-deck/
Sounds like brightener will do it. Yes, its the metal flakes that have rusted. Screws are fine. Rest of deck is fine. Because wood has the armstrong clark on it assume I need to use the stripper first then the brightener? Or cleaner then brightener?. Brightener only? Thinking I need to get down to bare wood to get rid of all that metal dust. Doesn’t help that it kept getting walked on & then thoroughly soaked into the wood. Just wanting to confirm what combo I need to order. Thanks so much. I hadn’t been able to find the rust document.
Brightener only should work and then a good pressure wash rinse.
Wish I had found this site before I purchased a Cabot semi-solid New Redwood stain. The color is much darker than anticipated. Will this product be effective at removing a semi-solid stain? In addition, is it easier to remove a semi-solid stain sooner after staining (as opposed to waiting until next year to remove)?
Semi solids are one of the hardest to remove. You may need a paint stripper. Post some pics.
The intent was to match or compliment the base slats, but the final color of the stain is not really close to the sample color that I was shown
That is more of a solid opaque stain in appearance. A deck stain stripper will not remove it. See here for tips:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-remove-a-solid-color-deck-stain-or-paint/
Thanks for the advice Scott
You are welcome. If you do not want to strip, you could coat over it with a solid stain color that you like better.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-reapply-a-solid-color-deck-stain/
Why does my stripping solution seem to dry so quickly. I am constantly having to reapply. I’m about to use a gallon on one little spot
Mist it with water while working to keep it from drying out. Very easy.
I have a rental cabin that was purchased 1 yr ago. At time of purchase, prior owners had deck restained. I am not sure of the product probably sikkens. seems like just within 1 yr, the deck showing a lot of wear and I want to restore. If I just use the RAD stripper, booster and thickening gel.
It is too thick to use a regular stain stripper, almost like a shellac. You would have to use this product to remove it.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/rad-paintstrip-paint-solid-stain-stripping-gel-review/
Anything you do not want to be stripped will have to be covered as you will need to pressure wash it all off.
Is it possible not to strip it but just add a solid or semisolid stain directly on top after power washing? What product would you recommend?
Yes, if you want to use a solid stain, not a semi-solid.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-reapply-a-solid-color-deck-stain/
Looking at my pictures, would there be a stain you recommend to hide the footprints that get on deck? I think they footprints from the gravel road are light in color. I was thinking perhaps using a lighter colored stain might be better. This would then probably require the full stripping using the RAD paint strip you mentioned.(thanks again for all your help!)
You can use a light-colored solid stain and that would not show the footprints as much.
I messaged RAD compnay and they were of the opinion that it would be difficult to protect verticals from the gel/powerwash off even with tape/tarping. What is your opinion?
I think the verticals are in good condition and would like to keep as is. Having to strip and restain the skirting, rails, cabin body would add alot of cost of materials and labor. hoping for your suggestions on how to get around this.
Yes, nearly impossible to just strip the floors and not remove some on the verticals. You could just power sand the floors.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-sand-your-wood-deck/
what pressure washer are you using and gun?
We are not understanding your question. The pressure washer brand and the gun has no bearing.
How do you repair a tacky or sticky Penofin stain application on deck?
Strip it off first and then brighten it. Use the Restore a Deck Kits.
We live in northern Michigan and need some advice on the best way to remove this 4 year old deck stain. We used a Valspar semi-transparent stain; however, it appears to look more like a solid? Perhaps because the deck sits in full shade so it doesn’t get any sun fading or damage.
Anyway, we’ve tried a couple different deck strippers (Valspar and Flood) with little to no effect. Do you think the RAD stripper with the additives would be effective at stripping this stain or are we better off renting a floor sander?
RAD Stripper with both additives and pressure washing should remove much of this but sanding may be needed to remove all. Apply stripper and let dwell for 45-60 minutes (mist to keep from drying out) and then pressure wash off.
About 3 years ago we used Behr Deck Restore on our deck and steps and landing into our home. It has been peeling and unsightly since the beginning.
We are trying to restain, but need to remove the old first. Some of the areas are not coming off with just the power washer. What can we or should we use to remove it. The associate at Home Depot said to use Citri Strip. I am hesitant to use that at $26.00 a half gallon. Help please!!!
The only way to remove effectively is to power sand it all off.
Hi. This is what I have. Unfortunately I’m not sure how old the deck is but I believe stain was applied in 2020 by the previous owner. Would RAD stripper remove this?
Most likley but use both RAD Stripper additives as well.
Please help recommend the best product/procedure for removing Storm 4 solid acrylic stain from my deck. Thank you!
You will need to power sand to remove a solid stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-sand-your-wood-deck/
Thank you for your expert advice! I figured this would be a time-consuming project.
If you have railings, consider a two-toned deck: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/why-have-a-two-toned-deck/
We just applied Ready Seal natural semi-transparent to our 9 month old redwood fence in California. It looks horrible (turned orange). Can we strip it and start over?
Yes, use the RAD Stripper and then the Brightener.
Ok, I am back with a new plan for my deck. So, no oil. We are planning on using Restore-A-Deck “system”. Today I read your review. What is confusing, is that you are saying to use 3 products. #1 Stripper, #2 would be a brightener to “neutralize the stripper” I don’t see this product on your and when I did a search I it came up empty. I did find it on google. Am I missing something here? #3 The actual stain.
So it would look like this:
? #1 Red label- cleaner. I already cleaned the deck
#2 Purple label- Stripper. I need this
#3 Blue label-Brightener, to neutralize the stripper. I need this
#4 Green Label- Stain. Yes, this too.
Ok thanks so much for your previous reply about my problem deck.
Sally
No need to clean if using a stripper. The rest is correct.
Ok more questions. Sorry.
>So I am reading the label on the #1 Stripper. It says to avoid application in direct sunlight. My deck is in the sun, does this mean I can’t use the stripper?
> I see it says that the stripper does not strip paint, solid opaque stains or other firm-forming surface coatings. I am under the impression that Restor-A-Deck will adhere to these coatings though. Is this correct? My purchasing it was because it will adhere to oil products.
>Last question, When I cleaned the deck, I scrubbed it with a hard brush and dislodged loose old stains on different parts. Do I need to use a stripper at this point? A lot of the wood is raw as the old stain was scrubbed off. If in the end, I have to sand it, do I need to use step 1 and 2?
If the wood is raw in parts because I scrubbed off most of the old paint and used the brightener, can I stain those parts and work piecemeal depending on the weather here?
>If I do sand the deck floor for some reason, do I need to completely take off the residual stain or can I just rough up the surface for better adhesion if the product can be painted on oil?
Can’t answer questions properly without seeing pics.
Hi Scott Paul, Wow, now a year has passed since this inquiry. Somehow, I overlooked, forgot and or rather did not use the #1 Purple Stripper” first. I have scrubbed the deck clean, then applied the #2 Brightener. I have no idea why I forgot the #1 Stripper in my haste. I think I was just going by the color and size of the packages and blue and purple are close in the shade. Sigh.. Anyway, I assume, I need to use step #1 Stripper because there is an old layer of oil based paint on the deck. Do I or should I do #2 Brightener again after? I am thinking the answer is yes to remove the stripper. I’m very irritated at myself that I did not pay more attention. Anyway, Moving forward-backward and forward. Thanks in advance
Post some pics for prep advice. FYI, deck stain strippers will not remove paint.
Will do. Thanks I understand the stripper does not remove paint. It is a prep step.
Will RAD strip SW Woodscapes waterbased polyurethane semi transparent stain from siding
No deck stain stripper will remove a polyurethane effectively.
Will RAD remove Cabot Solid Color Oil Deck Stain? If so how many applications?
No deck stain stripper will fully remove a solid stain effectively in every scenario. If you used both RAD Stripper additives with the Stripper, you can remove a decent amount making your sanding much easier.
i have stained my porch railing in white, using Olympic solid stain a couple of times. My deck floor i used Olympic semi solid Sandstone a couple of years ago. My wife wants to use a Special custom mix Defy Solid stain that is white on the railings and change the deck to Defy Driftwood Gray. do i need to strip the railings or can i just stain over the existing. i suppose i will will need to strip the deck, What do you suggest
We would strip the rails to remove what you can and then you can cover the solid stain that does not come off. The deck floor has to be fully stripped.
Will the Restore-A-Deck remove Valspar water based acrylic semi-transparent deck stain? I just coated it yesterday on 1 year old pressure treated lumber. This is the first coat of stain on our deck. Thanks, Roy
Post some pics of the stain on the deck in the comments.
I have a small IPE deck that was dismantled and will be reassembled after other construction is complete. There was IPE oil applied previously, but it has not been applied for over 1 year and the wood is now grey and has some algae on it. Do I need to RAD stripper or just the cleaner if I want to change to the Armstrong Clark stain instead of IPE oil?
Strip and brighen for prep.
Thank you! Can RAD stripper be sprayed onto boards laid out on the lawn if wet first- or will it kill the grass? What brand and color of stain would you recommend? This IPE deck/landing steps down from a red brick wall. Northwest Indiana (near Chicago) at the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Harsh conditions – full sun with hot summers and cold snowy/icy winters. Noted some alge on the underside of the boards when we took them up.
It may harm the grass.
I am using Olympic Premium Stain Stripper and trying to remove two coats of old semi-transparent stains. The top coat was applied five years ago (Bher water based) and bottom coat was applied 15 years ago (Cabot oil based). The Olympic stripper did a very good job in removing the top coat, however, it didn’t do anything for the bottom coat. I reapplied the stripper generously the second time but it didn’t dissolved or flaked off the bottom coat. It seems the Cabot stain penetrated and bonded very well to the wood fibre. Is this mean sanding is the only solution. Would the RAD work on this particular situation? I attached a picture shows stripped top coat (red) and remaining bottom coat (brown). Thank you for your help.
You have solid stains, not semi-transparent. You will have to power sand to remove this.
Will RAD stain stripper remove PermaChink Vista Deck stain? Also, I only want to remove the stain from the floor boards, not the railing. Do I need to cover the railing with plastic or tarp? Thanks!
Please send pictures.
I have read that before using the RAD stripper product you can thoroughly wet down surfaces such as doors, windows, siding, etc. instead of covering with plastic and/or tarps. What are your thoughts on this? Also, I have a cement patio below the deck. Should the cement and sides be covered with plastic or would thoroughly wetting the entire area down be sufficient?
Photos attached
We prewet and rinse all the time when stripping decks. It works but you have to be careful to rinse over spray right away and continually while working.
Cement will not be an issue.
Thank you for the quick reply.
Will the Restore A Deck product remove Sikkens Proluxe Cetol SRD Translucent Matte Wood Finish.
Yes, use the stripper additves as well.