This post was updated on April 4, 2025
2026 TWP 100 Series Review
Important Note: The TWP 100 Series has undergone a label change and is now called TWP 100 Pro Series. Rest assured, it’s the same trusted product with identical performance and colors.
At DeckStainHelp.com, we’re proud to be your go-to resource for everything related to exterior wood and deck restoration. Customers who have used the TWP 100 Series consistently report that their decks have weathered the harsh winter remarkably well, standing the test of time and the elements.
We value your feedback! If you’ve used the TWP 100 Pro Series, feel free to share your experience in the comments below. Don’t forget to include pictures of your completed projects—we’d love to see them!
TWP 100 Series Deck Stain Review
Important Note: This is our 2nd Review of the TWP 100 Series.
See our other reviews of the TWP 100 Series here: TWP 100 Wood Stain Reviews
TWP 100 Total Wood Preservative Deck Stain protects and maintains all exterior wooden surfaces. TWP Wood Stain is a special blend of chemicals in a contractor-grade formula that safeguards and protects exterior wooden surfaces.
TWP 100 Wood Deck Sealers lock out water and moisture that causes wood to crack, split, and warp. Freeze damage is also prevented in cold climates.
TWP Stains – 100 Stain Review
TWP 100 Series Wood Deck Stain Scores (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 9
– The TWP 100 Stain was applied to a very large deck surrounding a pool. The wood was about 1 year old at the time and was prepped with the Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener kit. The wood was a knotty cedar and the Cedartone 101 color gave a rich look that is typical of a cedar stain. Knots and grain were enhanced and the stain dried evenly for the 2 coats that were applied to the floor.
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 8
– Same as the first time tested, The TWP Cedartone 101 retained about 80% of the original color after 2 years of weathering.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 8
– We found that the TWP did wear slightly in about 20% of the floor area. It was mostly in the high-traffic areas that surrounded the pool. The upper-level deck in the back had little to no wearing.
TWP 101 Cedartone Color
Cost Per Square Foot: 8.5
– The price paid was $170 for the 5-gallon pail of TWP 101 Stain. We used all 15 gallons for the 2100 foot pool deck. We applied two coats to the floor and 1 coat to the railing. The cost to stain with TWP 100 Series was $.23 per sq. foot.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 10
– No mold, mildew or algae spores were present.
Ease of Application: 8
– As you can see from the photo, this deck was surrounded by a pool. We needed to be extremely careful of getting any stain into the pool. We did all flooring with a stain pad that allowed the stain to apply evenly and absorb well. We tarped the railings to prevent overspray and used a pump sprayer to apply to the spindles, back wiping the drips.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 9
– The TWP did not darken from mold or UV discoloration. Slight water spots were noticeable around the edge of the pool.
The difficulty of Reapplication: 9
– Reapplication will be easy without the need for stripping off the two-year-old stain. The use of a wood cleaner and wood brightener should be sufficient prep. On this particular deck, we cleaned and prepped the flooring and reapplied it to the floor and top of the railings. We did not do the verticals as they still looked good from the original application.
Overall Score TWP 100 Series Stain at 2 Year Period: 8.69
– As contractors, we enjoy using TWP Stains. It penetrates well into the wood, fades lightly in color, and holds up to wear and tear. We like that when it is time to redo the wood in 2-3 years, the TWP can be cleaned and re-coated or even removed with ease. This makes the reapplication process much easier.
Note: We do not use TWP on brand new wood. If applied to wood that is less than 4 months old, it seems to have a difficult time with penetration. We find this with many of the stains we have used on new wood. The manufacturer suggests waiting 4-12 months to let the wood weather. We strongly suggest that you wait.
TWP 100 Pro Series Review
Product Information:
TWP Help? Search Google: TWP Stain Help
More Info: TWP 100
Cost: $41.99 per Gallon, $210 per 5 Gallon per Pail is the average
Stain Type: Oil-based Semi-Transparent
Available Colors: 100 Clear, 101 Cedartone, 102 Redwood, 115 Honeytone, 116 Rustic, 120 Pecan, 1o5 Cape Cod Gray, 106 Prarie Gray
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 2 Coats. “Wet on Wet”
Coverage Per Gallon: 150-250 sq. ft
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 2-8 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits or Paint Thinner
VOC Compliant: 550 Compliant in 36 States
More Info: Product Data
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Western Red Cedar
Deck Square Footage: 2100
UV Exposure: Full Sun Deck and Pool Area, Skirting and Railings
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: TWP Cedartone Natural 101
*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.
TWP 100 Series Stain Photos
TWP 100 Pro-Series Review Video
Applying TWP in Dark Oak to Wood Fence.
I was just about to move forward with a deck staining (5-10 year old pressure treated pine) and glad i found this site for the best products. I was about to go with SW oil-based on contractor recomm (as they get discounts), but looks like i may be changing to TWP100 series (101 natural) given the info reviews and comments on this site.
I live in Atlanta GA and just had a new PT Pine deck built, approximately 300 sf. It receives direct sunlight most of the day. I was told I would only need to wait about 6 weeks to stain….is this correct for the hot summers of Atlanta? Also, would you recommend TWP or Defy Epoxy? What type of prep should be done? Any other recommendations? Thank you,
John S, please read this article: Staining New Decks
I applied Sikkens SRD one coat Natuaral Oak color to my deck about two years ago. The color and water repellent on the deck flooring and top of the railings has faded, but the side railings are still repelling water and holding color. I'd like to stain the deck and railings again. What product would you recommend and how should I prepare the deck properly. Thanks!
Justin, You would need to remove the Sikkens first with a stain stripper then brighten the wood before using the TWP.
I just put on a new 320 sq ft deck of pressure treated pine. I plan to use twp 100 series and maybe cedar tone. I plan to wait 4 months to coat. Do I need to wash first? Is one one coat enough or should I do two? If I buy 5 gallons, will the leftover keep for a couple of years?
Dave H, you need to prep with a deck cleaner and wood brightener after waiting. One is probably be enough. Not sure on the leftover stain but I would think it will go bad if you opened the pail after a couple of years.
I have two decks one 21×28 and the other 21×15 with a hot tub submerged part way. I had it done 3 years ago where he talked me into staining the deck. He used Dura-Stain semi stain. The deck is about 22 years old with a few boards new 3 years ago. Needless to say the deck starting peeling after year one, he came back and re-did areas that summer.. After the 3 years the deck was peeling in a lot of areas. I powered wash with 3 tubs of stripper from Home Depot. I cannot get all of the stain out. The side boards are mostly intact with the stain.
I have received a lot of different opinions as to what product to move forward with from Deck Over from Home Depot to using a solid stain from other companies like Benjamin Moore. I also asked about sanding, and everyone suggests I just solid stain the deck.
Any suggestions??
Julie, if you cannot get all of the Durastain off then you might be better off covering it with a solid. It will peel though.
I tried power washing again yesterday and removed some more of the stain, but I feel I am ruining the wood. Do you have any suggestions for using anything on the deck to help get the stain off? It's not moving off the ends of the boards. I do live in Chicago area where the weather can be extreme in both directions. I am not crazy about putting down a solid stain, I do not love the colors.
What product should I use?
I've spent hours researching what stain to use on m cedar deck in Washington since the Behr stain I originally used failed in the first year. TWP is highly rated by this site. I recommend you go to their website. Decks are a pain.
I am putting up a large brand new redwood deck with full sun exposure and need to know my best product. My biggest concern is not the sun but my pollution build-up. I live in Los Angeles very near several freeways and near Dodger Stadium, so I have an unusual amount of air grim that settles on my wood – it looks more dirty than grey. Is there a product that won't hold on to that grim during the year between yearly applications. I will hose it down but I need something that drys COMPLETELY, so that it cleans easily. So many people post about extreme weather – but I feel like I have a unique situation and need some help. Thanks!
Jill, TWP 1500 and Armstrong Clark are both full curing (drying) stains. You cannot stain brand new wood right away. Please read Staining a New Deck
I am planning on stain my deck soon. Just purchased home and the deck is around 4 years old and looks like it has never been treated. I plan on using restore-a-deck cleaner and brightner and twp 100 dark oak. The deck is pt pine, and is around 480 sq.ft. including railings and stairs. My question is would 5 gallons be enough for two coats ? or would I need 2-5gallon? Also my deck is up off the ground with concrete patio underneath so should i worry about treating underneath deck boards ? I live in N.kentucky and my deck is on south-west side of house . Thank you.
Kevin, one 5 gallon should be good for this and two coats. No need to do the underside but make sure to tarp the patio as the stain will drip through.
Just had a huge two level deck pressure washed without any cleaner (about 1000 sq. ft) and had to replace several rotten boards. It looks great and now it is time to stain/seal it but now I realize the new wood is going to not take the stain properly.
What is the minimum time I have to wait before I have it stained? I assume the stain also seals it as well?
Maddy, new wood should season for 4+ months before TWP can be applied. It is a sealer and stain.
Please explain the merits/differences between TWP 100and the 1500. Is one better than the other for cold snowy Eastern Washington state winters? T
Jess, either would work just fine. TWP 100 penetrates better a little as it has less solids. TWP 1500 might give a little better UV protection since it has the higher solids.
Excellent site. I have a Big Green Egg table made of cypress which has weathered for several years and is getting dry. I am moving it from a shaded, protected area to an open deck. What products would you recommend to seal and protect the cypress wood?
TWP 1500 or Defy Extreme.
We have a 10 year old cedar deck in northern lower Michigan. It was covered in urethane and then painted. We have stripped and powerwashed it. Waited two weeks, sanded, looks good. Is brightener/cleaner step necessary before twp 100 series is applied? How much drying time after cleaner step before staining? How much drying time after staining before it can be exposed to rain? Please be aware this is our weekend cottage. Great site, very informative!
Rob, yes it will help to clean and brighten. This will allow the TWP to penetrate better. TWP suggests it not rain for 48 before and 12 hours after.
My project isn't a large deck, but I want to keep my new untreated cedar porch swing with a stunning appearance for many years to come. After reading the comments about the nightmare's of removing an old finish, I want to do it right the first time. I would also like the upkeep in the years to come, to be female and senior friendly. I live in Twin Falls, Idaho. Should I let it age before applying the finish? I want to maintaine the natural cedar color, how should I proceed? Thank you for your help.
Mew, you must have a tint if you want UV protection. New wood needs to weather as well and TWP wants 4+ months. Make sure to use a cleaner and brightener after waiting.
So which stain and color do you recommend to keep the cedar color?
Mew, TWP Honeytone or Cedartone.
can i put this right over readyseal?
dave, best to remove the Ready Seal first.
I live just south of Nashville and have a 350 sq foot deck about 6 years old, it is yellow pine. Although it is on the north side of the house, there are no trees and it bakes in the afternoon sun. Five years ago I had it power washed and sealed it with a Cabot product. I am having it power washed in another week or so. What do you recommend for sealer and how long do I wait after the power wash? Although my previous sealer was semi-transparent, I am thinking more of a solid stain or very dark transparent.
Mar, I would look at the TWP 103 Dark Oak for this.
Please help. Behr semi transparent peeled on deck again after one year in Wisconsin. Thinking of removing finish by stripping or sanding and using TWP 100 series or 1500 series. Deck is 30 year old cedar, well maintained with new boards over the years (cedar only). Which would be better for us, TWP 100 series or more expensive 1500 series. Want dark red color and semi transparent. What is best for stripping, Gemini Restore Kit or other? Power washing seemed to make the peeling Behr even worse. Help……….
Ben B
Ben B, Gemini Kit is not a stripper. It is a cleaner. Behr is hard to remove. Try the HD80 or Restore A Deck Stain Stripper. Neutralize with brightener when done. I would suggest the 100 Series for this.
I have a cedar deck surrounded by trees that gets beaten by elements: sun, wind, snow, rain, falling leaves and heavey tree dirt. When my deck is cleaned and stained, it looks great for 1 month, and then it looks like we hadn't taken care of our deck in years. Is there a recommendation of correct product(s) that would handle the beating of the heavy elements and continue to look fresh.
Lee K, is it the dirt and leaves that is causing this after only a month?
It is truly just nature, a few thunderstorms, leaves, and dirt are flying. The deck will look great if it is wet, and then when it dries it just looks dirty again
So happy I found this site. It is fantastic. I have a Cedar Deck in CT, it gets direct sun. I recently stripped with power washer and sanded with a belt sander. I was going to stain next. I like to look of the decking when it is wet. Would like to achieve that. What stain and next steps (if any) do you recommend?
Charlie C, use a deck cleaner and wood brightener after the sanding to help open the wood grain for the stain. Look at TWP 1515 Honeytone or Armstrong Clark in the Amber.
Hello
I have a redwood deck in san francisco area about 20 yrs old that I have been staining with Olympic Max (acrylic) every two years. The last time it seemed very watery like so I'd like to switch to defy or twp. Which do u recommend ? And do I need to strip or just clean
Thank a lot
Brian
Brian, if you switch brands then you will need to remove the Olympic by sanding and or stripping. Either of those brands will work well.
Hello, I have just built a brand new covered porch with a Douglas Fir floor and ceder steps. I live in Chicago IL and the porch faces east. I plan on letting the wood age for 4 months or so. What stain/sealer would you recommend please?
Robert, clean and brighten after the 4 months. Look at Defy Extreme or Armstrong Clark.
We live in NC and I would like to stain our screened in porch. It has never been treated and is in great condition, it is 13 years old. I know it needs some prep cleaning, or something. Would this product be good for it? It is about 12X12. I know it will need 2 coats, just from reading here. We are dunces about this but are good at following directions. How much stain? We live in the Raleigh area so I am sure we can find a place that sells this brand. Thanks for all the expert advice.
Julia, Yes you can use the TWP 100. 2 gallons should be more then enough.
We live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and need to find a tough deck stain or treatment that can handle shoveling. Is there such a thing?
Mary, shovels will gauge the wood which means it will damage the stain. No way around it.
I know this site is mainly for decks, I am applying stain to T&G Cedar siding (Texas) I assume that all the test and reviews would apply to siding as well. I am nearly sure (from what I've read) that a waterproof penetrating oil is where I am leaning.
Is there something I am missing as far as your stain reviews for decks as opposed to siding applications?
Jeff, you can use this reviews for T@G as well. The TWP will last 3-6 years or longer on vertical siding.
we have a 20×30 white cedar deck which is 2 yr old, we treated it with Olympic (ppg) oil acryd stain (green can), not happy it has a lot of wear tracks. the deck buts to vynl siding and shrubs. what should I strip it with and what should I now put on it? I would like to use a cleaner and or a brightner to maintain it and not have blotches when I restain it every 2 yr with out having to strip it. we live in mpls and it has full sun any ideas of what to use and is available in mn. ?
Steve, strip with the RAD Stain Stripper then neitralize with the brightener. TWP can be maintained with a cleaning and re coat every 2 years or so.
Help! I live in the Chicagoland area and have a 450 Sq ft cedar deck with about 4-5 coats of Wolman semi transparent stain on the horizontal surfaces & 2-3 coats of the vertical spindals ect…the deck faces the south and we do get extreme weather in this area, it seems every year I have to recoat the horizonal and every 2 years vertical areas..
verticals are still in pretty good shape but with 2 dogs and the weather the horizontal area's will need to be sanded or striper due to (scratches) from dogs and people traffic… is there a product that I could use that would get me 2 or more years? this is a huge yearly hassle…. did notice most strippers won't work with the Wolman product…TWP & Defy aren't sold in our area, also on the market they are now selling the restore products like used in truck bedliners but have heard application is very difficult but is supposed to last 10 years???
advise please.
Mike, nothing lasts 10 years. With your traffic you will get 2 years at best with the deck. What you need a stain with soaks deep into the wood so there is less chance of peeling. The first step will be removing the Wolman. This should be done with a stripper and or sanding. Once the wood is free of the old coatings you will be able to apply a penetrating oil based stain like TWP or Armstrong. You might want to hire a contractor this time around.
Hopefully, you didn't use REST"ORE. My niece carefully preped, watched the video and applied Restore. It has only been a year and it is already cracking/peeling especially on the stairs.
I used One Time deck stain 2 years ago on my new 500sq foot cedar deck. Looks terrible…..I used the Honey color, what color would you recommend for a color match? Also, should I strip, brighten, then apply stain for the best results, or should I sand?
Randy, strip and brighten first with the Restore A deck products then stain with the 115 Honeytone.
I had a deck build Sept 2012 with pressure treated pine. I need to stain it for the first time. What do you recommened?
Cathy, prep the wood with the Gemini Restore kit then stain with TWP 100 Series.
Had a large deck constructed last year with treated pine lumber in North Carolina. The deck gets morning/early afternoon sun then shade. What would you suggest to treat this deck?
hehe, prep first with the Gemini Restore Kit then stain with the TWP 100 Series or Defy Extreme.
I live in Minneapolis and have a 600 ft deck, two years old, pressure treated pine, never stained. The deck gets some morning sun but mostly shaded under a maple tree (or covered with snow). I want a slightly darker color to offset the railings which will be solid stained white. I have pine chairs clear coat stained that I don't want to match the deck. The house is light grey with a dark red brick chiminy chase against the center of the deck. What brand and color of stain would you recommend? Thanks much!
Paula, I would look at the TWP 103 Dark Oak for this or TWP 120 Pecan.
I just bought a house in Ohio. The house has a large deck on the back of the house, that hash't been treated in a while. The wood has turned grey and has green spots in it from the trees. There doesn't seem to be any rotting. This is my first deck, what all do you suggest?
I've been told to power spray wash it, then seal it. Do you agree? What color will look the best on a deck that has already greyed?
Shane, prep with the Gemini Restore Kit then stain with the TWP 1500 for Ohio. The gray will be removed so you can use an color.
Is there anywhere you know of where I can purchase TWP deck stain in Toronto, Ontario CANADA? Help!!!!
I would consider going over a bridge. This VOC thing is over-kill. Out forests and even our breath has VOCs.
Have put in a new redwood deck around a swim spa in San Diego, any advice on "finish" for this? It's now "heart redwood" (grade A) but grade B (common being grade C). So many products and I'm not happy with any of the "common one" sold at Lowe's or Home Depot such as Sherwin Williams, Behr, Valspar, etc. THanks Lee
Lee Muth, please read this Staining New Decks
I have western red cedar adirondack chairs and small (beer) tables that I completely disassembled, stripped and sanded. Once I broke through the surface, I found the colors and grain of this cedar are stunning. The chairs will be stored indoors during winter, but out on our patio all summer. We live in upstate New York. What stain would you recommend for appearance and durability? I want something to accentuate and richen the red cedar colors and grain. And something that can be reapplied periodically without stripping all over again. I bought Flood CWF-UV locally, but now I am reading that's probably not the best. Now is the time to back out if I made the wrong choice. Thanks.
Chris, I would look at the TWP 1515 Honeytone or the Armstrong Clark in the Amber color for this furniture.
Thanks!
Great, thanks. One more question…would you recommend staining each board individually then assembling the chairs, or assemble the chairs then stain them complete?
Ok I have decided on TWP1515 as you suggested. One more question…would you recommend staining each board individually first then assemble the chairs, or assemble then stain complete? Thanks, Chris
Assemble then stain.
Update…I disassembled, sanded each board and stained the chairs while reassembling to ensure complete coverage and avoiding fit issues from swelling during stain absorption. They were absolutely stunning for the first few weeks then they started to fade and dull, developed a few dark spots that cleaner/brightener wouldn't touch. I am now in the process of steel wooling the areas with spots and completely restaining all furniture after only about 5 months of summer patio exposure. Will second and subsequent coats over the years penetrate deeper and provide better protection? Or do just need to accept that the elements are relentless and keep restaining every year? Any other maintenance suggestions? Thanks.
Do not use steel wool! That will leave metal in the wood that will rust and turn into black spots. Additional coats do not penetrate deeper but can provide better UV protection. More is not always better though as too much stain will create a peeling issue if it cannot penetrate.
Thanks for all the help. After I applied the first maintenance recoat, the furniture looks incredible and beads water better than an oil slick. I applied stain, let it sit overnight to absorb as much as possible then wiped off excess with clean cotton rag in the morning…and I mean all excess stain. I do not recommend applying stain to assembled furniture. It is impossible to get any excess stain out of the joints and the pooled stain hiding in the cracks will drool and cause dark spots or cake and peel if you don't immediate wipe it. If you need to stain assembled furniture, I recommend removing each board one by one and mop up excess stain with a rag, reassemble. This was extra motivation for me to upgrade to high quality exterior torx screws (way better than square drive). The project took longer than I wanted (and longer than wife expected), but the results were worth it. Night and day difference from the crap film forming fence stain that they came with originally. Now we have nine pieces of beautiful Western Red Cedar furniture on our patio that along with Travis Industries Tempest gas torches (Really Cool) make our yard look like a resort. Can't be happier!
I live in Omaha, NE and built a 325 SF cedar deck in September, so it's had 7 months to weather with most of that being over the winter months. Do you feel I've given it enough time to fully weather and am ok to apply a product like TWP 100? Also, I really liked the look of the deck on rainy days when the new cedar was wet, is that going to be a similar finish to the TWP 101 Cedartone? Thanks for the help.
Alan, you should be okay now. Prep with the Gemini Restore A Deck Kit first then the Honeytone is the color you would want for that wet look.
That's pretty much what I thought. I may wait a year and let the new section darken up a bit and then try to get them to match.
I have a 12 X 40 deck with half old and half new treated pine in NC. The older half is about 3 years old and the new section is just under a year. Neither have any stain or sealer. The older section is grey while the new section is still yellow pine. I am going to start with cleaning the old section (still researching the best product for that) and will then plan to use TWP 100 (PECAN) to stain the entire deck. My concern is how are these 2 sides going to match in color? Anyone have any comments or suggestions?
Tim, it is not possible to get new wood to match older wood as they have a different porosity. If you clean them both well and brighten, you can get them close.
My deck is 12 years old. I removed all the floor boards and railing. I planed all the wood with a portable planer. The deck looks new again and I want to keep it that way. I want a clear/neutral oil based waterproof treatment. Any thoughts?
Larry, a clear will give little to no UV protection. You must have a tint and the darker the tint the longer the UV protection in most cases.
Okay. Since the wood is dry and planed to a new surface, will it take the stain better than new wood? Is there a stain that will re-moisten the wood cells?
Larry, Armstrong Clark will help restore to lost oils for your wood. It conditions the wood internally while sealing and staining the surface.
How would I do the two coats on my deck, if I do the whole deck with one coat and then want to apply second coat? Or do I just do several boards, then second coat them and move on to next few boards? Is coverage based on just a single coat or on the premise that you would do two coats. I have a 12' by 12' deck—would I plan to buy just for the 144 sq. ft. or would I need enough for 288 sq. ft.? (plus rails etc.)
Dick, best to apply entire coat to floor then walk back on and apply the second coat. Make sure to not step in your second coat. Coverage is based on 1 coat.
Would this be a safe product to apply to a child's redwood swing set? As an alternative, Anderson Clark?
Brian, you could use either for a playset.
What would you recommend for a bamboo fence? It is new and natural color. I was told by one company to use TWP 300. How is it different from the TWP 100? Is it a good choice for retaining the natural appearance? Can it be applied to the new bamboo? I want to put a finish on before I install it. Is it a better choice than a marine varnish or urethane?
Ron, sorry but we do not have experience with bamboo. I would contact the manufacturer for help with this.
Hi Ron, I installed bamboo fence and used TWP 300 and it is amazing! It is actually more like a varnish which really makes the bamboo look great. I am in N.Central Ohio and it has held up very well. I used 315 light cedar.
Is TWP 100 redwood stain a semitransparent?
Yes it is a semi-transparent.
TWP 100 is not compliant in Delaware, would TWP1500 be the next best product to use or is there a better choice for a new deck.
Emile, new wood needs to weather. Please read Staining New Decks
I have a large Mahogany wood deck that is 13 years old. I bought the house four years ago. The deck appeared to have had no treatment since installation 9 years prior. I had it sanded and applied Sikkens to it but was dissappointed with the results. The deck has significant exposure to direct (and strong) Colorado sun. I am trying to decide what best to do now. I am leaning toward using a wood cleaner and then Cabots Australian Timber Oil ATO series 19400 in Mahogany Flame.
Would you recommend this or some other alternative? Thanks for any help you can provide.
Alex, for Mahogany you would want a stain that is designed to penetrate this wood type. We have a list of Hardwood Stains. Cabot ATO used to be an excellent stain and a favorite of contractors until about 7 years ago when they change the formula. It is not the same and we personally would not use it. If it was us contracting the job we would suggest the Armstrong Clark Stain in the Mahogany color.
I put on a new mahagony deck that was pretreated with Cabots ATO. I live on Cape Cod and the deck is south facing and gets additional sun with reflection off my bleached cedar shingles. I see that my deck has faded quite a bit and that the finish seems to have disappeared leaving almost bare wood in many areas. I've also discovered that Cabots ATO is now water based, My question is can I use TWP stains over what is left of the ATO or do I need to strip off whats left. The deck is two level and is 425 sq ft. Thanks for any help that you can offer.
Wayne Kivi, It would be best to remove the Cabot so the TWP can penetrate properly. If it was us, we would probably use the Armstrong Clark in Mahogany color as the TWP is not designed for hardwoods such as IPE.
I'm not sure about the best way to remove the Cabots ATO. Do I use a stripper, which one, or rent a sander and do it the old fashion way?
Any good stripper stripper such as HD80 or RAD Stripper will remove the Cabot ATO.
what stain would you recommend for Atlanta ga 15 year old treated pine deck?
TWP 100 or 1500 Series.
Given that it is Cabots you are removing, I would recommend using the Cabots Cleaner. I have used it and when applied and scrubbed with a good deal of pressure and with a very stiff brush, it will strip the wood… I haven't used "brighteners" yet and probably won't, so I don't know if you would want to followup with one… Lastly, to get best penetration and a uniform look, you should definitely clean off the old Cabots before applying anything else… Last note, stay away from pressure washing… For my Ipe deck, I am considering using either Armstrong Clark Stain or possibly TWP based on some reviews I have read, but still find that the Cabots ATO gave me the results I expected… I think if you got lucky and picked one of the top 3 products for your wood type, the best you can expect is to have to re-apply it after 2 years at the outside…just the way it is with oils… hope this helps someone…
My fence is about 5 years old. It needs to be cleaned and stained. What products would you recommend for this process
Joe, I would use the RAD products to prep prior to applying the TWP stains.
Hello I only applied one coat about 3 weeks ago and my question is can I apply a second coat now? Thank you
TomnFl, possibly. We have re coated TWP on our customers decks after the first coat had dried. We always do a very light coat and make to not have any puddles.
By the way, I meant Cabot Australian Timber Oil, not the Woodrich product. Same answer? Thanks for this excellent website!
Aloha, most likely. We are not huge fans of the Cabot ATO. It is not a bad product but not nearly as good as it used to be 8 years ago.
You say that you can put TWP over Timber Oil. How about the other way around? Can you put timber oil over an oil based stain?
aloha, I would remove the oil based stain first before applying the Timber Oil for best results.
[…] Important Note: This is Our 1st Review of TWP 100 Series Stain. Our second review was completed in 2012. Please see here: TWP 100 Stain Review 2013 […]
Great, thanks! I used "Brown Sugar". The color is beautiful on pine, it is just the right amount of color, and looks very natural. It goes on looking quite orange, but then dulls down after a couple days. Any idea what color would be similar to this in TWP-100?
Travis, Pecan 120 is a great color. It is a cedar color with a hint of brown to tone down the orange. I would look at that.
Great review, thanks for the info! Very helpful as always. I took your advice last year and applied Woodrich timber oil to my new treated pine deck, (in NC – partial shade/sun) for the penetrating qualities for new wood, and have been pleased! I want to make sure the next stain application protects more from UV graying. You've always had great things to say about this product so I'd like to apply this product next. What will I need to do to prep before applying TWP 100 knowing that timber oil was previously applied? Thanks!!
Travis,
I am glad that the Timber Oil worked well for your new deck last year. If the TO just faded, I would clean and brighten the wood then put a coat of the TWP on. You may only need 1 coat of the TWP if the TO is still present.
What color did you use for the TO?