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:Â 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:Â 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.
https://youtu.be/xH6RnzN4M-c
I built decks from treated pine 3 to 7 years ago and live in Northern Arkansas. Thompsons clear and cedar semi transparent did not work more than 6 months. Power washed only as after 2 years all traces of each were gone. Applied 2 coats of Behr 8 year semi transparent cedar color, gone in 8 months, some less. It has now been 2 years and lower deck mostly gray, upper section very little left except in shade, walk behind house gets sun only in late evening and is approx. 70% stained. I do have a screen enclosed roofed treated wood porch that is also 70% OK and will probably last a few more years. What do you recommend I do. Contractor estimates are out of site for a total of . Also what method of application do you recommend for 650sqft. of exposed deck?
Dougat71, you would need to remove all of the old stain first. Behr can be stubborn to get off and hence the contractors pricing? You can try the Restore A deck stripper and pressure washing to remove. You may need to sand some as well. Once the wood free of all the coatings, you can use the TWP 100 Series. We like stain pad applicators. Shurline and Padco are the most popular brands.
I have a 500 sq western facing pressure treated pine deck in the mountains of western MD. Used Sherwin's Deckscape premium waterborne formula 4 years ago. Most of the stain has vanished on the deck boards but remains on rails. I'd like to try the TWP100. Will pressure washing with say a 2000psi washer be enough prep to lay the new stain? Must I really strip or sand. Also how best to apply? Roll, paint, spray or other. Thank you. Grate site.
Steve, you cannot put TWP on top of the SW so yes you need to remove as much as possible. Best to use a stain stripper such as Restore A Deck Stripper and pressure wash off what you can, sand after if needed. Shoot for 95% removal. We like to apply with pump sprayers and stain pad applicators.
We will be adding a new covered porch with a KDAT tongue and groove floor made from YellaWood. We live in Chapel Hill, NC and the porch faces south. Since it is a traditional house we would prefer a grey color, solid stain for the YellaWood. What product would you recommend?
GMan45, the stains that we rate and use for the most part are not solid stains. TWP 100 Series does offer gray colors but they will be semi-transparent.
I have an 8 year old cedar deck that I stripped & stained with Sikkens trans stain about 3 years ago. The finish is lifting & worn. I plan to use RAD to strip again. Which TWP should I use this time, 100 or 1500?
I live in Southern Delaware about 10 miles from the ocean.
Thanks,
Patrick, for Delaware you must use the 1500 Series.
Near the Northern CA coast, heavy Sun on T1-11 siding and wonder if the TWP 100 or the TWP 1500 would be better?
West side of house has considerable sun damage – previously the Superdeck was used but not happy with this product. Mainly want to protect siding, but also have redwood decks…
Thank You!
Marion, 1500 Series for CA. If you still have old stain then use a stain stripper to remove, pressure wash off, and apply wood brightener for the prep of the siding. If no old stain then swap out the stripper with a deck cleaner.
I recently had new boards (pressure treated southern pine) installed on my deck in Atlanta. I have a few pine trees near the deck. How long do you recommend I wait until I stain the boards? Should I put on any weatherproofing sealer now or wait to stain? Also, some of the boards have the black stamp imprint of the manufacturer of the boards. I want to use a semi translucent stain, will this cover up that or should I sand that off? Thank you!!!!!!
Morgan, sand the marks off, wait until Spring to prep and stain with the TWP. I would sand now though.
I was afraid that I would be stuck with a solid stain. Hate that look! After using Deckbrite (Wolman), power washing removed almostall of the paint from the deck but not from the spindles. Hopefully the semi-solid that is left will accept the solid stain. Now for the big questions: What do you think is the best solid stain for South Mississippi weather, and what can I do on a regular basis to maintain it as long as possible?? I really appreciate your prompt response.
Sharon, try a two-toned deck. Use a solid on the railings and verticals. Strip or sand the floor deck to remove the rest and use a a semi-transparent like TWP. Tow toned deck look nice and are much easier to maintain in the future. Use two different colors. The verticals should blend with the house and the flooring will look more like natural wood.
We installed T&G doug fir on a covered, north facing porch 2 years ago. Contractor immediately treated it with Penofin Penetrating Oil (Brazilian Rosewood Oil) in a darker/orange color. It looks terrible, color's ugly. Dry, faded, dusty, and mildew on the section that rain hits. Can I sand it off or prep and re-coat with a product like TWP? I like the wet, glossy look and I was talked out of using an enameled porch floor paint since this porch sits only 18" off ground. But, it's open on 3 sides for decent air flow. Any recommendations?
Laura, never put a glossy finish or enamel on a horizontal deck. It will peel creating a nightmare to remove. You can easily strip off the Penofin and use a different stain like TWP.
Also… fading… how is TWP on fading! with 50% sun & 50% shade… is this a good product to keep things as uniform as possible?
Hi!
Bought our house in Alabama (hot/humid) 2 years ago and we are about to re-do a 1400 sq ft deck (pool surround, 50% HOT sun & 50% heavily shaded by trees + humid) with #1 pressure treated pine (Yellawood). (Exotic hardwoods were just too much money, so going with pine is our only option… got the #1 grade in the hope that it will hold up better than the last deck – 9 years. Prior owners had a nasty divorce & pretty much ignored the whole house… good on our buying price of the house, bad on maintenance now!). The pool/deck take up most of our yard and thus it is a big deck.
Problem: Our contractor's painting foreman suggests we do not stain the deck, instead just use a clear sealant. He says that if we stain it, we will have to strip it in order to reapply in the future. The wood has just been delivered and is in the driveway (blocking all parking!) and it is very yellow. I just can't see our huge deck as a big yellow monstrosity. With the heat here, we do not want to go too dark, but we really need some color to tone down the yellow. Also, really want it to last through heat, rain & humidity.
Our local hardware store sells One Time Wood Protectant in natural and several other stains, they love it, and a few customers gave terrific feedback while I was in the store this morning. But I saw that your reviews online and have taken pause.
I guess my needs are:
Suggestions for a stain/sealant for pressure treated pine. Is TWC 100 the right choice for us? Pool surround… we have an in-ground/above-ground pool – 1/2 in & 1/2 out of ground due to slope of yard under deck.)
Suggestions for application times (how "old" does the wood need to be before use?).
How long will the stain/sealer last?
How to best maintain deck.
Any help is appreciated! Newbie here…
Kelly, you cannot stain new wood right away. Best to let is season through the Winter, prep correctly, and stain then. TWP 100 Series would be fine then. Maybe a Pecan color would look nice. Please read this about new decks: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
I have a 1 year old cedar covered deck (north side). I just flipped all the vertical "facia" boards from rough to sanded (and replaced one). Then I flipped and trimmed the risers on the steps to fit better. Should I wait until spring to let the wood "even out"?
Erick, I would.
I have a 1 year old cedar covered deck (north side). I just flipped all the vertical "facia" boards from rough to sanded (and replaced one). Then I flipped and trimmed the risers on the steps to fit better. Should I wait until spring to let the wood "even out"?
Second question:
I can't find a REAL difference from 100 to 1500 series. I live in Iowa, so I can get both. Which one would you recommend? We get HOT hots and COLD colds. 🙂 Thanks!
Erick, for Iowa we would suggest the 100 Series.
We're going to have a cedar fence installed in a few weeks and we want it to last as long as possible. TWP recommends waiting (at least 4 months I believe) before applying. Is there anything we can/should do before hand to preserve the wood and maintain the color? We're in central Texas (Austin), so it will need to handle lots of sun. Thanks!
Is the fence wood rough sawn? If so you can stain right away.
Let me start by saying that this site is one of a gem for all the DIY folks looking for honest information on deck stains. I live in Minneapolis, MN. I have a year old 12 X 12 cedar deck with stairs on a year old house with Palm green siding. Funny thing is SQ FT on my stairs is more than my horizantal space in the deck. The deck has gone thru one Minnesota winter and its whethered now. The deck is facing North West and gets a lot of sun. Once I get it cleaned, what do you recommend for a good stain considering it was never stained and also the snow and cold whether we undergo every year. One of the contractor quoted me for a Ready Seal but I'm wondering wherher I should go with TWP. Appreciate your help.
Raj, We personally as contractors are not fans of Ready Seal. It is not a bad stain, just does not hold color from UV for very long. I would try the TWP 100 Series.
This is a great site! Thank you for answering our questions.
I live in New Orleans, LA and installed a pressure treated pine deck 6 months ago. I would like to apply TWP Pecan 120. Is it necessary to prep with Gemini Restore Kit if I have already cleaned the deck thoroughly with JoMax cleaner?
Also, is it okay to sand the deck before applying TWP?
Chad, I would not heavily sand as this could minimize the TWP\’s ability to soak into the wood grain. If the wood is clean and prepped you should be good to proceed. Just one coat this year.
I have a beautiful cedar deck that was built in April of this year, so it's about 5 months old. The guys who built it said that I needed to let it dry, so I've been waiting, but now I want to get something on it before winter hits. I live in the middle of Illinois and we have hot and humid summers and freezing cold winters. The deck is south facing but close to woods (mostly oak trees) and gets sun between about 11am – 2pm.
I did my research and read Consumers Reports which recommended Behr, so today I purchased a $166 5 gallon bucket of semi-transparent Cedar Naturaltone, only to come home and find the horror stories of customers who have commented on this website about Behr. So, I intend to take the Behr back to Home Depot.
Yesterday, I did clean all of the horizontal surfaces with Behr's All in One Wood Cleaner and it looks pretty good. I may need to clean some of the verticals, tho I don't think all.
I like the yellow/orange color that the wood has when it's wet and would like to at least start out being able to see that color. (When the deck is old and aged, I'll consider going darker.) I shied away from an oil based product due to the hassle of the cleanup, but I will consider that if that's what will give me the best look, durability and protection for the color I want.
So – oil or latex? Brand? Color recommendation?
Lynne, the TWP is not legal for IL. You could use one of these three stains and colors for the look you want:
TWP 1515 Honeytone
Armstrong Clark in the Amber
Defy Extreme in Natural Pine
Good choice on returning the Behr!
Location: Western British Columbia
Hot summer
Damp wet winter with snow, rain, and high humidity
Semi-forested with shade trees on 2 sides of the house
Would like to refinish the siding
I have a house clad in Western Red Cedar. It was treated with an oil-based stain 13 years ago. The south side of the house still looks good-nice semi-transparent stain that allows the cedar to shine. The north and northwest sides of the house have many black mold spores on the wood, which is now grey and turning darker with the mold spores. I also have mold spores growing on knotty pine that was stained with a clear oil=based stain. I've tried using bleach, and then rinsing off the bleach. It lightens the wood, but does not really remove the black mold. Would oxalic Acid work? What about Restore-a-Deck? Is TWP a good product to follow up with?
Karen, you need to use a Stain Stripper such as the Restore A Deck Stain Stripper and pressure wash off the old stain. TWP cannot be used in Canada. Try the Armstrong Clark.
I was planning to stain my outdoor deck in the Atlanta (Georgia) area with TWP 1500 (Redwood color). The deck seems a few years old and was stained by the previous owner. Reading the comments here, I'm wondering whether to get 1500 or 100 series. Please advise. Thanks!
Mayur, either would be fine for this area.
I have a pressure treated deck in Central Virginia which is about 8 years old. It's been stained with a Cabots stain a couple of times over the years. About 3 weeks ago we replace a number of board and the remaining boards haven't really greyed, but they are showing some cracks etc. I used a stain with a lot of solids, so the color is there, but faded. The old boards look like they will just drink up any oil in the stain.
for some reason I find myself enamored with the Armstrong Clark product (I think because many reviews say its dual oil composition both sinks in well and also seals well. However I also like the TWP 100 and the Defy Exteme Stain products.
I would like to stain the deck now, as it would be inconvenient to wait 4 months. Which would you recommend, for staining now and for waiting 4 months?
Bonus question: I assume I should power wash with a clener and add a brighter before staining?
ron, all new wood should be prepped first and all need wood should season some. You cannot stain new wood right away:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Hello, we live in Southeast Michigan and put a new cedar deck on our house nearly 1 year ago. It has weathered and is now ready for staining. We understand we must use a brightener on it first. Our last cedar deck rotted badly because the deck is on the south side of the house so it gets very hot, and there are trees around the deck which drop quite a lot of leaves and berries. It was suggested to us that we use ZAR, but we like the reviews posted here on the TWP 100 product. 1) Would you recommend the TWP 100 Total Wood Preservative Deck Stain? Also, for a color I like the new cedar wood when it rains because it takes on a nice brown color. We are thinking to to use Semi-Transparent Stain. 2) Is there a color you would recommend? 3) And where do we buy the TWP 100 product? Thank you.
Rose, you need a cleaner and a brightener for the prep. Try TWP 115 Honeytone for this. Not sure on where to buy for your area.
hi .. i have a 4 month old spruce stockade fence i'd like to stain. i want a midtone color that shows the woodgrain. im in NYC and have been getting lots of sun. i want to use a quality stain that will not require that i strip it when i need to reapply in a few years and is fairly easy to apply (it'll be me (mom) and my 2 teen boys doign the application) . it seems my best bets are either TWP or AC
hi .. i have a 4 month old spruce stockade fence i'd like to stain. i want a midtone color that shows the woodgrain. im in NYC and have been getting lots of sun. i want to use a quality stain that will not require that i strip it when i need to reapply in a few years and is fairly easy to apply (it'll be me (mom) and my 2 teen boys doign the application) . it seems my best bets are either TWP or AC, would you agree? can you recommend one over the other, and if twp which one, 100 or 1500? thanks!
alysiasimone, only the 1500 for NY as the 100 cannot be used there. Either the 1500 or the AC will work well. One is not better.
thanks! also, what should i use to clean it first? certain sections have gotten alot of dirt on them. just water and soap/bleach mix or an actual wood cleaner/brightener?
alysiasimone, use a actual wood deck cleaner followed by the wood brightener.
Question about TWP. If I apply TVP now then want to reapply in a couple of years will it have to be stripped before reapplying or just cleaned and brightened. Thanks.
Nan, it can be cleaned and brightened as long as you reapply before it goes to full failure.
I am designing some douglas fir timber benches for a client… in a full sun/rain exposure and some timber posts, also doug fir, partially undercover. TWP 100 sounds like a good choice for both… question is will the finished surface have any light sheen to it or will it be a dull finish.
Thanks – Paul
Bellingham, WA
Paul, TWP is a penetrating stain that does not leave a shine as long as the stain is not over applied.
Hi ! This website is great ! We are building a new deck out of west red cedar, in Montreal Canada. TWP 100 cannot be shipped to Canada due to VOC regulations. What other product would be best to stain our deck to maintain its original color? What if we don't mind it turning gray? Is it just a esthetic color issue, or is UV exposure also bad for wood structure (cracking, splinters)? Thanks for your help !
Simon, if you do not mind it turning gray that use the Defy Extreme Clear as it will protect but gray naturally. UV does break down the exposed wood cells over time so it does help to seal or stain even if you do not mind it graying.
Hi,
Location, Central Oregon Coast. My customer has a deck with Trex decking and top handrail . The post, pickets, fascia boards, stringers, beams, and joist are all pressure treated outdoor wood by Mcfarland Cascade. The deck hasn't been cleaned for over a year and has never been sealed or stained since it was built back in 2009. So the wood has faded and lots of green mold is on it. Once cleaned can we put TWP 1500 on both the wood and the Trex decking?
Troy, you can stain the wood with the TWP but you cannot put it on the Trex.
Ay idea how TWP 100 or 1500 compare to the Wolman F&P Finish and preservative products? That is available locally and has some great reviews at home depot, but I haven't found any true stress test reviews on it.
Thanks!
Tyler, the older formula for the F&P was a decent stain. Not the same anymore and does not compare to the TWP in our opinion. Still F&P is a better stain than anything else you will get from Home Depot.
I'm pretty much set on the TWP 100, now I just need to decide a color. I got a sample of the natural which was way too orange and of the rustic, which didn't have red in it like I expected. Any experience iwth the Honeytone or Pecan colors? I almost feel these look more cedar than the natural color.
Honesty, the TWP 1511 Cal Redwood looks exactly like what I'm looking for. I wish they made that in the 100 series.
Thanks again for your help.
Tyler, Honeytone is more gold/yellow while the Pecan is a brownish cedar color.
We just installed a Cedar fence July 3, 2013. In Nashville, TN. Do I have to let it sit for a while or can I go ahead and seal it? It is a BEAUTIFUL cedar color. I want to maintain that natural color. What do you recommend and when should it be applied and how?
Kelly, is the fence smooth or rough? Most fencing is rough and can be stained much sooner. The 115 Honeytone is the lightest color in the 100 Series.
Live in Marietta, GA outside of Atlanta. Have new pressure treated pine fence. Want to have it stained using oil based solid stain in a dark charcoal grey. Any suggestions of paint manufacturer to use…been considering PPG or Cabot. Do not want to purchase stain from any large warehouse type store but instead from a paint or hardware store. You seem to favor the TWP100 product. Don't know which to choose. Your thoughts please.
Suzanne, TWP does not make solid stains. Try Flood\’s Solid Color Deck Stain.
I have a deck in CT, facing east. It gets baked in the summer and piles of snow on it in the winter. We used Sherwin Williams Deckscapes (semi-transparent water-borne) in 2009 and it failed (peeled) on the horizontal surfaces that same winter. But the uprights still look fine after 4 years. I am interested in switching to TWP 100, as you have rated it well and the company has a Cape Cod Grey that would harmonize with the grey presently on there. What sort of deck preparation would you recommend? How much of the old stain would we need to get off? Would we need to sand the horizontal surfaces so they would take the new stain?
Dorothy, the 100 Series cannot be used or sold in CT. You would have to remove 100% of the old stain. This is done by stripping and or sanding.
Oh, I missed that about CT! Thanks for pointing that out. What product(s) would you recommend then? Is there something we could use that wouldn't demand taking off 100% of the old stain? We liked the gray color with the color of the house, but the TWP 1500 series doesn't come in grey. If we do decide to strip off all the old product, what stripper do you recommend?
Dorothy, Armstrong Clark makes a very good gray stain. Restore A Deck Stripper or HD80.
I have a 400 sqft deck in WI – faces West. I used Rymar Xtreme Weather Wood Sealer (cedar honey 7625) about 5 years ago, am happy with it, and am planning to re-coat this year, but after hearing your TWP love, and considering that Rymar is $75/gallon, I'm curious if you'd recommend TWP100 overRymar Xtreme Weather? How do they compare?
Mike, we have little to no experience with the Rymar. We have had a few customers who tried and and did not like the results and a few posters that said it did not last a year. We are though a believer in sticking with a product if you are happy with it.
I live in Wi and also have used Rymar for my south cedar deck. I like the product but still need to treat every year. Cost is a factor too..Did you try TWP100? Did you like it? Where did you find it? Thanks
I have a long dock (central Fl – lots of sun) that has just been pressure cleaned & a few boards replaced. Please recommend a stain (presumably oil base?) that will help protect the pressure treated wood. Thanx very much!
Dick Gray, The TWP 100 Series would work well for you on this dock in FL.
Thank you!
I built a redwood fence and was wondering what stain to use. I would like to keep it as natural as possible. Any suggestions?
Anthony, the TWP stains work very well for fences. You must have a color/tint though if you want to prevent UV graying.
Also, do you have any pics of TWP "honeytone" and what it looks like on deck or stairs?
Will it hurt if I add a light colored stain say a few months for now or a year? With the Thompson sealer already on it?
Prof jim, the TWP may not penetrate if the Thompsons is already applied. You should remove the Thompsons first.
I am building a staircase 15 steps down to my lake. I have Home Depot pressure treated wood and have put thompson water sealer on it. Am I able to put a stain on it as well for uv Protection? I dont want to change the natural look of the wood if possible. Any suggestions?
Prof Jim, you must have a color in your stain if you want UV protection from graying. You would need to remove the Thompsons first with a stripper and brightener before you can apply a penetrating wood stain.
Built 600sf cedar deck near San Antonio in May 2012. Half of deck area exposed to direct sun 11AM – 6PM; balance of area is covered with late afternoon sun. Finished in June 2012 with 2 coats of TWP 101 Cedartone Natural (application rate 0.3 gallons/100sf brushed). Stain was easy to apply and looked great.
Now June 2013 and the exposed portion of deck needs refinishing (some worn areas due to furniture, faded and some mold). Sooner than I had hoped based on the reviews, etc. Cleaned with mixture of flooring detergent and bleach and a brush (no TSP). Rolled 1 coat of same TWP 101 and back brushed where needed. Most time consuming job was moving the furniture and plants; re-staining was the easy part.
Bottom line: Expected longer life, but I'm not surprised 1st application lasted only 1 year given the intense sun here. Re-coat was easy compared to water based surface coating. We're installing a shade sail over the exposed area, which should help with longevity. I've sticking with TWP.
BillC, you are correct that the first time staining it will only last a year. In addition TWP wants new wood to weather for 4-12 months then prepped accordingly before staining. Failure to do that would result in premature product failure.
Follow up question. What is your opinion on opened TWP product. If I buy 5 gallons but only need 2, would the rest hold until I need it another 2 years down the line?
Jason, I doubt it will last that long when opened. We really do not know as we use all of our stain.
Applied TWP 100 semi-transparent to a one year old cedar deck. That was a year ago, and I've experience peeling primarily around the knots in the cedar boards. It almost seems like the stain didn't get sucked up by the knots and then peeled in those spots. Have you run across this issue? I'm planning on cleaning/brightening and then reapplying again this year. Thanks
Jason, that can happen with any brand of stain as the knot is more \”dense\”. This makes it difficult for the stain to absorb, especially on newer wood.
Hi, I live in Montreal, Canada. I have a brand new 16 foot long and 6 feet high cedar fence – I'd like to stain it using TWP 1504 BLACK WALNUT. I see that TWP does not ship to Canada…can I come pick it up in the US and then cross border with it? Is it legal? If not, what's the next best product which is legal in Canada?
Thanks
Antonio, I am not sure on that. I think it is illegal to do that. I would try the Armstrong Clark stain for the fence.
I have stained my deck 2x with Behr premium and each year it has chipped. We are in the process of stripping off all the stain (what a nightmare!!) and we are considering our options for stain, sealant, etc. We have decided that instead of trying to get all the stain off the 144 spindles, we are going to buy new. Should we wait until the wood has weathered some before staining it? I've heard stain does not work as well on new wood. We are considering TVP. Recommendations?
Krista, yes wood needs to weather some before staining and needs to be prepped as well. Best to wait and do it all at once later in the year.
Thank you! I'm in Michigan and we only have a few nice months left before the wrath of winter. When would you suggest treating and staining the spindles/new wood?
Also, removing the stain has been such a nightmare that we are VERY hesitant to put new stain on for fear that we are just going to have to go through all this again in a couple years. Would you reccomend stain over a sealer/naturaL?
Krista, you must have a stain of you want UV protection. What you want is a deep penetrating stain that is not prone to peeling. Try Armstrong Clark or TWP 100 Series.
I used Benjamin Moore Arborcoat transparent and then sealed it with the protective clear coat two years ago (two step process) on our new deck. We waited until it had seasoned for several months.. This process did not hold up very well. Can I clean the deck and then use a TWP product that would keep the wood looking natural. Which products would you suggest. I prefer to do the deck every two years instead of every year. Thank you.
Sharon, you cannot apply TWP on top of the Arborcoat. That would need to be removed first by sanding and stripping first. It will not be easy to get it off.
Thank you for your quick response. Yes, you're right I will need to sand and strip the deck. I live in Northern Virginia, which product will work best to give us a natural look, the TWP 100 Series or Armstrong Clark?
Sharon, either is fine. Take inconsideration that lighter tints will fade and gray faster then richer/darker colors.
I have a 10yr old deck that I have used H20 based stains w/bad results:
I live in MN and the stain lasts 1year.
The worste part is the fact that once the stain comes off, the wood looses it's ability to TAKE A STAIN!
The top layer of wood, has the fiber GONE, and the only thing that remains are the growth plates (rings)
These are hard and when running fingers over the boards, you can feel the ridges.
Only option to fix this, is to SAND the entire Cedar deck, so the wood is like new (removes the hard rings/plates that do not take the stain, and lets the new wood under it, be at the surface, that has fiber in it, and will take a stain..
I am going to OIL BASE from now on.
I am looking for more of a brown color with TWP, not orange/red/yellow. I am concerned the Dark Oak will be too dark. Would it be possible to mix colors. Any recommendations for this?
Troy, you can mix TWP colors. They also make a clear that would lighten the Dark oak.
I have a new cedar fence, 6' tall, approximately 130 linear feet, put up almost 2 weeks ago. Live in the Seattle area, so lots of rain in the fall/winter but strong sun in the summer. I've been trying to make this decision between Cabot and TWP. I will be staining the fence myself (first time) and planning on using a natural bristle brush. I've read that it is sometimes hard for TWP to penetrate. What kind of prep do I need to do on this new fence?
Summer, is the fence smooth wood or rough wood?
rough wood
Summer, no need to prep rough wood. Go ahead and stain with the TWP, it will soak in fine.
I have a 6'x11' second floor deck. The deck will be powerwashed by professionals, but I am going to stain the deck with TWP 100 myself. Since my deck is relatively small, i am planning to use hand brush. If I apply the first coating on the entire deck, how am i going to apply the second coating "wet on wet" without stepping on the wet deck ? What is the best way to do it? To complete half of the deck first? To use roller? I need your advice. Thanks.
Alice, you can step on the first coat while wet, just do not step in your second coat. Use a stain pad.
Would this be ok (safe) to use on a picnic table? thanks
Eileen, as long as the wood is free of previous coatings it should be fine.
I have a 4 year old pressure treated wood deck that was treated with One Time Stain (natural). I am considering re-treating the deck with TWP 100. The deck currently has no color, just natural wood look with a little graying. What stain do you recommend for re-treatment ? Can they be applied directly without use of a stain stripper and brightener ? The deck gets a lot of direct sun light. Thanks.
George, if you have old stain then you need to strip and brighten. If not then you use a deck cleaner and wood brightener. Our experience with One Time is that you need to strip it off.
I have window trims in a solid oil based stain about 6 years old and now time to redo.
Is there any solid stain recommended to apply without applying a base coat ?
Thanks
I've got a two year old pine deck that has never been stained. I am thinking of using Behr Deck Over or Olympic Rescue It on the horizontal surface. Does anyone know anything about these type of products or have any recommendations?
Thanks!
Gary, these \”restore\” and \”deckover\” products are basically just thick paints and do not last any longer then a solid color deck stain. I would never do this to a 2 year old deck. Maybe a 20 year olde deck that really needed a good makeover.