This post was updated on February 26, 2024
TWP 1500 Series Stain Update 2024
We find that the TWP 1500 Series Stain to be the best performing oil-based deck stain on the market. We personally use the TWP 1500 Series Stain on deck restorations every year in the Midwest and is one of our go-to brands.
TWP 1500 Series Deck Stain
TWP 1500 Series was introduced in the Summer of 2010 as the replacement for the TWP 500 Series. TWP 1500 stain is a semi-transparent oil-based wood preservative registered by the EPA. The only deck preservative that is currently registered as an exterior wood preservative.
TWP 1500 Series is designed for all exterior unfinished wood. It has excellent UV resistance from graying. It is mostly used for exterior wood decking, wood fencing, log homes, cedar sided homes, etc. TWP 1500 comes in 10 colors that allow the natural grain of the wood to show through.
TWP Stains – 1500 Stain Rating
TWP 1500 Series Deck Stain Scores (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8.5
– TWP 1500 Series had a beautiful rich look to the wood. The wood grain was highlighted naturally. 1501 Cedartone color was slightly brown for a traditional cedar color.
Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 9
– Excellent at preventing UV graying at the two-year mark. One of the top stains that we have tested in terms of absorbing the UV radiation that causes oxidation of the wood.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 9
– Very good at preventing peeling. TWP penetrates deep into the wood. This seems to reduce any chance of wearing or peeling at the surface.
TWP 1500 Series
Cost Per Square Foot: 8
– TWP 1500 Series cost us $194.99 for a 5-gallon pail delivered. This breaks down to $.35 per foot for 2 coats of stain on our 400 square foot deck. We still had 1.5 gallons left when done. The coverage for the TWP 1500 was close to 200 square feet per gallon.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 9
– Of all of the oil-based stains we tested, TWP offers the best protection against mold spores that are known to grow in oil-based stains. This is most likely due to the oils used in TWP’s stains. They do not use linseed oil but rather a mixture of natural and synthetic oils.
Ease of Application: 8
– For an oil-based stain, the TWP 1500 series applied well. We did notice that you need to back brush any puddles to ensure an even application. This is normal for most of the stains that we have tested. TWP 1500 Series did dry to the touch in 6 hours and we were able to put the furniture back on the deck the following day.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 9
– The 1500 series did not “darken” in color like other oil-based stains have been known to. TWP actually lightened up slightly at the 2-year mark. This gave the wood a more natural-looking feel.
Difficulty of Reapplication: 8.5
– TWP 1500 Series would be an easy stain to reapply. A normal wood deck cleaner would be used to remove some dirt and grime, prepping for another coat.
Overall Score TWP 1500 Series at 2 Year Period: 8.5
– TWP 1500 Series (and 100 Series) have been known to provide tops in terms of durability and color retention. They have always been one of the best stains and are one of our top choices. Little to no fading on the railings. The deck surface faded to about 75% of the stain’s initial color after 2.5 years.
Product Information:
TWP Help? Search Google: TWP Stain Help
More Info: TWP 1500 Series
Cost: $46.99 per Gallon, $234.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Semi-Transparent – Oil-Based
Available Colors: 1500 Clear, 1501 Cedartone, 1502 Redwood, 1503 Dark Oak, 1504 Black Walnut, 1511 California Redwood, 1515 Honeytone, 1516 Rustic, 1520 Pecan, 1530 Natural
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: 4-12 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in All 50 States
More Info: Product Data
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Western Red Cedar
Deck Square Footage: 400
UV Exposure: Full Sun
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: 1501 Cedartone
*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 1500 Series Deck Stain Photos
TWP 1500 Series Stain Review Video
Applying TWP in 1503 Dark Oak to Wood Fence.
We could not be happier with the 1500 TWP Cedar tone. We love the way it looks. It was easy to apply,
Looks great!
Hello… I live in Portland Oregon, and have about 2100 sq ft of cedar fence that i want to treat. I power-washed the fence 2 weeks ago. I am trying to decide between TWP 100, TWP 1500, and the Defy Extreme Stain. I am hoping to spend the time now to stain the fence, this way it will only need a re-application every 2 years or so.
Which stain would last the longest? Since this is a fence, not a deck, will 2 coats be needed, or can I go with just one coat for economical reasons. Any help you can provide would be appreciated!
Thanks.
Brian, if you just want to apply 1 coat then I would go with the TWP 1500. It should last 4-6 years on a vertical fence.
Great site. I found you after a popular consumer site recommended Behr #1 but nobody seems to like it. We're in western PA (a low VOC state) with an older deck, last treated 3 years ago: cleaned and brightened with Behr products, stained with Wolman DuraStain semi-transparent, which is "alkyd/acrylic water-based." No peeling, but the stain is fading on horizontal surfaces, the wood is dried out, and we're getting some greenish spots (moss?). Much of the deck gets full sun for a few hours a day, but we have long, moist winters. Reading your recommendations, I'm thinking that either Defy Extreme or TWP 1500 would be best for us. Do you have recommendations for stain and for prep products? Thanks very much.
Chas, both of those stains should work well. The problem is the Wolman. You should not put TWP or Defy on top of the Durastain. The Duastain can be difficult to remove as well since it is basically a thin paint. Not sure but you would probably need to strip and sand it off if you want to switch brands.
Need advice for untreated Cedar deck around hot tub
Location: Quebec Canada
Partial sun depending on time of day
My Deck is 1 year old and we have not stained it. It turned grey and some parts have some green mold. I want to stain the deck and make sure I use the right stain. The local company here suggest Sikkens SRD but from what I read its not the most resistant. We want a semi transparent stain that is durable in our climate. We do use the deck in the winter also and remove some of the snow to get to our hot tub.
Which stain do you suggest? I live in canada but I can get stuff shipped to VT which is 20 minutes from my place.
Do you recommend cleaning with a cleaner and power wash, the sanding before applying stain?
Thanks
Denis, clean and brighten the wood to prep. TWP 1500 would be a good choice.
Denis, do NOT use the Sikkens SRD. I live in Ottawa and used the Sikkens for years. Every spring my Cedar deck would be significantly darker, the walking areas would have lost their finish, and there would be mold on the underside of the railing. It was recommended to me by a very reputable local company and so for years I assumed it was my fault and I would strip and restain trying to improve my technique. It was finally the review on this site that showed me it wasn't my fault at all, the Sikkens just does that. I refinished in July with the TWP 1500 and will report back in spring on how it survived a Canadian winter. The one tip I would give about the TWP is that I used the Natural and found the colour a bit orange for my tastes. If I were to do it over again I would probably get the Honeytone.
Dan O, I agree. Natural is more orange then the Honeytone.
Hey Dan, Where did you get that TWP-1500? I'm also in Ottawa and can't find it anywhere…
Can I mix TWP colors to try to get a color that is not offered?
Bob, we have done that numerous times.
North West New Jersey
Partial shade, full sun
New deck ( 5 months Old)
PTW from Lowe's
Hi, i need your advice about cleaning and brithner the new preasure treat wood before stain whith TWP 1500 ( if this a best choice for stain).
Thanks.
Ferreira, I would clean and brighten with Restore-A-Deck products. We like TWP but not on new wood. For your deck I would use Armstrong Clark this time and then if you want you can switch to TWP 1500 Series in a couple of years.
Thank you, but I forget to tell you, its only for sidings, shingles deck has composite floor
My pressure treated deck was installed last October and has withstood an Ohio winter and intense summer heat. We have no shade and the deck is starting to dry out. I got samples of timber oil( but did not say it was by Woodrich as your article said). When I called the OPW Sealer store, I was told the TWP 1500 was the best thing to use. Not to use the timber oil or other. I had to send for more samples from TWP so I can get the color right. I really have a short time frame to seal this deck since I just cleaned it and will be leaving for several weeks. Help…What do you suggest.? i am very confused. the deck is 16x 33 feet. and has top and bottom rail only (vertical rails are black alum. rods. ) I plan to stain the footers but do I also treat the cross beams that are under the deck?
Barb, For a deck that is almost 1 year old I would use the TWP over the TimberOil. No need to do the beams.
Thanks for your advice.
Hello, I am about to put down new cedar for a deck in Minneapolis, MN. It will probably be the end of August by the time it is finished. If I need to wait up to 2 months before I stain, it will put me into October/November, and by then it will be too cold to properly stain. Is there something I can do to apply the stain sooner (sand, etc), or am I better off waiting until Spring. We typically get some nasty winter weather up here. Also, what would you recommend for a starter stain? TWP or Armstong Clark?
Steve Johnson, I would wait to Spring and use the Armstrong Clark for newer wood.
Thanks for the reply. We have used TWP stain for years and think it's the best product on the market. That's why we purchased the newer product for our new deck. I know you said wait a year but our early Spring was incredibly hot and the new boards were already starting to split from drying so we knew it was time to get a sealer on them. They were also already starting to turn grey.
That said, temps were good but pollen in North Georgia at that time of year is always bad. We took this into consideration and applied on the two days when it had settled "some" and after a good rain. I think you hit the nail on the head though with the pollen! OH, and we do not have trees near the deck but we do live on a wooded lot.
We'll get it prepped again and try a fall application. Thanks for the great feedback. I will keep you posted.
Applied TWP 1500 to a new deck in March 2012. The deck was competed in early October 2011, and had plenty of time to season. (Atlanta area). Deck was cleaned with TWP deckwash and allowed drying time as recommended. It's now August and the deck is full of mildew and most of the stain finish is worn off, decking, handrails, even the posts. Any suggestions as to what caused the problem and what we shold do to correct?
Cheryl, If it peeled then it did not penetrate into the wood properly. If it did not penetrate then this typically means that it was one of three things. It was not prepped well, it was over applied, or the wood was not ready to be stained (to early). The manufacture of TWP actually suggest waiting a year. We love TWP stains but do not use it on newer wood. As for the mildew, it can grow on top of any surface. Stains cannot stop that. What they do prevent is the growth \”in\” the stain. A better way or explaining is saying the TWP does not promote or feed mildew growth in the stain. We have had issues in the past where a nearby tree was pollinating (typically early Spring) and this was caught in the stain while drying. The pollen turned to black mildew spots. This was removed with a light mixture of 1 part bleach to 5 parts water.
I have a two month old redwood deck. Even though redwood is supposed to be resistant to rot, the previous redwood deck rotted. Any ideas why that would happen?
What should I do to stain and protect this new deck? How do I calculate how much to buy? Must I have it cleaned and brightened first.
Partly shady, San Jose, no mildew. Gets into the 100 + temperatures in my neighborhood.
Roseanne, Timber Oil Brand or Armstrong Clark for new decking. TWP is a great stain but does not absorb into new wood very well. Yes you should do a light cleaning and brightening. Coverage varies from brands. I would read their suggestions on this.
I used Flood CWF-UV (water base – clear) on the railings of the deck. It has been about 7 years since it was last painted. Do you think TWP will adhere and cover that?
Thanks
Tom
Tom, not you should strip it off first.
I live in Green Bay WI and I have a 15 year old deck which I just stripped down to wood. I am thinking about the TWP 1500 which manufacturer seems to feel is better than 100. It seems like the 100 has a track record (20 years on market) whereas the 1500 is relatively new. Should the fact the 1500 is a new product keep me from using it?
Also, I did not strip the railing. It has only been treated twice in 15 years. Can I just apply the TWP treatment over the unstripped railing? It seems that stain on railing holds up pretty well.
Thanks
Tom
Tom, without knowing what brand of stain is on the railings it is hard to say for sure if the TWP will adhere properly. We like both the 100 and the 1500. They last about the same and work well. We use more of the 100 Series currently but have been using the 1500 for a couple of years now with no issues.
Looking for your recommendations to stain a log garage & cabin. Location is central Michigan (30 miles north & 20 miles west of Lansing)
The garage is 923 sq ft made of pine logs & is 26yrs old. The cabin is a combination of 30 yr old pine logs & 120 – 125 yr old ash logs (total 1576 sq ft) . The pine log section of the cabin is about 300 sq ft. The pine logs are mildly checkered, moderate weathering while the ash logs are very dry, checkered, variable weather exposure all with a vertical orientation.
Previous power-washing & staining was performed in 2006. I believe a water based stain was used but I have no way of knowing what specifically was used as those involved are no longer available to ask.
All of the surfaces will be power washed, the caulk will be removed and re-caulked, any cracks will be filled. The work is being performed by a company that is experienced in working with log home. They are NOT thrilled about using oil-based stains. Based on comments on this site, I've been leaning toward TWP 1500 series. A relative has suggested using a solid oil based stain.
BTW, we used TWP 100 Rustic stain on the deck and everyone is very satisfied.
Your thoughts would be most appreciated.
David, TWP 1500 would be a great choice for these verticals walls in Michigan. It is an oil based stain and has excellent UV protections. Can you post some pictures in the Forum? I would like to see the Cabin.
TWP 1500 Series was introduced in the Summer of 2010 as the replacement for the TWP 500 Series. How can the test be done in June 2008?
When Tested: June 2008
Sorry typo on the test date.
Instructions on the can say not to paint if rain is expected within 48 hours. We seldom have a 48 hour period without rain, so I had to take a chance. Naturally, about 4 hours after I finished, it rained. I tried to cover the area with plastic, but it was already wet. What effect is this going to have on the stain?
Gordon, hard to say. I would look for white spots on the wood. If you see them then you most likely have an issue. If not then I would not worry about it.
Can u believe it rained on me too….I blew All the water off but am seeing white spots on the wood. So what kind of problems am I looking at??? Hard to predict the weather and rain in south Florida…..re-coat the whole deck? Clean the area and recoat the problem areas? Of all the days to rain
Perry, as contractors that has happened to us numerous times. Try wiping off the white spots with a rag. Using paint thinner on the rag may help as well. It may just be mineral deposits from water. If that does not work you have two options. If the white spots are imbedded in the stain you may need to strip it all off and start over. These spots typically look like dime sized and have \”dents\” in the stain. Usually happens when the rain comes while the stain was just applied and soaking wet. If the spots are not that bad but do not come off with the rag then very lightly re-stain the entire deck. Be careful though as it will take much longer to dry this time.
Good luck!
How long should I wait before walking on deck stained with twp 1500? Product information on this site says dry time is 4-12 hours, but Gemini's product Information site says dry time is 24-72 hours.
Gordon, drying varies a lot depending on the age of deck and exposure to weather. I would wait a couple of days at least.
I have a house with a deck that is about 4 years old. Pressure treated wood. It has started to grey and I'm ready to stain it although I would prefer to just paint it over. Apparently, that's not recommended. It will be pressure washed with a mildew treatment and then stained. Since I live in Maryland I will have to use the TPW 1500. Is that recommended course of action? Any other prep work?
Jim, As long as the wood is cleaned and free of previous coatings then TWP 1500 would be a good choice.
I have a 10 year old cedar deck. just replaced some of the rotted floor boards and sanded off the peeling stain with my orbital palm sander. Have previously used Behr cedartone semi-tansparent. Will the TWP blend in well with any of the old stain that i was unable to remove?
Mark, No you should remove the Behr first for best results. You can do this with a stain stripper or sanding.
What if I used a solid stain?
Mark, you could use a solid color stain to mask it but it will peel.
Does TWP make a solid stain? What about the True Value Woodsman UV 7338872 stain?
Mark, no they do not make a solid stain and I doubt True Value knows how to make a deck stain.
Besides price, What is (are) the difference(s) in TWP 100 and 1500 series… 9 year old redwood fence… Dallas, TX… Thanks
Dave, The 1500 has about twice the amount of solids then the 100 Series. It may give a little better UV protection.
Hi – great site! I have a one year old PT deck that I applied Ready Seal to. It was a great product, very easy to apply, but has faded significantly just as you write in your review. My question is since RS is so penetrating/non-film forming, can I apply another penetrating stain (like TWP or Defy) over it without stripping? I wish I'd read your review of RS last year!
Bryan L, If you use a good cleaner and a wood brightener you should be okay to apply the TWP Stains. Probably not the Defy as it is a water based stain. I would look to apply maybe just one coat of the 1500.
hi, need help on color , have a redwood deck want i to look light and natural , should i use natural or california redwood,thanks what does wet on wet mean
Mike, Either color would look really nice on Redwood. I personally like the Cal Red color. Wet on wet means, apply the first coat then apply the second coar while the first is still wet.
I used TWP 1500 for the first time and it is fantastic! I took the recommendation from this website. My deck(16 years old) has never looked so good.I used Restore-A-Deck stripper and brightener and took it down to bare wood. After letting the deck dry for a couple of warm days I started the project.. I used a stain pad for all of the edges first. I then used a Solo, 2 gal stainless steel sprayer with the flat fan spray. I sprayed a section about 6 ft wide, the whole length of the deck(22ft). I used a stain pad with a long handle and back brushed the section.When that was complete, I sprayed another 6 ft section the full length and back brushed as I did the first section. Now the time was up and I sprayed the first section with the second coat and back brushed it.I sprayed the third section,back brushed it and sprayed the second section with the second coat.I kept alternating with this pattern until the deck was complete.
When all sections had a second coat and let it sit for a while, I used a new,dry paint roller on a handle and blotted up any puddle or wet spot. I did that several times. It was dry in a day and it looked terrific.The color is rich and water just beads up like I have never seen on my deck.Every time I walk outside, the color and richness amazes me.
The Solo sprayer was a life saver. It also did a great job and put stain between the boards.
Pesaro, Great review!
Wondering how the TWP 1500 has held up over the last 2 years…I am about to use it for my deck here in NJ>
Can a mildewcide be added to TWP 1500 ? Comments ?
Vince, no need. TWP stains already contain a EPA registered wood preservative.
TWP recommends wet on wet 2nd coat. What does this mean exactly? Is it better to wait to put the second coat on? and if so, how long? Thanks!
John, apply the first coat to the entire floor then walk back on and apply another coat. Do this right away.
But you are walking on a Oil Based wet deck floor. Sounds stickey, messy and not right. What am I missing?
Bill, you can walk on the first coat after a short period of time. Just do not step in your second coat. That\’s how we do it.
I just stained my railings with Sikkens SRD "natural" but I would like to stain the deck floor with TWP 1500. Can you recommend the closest color match (I'm thinking either Natural 1530 or Honeytone 1515). Getting samples shipped to Canada is pretty expensive.Thanks!
Those two colors would probably be the closest.
Please help!! I have a 34 year old "Real Log' (Lincoln Log type) cabin in Western North Carolina. Previously stained with a water based stain 8 years ago. Would very very much like to use TWP to preserve and protect the yellow pine logs. I would really appreciate a step-by- step preparation process with specific materials, cautions, and the manner in which to determine if 90% of water based stain has been removed. Have had some wood rot in peak (due to improper chimney flashing) where I'm planning on addressing with Popular bark siding in lieu of total log replacement of my D-logs. Thank you for your expericenc and expertise.
Catherine, what was the brand of the old stain and the type?
Hi I am looking for the best stain/sealer for these conditions. I have a 1200 square foot pressure treated deck. It's 10 year old and still in pretty good condition. I have treated it every few years… I think the last time was about 2 yaers ago… and some of it 3 years ago. I have pressure washed it with bleach and lomax. It is pretty good at this point but I was going to go over it again with??? What do you recommend? There is the slightest bit of old finish in a few spot and a few spots that appear to be too black. I am in Pa and this deck is under 2 large maple trees and wet leaves often sit on it too long over the winter. I want something that never has to be stripped… I just want to clean it and reaply.
Linda, I would prep better with a product like Restore-A-Deck. As for the stain you would want a deep penetrating stain that lightens in color. TWP 1500, Defy Extreme, Armstrong are a few options.
We are in the process of building a.large deck using pressure treated lumber. We are looking at TWP 1500 deck stain. How long should we wait before staining the deck? What product would you recommend we use for the Northeastern part of Oklahoma? How should we prepare the deck for stain application?
Earl, wait a month or two. Prep with a good quality wood and deck cleaner followed by a brightener. TWP should only have 1 coat on new wood.
One more question if I may – I used TWP 1500 on the deck floor but not the railings. I did not strip the railings and spindles as I did to the floor b/c my plan was to use a solid on this as a covering. I do plan to do some sanding / cleaning but not stripping. What product would you recommend for this? I was thinking sikkens? We want a dark railing coupled with the Rustic Oak TWP. Thanks again!
Steve S, We personally have not used Sikken\’s solid stains. It is probably a decent product. Flood makes a good solid stain as well.
I'm so thankful for this site – saved me loads of aggravation from going with another product that seems to fail. I just put down TWP 1500 Rustic Oak on my PTL deck. Looks great! It's just shy of 400 sqft and it took two gallons for one coat. Wood was really dry. I used a pressure sprayer & backed brushed it. Good method however the fan nozzle on the sprayer seemed to form two streams on the outer part of the spray. I guess the thickness of the stain causes this? It was a bit annoying but back-brushing helped.
Anyway – is it okay to stick with this one coat until next year or should I apply a second in another month or so? I'm in northern NJ.
Steve S, Thanks for the praise! The issue with the sprayer was more due to the size of the nozzle, not the stain. I would wait until next year for another coat.
Location of Deck: South East PA
Deck Wood Type: Cedar from Lowes
Deck Square Footage: Total of 500 sq. ft. Two levels, 2' and 3' off of ground.
UV Exposure: Full Sun from Morning til Sunset
How Old: 3 years old
Stain Color Used: Olympic Maximum Canyon Brown
I have a few questions:
1. What should I use to remove what is left of the current stain? Looking for something that would be plant and pet friendly. I do have a power washer.
2. Would TWP 1500 work well with my cedar and full sun?
3. Do you recommend 1 or 2 coats of TWP?
4. Next year when the sun and snow take its toll, do I need to power wash again or can I just re-stain with a paint pad? 5. What do you recommend if I would like to bring out the natural color of the cedar?
Thank you in advance for your help. Rob
GuinnessToast, I would use the Restore A Deck Stain Stripper or HD80 followed by a brightener to prep. Yes TWP 1500 would be a good choice. 1 coat is normally enough but if wood is dry then a very light second coat should be applied. Next year you can just do a mild cleaning then recoat lightly. I would look at the TWP 1530 Natural.
I'm preparing to purchase some TWP 1500 but first want to make sure I understand the coverage spec. Does the 150-200 sq ft of coverage per gallon account for the required two coats or is that spec representative of a single coat?
Chuck, 150-200 for the first coat. The second coat applies farther. More like 250 feet per gallon or more.
I recently purchased a 2002 Lincoln Log Home and the logs are not looking to good with the previous protection(dont know what it was), peeling in some places and molding in others. I've been told to get it pressure washed thoroughly and have it protected with the TWP. Questions: Is this the best way to go, and how long will the TWP last for before I should or would need to protect the house again? 1 or 2 coats?
Ken, I would look at the TWP 1500 with two coats wet on wet. Should last 4-8 years on verticals depending on your exposure to the UV.
is TWP ok to use on a new deck built of treated lumber?
You can use TWP on pressure treated wood. It should be dry and make sure to prep first.
Hi. I am planning on staining my cedar deck with TWP 1500. I removed old stain with a deck stripper and then pressure washer. I then power sanded the deck twice with 100 grit sand paper and then followed up with a deck wash/brightner. Intending on letting it throughly dry 10-14 days before applying stain. Was told that I should sand again with 60 grit so as to open up the pores of the wood as 100 grit is too fine. Is this true and if so do I need to rewash/brighten after I resand or is it ok to just remove all dust via air blower/compressor? My deck is in Ontario, Canada so I hope that I can actually get TWP 1500 shipped up to me as there are no quality stains available in Canada. (best product here is Sikkens)
Vince, Yes I would be careful of too fine of a grit paper. You want the stain to absorb well. It would not hurt to wash again after the sanding to remove any dust. Not sure about TWP in Canada, might want to ask the manufacturer.