This post was updated on April 4, 2025
Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood decking. My TWP Semi-Solid Wood Stain review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top deck stain choices. See here for more info about me.
TWP Semi-Solid Stain Review 2025
Brand new is the TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series Stain! As always, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.
New for 2025: TWP Semi-Solids are Now Available in a LOW-VOC version for all US States and Canada!
Important Note: This review is based on our testing of the TWP Semi-Solid in the Summer of 2020 and is also partially based on the TWP 100 Series as that is the “base” for the TWP Semi-Solid Colors. We will update this review and the performance of the TWP Semi-Solid throughout the next 1-3 years.
TWP Semi-Solid Stain Review
Available in 30 Custom Colors, the TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series will keep your wood beautiful, fresh, and looking new longer! The ease of application and maintenance will allow you to enjoy your investment for years to come.
TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series provides a broad spectrum of weather protection, is water repellent, and aids in color retention. TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series resists water absorption that causes warping, cracking, and splitting and prevents freeze damage in colder climates. Use TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series to Restore and Protect YOUR GREAT OUTDOORS!
TWP Deck Stains – Semi-Solid Pro-Series Review
Before Prepping for TWP Semi-Solid Stain
TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series Wood Deck Stain Scores (1-10)
How I Rated TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series
My TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series review contains an 8-step process and the final average score. Each step is on a scale of 1-10.
- The appearance of TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series after Application
- Preventing UV Graying
- Peeling or Wearing TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series
- Cost Per Square Foot
- Preventing Mold and Mildew TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series
- How Easy was the Application
- Color Shifting
- Ease of Reapplication
- TWP® Semi-Solid Pro-Series Final Score
8-Step Review of TWP Semi-Solid Stain
1. Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 9
We prepped the deck first with the Restore-A-Deck Stripper and Brightener kit and applied the TWP Semi-Solid in the Cedar Mulch color after a few days of drying. The overall appearance was excellent, and the coverage was very even. Semi-solid in appearance with a small amount of wood grain showing. The TWP Cedar Mulch color penetrated deep into the wood grain on our pressure-treated deck. This will result in little to no wearing and peeling down the road. We would expect this stain to last 2-4 years before a reapplication is needed.
2. Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 9.0
The base of this stain is the TWP 100 Pro-Series, which has consistently scored an 8 out of 10 at the 2-year mark. We expected better UV protection due to the higher solid content of the semi-solid, and at the 2-year mark, it looks almost the same as when applied.
After Prepping for TWP Semi-Solid Stain
3. Wear/Tear and Peeling: 9.0
TWP penetrates very well into the wood grain and this is normal. The TWP 100 Pro- Series (base of the TWP Semi-Solid) scores a 9 out of 10. The TWP Semi-Solid scored the same at the 2-year mark.
4. Cost Per Square Foot: 8
The price paid was $250 for the 5-gallon pail of TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series with Free Shipping. The coverage rate is excellent for the TWP Semi-Solid and we used less than 4 gallons for our 800 sq. foot deck. The total amount for the stain on our deck came to $200 or .25 cents per square foot.
5. Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 8
The TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series scores an 8 out of 10 when preventing mold or mildew. There is just a little minor mildew around the bushes.
TWP Semi-Solid Stain in Cedar Mulch
6. Ease of Application: 9
Before starting your deck staining make sure to blow off any debris from the deck such as leaves and dirt. Prior to applying any stain, you need to thoroughly mix it evenly. We had no issues mixing the TWP Semi-Solid to a smooth consistency. We applied only 1 coat to our deck using a deck stain pad applicator to ensure an even appearance. Overall, we applied the TWP Semi-Solid stain in 1-2 hours to the 800 sq. foot deck and a team of two employees.
7. Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 8
The TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series scored an 8 out of 10 when it comes to preventing darkening.
8. Difficulty of Reapplication: 8
Reapplication in 2-4 years will be as easy as using their Gemini Restore A Deck Kit. One of the kits will be enough to clean and brighten the deck for reapplication and then apply 1 maintenance coat of the TWP Semi-Solid Stain.
Overall Score TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series Stain: 8.5
The TWP Brand of Stains is one of our most commonly used wood stains as we have personally applied it to over 10,000 decks over the past 25+ years as wood restoration contractors. What we like best about the TWP Semi-Solid Stain is that it is easy to apply, will be easy to prep and reapply when the time comes, and holds color very well from the UV. We are very excited and look forward to using the TWP Semi-Solid colors. Maximum UV protection and a much larger color palette is the top reason we will offer the TWP Semi-Solid to all our customers in 2025 and beyond.
My Pro Tip: We do not use TWP on brand-new wood. If applied to less than 4 months old wood, it seems to have a difficult time with penetration. We find this with many 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 and only apply one coat for 4-12 months old wood.
Product Information:
TWPStain.com Website: TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series
TWP Stain Facebook Page: TWP Deck and Wood Stains
Cost: $50 per Gallon, $250 per 5 Gallon Pail is the average
Stain Type: Oil-based Semi-Solid
Available Colors: Available in 30 Custom Colors
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 1-2 Coats. Applied “Wet on Wet”: Only 1 coat is needed for new smooth wood.
Coverage Per Gallon: 150-250 sq. ft
Application Tools: Airless Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 4-12 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits or Paint Thinner
VOC Compliant: 550 Compliant in 36 States
More Info: Product Data
Test Deck Stats:
When Tested: August 2020
Deck Wood Type: Pressure Treated Pine
Deck Square Footage: 800
UV Exposure: Deck in full sun
How Many Years Tested: Initial test – Brand New Product
Stain Color Used: TWP Semi-Solid Cedar Mulch
TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series Stain Photos
TWP Semi-Solid Wood & Deck Stain Video – DeckStainHelp.com
*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.
One other question. I will be using TWP Semi-Solid oil based that closely matches the existing deck color. The existing deck was stained about 4 years ago with Sherwin Williams Super Deck water based. The deck boards are now a combination of some new with no stain, some with stain in very poor condition and some with a fairly good stain finish. When I sand down the boards, how much sanding will be required. A light to medium sanding or do I need to sand them all down to bare wood (I hope not). Thanks
You must remove all the old SW Super Deck Stain fully down to the bare wood.
Question. What grit sandpaper should I use on my old deck boards. I have a 4″x24″ belt sander? Thanks
See here: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-sand-your-wood-deck/
Instructions from the manufacturer of KDAT pressure treated is to stain/seal immediately upon installation. Several stains mention not the use on new wood. How does one reconcile those conflicting instructions? Manufacturers are Yellowwood and Cullpepper Wood Products.
KDAT is kiln dried after treatment and comes to the job -15% moisture content. Would using a brighter help with adhesion?
You should always follow the directions of the stain brand you end up choosing, not the wood manufacturer. There is no way for the wood manufacturer to know how each stain coating works and what would be best. For KDAT, TWP suggest 1-2 months and prep with their Gemini Restore Kit.
I understand that logic. I personally had a bad experience with TWP and shy away from using it since then. I am leery about allowing KDAT to soak up two months of rain and moisture prior to making some effort to seal it. I have been a General Contractor (now retired) coming from my roots as a carpenter over 50 years ago so understand the process. I posted the question in the TWP discussion as I was reading then. I am leaning towards Armstrong-Clark instead and tentatively plan to use a brightener prior to applying the stain.
Scott…thanks for your reply. Do you have Armstrong-Clarks reccomendation for applying to KDAT ?
It is the same as TWP. 1-2 months and then prep.
thank you Scott
will semi solid pro series cover small splinters on stripped and neutralized 8 year old pressure treated pine deck previosly solid stained and does it meet Connecticut VOC standards?
It is a penetrating stain so it cannot “cover” splinters. You can use it as long as the solid stain have been fully removed. Use the low-VOC version for CT.
I want to add weather and uv protection to cedar wood for a new gazebo kit. Wood is stained with water based stain and water does not bead up on the service. I
see the good rating for twp 100 series semi transparent stains, with the comment not recommended for new wood.wold like to protect before assembly. Your recommendation?
You cannot stain over the top of your current stain and you cannot prestain new wood. Best to install, let this weather for a year, prep, and then stain with the TWP.
Sorry, in my last message I mis-typed “Preserva semi-solid oil stain” when what I meant to type was “Preserva semi-transparent oil stain.”
Hi, Scott, I used Preserva oil based semi-transparent stain on my deck last year and was surprised to find that little or no color was retained through the winter — much of the deck gets 8 hours of VA sun daily and its all uncovered. Now I realize I need at least a semi-solid and possibly a solid on this PT deck, some of which is new, some old. Is the new TSP semi-solid 2024 oil based or acrylic? I imagine I can’t use it over the Preserva if it isn’t oil based, because it won’t sink into the wood wel–traces of Preserva will remain. . Please advise. I’m 71 and want to avoid refreshing this big deck every year — my back doesn’t like it. Looking for something that builds coverage over years, not loses it. Thanks!
TWP semi-solid is oil-based. No matter what, you will need to remove the Preserva wood if switching brands. It should be easily stripped off with this:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-cleaner-system-review/
Brightener after.
OK, great — good advice. Now I see that the TSP semi-solid is indeed oil based, but it’s not clear whether it comes in the tint I want or I need to tint it myself. The instructions say it “needs to be tinted” as though the product a consumer buys or orders is just the base, without colorant. Could you explain the tinting aspect? I don’t mind tinting it myself because I have one of those stirring things that attach to one’s drill, but if I don’t need to, and can just order it in an appropriate color, that would be easier.
It only comes tinted in over 30 colors. You can see the color options on their website.
Thanks again. And one more question regarding using an oil-based semi-solid like TRW in the original VOC version . . . if I use that product on my clean PT deck, can I recoat two or three years later only after scrubbing the deck with deck cleaner? Or can I simply add a coat if there is no visible mildew, no peeling, and the deck absorbs water quickly — to freshen the protection and allowing layers to develop over a few years of renewing the coating say, every other year? I don’t see how to accumulate a good soaked-in coat of stain if the stain has to be scrubbed off every couple of years. The deck gets very little foot wear and is in what amounts to full sun. In one year this deck and the sun consumed all traces of the Preserva semi-solid high VOC stain I applied one year ago. I expect it to need another coat of the semi-solid the first year or the second after its first use. Please clarify. Great website.
You clean and recoat as needed with the TWP stains. You must prep when reapplying any deck stain.
I have a Douglas fir beam outdoor that gets lots of sun and some rain in Southern California. I would like to stain it with a very dark color, black or almost black. I would like to be able to see that it is wood after it is finished. What would you recommend?.
Armstrong Clark Black Walnut or TWP 1500 Series in Black Walnut.
How long should the stain dry (TWP-99 pro series stain) before applying a sealer?
You cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain nor is it needed.
I’m confused. Should I use water based or oil based? I prefer semi-transparent. Asking because in 2 to 3 years when the deck needs a touch up of cleaning and re-staining which type will be easier to prep, clean and touch up. If you had to choose between Sherwin-Williams and Cabot, which would you use? Thank you so much.
We would choose neither brand as they are very poor. Read the reviews and customer comments for both on the site. As for type of stain to use, either base will worrk as long as they are quality penetrating wood stains:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-semi-transparent-deck-stain-reviews/
Hey Scott,
I stained my pool deck last summer after stripping, brightening and sanding. Used TWP Semi Solid Pro series deck stain and it turned out really well. Prior to staining I had replaced several boards on this PT wood deck. That wood was on there about 6 months before I stained it. I am seeing some areas that appear to have PT chemicals coming to the surface Most are around knots and feel chalky. Should I power wash and apply stain again after only 1 year? I do not want to spot stain so imagine I would need to do it over on horizontal surfaces. Appreciate your help.
That is SAP leeching out of your wood. Not much you can do as it will probably come back if you try to fix. Besides being unslightly, there is nothing wrong with it. You could just leave as is until time to redo the TWP in another year or two.
Hey just wondering what color you used for this stain above? Is it lighthouse in the semi-solid? Thanks!
It looks like Lighthouse to me, color chart attached.
Yes it is.
Can i use this product on Trex ?
Older porous Trex. Not the newer Trex that is 99% plastic.
Looking for advice on a hellish experience with my 3-year old deck. Used Arbor Coat water-based in year 1 summer – peeled significantly after the first winter. Cleaned wish deck cleaner and re-applied with a semi-solid water-based Arbor Coat year 2 summer – peeled significantly after winter. Year 3: hand-sanded to raw wood, re-applied solid coat Arbor Coat – peeled more significantly by spring.
Moving forward: Used Behr Deck-stripper (75% of the stain is up); plan to sand the deck with a deck sander (as raw as I can get it). Intend to use TWP semi-solid for next coat.
Summarily, the cedar hasn’t accepted penetration of the stain using the water-based. I did give it 60 days to dry out before the first coat three years ago.
I appreciate any advice!
Mark
1. Once you fully remove the Arbor Coat, you are okay to use the TWP.
2. You can stain after. See sanding tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-sand-your-wood-deck/
3. TWP is much better than ArborCoat.
Hi Scott! Thank you for all that your doing! This is an incredible resource! Do you know the color used in the dock photo you have posted. It’s like a grey color and that is the exact color I want to purchase.
Semi-solid Driftwood. The color is at the bottom of your pic.
Can I use to twp over another finish?
No, whenever you switch brands of semi-transparent stains you should remove the prior coatings.
I have a 30 year old deck that was originally painted with an oil based deck paint. It peels every year (Wisconsin weather). I’ve found someone to sand off the paint. Should I use the TWP Pro Series semi solid to cover the most obvious defects, but would still allow some wood grain to show through. I believe it was originally a pressured treated pine ??? Would this deck require two coats, how can you tell without having to order extra product that is not returnable? If I don’t want a red/orange end product what color would you recommend that would give more of a light walnut color?
Until you can actually sand it fully off or not, there is no way to determine the best stain type or brand to use. That would also determine the amounts of coats needed, etc.
That’s understandable, but I’m concerned that from the time he would finish until I would have the correct product, either I won’t see him again and/or the newly sanded surface would be exposed to the elements for the uncertain time it would take me to get a sealer delivered??? An experienced guess is better than nothing for me.
No issues from elements. Wood can go months without being coated plus you have to clean and brighten anyhow after sanding, prior to staining.
I really appreciate all your help. I don’t have your typical deck, it’s an old Victorian style house with decorative posts, spindles etc., that I just finished painting. If I apply the clean and brighten to the sanded deck, won’t all those chemicals damage my painted surfaces. I took a pad sander and just removed some of the paint to see if it would come up. Since the paint protected the wood do you still need the clean and brighten steps.
After sanding you have to clean and brighen the wood to open up the wood grain. See this for tips on sanding: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-sand-your-wood-deck/
They will not harm your painted surfaces.
Hoping this is getting down to my last questions. You mentioned previously that once all the prep work was done I would know what finish to use. How exactly will I know that? Is the TWP series the best for me to use and do you actually sell these products? If so how long does it take to get them?
It depends if you can or cannot get all the solid stain off. It is not easy to remove a solid stain fully. After prep work is done, then assess to the best stain option.
So this is the sanded down deck. Do I still need to clean as well as brighten. Also, it appears the 1500 series of the semi-solid stain are on back order with no certain restocking date. Considering how clean it sanded down (although there is some color variation in the boards) do you think the semi transparent stain in a dark color would work? Is a dark stain a good color choice against the house color?
The 1500 Series is not semi-solid and is different than the TWP semi-solid series. Yes, you should clean and brighten now. The 1500 Series are semi-transparent colors and will work for this. Any color you like would work.
we built a deck in the summer of 2020 but have not yet stained. This is our first time staining, so it has had more than enough time to cure. I am reading to not put this semi-solid pro series on “new wood.” The wood is aged and bare. Can I use the Pro series or should I use the 100 series. I don’t like the colors offered in the 100 series.
Two years old is not new anymore so you can use any of the TWP Stains.
I stained my deck and covered porch 4yrs ago with TWP 150 honeytone. It needs restaining now. I would like to restain with darker color. Can I go over this with TWP without stripping ?
Yes but you still need to clean and brighten for prep. Use their Gemini Restore Kit.
Would you recommend TWP semi-solid pro series deck stain over Cabot semi-solid deck stain? If so, why? Also, is semi-solid a better choice over solid deck stain? If so, why? We have a one-year old 20′ x 20′ deck made of standard pressure treated lumber. We have Polywood furniture on the deck (highly recommend!) in teak color. We are trying to figure out which product to use so we can hone in on a color. Please advise, and thank you!
You cannot apply TWP semi-solid over another brand of stain. The Cabot would have to be stripped and sanded first to fully remove it.
Penetrating stains like TWP are always better and easier to maintain over a solid stain.
Three coats of Sherwin Williams Superdeck over six year period that is now peeling. Sanded with palm sander 40 grit and 120 grit. Stripped then with Valspar and did not brighten. This is the result. Any recommendations?
No pictures.
ok, so none of that worked. What I am doing now is Klean strip from Home Depot. It’s $40 for a large can. Following the directions and it is a very slow process, three boards at a time, but it works. the S/W is a semi-transparent water based.
one or two coats on 40 grit and 120 grit sanded surface?
One.
Would TWP Semi Solid last as long as Restore a Deck solid?? thx
Yes.
I need to stain my cedar belly band on the house, it’s new wood and it needs to be black… any suggestions on what the best oil based semi-trasparent stain would be? I have used Cabots on the rest of the house and like it a lot so far I’m just afraid it will not be dark enough and don’t want any peeling as we are in Washington state.
Cheers!
Try the TWP Semi-Solid in Charcoal color.
I was hoping to purchase the twp semi solid stain for my old composite deck. However, once I typed in my address it said due to regulations this cannot be shipped to me (I live in Indiana). Any thoughts suggestions?! Should I just use the TWP 1500 series instead?
Thanks!
Yes, you could try that.
Can this product be used on cedar fencing?
Yes, it works great for fences.
Can I use this over an older semi solid that has been cleaned and sanded with 220 for a smooth surface?
No, you have to remove the old stain completely before using a new stain.
Where can you find this product
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-semi-solid-pro-series
Will this be more slippery as compared to the semi-transparent TWP 1500?
No difference.