Thickening Gel Additive for Restore-A-Deck Stripper – Clings up to 1 Hour
Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Thickening Gel is a special blend that is added to premixed 5-Gallons of the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. With a longer dwell time, Restore-A-Deck Stripper Thickening Gel will raise the effectiveness of the stain stripping by adding the ability to cling to vertical and horizontal surfaces for up to 1 hour. Works especially well on improving the performance of the stripping on vertical wood such as wood railings, wood fences, and wood-sided homes.
This product works as a Thickening Gel additive for the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper and is not effective as a standalone product.
Note: For even better results, use the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster Additive in conjunction with Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel. The Restore-A-Deck Stripper Booster will raise the effectiveness of the stain stripping up to 300%.
Where to Use Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel
Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel should be used to increase the effectiveness in stripping difficult-to-remove wood and deck stain coatings. RAD Stripper Thickening Gel improves effectiveness on removal for most exterior wood and deck finishes including:
- Increased effectiveness for vertical surfaces such as railings, wood siding, log homes, and wood fences
- Longer dwell time for horizontal and decking surfaces.
- Improves performance on Acrylic-based wood and deck coatings
- Improves performance on Oil-based wood deck coatings and clear wood and deck sealers
- Improves performance on Transparent wood and deck stains
- Improves performance on Semi-transparent wood and deck stains
- Improves performance on Semi-solid exterior wood and deck stains.
SURFACE PREPARATION:
Surfaces to be stripped must be above 50°F. Protect adjacent surfaces; cover with plastic sheets and/or tape off any adjacent areas not being stripped. Thoroughly wet and/or cover plants and shrubs. Rinsing residue will not harm plants or roots. Exposure to full-strength product will burn foliage.
The Restore-A-Deck Wood and Deck Stain Stripper/Thickening Gel Additive needs to be neutralized with the Step 2 Wood Brightener.
Important Note: Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper w/Thickening Gel may not fully remove Solid Color Wood Stains, Paints, Varnishes, and Excessively Over-Applied Acrylic Semi-Transparent and Semi-Solid Coatings. To remove these deck and wood stain types, use the RAD Paint & Solid Stain Stripper
The Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel works only with the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. The Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel is not compatible and is not needed for the RAD Paint & Solid Stain Stripper.
If we are doing our deck in sections, over time, do we just clean the stain applicator brushes (we have two) in water? Do we also use soap to clean them between uses?
If I add the gel thickener and/or booster to the stripper, do I still use a garden sprayer for application? It seems it would clog up quickly. Thanks.
It will spray with a quality pump sprayer.
I totally sanded my deck down to bare wood before I discovered your product. Do I still need to strip or just brighten. Before staining a semi transparent color.
Brighten and pressure wash rinse. One coat of stain if you sanded.
Help to cling to verticals when stripping giving longer dwell times.
Sorry about this. Do you need more product to finish?
We are trying to finish a deck project we began last year. But ran into the problem of needing to replace more wood than we first thought. Thus we did the parts of the deck that we could (the wood needing replacing revealed itself as we went along). We used the cleaner, brightener and then a solid stain as we were unable to remove all of the previous solid stain.
We have about 50 spindles that need replacing this year along with a skirt portion we could not reach last year due to a raised garden. I am trying to buy product for this year to complete the job. We have plenty of stain. Maybe some brightener. I am wondering if the thickening products work only in the stripper or can they be used in any of the other products to reduce dripping?
We bought the spindles last year so they could weather – now about a year’s worth of weathering.
please outline what we need to do. DO we need to clean everything again? brighten everything? The spindles are placed every other one. Is it possible to clean and brighten and stain them before putting them on the deck?
Your help is greatly appreciated!
The gel can only be used with the stripper. You can prep and stain before putting them on the deck.
I have read other post that say it is best to use stripper and brightener in the same day. What do you recommend if sanding needs to be done after stripping? Could you also recommend the best type of sander to use. All I have is a handheld orbital. Thank you.
If you have to sand, do it between. Any sander should work.
So brighten before sanding? ? I am trying to remove Olympic Maximum semi transparent stain which I was told is not easy. I may need to sand quite a bit in only some areas and not other. It’s my understanding that sanded wood is considered new. Does it then need to be conditioned/brightened to accept product? If I end up with a surface that has new and old wood How many coats of semi transparent stain should I put on them. It say 1 for new or sanded wood and 2 for old ??♀️. I don’t want it to blotch
No, strip, sand if needed, and then brighten. One coat would be safer.
Thank you for clarifying that! One last question please. If I can not completely remove all the old semi transparent stain would it be better to use your semi transparent or stain for good coverage?
Do you mean use Solid Stain if you cannot remove all of the old stain? Yes, it will give a better uniform appearance.
Yes and thank for for all your assistance. Very impressed with these Q&A segments.
So I am thinking I will have a tough time applying stripper (with additives) AND the brightener the same day. 1. If this happens, what would you advise I do? 2. How long do I allow the stripper to sit on wood before power wash? Stripper says power wash after 15 minutes BUT additives say up to 1 hour…
It is best to do it all on the same day as the brightener is needed to neutralize the stripper. The brightener part will take less than an hour. Let the stripper dwell for 15-45 minutes and then pressure wash off. Mist to keep the wood wet while it dwells.
After using the stripper, gel and booster combination, what is the longest period that I can wait to follow up with the brightener ?
Brighten right away is best, not days later.
Does this mean you can use the gel and booster additive together in the same 5 gallon mix or seperately in different mixes? Note: For even better results, use the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster Additive in conjunction with Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel. The Restore-A-Deck Stripper Booster will raise the effectiveness of the stain stripping up to 300%.
Best is to mix both additives into the stripper so all together.
All of the items in my cart are RAD. Why is there a shipping charge?
The only way for that to happen is if you have an item that is not a RAD item or you are in Canada. Brush, stain pad, etc.
how well will this work stripping solid color stain?
You had a combo pack that contained the stripper, brightener, thickening gel, and booster on amazon but I do not see it on the website. Will this be available again at some point? When I tried ordering it from my saved list it was not available anymore.
We do not sell a combo pack on this site. It is actually less if you add them all to the cart.
If I am only re staining with a solid stain, do I still need to use a wood brightener for neutralizing, if I am using deck stripper/thickening gel additive? I don’t understand why I should use the wood brightener if I plan to use a solid stain on my deck. I do think that using the thickening gel additive will help with the spindles and railing, and using the booster additive will benefit, as well. Please, explain, we need guidance. Once I place an order, how long will it take to ship and arrive to Lancaster, PA? Thanks, Irene G
Brightener neutralizes the stripper so yes, it does help. We are delayed with shipping due to COVID-19 restrictions. That is explained during checkout.
If you use the thickening gel, do you need to use a brush to apply the stripper or can you still use a pump sprayer?
It can be sprayed with a pump sprayer.
Will this Strip stain from a pine log home when the gel additive is used? The stain on the log home was a three coat system called Van EX 640 for the first coat and 680 for the other two coats. This is a waterborne wood sealer. That was all the information I could acquire, hope that helps. The home is 13 years old, and a fresh coat with the same three coat system applied three years ago. I will be switching stain on the home, so I will need to remove all the old product.
Thank you,
Ken
Reply with pictures of the current condition of the stain. We have never heard of this stain product.