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See independent customer how-to videos for the Restore-A-Deck Wood Prepping and Stain Products. All videos have been made in the field without any compensation from Restore-A-Deck, by actual consumers.
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How to Prepare A Deck for Staining with Restore-A-Deck Products
Products Used
- Restore-A-Deck Cleaner
- Restore-A-Deck Brightener
How to restore a 30-year-old deck with Restore-A-Deck Products
Products Used
- Restore-A-Deck Stripper
- Restore-A-Deck Booster Additive for Stripper
- Restore-A-Deck Brightener
- Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Stain
How to prep and apply a maintenance coat of stain with Restore-A-Deck Products
Products Used
- Restore-A-Deck Cleaner
- Restore-A-Deck Brightener
How to clean and stain Decks and Retaining Wall In One Day with Restore-A-Deck Products
Products Used
- Restore-A-Deck Stripper
- Restore-A-Deck Brightener
- Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Stain
Hi My name is Sandra. I am trying to restore my deck using your products. Yesterday, I completed Steps 1 and 2 using the striper, booster, and brightener. I found some “spots” ( refer to Pic 1) on the wood this morning. I am not sure what it is, and how to proceed. Could you please advise on the next steps to fix it so I can proceed with Step 3? Thanks in advance for your help.
Pic 1 – Spot
Pic 2- Deck today
Pic 3- Deck yesterday after washing off the brightener.
That is furring of the wood and can happen when you “over” strip. See this articles for tips:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/wood-fuzzies-furring-on-deck/
I have stripped and power washed my older green treated pine deck. There is considerable furring of the wood that I want to sand off. Should I sand before brightening?
Yes. The easiest is to use a floor buffer with sanding pad. It will knock down the raised wood fibers.
I used restore a deck on new wood last year. I am planning to do another application. Should I use cleaner or stripper? Thank you.
Cleaner.
Hello,
I am in the process of replacing some of the worn cedar deck boards on my deck with new boards (that were stored outside at a local store where I purchased them. I lightly sanded them to clean them up a bit.) I also have existing deck areas that were previous finished with restore a deck about two years ago. I would like to recoat the existing deck boards and also stain the new boards. How do I time doing this? Do it all at once? I have ordered and recieved 5 gallons of restore a deck semi transparent stain, so I am just waiting to replace a few more older boards. Thank you!
Do it all at once but you have to weather the new boards first for at least 3 months.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood
When time, strip and brigthen the stained wood and clean and brighten the new wood. This will help to get the wood to blend better.
I meant RAD solid
I know fillers are a dirty word; however can fillers be used if I am going with super deck solid?
Our RAD Solid stain will cover wood fillers.
Do you shake or stir the stain before applying? Or just apply without doing either? We cannot find any mention of this on the stain bottle or the website. We’ve finished cleaning/brightening and want to start staining right now.
Yes, you must shake the RAD stain for 30-60 seconds before using.
We’ve stained the cedar railings on our deck with RAD stain within the past couple of years. It’s an area without a lot of sun so in the past year or so some of the stained railing are accumulating moss, showing a green tinge. What is the best way to clean the railings without stripping, cleaning and applying stain again. Thanks in advance.
Warm water and a little bit of dish soap. You can also use this to prevent:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-guard-mildew-cleaner-preventer-1-gallon.html
We used RAD for the first time to strip previous stain, clean and stain our deck last year. Anything we should do this year? Please advise.
No need. Wait another year or two to prep and recoat.
Great! Thanks for the quick response!
Here’s a picture from a section that restore step 1 was done twice. Scrubbed by hand with a scrub brush the second time. Frustrated and thinking of just sanding it and then staining. And suggestions appreciated.
It looks like you may have an old stain or clear coat sealer on the wood. Do you happend to know if you do? Alos, what is going on in the top left? Looks like a solid stain or paint there, but soemthing was coverring it.
No stain or sealer ever. There was an outside rug on that section and it looked good before cleaning.
It looks like a clear sealer was applied prior, are you the original owners? Options are if a clear sealer then you need to strip instead of clean. If 100% certain there is no sealer, then you are not getting close enough to the wood when pressure washing after applying the stripper. Still pretty certain that a sealer was used prior though. See pic of a clear sealer that has turned white and after stripping pic. Similar to your pic.
We have used the step one after power washing but it doesn’t look good enough to stain. We are redoing step one now. Should power wash after scrubbing? And what is the purpose of the brightener? We already have Valspar semi transparent stain and we’re planning to do that after step 1.
Post some pics. You must neutralzie with the step 2 after using the Cleaner.
I ordered the restore-a-deck package of cleaner and brightener. I ordered 3 more of the cleaner less than 1 week ago and have not received a confirmation other than payment. Your phones are disconnected and I am unable to get information
Hi, Our phones are not disconnected. Are you dialing the correct #? 866-856-3325 As for your last order, it was on June 2nd and it shipped out and was delivered on June 3rd.
Tracking Number: 0 1ZE380550397006546
Shipment Reference: 0 ORDER # 213700
Service: 0 UPS Ground
Weight: 0 12.00 LBS.
Shipped or Billed On: 0 Jun 03, 2023
Delivered on: 0 Jun 06, 2023 1:58 PM
Delivered to: 0 12626 MERLAU AVE
PLAINWELL, MI, US 49080
Location: 0 Met Customer
What type brushes and what type and length nap roller covers are recommended for your solid stain application?
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/pdf/Restore-A-Deck-wood-stain-data-sheet-SOLID-COLOR.pdf
I have just ordered your brown walnut solid stain for my 23 year old pressure treated wood deck that has previously been coated with only semi-transparent coatings. I previously ordered and received your prep kit and as soon as the stain arrives want to start with my restoration process. I have read and watched videos of the two step prep process and think I understand that well, but not sure what is the best method to apply the actual solid stain. I was going to buy one of your wide deck brushes, but it said these are only to be used for semi-transparent coatings. What should I use to best apply the solid stain?
For solid stains, you will need rollers and brushes to apply. The yellow brush will not work for solid stains.
Stripper looks like a good product. We have a 23 year old covered deck that is in good shape that has original redwood stain. Through the years we have restrained it maybe three times with Behr Wood Finish water based. Just wanting to start over since we are installing new decking to exposed connecting deck. Has anyone had a similar situation and did stripper do a good job. Thanks!
Post some pics for prep helpt and tips.
Here are the pictures you requested. Thanks.
You have a solid opaque stain in appearance. Do you want to remove it fully or what is loose and then recoat with our solid stain?
Thanks for responding. I want to remove it completely and start over.
Want to restain with a transparent stain.
Sorry to bother you again but haven’t seen a response from my last message. Thanks.
Hi,
Sorry for the late response. You will need to fully remove it to use a proper semi-transparent stain. Strip and or sand to fully get off the opaque stain.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-paintstrip-paint-solid-stain-stripping-gel.html
I have a pressure treated deck with what I believe is a solid stain over over a semi-transparent stain. If I’m planning to use one of your solid stain products, would the prep consist of cleaning and stripping? Thanks.
when recoating with a solid stain, you want to remove all the peeling and loose stain as much as possible. You can then cover the solid stain that is not peeling with the RAD Solid Stain.
Can you extend a complete deck stain renovation over a month if weekends are all you have?
You should stain withing 2 weeks of prep.
Thank you
How do I unsubscribe from email notices?
There is an unsubscribe at bottom of the emails.
Just placed an order. How long till it arrives to Massachusetts?
3-4 business days.
We finished railings on our huge pool deck, within the two week deadline after prep, but floor boards and outside fascia were not. Can we still stain now? I don’t know how we’d repeat steps 1 and 2 without getting product on railings, and have no desire to go through that again anyway, even though floor was easiest by far. What will consequences be if we just stain floor anyway, at day 16-18 after prep? Thanks.
Give it a light pressure wash to remove any direct and then stain.
Thank you!
I used TWP 1500 oil based series stain on my deck 3 years ago. Do I need to strip and brighten before applying restore a deck stain?
Yes, that is correct.
what is the recommended wood moisture content before staining.
The RAD Stains can be applied to damp or dry wood: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/how-to-restore-a-deck-stain-to-damp-wood.html
We had 2 pine decks (more than 1 y.o., but never stained/treated before) cleaned and brightened yesterday. We need to pause the work due to an emergency (today, tomorrow). Tomorrow there is rain in the forecast, and for the following 2 days showers.
Can we restart on the last day of showers, i.e. if they occur in the morning? We would have needed to re-wet anyway…
Independent of the answer to the previous question, when re-wetting, is hosing ok or should it be with a power washer? Do we need to use brightener again after the pause and/or rain?
Thanks in advance for the help.
If you have already cleaned and brightened all the wood, then proceed to staining.
Just finished my front deck (new seasoned pine) using cleaner, brightener and semi transparent dark walnut. Beautiful color!!! I purchased the brush and used it as well. I followed the prescribed method up till the end when I noticed an area that appeared lighter so I “touched it up” using a paint brush. It became much darker and put a sheen on the area that I touched up. Am I able to put a second coat on the whole deck to have a more even application and a darker finish? I will post a picture tomorrow morning when it’s light outside.
No, do not do this. It cannot be shiny. That means it was over-applied and can create issues down the road.
I am not happy with the result. How do I fix?
It cannot be spot fixed so you would have to remove all and start over. Use the Stripper with both additives and pressure washing. Brightener last.
If I use a semi-transparent stain on an outdoor Douglas Fir Table, should I put a sealant over the stain?
No, you cannot top coat a deck stain with a sealer. No need.