We understand that everyone needs help with their wood/deck restoration and that not all projects are the same. Different species of wood, the age of wood, and types and brands of previous coatings make it difficult for homeowners to determine what is needed to restore their exterior wood or deck correctly.
We will ask some specific questions and reply to what you will need to do in your restoration process and the appropriate products and amounts to purchase, so it receives the proper prep and treatment required.
In the comment section below, you must include:
- Square Footage of Area to be Restored. See below.
- Type of wood if known:
- Approximate Age of Wood:
- If Applicable, Previous Stain Brand Used and Type (Examples of Type: Transparent, Semi-Transparent, Solid Stain, Oil-Based, Water-Based):
- If Applicable, When was the last time wood was stained:
- Wood Type to be Stained (Deck, House, Fence, etc.):
- Do you have access to a pressure washer:
- Miscellaneous Info:
- *Must Include 1-3 Photos of Restoration Project. There is a link to upload photos in the bottom right corner of the comment area.
How to Calculate Square Footage
Deck Sq. Footage
Flooring Length x width =?
Railing Length x height =?
Steps Width x Depth x #of Steps =?
Add up all 3 for the Total Sq. footage.
Fence Sq. Footage
Length x height =?
Multiply x 2 for both sides = Total Sq. Footage
Coverage Rate for RAD Stains
The specified coverage rate for RAD is 150-200 square feet per gallon for the first coat. Second will apply at 200-300 per gallon. This averages to about 100-125 sq. feet per gallon for 2 coats wet on wet. From this, and from measuring the surface you can calculate how much stain you need. For more aged wood you could easily factor in some extra stain. On newer wood that is still smooth and dense, you probably are not going to use as much.
For maintenance coats you are not going to use near as much stain as you did initially staining bare wood. There are just way too many variables to know the exact coverage rate of RAD for sure. There is really no way of knowing exactly how much stain you will need. It is better to buy more than you need than to not have enough. You can always save left over stain for next time. RAD has a shelf life of 1 year if opened and 3 years unopened as long as the can is properly resealed.
Restore A Deck Stain Application Tips
- Applying RAD Stain Wet on Wet Tips
- Restore-A-Deck Stain and New Wood
- Restore-A-Deck Stain Hot Sun Application
I’m just a regular home owner with a 35 year old deck and I got to tell everyone I did my testing on my deck with about 1/2 dozen stains and deck cleaners— I TRYED THEM ALL but hands down RESTORE A DECK STAINS, stripper,cleaner, and brighter are the best no question about it so for all you people out there who r going to do your deck this is it.
Thanks, Peter!
Hello, are you still shipping and taking orders?
We are.
Can a cedar fence that was cleaned and coated with Restrore a Deck, semi transparent stain be recoated after one year? Some of the fence sections were newer than the rest and didn’t absorb as much color as the rest of the fence.
Yes it can. Make sure to clean first.
I’m assuming this is a solid stain. Will the stripper remove it to where a semi will work or will I need to use solid again? Is the stripper necessary if I use solid. I also have a new section, never stained, what would I use on it to try to match the old section?
You will need to use a solid stain again.
Understand the deck will need a cleaner, but is there any point in using a brightener if I’m using a solid stain?
No need.
Thank you. Do RAD sell solid stain?
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-solid-stain.html
I found the solid stains on your website. Would you recommend to put anything on top of the paint to make it more durable?
It is not possible to apply a coating or sealer over a deck stain. It will ruin the coating and peel.
I am removing solid stain that has chipped off in just one year. Trying to decide what I can put down that won’t chip and lift off, especially in high traffic areas.
You will have to 100% remove it then use a penetrating stain: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-5-gallon/flypage.tpl.html
Can I apply a second coat if the first coat has dried?
Not of the semi-transparent stain.
Thank you. How long will a single coat last? What are my options if I wanted to do two coats of semi-transparent.
You can apply bother coat in 6-12 months if needed. Make sure to prep again first.
We recently purchased a house with a large old deck wrap around deck (pressure treated) that looks like it was stained long ago. The deck is probably close to 1000 sq ft. From the looks of it, I think it was a solid grey stain – no idea of the manufacturer. I got samples from you and tested them on a very weathered section of the deck (lots of cracks) and an adjacent section that had been replaced to see about color matching. It looks like the solid stain is the only one that will make up the difference. I don’t really know whether a solid stain will last well on such a cracked deck but it does seem to look better (see photo) and also fairly closely matches the stain that was used a long time ago. We would like to get another 5 -7 years out the deck if we can. We also want to limit the potential for splinters from the deck because we will have grandchildren running around on it. Is there a downside to using the solid stain? Can I apply one coat of the semitransparent to soak into the wood and then a solid coat over or is that a bad idea? What would you recommend?
No downside to the solid stains. You will need two coats. No you cannot apply the semi transparent first.
Hi. I would love to use the stain remover and brightener for my old deck. I just moved to a house and the deck looks terrible. Not sure if the remover would help me with this. Please see attached pictures. Also, the stain you sell, is it water resistant? Does it require a top coat?
Thank you!
You do not need a stripper. You would need the RAD Clean and Brightener Kit. You cannot topcoat a deck stain with a sealer. The RAD sheds water as it is breathable.
I got an earlier response about not need to use brightener. Only the stripper and solid stain.
See picture of old color, is kind of gray. Could you please let me know what I need to purchase: Stripper or cleaner, brightener (necessary) and solid stain ?
Please help! Thanks
You asked about cleaner, not stripper. You can clean only and then use the solid stain. If you strip, you will have to use the brightener. From your picture, it looks like you can get away with the cleaner only for prep if using the solid stain after.
I just put brand new stairs on my deck. I am going to wait several months for the new wood to dry but the deck needs stained ASAP. Should I wait to do the stairs and deck together after the new wood has dried or is it okay to stain the deck now and come back to the stairs in 3-6 months? Will there be much color difference staining them 3-6 months apart?
It would be best and easiest to do all at the same time. It will blend better as well.
I am restoring my 28 year old deck. The previous Cabot semi-transparent stain has weathered. Planning on putting on a solid stain due to the age of the deck. Would I need to remove remaining old stain or can I put the solid stain over the existing stain?
Remove as much as you can with pressure washing. You can cover the rest.
Thanks for the quick response and info. Stay safe.
Will the semi-transparent stain wash off of concrete or do I need to cover it? (there is a concrete patio under the deck).
You will have to cover it. The stain will stain it if you do not.
Can this be used on composite decks? I have a 12 year old Trex deck I want to put a solid stain on.
Sorry but it has never been tested on a composite deck so not sure if it will work or not.
I couldn’t find a way to purchase only one semi-transparent sample on your website. I know cottage gray is the only color I want and don’t need any of the others that come in your kit. I want to see how well it looks on a 15-year-old wood fence that still has patches of latex white paint even after sanding, cleaning, and power washing. I want to preserve the shabby, faded look of an old, neglected fence while protecting the wood itself. Two other questions: can the stain be diluted in case the color is too intense and is your Brightener similar to a wood toner or is it only used to reduce oxidation from cleaning?
Thank you, Elizabeth
Our semi-transparent stains cannot be applied over a paint, even remnants. That would have to be removed fully. It cannot be diluted. The Birthtener neutralizes a Cleaner or Stripper and lightens the pH balance. It is not a toner.
Thank you for your speedy reply. When you say “cannot be applied” do you mean there will be an adverse effect to the wood, or are you saying it won’t cover the painted patches in the same way as it covers the bare wood? Also, is it possible to buy a single sample of semi-transparent stain, rather than the kit sample pack?
They will not cover the paint and it will not adhere or penetrate into the wood where you still have paint. It will not work. We only sell sample kit packs.
More pics
The deck of the house I recently purchased has many cracks in the wood and is about 288 sq ft. I received a quote from a professional who informed me that he would be able to fill in some of the cracks, however, he suggested that the best choice would be to use a power washer and then apply a solid stain. I was disappointed to learn this because I had done the research (including reading recommendations posted to others on your website) and had decided to go with the restore-a-deck semi-transparent wood stain (I also had intended on purchasing the stripper and brightener to use prior). I don’t know how old the deck is but I did observe the pronounced splits in the wood so I am worried about making the wrong choice. I did research on solid stains and everyone has indicated that it hides the grain completely and looks like paint which is def not the look I was going for. I have enclosed pictures of the deck for your reference and I would love some advice from you guys! Thanks so much for taking the time to assist me – I am so grateful!!
Wood filler does not work well on decks and it also will not blend with a semi-transparent deck stain. If you use it, you would have to use a solid stain to cover it. The other option is to just leave the cracks alone (everyone does) and just prep and stain with the RAD products.
Thank you for the recommendations. I will heed your advice and prep and stain with the RAD products. Which specific prep items do you suggest that I use? Also, how many gallons of stain do you recommend for 2 coats on 288 sq feet (approximately)? Thanks very much 🙂
For the prep, you will need one of these kits: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Restore-A-Deck-Packages/Restore-A-Deck-Package-300/flypage.tpl.html
For the stain, does the sq footage include all the railings, stairs, and lattice? If not, you need to add those as well.
Also, given the size of the deck, I am not sure if I will get back to applying the second coat within 1 hour. I live in northeast Florida and hope to complete this project before the end of April or early May before it gets too hot. Will there be an issue if I don’t get the second coat down before the 1st coat drys?
Yes, you will need to apply the second within the hour so you may need to do in sections.
I have about 1100 square feet to stain according to the calculator. I stained the deck about 18 months ago using Valspar clear stain. Do I need to strip or just clean, and do I use 1 or 2 coats of stain? The calculator says I would need 12 gallons of stain – is that for one or 2 coats?
Strip it. Brighten after. 2 coats applied wet on wet. 12 gallons is for two.
i would like to re stain my deck with a color that will not have any orange undertones can you recommend a color beside the grey
Try some samples: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-stain-samples.html
Dark Walnut possibly.
Power washed 1-week ago on a 4 yr old deck (not sure if it has ever been stained), some discoloration and wood fiber/hair on surface. Do I need further prep work before applying RAD stain? Deck is appr. 750 sqft, how much do i need? Thanks!
It looks good to stain.
Thanks. Should I apply one or two coat?
Two: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-wet-on-wet-application.html
Do you have small samples of your stains to purchase? So as test out colors?
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-stain-samples.html
Here r the other railings
does the RAD stain semi transparent take kindly to any filled cracks in deck boards, if so what caulk would be best to use? Would you want to clean, brighten and then caulk then stain if preparing a never stained three year old treated deck that has simply been kept up w powerwashing?
Caulk or wood filler does not work for exterior decking nor will a deck stain “tint” it so it blends.
We bought new house and the deck itself doesn’t seem to have any stain left, but the rails, posts and spindles have some type of stain still on them (it could be solid stain?). It’s clear that nothing has been done to the deck for 5+ years. We were planning to use Semi-Transparent in Dark Walnut. Will this work with the clean & brighten prep?
Not if the railings or previous stain was a solid stain. Post a picture.
Ok, on closer inspection I could be wrong because in all but a few spots I can see the wood grain.
Strip and brighten for prep: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/order-restore-a-deck/rad-kits-best-price/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit/flypage.tpl.html
I want to stain my pergula which lies above an already stained deck. Do I need to protect the decking beneath from the cleaner and brightener that I’ll be using on the pergula?
Thanks
Yes. Other option is to just clean and brighten the floors after the pergola prep and apply a little coat of stain to it when done.
I meant November 2019
In November 2020, in preparation to stain my new deck, I cleaned and brightened but the weather got too cold to stain. Can I stain clean the deck with water and stain or do I have to complete the clean and brighten process again?
You will need to redo the prep.
I’ve stripped and brightened this deck but having a difficult time getting all of the old stain off. I scrubbed and pressure washed. Is this OK for staining or do I need to strip again? There is a slight fuzz on the wood after pressure wash, should a sand it? For the railing, do I need to strip it as well or is another prep recommended. I plan to use espresso solid stain.
Can you post a picture or two of the prep?
Here you go
You can use the solid stain now as long as the current stain that is intact and not peeling.
Are you still shipping to Canada (Toronto) at this moment admit the pandemic?
At the moment, yes.
I did the 3-step Restore a Deck process 2 years ago. This year I want to clean & restain with the same Restore a Deck stain. Do I need to strip it or just Clean & Brighten?
Clean and brighten.
Looking to seal new cedar gazebo 12×14 by Yardistry. Wood is very dry and a beautiful light cedar color. Actually matches vinyl siding shakes on house. Would like to keep original color within reason. Would you recommend this product?
See here for new wood tips: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood.html
All stain colors are tinted and it must be tinted if you want UV protection from graying. It is impossible to maintain the current color with a clear/untinted stain.
I have a cedar deck that was previously stained 2 years ago with TWP Dark Oak. I have used the Restore a deck stripper and brightner and this is what the deck looks like now. I am planning on just spot sanding boards that really need it. Would this be ok or do you recommend sanding the entire deck before staining?
Do not sand at all is best. Sanding reduces the TWP’s ability to penetrate/
Ok thank you. Some parts of the wood grain have small rough patches. When do you recommend sanding a deck to smooth it out? And how often do you recommend sanding.
You can lightly sand with a pole or hand sanding but do not use a power sander.
Can Solid Stain be used on concrete? I have a back deck and steps that is both wood and concrete. If so the square footage is 680 what do I need to purchase?
No it cannot.
New dock aged 8 months do I need to clean it first? What is the best stain? thinner wood about 1.5 inches versus our other dock which is 2″ boards. pine with full sun all day and one side is anchored by grass. 1,128 sq ft – how much do I need?
See this about new wood: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood.html
About 6-8 gallons for the one coat.
Installed cedar deck last fall and love the look of cedar – is the Natural Semi-Transparent clear or will it change the appearance of the natural cedar?
Natural is tinted and will enhance the grain with a golden tint.
I have just finished cleaning and brightening my deck(PT pine) and because of the pandemic, my wages at work were slashed by over 50%, so I need to delay when I do the staining process to lower costs. All instructions say to stain within two weeks, but I may need to wait longer budget wise. How long is too long?
You will have to redo the prep if you wait longer than 2 weeks.
Please see pics. Already did flat surface with RAD solid taupe, now doing railings. Is brown oak the closest match to the present color? I am covering Behr opaque “stain”. As you can see, I will be able to sand off the loose stuff and am using wood hardener to repair gouges, but a lot of the Behr is not chipping at all. Can I put the RAD solid over the behr?. Also, I will be using the rad cleaner, but already have a gallon of Storm brightener (pic attached). Can I use the storm product after RAD cleaner and put the RAD solid over it?
Thanks!
Closest would be the Espresso. You have to pressure wash off the loose Behr and then you can cover the rest as long as it is intact. The Storm Brightener you have will not do anything for this.
How do I get credit for the samples I order when I purchase the stain ?
We do not offer sample credits for the RAD stains samples.
Can I purchase “restore a deck” locally (Akron, Ohio)? If so where?
Online only.
I have two decks I would like to stain. The one by the pool is a pressure treated pine three year old deck that has never been stained it has been cleaned and power washed. The top deck I am unsure of the age I believe it is pine. It was stained three years ago and I’m unsure of the brand. The old stain has basically been power washed off. Could be just apply your stain since they have already been power washed?
The prep looks good enough to stain.
It looks like you have an old Taupe colored solid stain on the floors? If so your only option for a new stain would be the RAD Solid stain.
So, how many coats of the solid stain would we need to apply?
Two.
hi..I have a covered stained deck that has like a foggy dirt that keeps coming up. We cant gt rid of it..any advice>> thanks suzanne
Sorry but no idea what that would be.
Is the solid color stain good for brand new, pressure treated decks?
You will need to weather the wood and prep first: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood.html
We have a 30 year old cedar deck that has areas with moss buildup. The last time we treated it was 7 years ago. The wood is still in great shape but it is way past the time to re-stain it. We have both an upper and a lower deck, each about 300 sq. feet for a total square footage of about 600 sq. feet. We want the cedar or dark walnut color. How would you suggest we approach this job? We usually power-wash the entire deck first and then apply the stain.
Post some pictures here of the current condition.
rebuilt porch stairs last fall. plan to use your stain on the treads. also painted the risers white with the attached products. I used 1 coat of primer and two of paint. didn’t last/ peeling. I wonder if the wood was too wet (pressure treated) and/or it was too cold. I pressure washed off the pieces that came off easily. do i need to get all the paint and do i need to sand scrape. i’d like to use your white since the stain i previously purchased was great!
The RAD Stain cannot be applied over paint to yes, it needs to be removed.
Our deck was treated with Thompson’s water seal transparent deck stain two years ago. This past November I used RAD stripper and brightener. The horizontal surfaces look pretty good, but the vertical surfaces still have a lot of the existing stain. What do you recommend for my next steps?
Use the Stripper again but use both additives this time: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-stain-stripper-additives.html
Where can I purchase your products near Tulsa, OK
Only online.
Do you give credit for a sample purchase to an online order of 1 OR 5 gallon products?
We do not offer credits for sample purchases with the Restore A Deck Stains.
I used cleaner/brightener two years ago and need to redo it. Do I need to use brightener again or can I just put a coat of stain on it?
You need to use both cleaner and brightener again. Using a brightener by itself does not prep a deck.
My deck is about 1 year old and has not yet been treated. Before seeing your product instructions, I washed it yesterday with a 1:4 bleach solution. Will that suffice if I order RAD today? How long does shipment usually take?
You will need to redo the prep with the RAD Cleaner/Brightener Kits if you are using the RAD Stain. Shipping time is based on where you live.
I saw your recommendation to use solid stain for posts and rails. My deck is under 200 sq. ft. Will 1 gallon of semitransparent for deck floor and 1 gallon of solid stain for rails be adequate?
2 gallons for 2 coats on the floor. 1 gallon should be enough for the railings but hard to say for certain.
it has been raining here about 5 of 7 days a week- do I need to wait for a good few days of dry weather before starting this process? I feel the wood is soaked thru and thru its old wood we have sanded behr deckover off of – terrible product by the way lol
1-3 days of drying should be good.