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,
We have a gazebo with a metal roof. There is a tower bit at the top (photo). Will the stripper, brightener, or stain affect the metal roof?
You should avoid getting the stain and the brightener on the roof.
Had a scrap piece of ipe that had aged gray…mixed small amt of rad cleaner then Brightener and think I followed directions to the letter…now waiting the 48 hrs to try stain colors and see the ipe looks like it has a cloudy wHite film…ok to proceed or would you reclean?
Post a picture.
435 SQ ft deck
Unsure type of wood or age. Pine I think? I replaced a few boards last year with PT deck board.
There was a reddish stain that I pressure washed off last summer.
Wondering if I need to use the stripper or cleaner. Or if I need to sand any.
Cleaner and brightener for the prep. No need to sand.
Thanks! Do you have any real world photos of the cedar stain color?
See our contest from last year. Read the comments:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-prep-wood-stain-contest-2018.html
i had a new ipe deck installed in the Chicago area in Nov. We have let it age through the winter. We would like to stain in the next few weeks (May). I tried a sample of the the oil based Armstrong and Clark on a small area, but I would also like to test a sample of your light and dark walnut before purchasing. How do I remove these test samples areas before applying the cleaner, brighter and using your rad semi transparent product? do i use your stripper or do i need to sand? If sanding, what grit paper do you recommend for ipe? Also, what method do you like best for applying the stain on ipe decks? pads vs sprayer? Brushing? We are older and getting down on our knees for an 800 sf deck seems pretty hard for us. Thanks for your help. We dont want to mess up since this is a first time application! Carol L.
If just a small spot, sand it off. 80 grit should work. Use a stain pad for applying.
I stripped, brightened and stained 15 year old pressure treated deck. All came up fine. My wife is thinking she wants it darker. The stain I used was the light natural Is it a problem to put a 2nd coat of cedar or light walnut on top. The time between coats would be about 1 week.
No, you cannot do that right now. The second coating will not take as the first coating has already cured. You would have to strip it off again.
Hi,
I used Penofin last summer and my IPE deck looks terrible. Do you recommend the cleaner or the stripper to start over?
thanks.
Stripper then brightener.
Hi. We are preparing to do our deck as soon as the Ontario weather warms up…. it’s a large deck that had semi transparent stain applied many years ago, and about 400 sq ft of new boards added 2 years ago when a large pool was replaced with a smaller one.
To minimize differences in old vs newer wood, am I correct to apply stripper to the entire deck, then brightener, followed by stain?
Yes, that is correct.
I have a large south facing pt deck that is 13 month old and never stained. I used an orbital floor sander last week to primarily remove lumber yard stamps. Then we prepped 2 days ago as directed. I have a good bit of furring I assume from pressure washing which I plan to sand off next. My question is: do I apply one coat or 2 and is it ok to apply stain over the milky white boards, about a third of the deck is like that?See photos:
The white is oxidation (graying) of the wood fibers that were not fully removed during the cleaning. I would suggest recleaning again. Only one coat the first time staining.
Thanks for prompt reply. Do you mean clean and brighten again or just one or the other?
Use the cleaner to remove the gray along with pressure washing. Brightener after any sanding.
To be clear, I thought the cleaner could not completely dry on the wood before using brightener to deactivate it, but I can’t see sanding wet wood. So, are you saying to use the cleaner and power wash and the brightener and rinse. Then sand after drying and then use brightener again and rinse?
If you need to sand, then do the brightener after. Normally you would do it right away.
Well, cleaned and brightened and sanded and brightened again. Two days of prep was a lot of work but turned out pretty nicely. Was concerned about applying too heavily for single coat and ended up with a very light coat. Almost 90 degrees and sunny. If we wanna do another coat in a year do we clean and brighten again first or just brighten?
Clean and brighten. Brightener but itself is not going to prep wood for recoating.
Looks good!
We applied restore a deck last spring to an existing deck, using strip (and sand), brighten, stain. The deck looked beautiful all summer. The snow just finished melting (we are in Canada) and there are lots of spots that no longer appear stained.
Is there anything we can do to make this look better or are we stuck doing the whole process every year?
I’d like to wet the deck and go over it with a scrub brush to clean it up but I’m worried about causing further damage to the stain, would it be a bad idea?
You can do a light cleaning with water and a scrub brush and recoat of the floor. Just one coat.
July 2015 I used RAD stripper and brightener and TWP 1515 honeytone. Deck is pine and is 30 years old. May 2018 used RAD cleaner and brighter and same TWP stain. With the light and dark spots should I just use RAD striper or cleaner. Please help
Strip and brightener.
I am interested in your Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain. Do I need to use a sealer too or does this include a sealer?
No need and you cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain.
One more question. Pricing is $USD for Canadian orders – yes? So the cleaning and staining kit at $220 plus freight $78 = $298 USD
Correct.
What products do you recommend for staining a 15+ year deck, pressure treated and stained 4 years ago with Thompson’s WaterSeal “Stain and Sealer”. Should I use the stripper to remove any residue of the WaterSeal (it barely lasted through one winter)?
Yes, strip and brighten for prep.
If I used cleaner and brightener. I couldnt stain within the 2 weeks. Do i used brightened only before staining?
Any info would be appreciated.
Yes.
Hi~ I want to buy RAD stripper & brightener kit. Is it free delivery to Canada or only USA?
If i use stripper, I don’t have to use cleaner for my deck. Thanks~
Free in the USA, not Canada. No need for the cleaner if using the stripper.
what if i have tin under my deck that has been there for atleast 4 years will the cleaner or the brighter hurt it or eat it
No.
Hi. I have a 6 year old deck constructed with pressure treated wood and stained twice with Cabot Gold semi-transparent stain. Can I use RAD’s stain remover…and brightener? Thanks in advance!
You should be able to. Feel free to post a picture of the current deck stain on the deck.
Also, would the stain remover and/or brightener damage concrete pavers that butt up against the deck upon application?
I stained new PT deck a year ago with RAD Wood Stain Natural, and looks like I need to add another coat. The deck is under a covered porch, so only the perimeter boards, front and sides of the deck is exposed to sun and rain and those areas especially need another application. Other than a light power washing, do you recommend anything before applying another coat of RAD Wood Stain?
Use the RAD Deck Cleaner while pressure washing for prep: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood.html
I recently stained our deck rails (dark walnut) and managed to get some overspray on our vinyl house siding. Can you recommend the best way to remove it? Thank you.
Try a graffiti remover cleaner from your local hardware store.
For an ipe deck, stained 2 yr ago w AC and to be stained w RAD Cedar, what is the max time between stripping, brightening and then staining before having to re-brighten? I may have to wait a wk or 2 after brightening to stain.
What variables figure into this issue?
Thank you!
2 weeks is fine.
Is the deck brush sufficient to get to the gaps between the deck boards, or does this need to be done with a smaller brush? Also could I use the cleaner/brightner on red cedar pole that had some black mold?
The brush will get down a small amount between the gaps. Maybe a 1/4 inch. The cleaner should help with the mold.
Do you sell sample sizes of Armstrong stain for ipe
We do but you not on the site. You can call 866-856-3324 for this.
Can you pls send pic of three yr old or so ipe deck with light walnut and mahogany? Thank you! How much rad cleaner and Brightener would you advise for roughly 2000sq Ft ipe 3 yr old thinking it has not been sealed…
We do not have any pictures on IPE but you can test samples of the RAD here.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-samples/flypage.tpl.html
You will need about 3-4 Cleaner/Brightener Kits.
If I stain one day and it rains the next or during the night will it affect the stain in any way? I did not see any Q&A about this. Thanks!
No issues.
400 square foot approximately including hand rail and stairs.
I think cedar
Age is approximately over 15 years
I started pressure washing a bleach solution mold armor deck spray.
I recently cracked a board and replaced with a brand new, and I’m worried the stained wont match from the old boards. Planning on putting restore a deck brightener, and then sanding to hopefully make it match.
I want to finish this deck before may 11th which is our house warming party. Hopefully we can find a dry weekend
Prep with both the RAD Deck Cleaner and the RAD Brightener. Sanding will not make the wood match and will hinder the stain’s ability to soak into the wood. Do not sand. There is no way to match your old wood to your new board the first time staining.
i am cleaning and brightening an IPE deck that has never been stained. The deck has glass panels surrounded by wood which also has to be cleaned. I read something about glass being damaged by this product. What would be the process to clean the deck and glass & wood railing without damaging the glass. thanks
Glass is not damaged by the prep products but you do have to be careful of dirt and grime sticking to the glass while drying. Pre-wet the glass and rinse during cleaning and thoroughly after and you should be okay.
Will the brightener damage the glass?
No.
We had a cedar deck installed in July of last year which is 375 sq ft. How much of each product should I order?
3-4 Gallons of the RAD Wood Stain. 1 Cleaner/Brightener Kit.
Can I purchase 2.5 gallons verses 5 gallons? 1 container instead of 2.
Sorry but no.
Hi,
I have two questions. I purchased the stripper, brightener and stain kit. This is a recently purchased home and had failing, unknown stain. I used the stripper on 4/7. The stripper worked well but there are some stubborn areas which I am currently sanding. I just read the directions again and realized it is recommended to use the brightener immediately after stripping. I unfortunately did not do so, although I rinsed the deck thoroughly with water. Is there something I can or should do to ensure the stain adheres well? Or did I really mess up by not using the brightener right after stripping?
Also, sanding is taking a while since this is a large deck. Does it matter if I sand over the course of a couple weeks before staining? I like in PA so the weather is quite mild right now, but I am worried about the unprotected wood being unprotected for a couple weeks.
Thank you!
You can still use the brightener now. Just best results if you do it right away. If it takes a few weeks to sand, lightly pressure wash all wood and then brightener after.
Thank you for the quick reply and guidance. Looking forward to getting this completed with the help of RAD products!
1st pic is from day after application. 2nd pic is from this last week.
Lightly wash with the RAD Cleaner. No need to for the brightener. Apply one light coat to the floors.
I did a clean > brighten > stain last July. Deck was admittedly in rough shape going into it (18 years old), but came out looking great. A Wisconsin winter later there are some grey streaks appearing. What is the recommendation for proper re-application?
BTW..I have had a gallon of the stain in my shed for a year now. Temp never below 45 in there. Is the stain still good?
Unopened it should be fine as long as it did not freeze.
I used the TP100 Clear Stain on my deck 3 years ago. Should I use the cleaner or the stripper on it as the first step? There is mildew on it now so I doubt there is much stain left on it. Your suggestions would be appreciated. BTW…LOVE your products and have recommended them to all interested…
If you are using the TWP Clear again, then use the Cleaner for prep.
Hi we applied RAD to our deck and it turned orange?? We had a natural pine deck and it was installed as of last april 18, we followed direction and prepped the deck as you suggested and got a awful orange deck. We made sure to stir and shake product before use ..how can we get rid of the orange glow?
The final color for the RAD stain will vary on many things. Wood type, prep, the age of the wood, the porosity of the wood, and application method. The Natural color is tinted “golden” but final color can vary between a light golden color to a caramel color based on all these variables mentioned above. Most likely your wood type is enhancing the natural tones of your wood. Attached is an example of the Natural tint on a deck.
There is not a way to lighten or get rid of the orange outside of removing and starting over. It also does have a tendency to fade or tone down in color.
Just following up from my question below . Posting pictures . I dont know if just a clean and stain will work or if I need to go further and strip. Here are some photos
You will need to strip and brighten this. You will also need the Stripper additives for best results. See these links:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/RAD-Kits-Best-Prices.html
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-stain-stripper-additives.html
I’m looking at them now booster and Gel . Can you still spray the Gel on with a pump sprayer or should i forgo the gel and just get the booster ?
You can spray the Gel with a pump sprayer.
Just looking to see if your products can be used on Western Red Cedar Siding with Sikkens stain on it . If so what combo would you recommend . We bought the house (9 years old) and its in need of some cleaning and re staining.
You will need to remove the Sikkens. Can you post a picture of the siding with the Sikkens on it?
Here are some pictures
Can you tell me if this product will kill or damage plants ? I have hostas all around my deck and they are starting to come up .
It shouldn’t but cover with plastic when applying and rinse before and after any dirt and soap residue that may get on the plant leaves.
do you have any pictures of decks stained with the dark walnut?
Look through the comments on this link.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-prep-wood-stain-contest-2018.html
i live in Taiwan and bought some of your product whilst in the US and want some more do you ship outside the US
Sorry but no.
Do you still sell you 2.5 gallon container? I have a 400 sf deck.
We do not offer the 2.5 gallons on our website.
Two questions:
1. How long does it take RAD stain to dry enough for light traffic? I have several heavy items on my deck (which has quite a few steps) that I prefer not to move. My plan is to stain half the deck, let that dry, then move the heavy items to the stained side and then finish. How long would I need to allow for this?
2. My deck is a mix of older and newer wood. I had a section added last summer and have replaced some boards on the older side. The original wood was treated with a Thompson’s grade clear water seal a few years ago. Water no longer beads on these previously treated boards so I assume that treatment has totally worn off. Do I need to do anything besides clean/brighten the entire deck? Any stripping needed on the older sealed wood?
1. 2-6 hours.
2. Clean and brighten the new wood. Older wood, if it has a coating, will need to have that coating removed.
I went through the complete process back in Sept of 2018. I cleaned, stripped and brightened then stained. It looked great after many, many hours of prep and staining. After this winter some portions have flaked (for lack of a better word) off. Please see attached pictures and let me know what is recommended.
Hi Jamie,
The pictures show an over application of the stain. The RAD stain is a penetrating stain that soaks fully into the wood grain. In the pictures, it was applied to the point that it did not soak in correctly but dried on top of the wood. Even to the point that is created a shine, which it is not supposed to do.
See the attached picture with the description of the proper application.
At this point, it might be best to just lightly touch up those spots and then do a full restore next year.
My deck is 650 Square feet . The deck is about 4 years old and has never been stained or sealed. I do have a power washer. How much cleaner, brighter and stain would I need.
One RAD Cleaner/Brightener Kit. About 6-7 gallons of stain.
What would you recommend for this deck? I don’t know its history but nothing has been done in the last 5 years except a brief power wash with deck cleaner.
Thanks!
Use the Restore A Deck Stripper and Brightener Kit:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/order-restore-a-deck/rad-kits-best-price/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit/flypage.tpl.html
Does this deck looked like it was previously stained???
If it was, it was a long time ago and most likely with a clear sealer.
Will it be ok to use your stripper and brightener on it?
Sure.
I have power washed my ipe patio table two chairs and two bench seats. What color should I use to get the natural ipe look. It was a darker reddish brown when I purchased it about seven years ago
Light Walnut color.
I restained my Ipe deck over the weekend using the Armstrong Clark Natural Tone oil. I had gone through the proper steps of stripping and then brightening with the RAD products. For some reason, the resulting appearance is chalky and not consistent. Stain was applied about 4 days after the brightener and was done at about 60 – 65 F. I have used other Armstrong Clark colors in the past with good results, but Natural Tone did not have good results.
Any ideas?
There is nothing in the AC Natural that would cause a “chalky” look. Could be something else that caused this. Can you add a picture?
Please see the attached photos. Note that these were taken approx 48 hours after finishing application. Weather has been mild – 40 – 65 F with intermittent rain. Should I expect that the finish will be more consistent after it dries further?
Thanks for the pictures. I just realized that you use the Natural color and on IPE. Natural is not a color that is suggested for IPE. AC has three Hardwood/IPE colors. Mahogany, Amber and Black Walnut. The Natural does not have enough tint in it to darken the dense wood of the IPE. Amber would have been the correct product. What you are seeing is the wood grain causing this discoloration.
When wet with water, does it look much better and even in appearance?
I am having a new garage door made from Kiln dried cypress at my home in Northern Georgia. I read the “RAD and new wood” article, and understand that you recommend that new kiln dried wood should be allowed to weather for 30 – 60 days before applying RAD stain. However, the fabricator of the door recommends staining the door before it is hung so that the entire surface area, including that which will be covered by door attachment hardware, can be covered. The Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association also recommends staining immediately upon installation to protect from “moisture absorption, discoloration from rain, and mildew”. I am confused by this conflicting advice. What is the downside from applying the stain before the wood has weathered as you recommend?
Thanks
You cannot prestain. Sorry but the RAD will not soak into the wood correctly if you do not weather and prep.
Please send me an order list for products needed to clean and stain an older screened-in porch with a newly built deck attached. New deck is four months old, never cleaned or stained. It is 460 square feet, no railing, and has two benches approx. 40 square feet, and two sets of steps. First set of steps is four feet wide with four steps down and hand rails. Other set of of steps has no rails and is ten feet wide and four steps down.
Older Screened-In porch is covered, approx 15 yrs old, and is 144 square feet. Does not look like it has ever been stained or sealed. Porch has Ten 4X4 vertical supports that need to be cleaned and stained also. No additional steps or rails on screened-in porch.
All wood for all areas is pressure treated Pine. Thank You, JT
We would suggest two of the combo kits for a total of 10 gallons and 2 each of the clean and brightener:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-5-gallons-and-cleaner-brightener-combo-kit/flypage.tpl.html
I moved in to a new house 1 year ago. It looks as if my deck was most recently stained in November 2017. Sherwin Williams super deck solid stain was used. The stain started peeling shortly after we moved in. I was looking to use your 3 step process this spring. However I see that RAD stripper does not work with solid stain removal. Is there a product you do recommend for this process? Then would I use the cleaner after that, then the brightener and then stain? Thanks I will try to upload a few pictures.
No. Stain strippers are not effective at solid stain removal. You will need to power sand.
Clean and brighten the wood after the power sanding.