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!
I followed the RAD three step process in every detail and my 16×32 pressue treated deck is beautiful. I finished 48 hours ago and now notice a few sections (3″ x 12″ that have a little less coverage than most of the deck. Can I touch up these areas?
It may not take or blend if you touch up spots after it has already cured. Best to leave as is. You can always do a light wash and recoat if needed next Spring.
I’m doing my deck in sections as I have an upper and lower. Will splashes of the cleaner/neutralizer damage the section I’ve already completed using the semi transparent stain.Or should I neutralize everything at once and work at my own pace.
Best to clean and brighten all wood at once. Then stain in sections if needed.
I have 2 year old IPE wood deck that hasn’t been stained. It’s turned to the natural gray from being exposed to the sun. We’d like to stain it now to extend its life. Do we still need restor a deck after power washing it? If so, which products? Thanks!
Yes, you need to clean and brighten the wood with the RAD products. Stain with the RAD Semi-transparent stain. Most use Light Walnut on IPE.
How long after staining, can I apply touch ups without having to prep with clean/brightener.
Thanks.
You cannot “touch up” spots once the product cures and dries. It will not take and will not blend most likely.
ok, so what is the process, clean/brighten – and then recoat areas with full coverage?
After 9-12 months, yes.
We will use stripper and brightener prior to the semi-transparent stain application.
We had a deck finished with 3 coats of solid stain over the last 10 years. We completely sanded the deck to the bare pine wolminized wood. Why do suggest only one coat in application like this versus 2?
Sanding reduces the stain’s ability to soak in so only one coat will work.
I have about 200 sq. ft. of new, unfinished front porch that I intend to stain with the RAD semi-transparent stain, after applying the cleaner and brighter. I also have about 550 sq. ft of old deck that is currently covered in an ugly solid stain that is starting to peel in many places. In the best of all possible worlds, I would be able to apply your semi-transparent, light walnut stain over all surfaces. Should I (a) forget about it, and stick with a solid stain on the old deck; (b) sand the old deck, then use cleaner, brightener and semi-transparent stain; or (c) use stripper with additives, then sand, brighten and stain with semi-transparent stain?
You cannot strip off a solid stain fully so you would need to sand it off or recoat with another solid stain.
And if I sand it off, do I apply the cleaner, brightener and stain?
Yes, correct.
Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.
Last fall I ordered the wrong color Restore-A-Deck semi transparent, Natural.
I want to change it back to the dark walnut:
Do I need to remove last years stain first?
Or am I able to re-stain this summer with either Restore-A-Deck semi transparent, dark walnut or TWP 1504, Black Walnut withour the removal of the old stain?
Strip and brighten for the prep is correct. It does not matter what stain brand you use, it still needs to be removed for best results.
I am confused by this answer, first time doing a 1 year old new deck, using RAD cleaner brightener and the semi trans stain. I read that I should only give 1 coat the 1st time. So when it needs a second coat, I need to strip this all off? I thought that was only necessary, if changing brand. Thought it would just be clean and brighten and use same stain. ??
If you are changing color you will need to strip and brighten the wood for prep. When redoing in the future and using the same color and brand, just clean and brighten for prep.
I did a complete RAD on our cedar deck 2years ago. Now it needs treatment again. Do I need to do all the steps again.
Yes, that would be correct.
I want to restore a 224 sq ft total deck/dock (two separate surfaces) here in SW Florida. It was built in 2015 of pressure-treated marine grade lumber and stained about 6 months after being built with Sherwin Williams Superdeck Water-Based Semi-Transparent Redwood. I’ve had to replace 3 of the boards to date due to rotting through. It’s in direct sun throughout the day.
I want to use your products and like the idea of switching to Cottage Gray instead of a wood tone.
Can you tell me please: is your Stripper and Brightener toxic to plant and marine life? is it possible to cover the redwood with your cottage gray without a ton of extra work or would it be easier to stay with a wood tone? how many coats would you recommend? Here are a few pictures of both the deck, dock and stairs. Thank you.
You will need the stripper with both additives for this: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-stain-stripper-additives.html
RAD Brightener after. The Redwood color must come off fully. Two coats applied wet on wet. Cover plants when stripping.
Thank you for your reply and advice! So, if I need to cover plants, is the stripper going to kill marine life in the creek when it gets washed off into the water? What type of applicator do you recommend for the stripper with the additives? Do I pressure wash the stripper off?
Do you think 5 gallons of stain would be enough to do the two coats wet on wet? Thanks again!
No, it does not kill marine life. Apply with a pump sprayer and then pressure wash off. 5- gallons should be enough.
Thank you very much! Looking forward to seeing the results!
Can restore a deck be used on a dock over water?
Yes, it can.
1) I used RAD stripper but my pressure washer malfunctioned so I was not able to pressure wash the stripper off until 6 hours later and couldn’t put brightener on until 8 hours later after. Are there any concerns? 2) for the stilt beams below, I ran out of brightener and with delayed shipping, I’m not going to get anymore. Is it okay to just wash off the stripper and stain or should a I run to the local hardware store and get a substitute brightener?
1. As long as the stain stripped off and you rinsed well, you should be fine.
2. You need to neutralize the stripper with a brightener.
Hi my deck is 650 sq ft, 4 year old pressure treated yellow pine. I coated it at that time with Behr transparent natural stain. I was not able to maintain it before this and now it is peeling over 30% of the deck. What do you suggest the treatment should entail. Cleaner&Brightner. Or stripper. I have a pressure washer. Thanks for your help!
Stripper and pressure wash with both additives: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-stain-stripper-additives.html
Brightener after.
O.K. thank you. I thought you had other retail stores there that sold your product.
Thre are some others but not all stock all the products. Best to call them first: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/store-locator.html
Where are your retailers located in Michigan?
We are located in Bloomfield Hills Michigan
stained our deck 2-years ago using the cedar semi transparent stain from restore a deck – looked great but does get pretty much full sun as deck is on south side of the house and also get’s heavy use. was worried when i did apply the stain about applying to much and a pealing action thus was probably little conservative when applying. was looking to do a maintenance coat same color so product can i just clean without any chemicals or strippers and re apply? couple pics attached to try and show what it looks like now. thx
You need the RAD Cleaner for prep.
Okay thanks do you also then still then. Recomend the brightener also?
No need.
will the stripper damage aluminum railings and posts
It should not but always test first.
can i order a handle for the staining brush through your site?
We do not sell the handles. Any threaded pole will work the yellow stain brush.
I sanded brightened and stained a PTP Deck using RAD products and AC semi trans stain 3 years ago. I neglected the deck for three years. Last week I used a pressure washer and brush to remove a lot of dirt etc. I have ordered the RAD cleaner and brightener to remove any remaining dirt and mold to prepare for maintenance stain. Are these the correct steps to take ? Should I wait til fall or is it okay to clean and stain now?
Yes, correct steps. Do now or in Fall is okay.
I am applying one coat of Natural to a 7 month old PTP deck.
How long after application should I wait before the deck gets wet?
I am concerned about afternoon thunderstorms..
4-6 hours.
We have a cedar deck and we used tinted Thompson wood seal….it did not stand up in traffic areas…walked off in a year…we have now sanded off as much as we could…and have been told that thompson wood seal has a wax in it …what product would you recommend to stain or paint this deck. Deck is over 10 years old
For prep, use the RAD Stripper and then the RAD Brightener. Probably need the RAD Solid Stain:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-solid-stain.html
BTW, your nails/screws are rusting and should be replaced.
Hi, I just ordered your semi-transparent stain to put on my new deck. I have two high energy dogs love to run. Its a large deck and I have seen them slide on it when its wet. I heard about grit additives to stain. Do you recommend a certain type or brand of grit additive for your product? Or are those products not good for deck stains in general?
A grit additive will not work with a penetrating stain like the RAD Semi-transparent.
Thank you very much for replying and saving me from making a mess!
Hi, last July I followed the RAD process of strip>brighten>stain (light walnut) on a 10-yr old cedar deck and the results were fantastic! There has been some minor fading/graying, and I would like to apply a maintenance coat in the next several weeks. I will be using RAD products again. I plan to start with the cleaner, but my question is do I need to follow the cleaner up with the brightener prior to applying stain, or is the brightener unnecessary in this case? Thanks so much, appreciate it! Also, I have some leftover, open light walnut stain from last July which is approaching the 12-18 month shelf life. Am I cutting this too close, or should I begin with all new stain? Again, thank you. -Jim
You do not have to use the Brigheenr for maintenance cleaning and recoat. The stain should be fine as long as it did not freeze and the cap was on.
Just finished two coats of your brown oak solid stain on vertical part of deck, have light walnut semi transparent on horizontal (two-tone)
My dilemma, I should’ve gone with the espresso (brown oak is not dark enough)- can I repaint w/expresso directly on top of brown oak? If not I’ll keep as is.
thanks
You can.
Pic
Which color of stain would most closely match Olympic Elite Semi-Transparent Deck Stain – Color-Ginger?
Natural would be closest but they are not the same colors.
I posted a question and pictures a while back about re-staining our siding with one of your semi-transparent stains and was told we should use the stripper, with additives, and brightener before staining. We’ve since decided to use one of your solid stains, instead. Do we still need to strip the old stain off? I can post pictures again, if needed; just wanted to double check before we order. Thank you!
Yes, post pics again.
It was stained 5 years ago with an Olympic semi-transparent.
Use the RAD Cleaner/Brightener kits for the prep while pressure washing for the prep.
And if we aren’t planning to use a pressure washer, do we scrub with a brush after applying the cleaner and then rinse with a hose? I know pressure washing is recommended for your products, but everything we’ve read says not to use them on house siding because it’s easy to force water behind the siding, especially in high areas where you can’t easily keep the nozzle level. Thanks so much for your help!
You need a pressure washer for prep on this. They are wrong about using one and will not harm your siding. Just wash from 8-12 inches away and you are fine.
I have completed my project. It came out great! Thanks for all your help. How do unfollow a posting so I do not get notification emails?
Click the unsubscribe button.
Have a Brand new cedar deck. Black spots appeared on the front section. My wife cleaned it with bleach thinking it would take it off, which it did but now that section of deck is WHITE. What do you suggest I do to correct this? Deck is 24’x24’. Planned on waiting the 3-6 months, clean/brighten and staining with your semi transparent light walnut.
Just wait and prep with the RAD products.
My deck has Behr Deck Plus Solid Color Acrylic Latex. At least 2 coats already. What do I need to strip the paint?
You cannot strip paint off fully. You would have to sand it to remove it fully.
Need to remove old SW solid stain with heavy peeling. What equipment or method is best. I have 4.5″ angle grinder with abrasive pads. Works good and looks good, but horribly slow. How to improve the sanding speed to sand more sq ft per hour. Tool, sanding diameter, and grit. thanks
Rent a floor or drum sander.
Once the brightener is mixed with water, how long will it last in a sealed container?
12 months.
Hello,
I have an 18 year old redwood fence. It is made of Rough cut sawn redwood from my understanding. The fence is 5’ height by 150′ long. I will only be doing my side of the fence as the other homeowners are taking care of their side.
I recently pressure washed the fence, I like the color of the wood after the cleaning. Previously this had been sealed with Thompsons water seal about 4 years ago.
I am really interested in UV protection of the wood. Prior the the pressure washing it was a dull weathered grey color which I did not like. I would like to preserve the existing colors and textures.
What material would you recommend for this. I see you have a Natural Semi Transparent color. Would this allow me to preserve my fence??
See attached photos.
Respectfully,
Paul
The Natural color would give a look similar to that of a wet look.
after staining my deck which came out great, I walked on it next morning and even know it appeared dry dirty boot prints are all over the deck, tried washing it off and scrubbing it with a brush and its still mostly there. my question is should I stain over that, or do I have to do the deck clean, brighten, and stain all over again.
You would have to do it all over again.
We got rad natural semi-transparent and did a test patch on the deck and it’s too yellowy. Is there an additive to use to get it looking more like the cedar semi-transparent.
Thanks
Sorry but not you cannot add tint to it. You can mix colors if you like to darken it. Some Dark Walnut can be mixed into it.
I need to clean and re-stain a cedar T&G ceiling on my outside covered deck. What product do you recommend for cleaning and staining?
Post a picture.
Ceiling is cedar, deck, railing, and posts are Ipe. All have previously been stained with Armstrong Clark Wood Stain. Ipe has been cleaned with Restore A Deck Step 1 Cleaner.
Stick with the AC and cleaner with the RAD first.
I power sanded the deck and will be using rad natural semi-transparent. I read only to do 1 coat but was going to do 2 for durability. Is doing 2 coats a problem.
Thanks
When sanding you should only do one coat.
When I opened the box with the two gallons in it I had a bit of a surprise. One of the gallons was leaking into the bag it was wrapped in. The container had a whole in the bottom. The seal under the cap was still intact. I have pictures if you want them. I opened the bag in the sink and had to wash off the stain to find the leak. I put clear packing tape over the leak and it is holding so far. I turned it upside down so the leak was on top and of course it started leaking from the cap. I need more stain anyway as the wood is soaking it up like a sponge. I’m hoping you can do something on the pricing of the order I am placing tonight. I need three more gallons to finish.
Respond to your order email about this. Thanks
Hi, I have a 22 yr old deck. I ordered semi transparent stain. We have replaced about six boards. Should I wait to stain for several months? Thanks, Eileen
Wait until Fall to prep and stain.
How much to ship to Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Add products to cart and enter shipping info. It updates automatically.
I stripped part of my deck successfully with RAD stripper and had earlier successfully stripped part of it with Behr stripper. Some of the deck is not successfully stripped, but I’m not able to get back to working on the deck again for a few more weeks. The stripping process started a number weekends ago (probably a month at least on the earliest areas). Should I use RAD brightener right now to neutralize the stripper, so it doesn’t darken the PT pine? I heard it the caustic nature of stripper will darken the wood? I’m not sure of my plan to re-stain because of the difficult removal of Behr semi trans in some areas.
Brighten all when done.
So is it accurate to say there won’t be a risk of appreciable darkening if the wood hasn’t been brightened for a few months after stripping?
It will restore the color when you do it later.
Can I use RAD on LVL and if yes, is it better to use the solid stain.
Yes and use the solid stain.
Thanks! Also, a few years ago I had put natural semi- transparent stain on my deck but seems like there is nothing left anymore. Should I use only the cleaner or the striper?
Cleaner.
Will RMD stripper and brightner effect Trex railing and post systems?
No, they should not.
What would you recommend for this 30yo deck?
The RAD Solid stain: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-solid-stain.html
Prep with the Stripper/Brightener Kit.
In the process of preparing to stain my 18 year old PT deck using RMD solid stain, I had to replace several deck boards that had signs of rot with new PT deck boards. Can I proceed to prep using the RMD strip with additives and brightner before staining? About 20% of the deck have new PT deck boards. I was hoping that I didn’t have to wait 60-90 days.
You will need to weather the new wood: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood.html
After stripping and sanding PT wood deck, I applied brightner to dry wood instead of damp wood. Some of product dried before I was able to hose it off. Do I have to re-apply the brightner to damp wood?
Just rinse really well and you will be fine.
300 sq ft cedar deck. 3 yrs old. Not previously stained or sealed. Currently sanding to remove grey surface and restore the original look. I’m considering the semi transparent natural or cedar products.
1.How many gallons do I need?
2.What is the future annual (?) maintenance/ reapplication process (in Canada/harsh winter)?
3.Is it ok if it rains between sanding and application?
4.Other than cleaning off sawdust after sanding, are there any additional steps required before applying the product?
5.Is a paint brush the best way to apply the product?
6.what is the usual shipping time to Quebec?
1. About 2-3.
2. Clean and recoat as needed every couple of years.
3. Yes.
4. Clean and brighten the wood after sanding.
5. Brush or stain pad.
6. 1-2 weeks.
Do I need a second coat of solid stain on horizontal surfaces? If so how soon do I apply it?
Yes, you need two coats when using the solid stain. Apply the second as soon as the first is fully dry.
I’ve ordered the stripper and additives/boosters + brightener but not the stain Q: Can I wait several weeks after stripping before I stain, if so, should I wait to brighten right before staining. Thank you.
Prep within 1-2 weeks of the staining.
How much drying time do I need before rain is a problem with a solid stain.
4-8 hours.