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’m interested in using Restore-a-Deck stain on my deck. I purchased the house last fall and don’t know the deck’s history. It’s PT lumber and my best guess is that it’s 2-3 years old. It’s in quite good condition, but there is no obvious stain/coating on the deck currently. I’m not sure if it has ever been stained. What is the proper prep given that I don’t know if there’s anything to strip off?
Post a picture of the current condition.
I have a 4 month old deck that was part of newly constructed home and want to apply the RAD Natural Semi Transparent to go ahead and start protecting it. My question is, at this point do I need to use a cleaner and brightener before the stain application, or any at all.
Also, would 1 gallon be enough or 2 to cover this area.
The deck is 16×14, treated pine.
Thanks
Dave S.
Yes, you must clean and brighten for prep. Just one coat. 2-3 gallons for all since you have railings as well.
Would Coastal Grey cover a darker solid stain previously applied? We power washed and a lot of the dark is off, but some boards seem to have absorbed more than others.
Yes, but you will need at least two coats.
Will prepping an area on an adjacent higher or lower area mess up a freshly stained area, if so how long after staining can prep be done on nearby area without spoiling stain.
Prepping how? With what.
prepping with RAd cleaner and brightener
That should not harm new stain as long as you rine any overspray right away.
in your experience does the stain brush get the stain between the boards good enough or is the crack and groove tool necessary. If the crack and grove tool is used, should the cracks be done first and then the surface or vice versa. My treated pine deck is over five years old and never been stained or painted or sealed. should I go with the 100 sq ft per gal rate.
The brush usually works well for in between boards. For two coats applied wet on wet, about 100 sq feet per gallon.
We have an older deck (~900 Sq feet horizontal surfaces) around our lake house and a new and old dock that need staining. A portion of our dock is stationary and is covered by lake water a few times a year, and the remainder floating. We’re wondering how to attack this. Should we use semi-transparent or solid stain?
Use the RAD semi-transparent. Prep with the RAD Cleaner/Brightener Kits.
Between the deck and the dock portions I have approximately 1,500 Sq feet of horizontal surface area. How much cleaner/brightener and how much stain would you recommend I purchase?
15 gallons of stain for the two coats. 2 of the Cleaner/Brightener Kits.
I have a 3 level treated pine deck with steps to the ground making 4 levels. top level is ~ 120 sq ft, next level is ~ 500 sq ft., next level is ~ 600 sq ft, and the steps are ~ 120 sq ft. Each level is one step below the higher level. I have trex guard rails. Should I tape off the bottom of the guard rails when prepping and staining. Is it advisable to prep each level separately and stain each level separately?
Prep all at the same time. Stain each level individually. No need to tape.
Applied the stripper and brightener on my 2.5 year deck. How long should I wait until I apply the stain?
If using the RAD stain, you can apply to damp wood the same day or dry wood the next day.
Do you ever mix colors? We are afraid the dark walnut will be too dark, but the light walnut looks too light. We were hoping for something in between.
We do not mix colors but you can mix the two colors together on your end.
I have used the restore a deck stripper but still, have a fair amount of stain that is not coming up. I am concerned about pressure washing it and ruining the wood (as I have used on a small section and “fur” occurred.) Can I use the stain on the tough spots again? Do I just need to sand the stain that remains?
The stain does have to come off so either by stripping/pressure washing and or sanding.
We got someone to fix our deck and it basically looks like it was painted. We were told it was a “semi-stain” but there are areas where it is lifting up. I would like to redo it but was wondering how to get the “paint” that is on the wood now off. Would the stripper be appropriate? but it is opaque not transparent
You will have to sand this. Strippers will not work on opaque deck stains.
I live in western Montana zip 59827. Where can I purchase your products in this general area? Missoula is closest city of any size. Would like local purchase in case additional material is needed during refinishing my large deck.
No dealers in MT. We ship from our website directly to you.
I would like to begin stripping before we can get your products. Can I use other strippers and then use your restore a deck stain?
That would depend on how effective the product is or not. If you do remove all of the previous coating and brightener the wood, you should be okay to use the RAD Stain.
How will your Restore a deck work on a river dock?
It will work well.
How long does it take to ship to Heber Springs, AR
3 business days is normal.
I recently cleaned my deck with stripper and then brightened to prep for staining. Once the deck dried, the dreaded furry wood occurred. I had to sand/buff to remove the furry wood remnants. After I finished sanding the weather has not cooperated to allow for staining. (it has been about 2 weeks since the initial stripper/brightener combo was used). When I stain it in the future, will I need to use the cleaner and brightener combo before staining? Or can I just move straight into the brightener and then stain? I’m hesitant to use the cleaner cause I am concerned it will leave the deck furry again. Can I use a reduced amount of cleaner? 1/4 cup per gal? Maybe just do a pressure wash of the deck and then brighten?
Brightener alone will not prep wood for recoating. You will need to clean and then brighten. Use at normal strength.
I just received my order of the 5 gallons of stain kit (stripper and cleaner), Now I get a coupon for the restore-a-deck. Would this be a better product than the stain that I purchased? I had asked before that I had a fifteen year old deck, and what would be best on it. Now I am totally confused about what to use.
the stain you bought will work great on your deck.
I just ordered 4 five gallon containers of Woodrich Timber Oil today, 5/23/19. How long will it take for it to be delivered?
Oregon takes 4-5 business days.
4-5 year old pressure treated stained with Sherwin Williams semi transperant. Will the stripper work or do i have to sand?
That is not semi-transparent in the areas where the stain is still left. Closer to a semi-solid or solid in consistency and appearance. Good news is that most of the stain is already gone. Might be easier to just sand the rest off.
I have a 12×20 pressure treated deck that is 20 years old and in great condition. I put on a coat of Behr Cedar tone semi-transparent stain last year. I mixed up a gallon of the stripper along with the booster and gel formulation. I know it was activated since I splash some of my arm am could feel it working. I spread this on the deck on a cloudy day around 70 degrees and kept it wet. The only thing it did after 45 minutes is brighten up the stain and none of the stain was removed. Why is this not working?
Post a picture of the current stain.
Here is a close up. Hand rails has two coats
That is not semi-transparent but solid opaque (like a paint) in appearance. No stain stripper will be able to remove this.
This is the can of stain I used.
Still solid stain in appearance and not a semi-trans. Semi-transparent does not look like paint like your deck put like this picture.
Behr sold you a solid stain.
I have a 1800 square foot deck that is about 5 years old. I waited a year before I applied Behr semi transparent stain and it only lasted a year before it started peeling. I did do the proper steps before applying the stain. I recently bought your stain stripper and stripped it all off then sanded with 60 grit sand paper. I bought some of your cleaner/brightner and will be cleaning the deck with that before staining. My question is with the low VOC’s which is required these days will I be running into the same problem with the peeling? This deck is hugh and took me a long time to strip it all off and don’t want to do it again any time soon. Also I have been reading online about all the different manufactures of stain and there reviews and can not decide which one to go with. Maybe yu guys could point me in the right direction.
You will not have an issue with peeling if using a true penetrating stain. Behr is not one of those. It is a filming stain that dries on top of the wood like a paint. That is why it peels and is hard to remove as well when you try to strip.
I have redwood siding that Cabot semi transparent stain was applied to 5 years ago. The upper level of the house has two large dormers and a western exposure with little to no shade. The finish is almost gone and in need of staining again. The lower half of the house looks like it was stained last week. I want to strip the lower half of the house as we want to change the tint of the stain we originally used. We have aluminum windows that are painted dark brown on the trim. Will the stripper affect the windows? Do the windows need to be masked off when using the stripper? Also I have painted cool deck around the patio. Does this need to be covered when using the RAD stripper? Cleaner? Brightener?
Possibly it may have a reaction on the painted aluminum trim. Hard to say without testing a spot. It does not remove paint on a deck.
Can two colours of the solid stain be mixed to get a different colour? E.g. taupe and grey. Or can paint tints be added?
Thanks
The can be mixed or tint added to them at a paint store.
We have a deck that we have power washed and sanded. The horizontal part we have taken all of the stain off with a sander. The vertical parts have been sanded but had semi transparent stain so we haven’t taken it all off – unable to get power sander in all of the nooks. Can we use semi transparent for horizontal and solid for vertical?
Yes. Two-toned decks look great: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/two-toned-decks-with-restore-a-deck-wood-stains.html
Another question. I don’t understand how to apply the stain with the brush that you sell. I can only imagine dipping it in a pan of the stain and applying. But that seems sloppy. Is there a video of using th
brush? Thanks!
That is how you apply. Did and brush it on. It is very easy.
We stripped and brightened our deck last weekend. It began to drizzle before we were going to stain and didn’t stop. We want to stain this weekend. Do we have to clean and brighten before staining?
No need.
I am getting ready to stain my back deck. It is about 1 1/2 years old and has never been stain yet. I do see some mold so I figure I would need the cleaner. Do I need the brightener too?? My deck is 435 sq feet but that is not including the spindles and steps so should I get the 5 gallon? and should I do 2 coats. Thanks
Yes, you need the brightener after the cleaner. You would need one cleaner/brightener prep kit for this. As for stain amount needed, use the calculator to the right of this page on desktop or towards the bottom on mobile devices.
Thank you and since the deck has nothing already on it but it is 1 1/2 years old should I do 1 or 2 coats I don’t want to put too much on it
2 light coats applied wet on wet.
Our western cedar new deck floor is 13′ x 13′..we will clean and brighten. The deck has aged for 9 months..1 coat or 2 coats….with 2 gallons?
1 coat for new wood. 2 gallons.
I am looking for solid stain, not semi transparent. Do you have samples of the solid?
We do not offer samples in the solid stains since they are exact colors and the same as the same the color chart.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/pdf/Color-Chart-FLYER-8.5X11-RAD-Solid-Stains-FINAL.pdf
4 years ago I applied Flood water based solid stain. Now it is time to stain the deck again. I cleaned and power washed the deck. I did not strip the deck so there is still solid stain on the deck. Can I use your solid stain on my deck or do I need to do anything else before applying your solid stain?
The RAD Solid Stain can be applied over another solid stain but you will have to make sure all of the peeling stain is removed.
Thank you! Are there any pictures on line of your solid colors on a deck? Between the grey and the taupe
We do not have any pictures outside the color chart. Since it is a solid stain, the color is the same as the chart.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/pdf/Color-Chart-FLYER-8.5X11-RAD-Solid-Stains-FINAL.pdf
I have a 4 year old cedar deck, approx. 800 sq feet. After the first year I applied Flood semi trans stain. I prepped the deck by the book using cleaner, brightener then applied 1 coat. Summer after the stain peeled again. I sanded sections that peeled and reapplied Flood stain again. Same problem but worse summer after that stain peeled in many sections. I plan to sand all the flood stain off this summer and apply a stain. In reviewing restore a deck website looks like I should first apply your cleaner, then brightener then stain. Is it important to let brightener dry before applying stain? The wet and wet application, does that mean even if rains after applying brightener can stain be applied? What is the best way to apply stain, roller, brush? Any other suggestions or advise?
After full sanding removal, you should clean and brighten for the final prep. Do not sand finer than 80 grit paper. See this about applying to a damp deck: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/how-to-restore-a-deck-stain-to-damp-wood.html
Use a stain pad or brush. Do not use a roller.
for approx. 800 sq ft cedar deck, 4 years old should I apply 1 or 2 coats? Can I apply the cleaner and brightener to a wet deck after sanding? After cleaned and brightened, then do I rinse with power washer, after how long should I wait to apply stain? The wet on wet process, meaning if rains and deck is damp I can still apply the stain?
2 coats. You can apply the prep products to a wet deck. You use a pressure washer while using the prep products. Wet on wet is an application method, doe not have anything to do with rain: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-wet-on-wet-application.html
We have a large deck that gets full sun during the day. The deck is 3 years old. The boards are starting to split. We got a deck quote to strip, clean and stain but they recommended an oil based stain due to the full sun component. We used a water based before. Thoughts?
How do I know how many coats I am supposed to do?
We would suggest our RAD Semi-Transparent Stain which is a water-based stain. After stripping and prep, you will need tow coats applied wet on wet.
I have a painted deck that is not chipping, just old and faded. Can I use the solid stain over it? If so, other than cleaning is any other prep needed? If not, should I use deck paint?
The RAD Solid Stain can be applied over another solid stain but not a paint.
I have a pressure treated pine deck and steps 2 1/2 years old, never stained or painted, with 178 square feet of wood to cover. Railings, posts and slats are vinyl covered. There are no large cracks or rotten areas in the wood. There is one area about one square foot in area which has staining caused by grease dripping from a gas cooker. This wood was recently cleaned using Behr All-In-One Wood Cleaner. Please advise what I would need to clean, brighten (neutralize) and apply a semi transparent water based stain using your products. I am unable to post a picture. Thank you.
Use the Restore A Deck Cleaner/Brightener Kit for prep. Just one kit is needed. 2 gallons of the semi-transparent stain for the two coats.
I have used the product on my aged deck The results were amazing it looks brand new. Several years later I have pollen that has deposited all over leaving a yellowish stain. It does powerwash off. What is the best way to clean and have the deck looking like new again? Does it need to be followed up with the brightener?
Use the Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener kits for prep and then restain with the same stain and color.
I have a large mahogany deck. Would like to get a long lasting semi transparent finish. (I don’t ever want to have to scrape peeling stain off of it). Is an oil a better option than a water based stain?
No. The RAD semi-transparent is a penetrating water-based stain and works well for your wood type: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-on-exotic-hardwoods-ipe.html
I have a 20+ year old deck that I have used a solid color stain on for multiple years. I’m having some peeling that I plan to pressure wash to try to remove and then plan to restain. I will also have some new decking installed to also replace some rotted deck boards. My contractor was telling me the rot was due to the stain sealing in the moisture. I’ve been reading a lot of good things about your products, and want to take the best course of action to get the deck looking it’s best. Seeking your recommendations for cleaning product and process and painting to avoid any more peeling if possible.
The new wood does need to weather: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood.html
Once that is done, pressure wash and prep all new and old stained wood. The key to the old wood is to make sure you remove all of the old solid stain that is peeling or not intact to the wood. The RAD Solid Stain can go over old solid stain but it cannot fix or prevent the old solid stain from failing underneath if it is already peeling.
I’m working on a shadow box fence right now and I’m wondering if I should wait till both sides are stripped before applying brightener? It’s a big fence so I can only do so much at a time.
Brighten all when done stripping is fine for this large fence.
I have a deck measuring 14’X26′ with a full set of steps. It was installed new about 12 months ago. I plan on a transparent stain. What would be recommended to use to prep the deck in this scenario? Should I power wash before using the prep? Should I use a water or oil base stain? Thanks
Prep with the Cleaner and Wood Brightener while pressure washing. Use the RAD semi-transparent stain. One coat: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain.html
So apply the cleaner and brightener and then pressure wash it off?
They do not go on at the same time. Directions are on the containers but you can read info here as well: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-cleaner-instructions.html
I have a two-tone deck. The verticals and handrails presently have Cabot Solid Color Oil Decking Stain that was done about 3-4 years ago. I have cleaned and pressure washed and plan to scrape and sand all loose stain. I would like to use your Restore-A-Deck Solid Color Wood and Deck Stain. Can I use your stain aver the remaining existing stain?
Yes, for the solid stain, you can apply the RAD Solid Stain over the intact (not peeling) Cabot Solid Stain. Will you be using the RAD Semi-Transparent for the floors?
Thanks for the quick reply. The floors were done in TWP 1503 almost 4 years ago. They need to be cleaned and restained. The deck is 1060 sf. How much do I need for a restain? Also, I have a couple gallons leftover from the job 4 years ago. Is this OK to use?
Another question: my wife suggested we just use regular exterior house paint on the verticals & handrails as it is cheaper and readily available at the local store and we seem to have to repaint every few years anyway. I told her that sounded reasonable, but that we should check to see if we are asking for big problems. What are your thoughts on this?
Hard to say if the older TWP is still good. Best to open up and make sure it mixes evenly without any clumping or skinning of the stain. You will need roughly 7 gallons for 1 coat of the TWP.
House paint is not designed for decking or deck railings and will peel on a deck. Too thick.
Just want to be 100% clear that if I have cleaned my deck a week ago I can apply RAD stain to dry clean wood. Do I need to mist it slightly to dampen the wood first or not necessary. Thank you
You can apply to dry or damp. Doesn’t matter.
How will the cleaner or brightener affect brick patios?
No harm.
I restored my deck last summer using the full set of RAD products. We had a very hard winter with a lot of snow and the deck is showing some bare spots through the stain this spring. Do I have to go through the entire clean, brighten, stain process or can I just re-apply the stain after power washing the deck?
Use the cleaner and pressure wash. Apply one coat of the stain. No need to brighten.
I have a 400 sq ft untreated/unfinished cedar deck 13 years old. It has mildew and algae, and even a little lichen in places. I saw in another reply you said this was really to prep prior to staining, but I plan to leave the wood untreated. Is there a different product you have, or is it ok to use just for cleaning?
You can use the RAD Cleaner and Brightener kits for cleaning your deck and leave unstained if desired.
We just used your deck cleaner and brightner, was going to stain deck tommorow, but now rain is in the forecast everyday for 2 weeks out. How do we reprep? Do we need to reclean and rebrighten the entire deck or just rebrighten? Praying for no rain.
If you cannot stain within 2 weeks of the prep. Do a light pressure wash rinse and use the wood brightener.
How much psi is considered light? Thank you!!
1500 is good.
Hello! Used your product the first stop time with beautiful results, thank you! Unfortunately I spilled RAD semi transparent wood stain on a a pebble concrete surface and the stain dried. Just wondering if there’s a recommended way to remove the stain off concrete? Thank you!
Try a graffiti remover cleaner from your local paint store and pressure washing.
Thank your so much for the quick reply, very much appreciated!
Never mind I found the scrub brush. One more question however. To apply the stain on verticle cedar board and batten siding can you spray it on with a pump up sprayer or power sprayer or does it have to go on with a brush?
You can spray it but you will need to back brush to ensure an even application.
Would you compare solid vs semi-transparent RAD on new wood deck 1yr old.
Compare? Solid stains are opaque while semi-transparent colors show the wood grain.
I meant UV protection, durability, wear and tear, etc.
About the same between the two. Every two to 3 years for reapplication on a horizontal surface and twice as long on vertical wood.
I have Olympic Maximum Solid stain on my deck. Every year I clean with Olympic Deck cleaner and re-stain a few sections of the total deck. If I use your deck cleaner is it necessary to also use the deck brightener as well? Parts of the deck are dirty with mold but is in good shape with no peeling or fading. Thanks.
No need to use the brightener if you are using a solid stain.
My apologies…I forgot to mention that I will be using the Woodrich Timber Oil, same color/blend again on the deck.
Cleaner and then brightener.