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!
Not sure which product to use? The regular or professional grade?
Are you asking about which product to use for prep?
We want to get down to wood and then restain. The railing have more stain on it to remove
That’s a solid stain. You will need to strip and possibly sand to get it all off. Look at this stripper: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-paintstrip-paint-solid-stain-stripping-gel.html
Only got one coat on of the semi transparent stain and ran out. Ordered more but it’s been a week. Can I still put a 2nd coat on or do I have to start over with cleaning and brightner?
Seconds coats i fapplied have to be same day weo on wet. You can apply another coat in 6-12 months.
I purchased the stain remover to take off old stain on wood decking. I will restrain with the same stain that I am removing (Cabot stain). I am removing because the old stain is peeling. Once I’m done with the stripper, is it necessary to use the brightener before restaining?
Yes.
I used Restore-A-Deck Cleaner & Brightener last October after allowing my new deck to age 7 months. I applied Armstrong-Clark Rustic Brown semi-transparent wood stain, just one coat according to instruction. It faded so much. Over the past eight months that I have decided to re-stain as I am getting ready to sell my home. I just completed the Cleaner & Brightener procedure and plan to put down one coat of stain tomorrow. My concern is that the cleaner and brightener seems to have actually removed some of the stain and I’m almost down to bare wood again it seems. Is this normal? I have attached a picture, the darker areas are still wet. I’m assuming I should still stick with just applying one coat as I may still have somewhat of a base coat? Thanks for your time.
Yes, it is normal and the proper wat to prep. Deck looks good to go.
10 year old PT deck stained once when new. Deck is on east side of house, so gets not much sun but lot of algae/mildew.
Wood is in decent shape after pressure wash 1x – see pics. I think I need to pressure wash again to even out areas missed and replacing couple rotten boards.
Would Brightener be necessary ? 150sq ft. Thinking 2 gallons of semi-transparent stain. Please advise, thanks
Best to use both clean and brighten to get the wood in better condition: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
2 Gallons is correct for the stain.
Uh-oh, decking has a few stains from Raid product containing lemongrass extract and geraniol synthesized from pine trees. I have Pressure-treated pine decking that is four-years-old and was last stained May 2022 with RAD semi-transparent. I freaked out and tried to remove the stains by using Simple Green Deck and Fence Cleaner. When that did not work, I tried a 50-50 mix of white vinegar and water. The stains persist. What to do?
You cannot spot-fix or remove the stain only. You will have to strip and brighten all wood and then coat to get it even. We would wait until next year when time to redo.
Got it. How many coats of RAD semi-transparent needed after strip and brighten? Deck has white TREX railing with black spindles, will stripper harm them? Thank you!
Two light coats applied wet on wet. It should not harm the trex.
Forgot to add pic
I have a 20 year old deck. I had to replace a couple boards with new PT wood. The old boards have not been stained for at least 5 years, so I don’t think there is any stain left on it, except for a few places that were covered with a box. I pressure washed the deck, no cleaner. As you can see in the pic, the part still with stain. Do I use stripper on only that part and cleaner on the rest, then brighten on all. Then stain? How many coats of semi transparent should I apply to the old wood?I plan on not staining the new boards until this fall or next spring so they have time to dry out. The total Sq footage of the entire area is 2000. How much product do I need? Thanks
It would be best to strip and then brigthen all wood so it is even when done. You still have some old stain on the pressure washed areas.
One or two coats of stain
2 light coats applied wet on wet: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stain-wet-on-wet-application
I am working on my cedar porch and also my ramp going to the porch. It is too much to do all at once. My plan was to clean it all first then stain. It could take a month to get it ready for staining. Do I apply the brightner when I am all done cleaning or do I need to apply the brightner right after the cleaning ?
Best to brighten as soon as possible. Why would it take a month to clean? For example, 400 sq feet can be done in an hour or less.
If it rains, do I have to wait a certain period of time before stripping/brightening with RAD?
No. You can use while wood is wet.
Okay thank you!
Hey friends, there was suppose to be not rain but then of course there was a short rain. Not crazy but enough to do as per the picture.
It was about 1 hour after the second coat. Some is very milky now like when washing the brushes where some earlier parts seem ok.
What now?
Give it a few days to cure out and hopefully, the white haze goes away. If it does not then you would have to strip/brighten and start over.
Thanks for the answer on a weekend, much appreciated, I will keep an eye on it, but if it ends up curing clear, are we good? It should be 70ish today and semi cloudy so hopefully that does the trick (sorry the first picture was of the deck prepped)
If it looks good after cure then you should be fine. The worst case is you would have to do a maintenance coat in a year or so to the floors.
Brilliant, thanks, you guys are the best!
I have a newly installed pressure treated deck (6 months old). I have some minimal graying beginning to occur. It’s time! Do I need to use both the cleaner and the brightener prior to staining?
Thank you for your response.
Yes, see here for new wood tips: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood
1250 sq foot deck attached to 30 years old house.
Limited railings.
House is located in the Northeast and is subject to below zero winters and hot summer tmps in the 90’S
Materail; Preassure treated wood
Stained several times with Cabots hearvy bodied stain.
Preassure washer is available and it deck has been washed several times.
Need help determining the coverage of RAD products, how much to purchase and what RAD products I need.
Thanks Dick
Strip off the loose solid stain and then brighten the wood. 2 kits for 1250:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
After, cover the intact solid stain with the RAD Solid stain. About 10-13 gallons for the two coats:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-solid-stain-1-gallon.html
Western red cedar deck, was originally stained with oil based semi transparent stain. Old finish is almost completely worn off. Will also be sanded before being refinished. Should I use stripper or cleaner prior to brightening / staining?
Clean and brighten if you fully remove the old coating prior.
I used RAD cleaner and brightener on my deck two years ago, and then applied a semi transparent stain—all worked great. I now want to do a maintenance coat of the same semi transparent stain. To prep the deck, is RAD cleaner sufficient before applying the stain, or should I also do a brightener again? Thanks
Best to do both to be safe.
I’m looking for some guidance on the quantities of your products I will need for the project shown in the three attached photos. We are located in NE Oklahoma, so I need to get the rebuilt deck protected before temperatures get too high.
The background is this: In the past 8 months I’ve replaced ALL the deteriorated deck boards on the two level deck with new pressure treated lumber. It was a one-man DIY project that had some wintertime weather interruptions, but now it is time to preserve and protect the investment in materials, not to mention the labor. I also replaced all the old posts and railings with new pressure treated lumber and installed cable railings. One small segment of the sun-exposed outer joists was sanded and is being re-used, but essentially all of the outer joists that are exposed to sun UV and weather are now all new pressure treated lumber.
Areas can be summarized as follows: The second story “Upper Deck and Landing” has an top surface area of 218 sq. ft. The part of the lower level covered by the Upper Deck adds 231 sq. ft. The main part of the lower level that is open to the sky has an area of 340 sq. ft. The stairs going to the second level add 42 sq. ft. of top surface area for the treads, plus 60 sq. ft. for the stringer surfaces. The small steps to ground level add another 8 sq. ft of top surface tread area and about 4 square feet for stringers.. The outer sides of the upper and lower deck joists together add another 115 sq. ft. and all surfaces of the handrails and posts in total will add about 200 sq. ft. So a grand total of 1218 sq. feet will need to be sealed and stained.
Since these surfaces are (very nearly all) new pressure treated wood, I expect I’ll just need your cleaning and your restoration powders. We would like to apply one coat of your semi-transparent Light Walnut as the stain / sealer. Based on the many reviews and comments I’ve read, I will buy one (or more?) of your brushes for use in applying the stain.
I have a 1600 psi rated pressure washer with the usual assortment of nozzles. Thanks for reviewing this information and the three photos and advising what quantities of products I will need to order. Thanks for your time.
Jon Heath
HI,
For the prep, you will 2 each of the RAD Cleaner and the RAD Brightener. For one coat of the RAD Light Walnut, you will need roughly 6-8 gallons. Use the Yellow Floor Brush for the flooring and a stain pad for the railings.
Enter contest when done!
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-prep-stain-contest-2023
Hi, I just ordered the cleaner and brighter and 3 gal light walnut, 17x 17 / 500 sq deck with spindle railing. I’m not sure what type of stain was on it, think sillkins semi transparent. I power washed the floor with a deck ez cleaner/ 15 in spinner. It came out ok at best. Also power washed the spindles but damaged them slightly with my 2800 psi washer. Do I need to sand the spindles/ floor or just use the rad stripper? I still need to get one of the stripper types.
Best to strip all this wood.
Strip with which product? the RAD stripper OR RAD solid stripper? Pls notice the support pole for the spindles in the 3rd pic. I hit that with the power washer with a white tip at 6 inches away
The RAD Deck Stain Stripper with both additives would be best.No need for the PaintStrip.
To add to previous, yes I have a pressure washer.
450 sq ft of douglas fir (or cedar?) deck. Installed 2020 and stained with Behr Water Proofing Stain/Sealer semi-transparent. They claim it lasts 6 years on decks. This will be my third application. It peels, vertical surfaces are doing great. I am in Sunriver, OR, so not extreme weather but certainly snow every year for awhile. Last time I simply sanded and reapplied. Would like to get more years out of it. I have alot of the stain still remaining so I would prefer to use it. Not sure how to attach pictures on my laptop but could probably figure out with an ipad if needed. Thanks
Behr peels all the time so not sure why you would want to continue to use it and go through the hassle of fixing the peeling. Best to remove it all and then use our stains that can be clean and recoated without the hassle of heavy stripping and or sanding.
My deck is sticky after staining. I apparently laid down too much stain. What is the best solution to fix this?
Let it fully cure out and dry over time. There is no way to speed up this process. The other option if needed is to strip it all off and start over.
Hello,
I would like to know what kind of stripper/stain I should buy. I need to do 2 areas: a rooftop deck and a wooden entry way. The entry way is peeling and fading really bad, but the rooftop is not quite as faded, but peeling in some areas.
You have a solid stain. The easiest is to remove what is loose and peeling and then reapply the RAD solid stain over the intact stain. Use the RAD Stripper and pressure washing to to remove the peeling stain. Let dry and spot sand any areas if needed. Once you have a deck that has only intact solid stain, you can then apply our RAD solid stain.
Hello,
I can apply RAD solid stain over my existing stain even though it has a different brand of stain on it?
For the areas that still have intact solid stain, do I use the wood cleaner and brightener first?
so steps would be:
Yes, when dealing with solid stains only. Your steps are correct here.
Thanks for the quick reply.
In 2-3 years when I need to reapply, can I just clean/brighten or do I need to strip/brighten?
Also, do you have a stain recommendation that works best for high foot traffic areas
Clean and brighten.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-solid-stain-1-gallon.html
How long before you can apply the second coat of your sold stains? Product data sheet says “Apply 2 coats, waiting for1st coat to completely dry before applying the 2nd coat”. Does it have to be just dry to the touch, which is indicated as 1 -2 hours, or must it be completely cured which is indicated will take 24 – 48 hrs at 65 F? Due to the configuration, size, and amount of furniture on my deck I will need to do the floor portion of it in two parts. I want to obviously do the entire project as fast as I can and within the 2 weeks of my prep, but want to make sure I don’t cause a problem with adhesion by not allowing enough time between coats on each section.
Dry to the touch to recoat with the second coat.
I plan on using the semi-transparent stain on my deck for pt pine. Can I also use the same for our new (untreated) teak furniture table and chairs?
Yes but new wood needs to weather and be prepped.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood
I used RAD cleaner and brightener on my cedar deck this weekend which had received 1 coat of RAD cedar semi transparent last fall. This treatment removed most but not all of the stain so I repeated the treatment and power washed, but some areas , particularly where the deck was shaded still retained stain. I figured I need to use your stripper and brightener to remove the residual stain. Is that correct?
Yes, that would be correct.
Do we add the booster to the paint stripper 5 gallon bucket?
No, it is not used for the RAD PaintStrip. It can be used for the regular Restore A Deck Stain Stripper.
If that has been mixed it does it ruin the stripper?
Not sure as we have never tried.
I used the Semi-Transparent Wood Stain kit 2 years ago on my 2 decks and pergola and they turned out great. The problem is that the decks now look awful. The stain is green in some areas and not there in others, and the wood looks so dried out. Do I have to go through the whole process again or what can I do to help get these back?
Yes, whenever you recoat you have to do he full process of prep and then stain.
Does it need to be done every 2 years?
Every 2-3 years on a deck is normal. Twice as long on verticals.
Oh – and is it cleaner/brightener or stripper/brightener?
Clean and Brighten.
Hi, I have a 5 1/2 year old treated pine deck that is 686 sq. ft. and was treated with RAD semi transparent stain. The deck is half covered with a roof and in the shade and the other half is in the sun. We did our first coat in sept of 2020 and are ready to recoat it this year after cleaning and brightening. My question is1 or 2 coats ? How many coats for the part under the roof it seems to be in good shape . Thanks for all your help.
2 light coats applied wet on wet.
Can I mix colors of semi transparent stain. Like five gallons of cedar with 5 gallons of dark walnut?
Yes!
I need to strip our exterior decking and reapply stain. The decking had Cabot solid color acrylic deck stain. I power washed the decking but it didn’t all come off. I want to clean it, prep it and recoat with the same Cabot stain, if possible. What will I need to purchase to prep the deck? I want a dark green stain color. I don’t see that with restore a deck, otherwise, I would buy your stain. What are your recommendations?
You do not need to remove all of the old solid stain when recoating with a solid stain. Just remove the loose or peeling stain.
What products do you recommend to prep before restaining?
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/RAD-Stain-Stripper.html
I have a two year old staircase made from pressure treated pine which has never been stained. The landing is 4 x 4.5. There are 15 steps, each 1 x 4. The distance of the top of the railing on the landing to the ground is 14.5 feet.
I plan on using semi-transparent. How much of each product do I need? Do I use two coats of stain since it is older than a year?
What is the total sq footage of all wood, steps, and railings, etc added up? We need that to determine the amount needed.
400 square feet. Thanks.
One prep kit:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
3 gallons of stain.
I just stained my deck with the semi transparent cedar stain. I don’t love the color. Can I use a solid stain over it?
Yes but prep with the RAD Cleaner and pressure washing first.
Quick question, should we seal with another product after staining?
It is not possible to do that. It would peel if you top-coated a deck stain with a sealer.
So we just applied your stain on our pressure treated deck (2 years old) using the 3 step process, and everything turned out great!
I was wondering – what are your thoughts on applying some kind of water seal over the stained wood? If that’s okay, do you have any products you recommend?
Hi, it is not possible to apply a sealer over a deck stain. It would peel if you did.
Sounds good, thanks for the quick reply.
Of course!
We have a large 30 year old pressure treated 995 sq feet with 91 feet of railing. It was last painted with latex paint in 2017. Much of the paint has peeled off but we still have quite a bit left on. It is old and weathered. We tried your paint stripper on one section in for 30 min but it did not get all of the paint off. Before we proceed, please advise.
Do you want to strip it all done to use a semi-transparent or remove as much as possible and then cover it with our solid stain? The latter will be easier.
We would like to remove as much as possible and then apply solid stain. We are ok with repainting the railing and spindles. Please advise
Okay, use this for prep: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
The key is to remove the dirt, mildew, and all loose solid stain. You can cover the intact stain that does not come off with the RAD Solid Stain when done:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-solid-stain-1-gallon.html
We had applied your paint stripper and that only removed some of the paint. Do we re apply or are you suggesting we switch to a stain remover? It is latex paint on the deck currently.
If you are going to use the solid stain then you do not have to remove all the current stain. The key is to remove the dirt, mildew, and all loose solid stain. You can cover the intact stain that does not come off with the RAD Solid Stain when done.
We have been using RAD stripper with thickening gel and brightener per label instructions on house cedar siding. They work well in areas exposed to the sun. But as we get closer to protected areas e.g. under eaves that gets less or no sun, the stripper does not work as well and leaves a blotchy surface like this material is having a tough time lifting the old stain. Temp here is in 70’s. Stripper is being left on 20 – 30 minutes and kept wet before being washed off with power washer. Anything we can do to improve the stain removal process in these difficult areas? Add RAD Booster to stripper and thickener? Will Booster additive be harmful to paint? Thanks.
Please post some pics.
Stain to be removed is Penofin semi-transparent
We would suggest the gel and the booster additives for these areas. Apply and let dwell for an hour or two. Mist with water if needed to keep it from drying out. Brighten all wood when done.
Does the booster harm or remove paint if there is overspray onto the trim and left on for an hour or two. Also, before using the booster can we try just the stripper and gel for an hour or two to see if this works first?
No, it is not desgined to remmove paint. Rinse to avoid any issues while working. You can try the Gel only to see if that works.
We ran a little short of RAD stripper to finish a project and had some Behr premium wood stain & finish stripper (< 1/2 gallon) to finish the job. We used RAD brightener after rinsing off the Behr stripper. Is this okay?
As long as the wood looks even after drying you should be okay.
We have been using the RAD thickening gel in the RAD stripper in small quantities i.e. 3 ounces gel per gallon. The remaining gel in the bottle appears to thicken over time and not pour out. Is there a way to rejuvenate the gel so it will pour again out of the bottle?
Have you tried adding a once or two of water and then shaking it to mix?
Am trying that now. Can one mix the stripper, gel and booster in a five gallon bucket and it will stay liquid all day. How long can this five gallons stay liquid before one must use it?
Yes, just give it a mix prior to using it. It can stay this way for days or longer.
Can RAD semi-transparent stain be applied when it is foggy out? Siding is not wet or damp to touch.
Yes.
Can RAD Stripper be used to remove Penofin transparent stain?
Yes.
Thank you for your help.
I have several unopened containers of RAD semi-transparent stain left over from a stain job. What is the shelf life of an unopened container? Of an opened container?
12 months opened, 36 unopened. Cannot freeze.
What is the shelf-life of the Rad stripper, brightener and booster opened and unopened?
12 months.
12 months opened and unopened?
36 unopened.
I am applying RAD semi-transparent stain to new rough cut cedar siding. Instructions say only one coat needed. Why is that? Is it okay to apply two coats wet on wet on this new rough cut cedar siding?
Smooth new wood is 1 coat. New rough sawn wood can take 2 coats wet on wet.
The new rough sawn siding is starting to turn tan/yellow. Is there a RAD product which will restore the natural color prior to RAD staining?
Sorry but no.
Hi.. have a mess and a looking for direction… Deck is eight years old cedar and original stain was Sherwin Super deck and then years later I cleaned (improperly) and applied the Behr stain in pictured. As you can see stain is peeled faded etc and have two different colors. Would you start with your Stripper/booster and gel ? Would that take it back to original Cedar color? How about the post I show.. will that take it back to its original light cedar color? Appreciate the help !
It is on the wood like an opaque solid stain so you cannot just the RAD Deck Stripper to remove it. You will need the RAD PaintStrip if you want to get down to the bare wood. https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-paint-solid-stain-stripper-5-gallon.html
Restoring our 10 year old cedar deck. Was last stained 4 years ago with “Lin Seed Oil Based” stain. Only dOing the horizontal boards (860 square feet). Attached please find pics of the deck. You will notice some areas are still stained where it was covered with furniture.
Should I sand the whole surface or will the stripper, cleaner and brighter be sufficient?
Further more, please provide the exact number of each product required for preparing and staining the deck with your wet stain.
Also, can you recommend a colour to match existing deck stain. I was thinking the cedar?
Thank you!
Marcel
Do you know what brand of stain was used last time? It looks “thick” in areas for being oil based.
Stain used was MF paints- colour was Natural – yellow base and 2 coats were applied
Use this kit:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
and both stripper additives to get it off:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-strippers-and-additives.html
You will need about 8-10 gallons of the stain applied wet on wet application.
How many kits of the stripper bright will I need to purchase?
As well, how many bottles of each additives do I need for the deck (860 ft)?
Also, 8-10 gallons of stain is for 1 coat or 2 coats wet on wet?
Wanting to put in order asap.
Thank you!
To be safe get two kits and 2 of each additives. 8-10 is for 2 coats applied wet on wet.
Good morning, which additive are you referring to?
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-thickening-gel-additive.html
and
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-booster-additive.html
How do I know if the total charge is in USD or Canadian?
All $ is in USD.
I used RAD semi-transparent stain on new wood 4 yes ago. Looks as though most stain has work on on floor boards but not so much on rails. Do I need to strip wood or just use the cleaner & brightener
Post some pics in the comments for prep tips.
Two years ago, I used the Restore a deck cleaner, brightener, and semi- transparent stain on my deck. The deck was 18 months old, and it was the first time it was stained.
It was now ready for a maintenance coat using the same colour of RAD semi-transparent stain. I cleaned and brightened in preparation a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, some of the stain on the deck (horizontal boards that you walk on) came off. I believe these are areas that I sanded a bit, and am thinking that I may have done the sanding in the wrong order, or used too fine a grit.
I have now ordered the RAD stripper and brightener to strip the horizontal part of the deck (I’ve looked at enough pics from other posts to know that is what you recommend)I. I plan to tarp and tape the railings, spindles, and stairs, which are fine. I really don’t want to strip all of that when it doesn’t need it,. The deck will not be in use until the staining project gets completed.
1. For the parts that are tarped, should I lightly brighten them again when I’m brightening the horizontal boards after stripping? Or can they just be hosed off? I’m not sure if I can get them stained within a week or so of the original cleaning time.
2. How many coats of stain should I put on the horizontal part that I will have stripped? One, or 2 thin wet on wet?
3. Any other advice?
Please note: This is a deck on a raised ranch. It is only used occasionally to get down to ground level. It gets very little use. I don’t care if the railings and stairs look darker/different than the horizontal boards.
Thanks for your help,
Mary Kay
1. It would not hurt to redo them.
2. Two light coats wet on wet.
3. Nothing to add.
I am restoring a 30 year old deck. I have removed old stain from the railings with the solid stain stripper which is FABULOUS!!! and applied a RAD solid stain. My plan was to put in new balusters and go transparent with them along with the top horizontal rail and the floor. All are new wood. I am concerned about the Cleaner and Brightener coming in contact with the new stain.The new wood won’t be done for another 3 months or so. What kind of damage can it cause?
You should avoid getting the prep products on stained wood.
Can rad guard remove mildew spots on bare wood?
Yes.
Question: how long before we can walk on a newly stained deck (Restore semitransparent stain)?
12-24 hours.
How soon after the staining can we walk on the deck
Next day.
Hello, In 2019 we updated our deck approx. 14 x 14 with pressure treated lumber. We waited until spring 2020 to apply 1 coat of Restore a Deck semi transparent stain in Cedar. Then waited until spring 2021 to apply a second coat. The deck has weathered in the attached picure. How should we proceed to remedy the weather problem?
You have over-applied. Use this to remove and then recoat.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
We have an Ipe front porch with thick colored stain. It is peeling and needs to be removed and restained. We are wondering about the best product to remove the stain and whether the brightened is required. We weren’t sure if we should use the Restore-a-deck stripper and brightened or the RAD.
That is a solid stain. You will need this product: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-paintstrip-paint-solid-stain-stripping-gel.html
I purchased a place in Michigan having a 20 year old pressure treated wood deck that was never stained or sealed. The wood is not in terrible shape however, there is dark mold on the deck in many locations.
I tried using Zep deck cleaner and a power washer. It left most of the mold still stuck. I tried a 5/1 water to Zep mix rather than the 20/1 mix via the pressure washer. Not much better results. I scrubbed with a deck brush, by hand and with a putty knife. The latter was the best approach. I did try letting it soak a while which didn’t noticeably help. I didn’t get far before tiring and seeking a better product.
Does the cleaner remove years old mold without significant manual labor?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Post pics for prep help.
Here are some shots of what I struggling to complete. Let me know if you need more. I have railings and 80+ steps. Current estimate 1700+ sq ft.
I tried attaching multiple photos. It appears to me that only one was attached.
You might have an old stain on there that has turned black. Penofin and Super Deck are known to do this. Try the RAD Stripper and pressure washer to remove. Brightener after.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
Use our RAD Stain after:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-5-gallon.html
If in Metro Detroit, you can pick it up locally at our store.
The original owners assured me that they never ‘found the time’ to stain. I believe them as they didn’t make the time to do lots of standard home maintenance tasks. I lifted the door mat and it is bare wood underneath. No stain. When I scrape the dark stuff it with a putty knife it comes up a dark green. Additionally, it seems to be sitting atop the surface and has not penetrated but it strongly adheres. Plus the siding on that side of the home had mildew on it, which I easily cleaned up.
Will your cleaner make getting rid of this mess an easy task or is there something else I should use to make the job easier? The guys at Hale Hardware are telling me to make a bleach, Pine Sol and water concoction. Let it sit for several days. I am considering Wet and Forget and letting it sit for a few months to see if that takes care of it. That stated, I would prefer to get it done now.
Lastly, I can find my way to Livonia. Rochester is my home base. The deck is in Hale which is between Tawas and West Branch. I would love to stay with a Michigan based company.
Attached is the full set of pics that I couldn’t attach last night.
Using our cleaner while pressure washing should remove the mildew and graying. Brightener after. Wet and forget will not fix this. We are not in Livonia. Bloomfield Hills.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/contacts
I stopped by your store and received how-to instructions from one of your experts. I bought 1 package of the cleaner. I lightly power washed the right most boards in the photo. I brushed with a broom and then sprayed the cleaner at 1 c per gallon. I let it sit in the shade for 15 minutes, wet it, scrubbed with a brush and waited 15 minutes. Then I power washed. I repeated this effort twice to get what is the right most clean boards. Not ideal. Not good enough to stain. Suggestions?
It is come off but it was very dirty. Maybe go over it twice with the Cleaner. Brighten all when done. No need to scrub, just apply, let sit, and then pressure wash off. Also, a better pressure washer would help a lot. Yours has low pressure and gallons per minute.
Per your website instructions “Pressure washing at 1500 PSI is much more effective and easier”. My machine is rated at 1600 PSI. Are you telling me I need something more powerful? Should I get the tip closer to the board at a lest obtuse angle?
Also I stated in my note that I did use the product on the same boards two times. Both times I let it soak for 30 minutes, wetting and scrubbing at the midpoint time wise.
Please advise.
1600 is okay but a 3000 psi is better. Also, GPM is way more important than PSI. Teh pressure is relative to how close to the wood you are. 8-10 inches away and you lose about 1/2th the pressure.
I’ve got close approx. 500ft2 to stain. I stained new wood in 2019 with RAD semi-transparent. I can’t recall the color, but I think it was natural. Do I need to strip that shade if I want to use the semi-transparent Dark Walnut?
Yes, Strip and Brighten would be best to give the most uniform appearance.
thank you!
I have a 1200 sq ft deck. It was previously stained wth Cabot semi solid stain. I have sanded all the railings and spindles that are easily accessible, but I want to use a stripper for the harder to reach areas, as well as the deck itself. Should I use your paint stripper or your stain stripper for the job?
Post some pics.
I stripped my deck with a diamabrush. Will this be okay to apply the restore too?
It has not been removed fully so you would need our RAD solid stain to cover this:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-solid-stain-1-gallon.html
My tight knot cedar deck was cleaned and treated with Wolman rain coat lsummer of 2022. I am on the Oregon coast: warm summers, damp winters. Recent cleaning with deck bright works, but there are still dark areas. I would like to clean dark spots and stain with a water based stain, preferably a cedar color. Thanks, Patrick Geehan
Post some pics of the deck for prep advice.
Here is a photo of the 600 sf deck
It would be best to strip and brighten all with this kit:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
Some of the deep water stains may not come out fully. After prep, use the Restore A Deck Stain in Cedar color.