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 used your product 3-4 years ago on a new fence. We cleaned, brightened and used the semi-transparent stain. The stain help up very well! We just power washed it and want to re-stain. Do you recommend applying the brightener again? Or just apply the same stain?
Clean and brighten when recoating.
I have a 22’ x 16’ pine deck that is over 27 years old. All the deck boards are original except four that were replaced a year ago. The deck was last treated about 5 years ago with Behr Premium Semitransparent Cedar Naturaltone. The rail height is 3.5’. The rail length is 80’ total. There are 171 3.5’ long spindles that are 1.5” x 1’5”. There are 16 support posts that are 3.5” x 3.5”. There are 12 steps that average 3’ in length. I have a pressure washer and a pressure sprayer. I assume I need stripper, booster, brightener and stain. My questions are how much of each, and what is the best way to go about applying everything? I have attached photos of the deck after a rain, in the sunshine, and in the shade.
Get both the booster and the gel for the stripper. Apply and let dwell for 45-60 minutes and then pressure wash off. Mist with water if needed while dwelling to keep from drying out. Brightener after.
Use the deck calculator to help with product needed. On the right side of the page on desktop or below on mobile:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-1-gallon.html
Where in the calculator are the 171 spindles considered?
Part of the railing.
What is the best method of stain application – brush, pad, or pressure spray applicator?
Brush or stain pads: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/decktools.html
What’s the best way to apply the stripper and brightener?
A pump sprayer.
I know two coats of stain are needed for the deck surfaces. Is one coat sufficient for uprights like posts and spindles?
Yes it is.
The R-A-D thickening gel is aptly named. Mine thickened into a gel towards the bottom of the bottle. How do I “un-gel” it so I can use the rest of it?
Try adding a little water.
I added a little water, stirred the contents, and shook the bottle. It didn’t help. I added a lot of water, stirred the contents and shook the bottle. Still didn’t help. Now it is a very slightly less thick gel mixed with water.
We will send you another one with your order from last night. Thanks
Thank you.
What is the environmentally safe way to dispose of the jelled thickening gel and my already mixed stripper and brightener?
It is best to contact your local township/city about when they have days to drop off paint/chemicals. Most cities will have certain times a year to do this. You can also get rid of any extra paint in your home.
Faaaarrggh! It started to sprinkle just as I was finishing my second coat of cedar stain. When I was all done it rained for about 30 min. We stripped and brightened yesterday, but held off on staining d/t a very low probability of rain (that did not come of course), and we were beat! Seriously, it’s the middle of a drought and the forecast looked great. So, what should I do? What can I expect?
Wait until the rain water does off and then address the issue if any. You will see visible stain separation and water spots if any issues. If bad, you will need to remove all and start over.
I am doing a two tone deck and after the first coat of white on the railings all the wood racks and nail holes are really noticeable. Do you recommend filling them in and if so is there a product you recommend? It is a pressure treated 6 year old deck.
No, do not fill them. Filler does not work very well for exterior wood.
I just applied the restore a deck semi transparent stain to my dock. Is there a product you can use to prevent mildew from growing? Can you apply a product like Thompson Water Sealover the top?
You can never add a sealer over top of a deck stain, it would peel. You can use this:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-guard-mildew-algae-cleaner.html
I am refurbishing an exterior deck that is at least 10-15 years old. It gets a lot of afternoon Sun in the summer. It was painted with Deckscapes waterborne semi-transparent in cedar color. Nothing has been done to the deck in 9 years. I have recently pressure washed a small part of the deck, as you will see in pics below. (The brighter color was where my daughter wanted to see what putting the old stain on would do). The paint is peeling on the horizontal surfaces and 2 of the top handrail boards need to be replaced. The vertical surfaces are in good shape. The deck is 12’ x 28’ with a 10’ diameter gazebo attached and it has 5 steps down with hand rails and lattice work. I am planning to strip the current color off the horizontal surfaces and repaint all with a brown solid color. Thank you!
Strip and pressure wash off all loose and peeling solid stain. Spot sand after if needed to remove anymore peeling stain. Cover the intact and non-peeling stain with our solid stain in Espresso or Brown Oak:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-solid-stain-1-gallon.html
Does the natural stain color provide UV, algae, mold and mildew protection the same as the other stain colors or are they all different in their performance ability in these areas? I have a wood fence in a sometimes damp wooded area prone to algae, mold and mildew. Thanks.
The Natural color is not “clear” but tinted. It does provide the same protection as the other colors. For additonal mildew/algae protection, use this after the stain dries: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-guard-mildew-algae-cleaner.html
We have a covered porch floor, all treated pine, that we want to clean and stain. The entire porch is approximately 50’ x 8’. Two-thirds of the porch decking is about 30 years old and has been treated twice with a preservative, semi-transparent stain (not sure what brand) after power washing. A few years ago, we extended the porch and so about one-third of the decking is newer wood and has never been treated. Because the decking is covered and shielded from most direct sunlight (it’s on the north side of the house) all the wood seems to be in pretty good shape. We’re planning to apply the RAD light walnut, semi-transparent stain to the whole porch after prep.
Should I strip and brighten the older decking, porch posts, and railing, and then clean and brighten the newer decking, before staining the entire porch floor? Or should I use stripper and brightener on the entire floor?
Post some pics of the stained area for prep advice.
I 1,000 sq ft cedar deck that had a semi-opaque finish applied before. I have since sanded off the old layer to remove any of the old brown “paint” on the deck. There are still some grays where I didn’t sand it down completely, but mostly it’s all back to the original cedar color. Do I need to use the cleaner and brightener in this instance or may I simply apply the wood stain?
Pics?
There are still some bits of brown stain left that I am sanding down with an orbital.
There are still some brown spots left that I plan to sand with an orbital.
We would suggest stripping and brightening all to help remove the old stain. Use the booster additive and gel.
3 year old deck. Stained last year and the year before. Pealed each year. Behr Semi-transparent followed by solid. Power washed in-between applications. Want to strip down to apply fully penetrating stain. Tired of the pealing. What should I use to strip? Mix with additives or solid stripper?
You will need the RAD Solid Stain Stripper and possibly some sanding to get this fully off since you have multiple layers.
Just ordered a RAD solid stain stripper sample to see how it works. I am very curious how RAD solid stain holds up to dogs. I have a 75lb dog that takes running starts from the deck and we end up with a lot of scratch marks where the stain is completely removed.
Unfortunately, no deck stain or coating is 100% immune to large dogs and nails. Eventually, the stain and even the wood itself will wear down in heavy traffic. It may take a while but it will happen eventually.
First of all, I love your products and have recommended them to my friends.
This year, After stripping and brightening, I applied 2 coats of the semi-transparent stain. It appears I applied the stain unevenly. Is it possible to “touch up” the areas that appear lighter? The pictures are after 24 hours of applying the stain. Perhaps it will even out after some more time?
Thanks in advance for your help!
It is not possible to spot touch and and have it blend. We are not seeing uneven stain application. We do see some pressure washer marks.
I have some small areas of sap seeping through. What do I do about these areas
Sap leeaching cannot be prevented. You can try to sand it off prior to staining.
Pressure treated wood
5 years old
Had some algae. Used cleaner twice and sanded. Wood is still green. Is this still algae or discoloration of wood? What are your thoughts
That’s internal and part of the pressure treated process. Nothing you can do to remove.
I have a question regarding using Citristrip gel to strip a deck. My sister is using it on an older deck that has both stain and some paint. After stripping and rinsing with a power washer, does it need to be cleaned and then brightener or just brightener before staining?
Just brighten.
I read that that cleaner leaves a “wax” on the surface? Any thoughts on that?
No, that’s not possible.
Hi, since sanding my pressure treated deck approx 509square feet (Ontario Canada) and cleaning afterwards with Behre all in one wood cleaner, it’s turned yellow from white. There’s been a week of rain delaying applying your stain.
Question.1 Does your Brightener remove the yellowing?
Brighteners do not remove yellowing.
Thanks for confirming. I’ve gone ahead and resanded the deck, brightened and finally applied a coat of your transparent RAD light walnut.
Question: 1 Can we apply a second coat? it looks dull and a second coat would make a world of difference appearance-wise. It’s had 48 hours to dry.
Question 2. What is the risk of applying a second coat?
Thanks for all your help and advice.
1. No, not after the first coat has dried. Second coats have to be wet on wet. It is supposed to be dull, not shiny. You can lightly clean and add a coat next Spring.
2. It will not dry properly, it can be sticky, it could peel due to over application.
We purchased a house 5 years ago. We need to replace like 6 boards ( pressure treated pine). After that I am going to clean and brighten with RAD. (Doesn’t look like ever been stained or painted). Since I am going to have old and new boards can I clean and brighten and sanded in some areas and wait 3 months to allow new wood weather before staining??? Of course after 3 months I would pressure wash the deck.
Also did you guys ever mix restore a deck stains to get different colors? I purchased restore a deck semi transparent light walnut (nice color) although was thinking to add a little bit of the dark walnut to tone down the orangey color a bit and get some brown tones instead.
You use the prep kit after the 3 months not now. You can mix colors on your own but we do not custom mix.
Ok thank you
I’d like to stain 2 and possibly 2 other different surfaces to be about the same color.
1) new chicken coop 2) old greenhouse 3) old fencing 4) old deck
The chicken coop will be new construction, we will stain some sort of wood siding. Everything else was here and like this when we moved in. We will definitely stain the coop and if possible the greenhouse. The greenhouse and fence appear to be very weathered never treated wood. The thing with the fence and greenhouse is it’s in the garden, so I’m concerned about the chemicals during cleaning and prep.
The old deck was Trex decking which was old and peeling. We did a solid stain that was supposed to work for that kind of material but it didn’t last. Even in the areas that weren’t already peeling.
Would like to do something like the Cedar semi-transparent. Some trim will either be solid stained or painted black.
Got a lot we’d like to do here so really appreciate the help!
Sorry but we do not have any products that will work on the painted Trex. For the other areas, you will need to clean and brighten with this:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
and then stain with our semi-transparent Cedar. You cannot skip the prep.
i have belt sanded my driveway to bare wood. It is pressure treated and about 30 years old. What are my next steps to apply semi transparent stain.
Use this kit for final prep:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
Only 1 coat of stain since it was sanded.
Guess I should proof read before sending. It is my deck that I am working on not my driveway. Sanding is tiring i guess.
Hi again. Finished the deck and it looks great. My only concern is that when you walk on it in running shoes it makes a kind of sticking sound. As near as I can determine there is no stain on the soles of my shoes. Any suggestions?
It has not fully cured yet. Give it more time.
One more question… I sent photos last week…. The deck was stained with your stain 2 years ago. You recommended cleaning and brightening but I assume that means I can reapply the neutral stain I used last time over the top of that same remaining stain and it will fill in places where it is worn off.?
Thanks.
It does not “fill” in areas to blend. When cleaning, it should even out the appearance by removing the old stain where it has deteriorated. The other option is to use the stripper to ensure an even appearance. No harder than cleaning, just removes the old coating fully.
If I plan to apply solid Expresso stain over old PT wood after I use stripper. Since the Epresso is so dark, I don’t think I need to apply bightner before the sold Expresso. Is this correct?
Also can i return unopernd product (paying shipping) if i order toot much?
Also do you have Expresso sold stain in 5 gal containter?
You must neutralize with the brightner after using the stripper. We do not sell the solid stains in 5-gallons containers. Return policy as at the bottom of the pages.
I will be staining a 30 year old deck with RAD solid stain, expresso. I do not expect to see any of the grain beneath the expresso sold stain. I am not sure if the clean – strip and brighten would make the deck any better looking. I am thinking of applying just the express solid stain after power washing.
Is this a reasonable approach?
No. Use the stripper and pressure wash to remove the peeling stain and then brighten. Then you can apply the solid stain.
I stripped (timber oil) and brightened and stained my deck 2 years ago and it is starting to show wear. I live in NY so there is quite a bit of snow on it in the winter. One photo shows some rot in the board- would you recommend filling with Rotted Wood Bondo prior to staining?
Should I clean, brighten and re-stain?
There is approximately 265 square feet total. Please advise on quantities needed. I had some leftover Brightener and Stain but it was subjected to freezing in the garage- no good?
Thank you!
Janice
No, never use filler. It will not stain to blend. Clean and brighten for prep. Brightener is okay if frozen and in powder form. Stain will not.
We built our deck (16 x 16) four years ago. It was still pretty green when we stained it (my husband wanted it ready for a party so he didn’t want to wait!). We used Armstrong Clark semi-transparent stain. I’m not sure what kind of wood it is, a soft white, but not cedar or pressure treated. It looked absolutely beautiful. The next year we applied another coat of stain. Over the winter (we live in Montana) all the horizontal surfaces turned a very dark, almost black color and the deck itself was very splotchy (some black, some not stained at all. We decided to not do anything that year. I think the deck just wasn’t dry enough when it was first stained so it wasn’t absorbed into the wood and we ended up over-applying. We want to stain it this year but we are not sure where to begin. When we wipe the black area on top of a bench and railing, it comes off on a rag, so I’m not sure if this is tannin or dirt or mold/mildew. I get different advice from everyone I talk to and don’t want to mess this up again. I’m not sure if I can just clean and brighten or if I have to strip. Also, is there any way to differentiate between dirt/tannin and mold/milder? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
For prep, strip and brighten: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
It looks mostly like dirt.
I will be staining a 30 year old deck with RAD solid stain, expresso. I do not expect to see any of the grain beneath the expresso sold stain. I am not sure if the clean – strip and brighten would make the deck any better looking. I am thinking of applying just the express solid stain after power washing.
Is this a reasonable approach?
You have to prep. Post pics for help with this.
We are using solid rad in brown oak. Coverin a deck previously stained in same. How many hours between coats? We do have a few bew boards. Also, does same hot sun application apply to 2nd coat?
Apply the 2nd coat as soon as the first is dry. 1-3 hours. Avoid hot sun.
So the forcast calledfor no rain today. we got first coat on and railing and about 1/4 of floor and it rained for about 5 minutes. Not heavy but enought to wet the deck. What should we do? Chance of rain for tomorrow is now 50% , starting around 7am
Stain when the water dries off the deck.
There are a few white chalky, milky spots. Should we cover over those or will they need sanded?
Post some pics.
Can RAD semi-transparent stains be applied with an airless sprayer (Wagner Control Pro 130)? Thank you.B
Yes, they can.
I’m looking at restoring our 1000 sq ft fence. Not sure of the wood type (assuming cedar) and it was a new fence that was stained about 14 years ago. Not sure of the oil stain but assuming it’s semi-transparent stain. Yes, I have access to a small (electric) power washer. See attached photos of different areas of fence.
Assuming the best products for this project is the following, correct?
* Stripper / Brightener Kit
* Additive Thickening Gel
* Booster Additive. Is this needed for this project?
Assuming I’ll need to cover / tarp the plants when applying these products?
Thanks,
Brad
Yes but use both the booster and gel when stripping. Protect the plants.
Hi, your advice would be appreciated, please. 520 square foot deck, pressure treated wood, approx. 5 years old, never sealed/stained. Climate, Ontario Canada. I used Behr Premium All-In-One wood cleaner with a pressure washer to remove dirt, mildew, etc. The next step is to sand as the deck has splintered in various places and to remove the excess wood filler. The ideais to finish with RAD semi-transparent light walnut.
Q1. I filled in some of the bigger cracks with an exterior wood filler. See attached. Was this a mistake? Should I pressure wash out whatever filler remains after sanding or will the light walnut finish still penetrate and color over the filler?
Q2. Do I need to use a brightener? The cleaner contains Oxylic acid.
The image showing the full view of the deck is closest in true color. The close-up images look darker than its real condition.
1. You cannot and should not ever use a wood filler on a deck as it will not blend when stained with our stain or any exterior stain. You would have to remove it otherwise it is going to look bad.
2. Yes.
Thanks for your quick response. So much for box store advice. Glad I found your site!
Hi,
I’ve resanded the entire deck using a large square buff floor sander from Home Depot. As you can see there are still ingrained black streaks even after using undiluted Behr Premium All-In-One wood cleaner. The deck has also turned from white to yellow over the past week before I could finish the job with rain intervening.
Questions:
Thanks!
Brightener does not remove yellowing. You would have to sand out the black streaks. After sanding you need to clean and brighten to open up the wood pores. Only one coat of the stain when sanded.
After much research & repair work, I’m finally getting ready to re-stain my redwood decks. I have two: one wrap around in front that is partially covered with the old stain still largely in tact, connected to a section that has lots of bare wood. 450 sq. ft.
The other deck is about 1,200 sq ft, so I have a lot! Deck is likely at least 20 years old. It was last stained 10 years ago when I bought it. Not sure of product, possibly Flood semi transparent.
Can I use just the Cleaner & Brightener on the bare wood sections and the stripper for where old stain is. Should I add the booster? Also, there is painted wood railings & posts, encircling all of the deck, so trying to figure how best to avoid getting product on it. Could I brush on the stripper & brightener around/underneath after covering it while spraying the rest?
I tried to attach photos, but not all showing up. This is the two sections of small deck.
You will need the RAD Stain Stripper with both additives and pressure washing for the stained deck. Clean and brighten the bare wood deck. The stripper does not remove paint so just pre wet and rinse over spray right away and you should be okay.
I have three 9 yr old 100 sq ft decks and two sets of stairs I am wanting to stain. I used the stripper and pressure washer to clean. Several areas had stain left so we sanded it down. Can we brighten and stain now or do we need to let it weather since we sanded some of it?
Thanks
Brighten and then stain.
Thanks, two of the porches still look “dirty” after stripping and brightening any suggestions? Or will the stain work fine over these?
What you have on the deck currently is an old stain that looks like a solid/opaque stain or a very thick deck coating with little to no transparency. You need to fully remove this before using our semi-transparent stain. Sand more or use the Stripper again but use both stripper additives. Brighten after.
I just wanted to share my experience with my deck. I bought the restore-a-deck system with the cleaner, brightener and light walnut semi transparent stain. My deck needed some serious cleaning as almost all of the wood had oxidized and turned grey. I applied the cleaner, power washed, and applied the brightener. The results were amazing. I did however, have to sand the entire deck because of the furring that accumulated due to the oxidized wood. After sanding, I stained it. I bought the 14” brush from the site which was a game changer. I bought a staining glove for the spindles which was also a game changer and saved me a ton of time. Here are pics of the deck before and after cleaning and brightening and then the final product after staining. I am very, very pleased.
Looks great! You might want to enter our contest:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-prep-stain-contest-2023
Hi – I have a large redwood deck that is approx 3 years old and I want to protect and maintain it. It is not currently stained or sealed — it has weathered to a natural grey. The deck is around a pool and gets a lot of sun. I believe I need a semi transparent stain – such as the natural or cedar color. Will these significantly change the weathered gray color of the deck? Is this product all I need to seal the deck?
You have to prep first and this removes the gray: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
You can then stain with any of the colors that we offer. You cannot seal over a deck stain after. No need.
24 year old deck. 31′ x 12′, approximately 75′ of rail cap at 3′ height. Steps fit deck footprint so were not added separately. Unknown wood type. Has not been touched in the past 7 years. Unknown last date / type of stain. Based on appearance it appears to have been a transparent stain. I have access to a pressure washer (in the photos, deck has just been pressure washed over past 2 days…top and bottom of deck). My primary concern is maintenance / longevity, with aesthetics being 2nd place. I’m going to be re-applying treatment to the entire deck (including the bottom). Posts on top of the deck are 8′ 6×6 posts. Bottom posts are 9′ 6×6 posts.
Looking for recommendations on products needed and quantities.
Hello,
Prep all wood with this kit:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
Stain after with our semi-transparent stain:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-5-gallon.html
If doin the bottom, you will need a total of about 8-10 gallons.
Will 1 prep kit be enough, or will I need a couple?
Hard to say. 1-2 kits.
Thank you. I’ll order 2.
If I want to use the restore a deck solid stain in white on the railings to match my house trim, do you have any suggestions if the white sample is whiter than my trim? I really wanted to use this product.
Would you recommend Flood pro solid or Defy solid stain for 8 month old pt wood. We need a tintable stain. ( why not using Twp on railings)
We will use the TWP semi transparent on the horizontal surface but want a tinted white for railings and post to match house trim.
We live in nw ga. So we have hot summers and somewhat cold winters.
Thank you for your help. We have learned a lot!!!
Pretreated Wood/ Newly built Pergola will be 3 months old in September 2023/ Located in Missouri (snow and ice). Top slats and 4 post. Planning to Clean/Brighten/Semi-Transparent Cedar Stain.
Q: No access to a power washer. Should I just use a scrub brush to clean/brighten and use the Jet setting on hose to clean? Or must I have a power washer?
Q: Should I use the staining brush or pad to stain? (1 coat for new wood)
Q: In 8 months I will do the same stain (2 coats). Do I clean and brighten again in 8 months?
Thanks,
Jacqueline
1. You can scrub and rinse but much easier to use a pressure washer.
2. Stain pads.
3. You will not need to redo this for 1-2 years. Prep the same and recoat.
Thank You for confirmation.
Hello,
We used your Semi-Transparent Light Walnut color Restore a deck on Pressure Treated Pine deck about 4 years ago (Wood age at this point is probably 8 or so years). The vertical surfaces are still decent, but definitely time to redo the horizontal.
What process do you recommend if plan to reapply the Light Walnut Do we need to strip…or just clean will work.
For the new application is this a one coat on horizontal or is 2 the typical?
And is the remnants (maybe 1.5 gallon (opened) of the 4 year old still good, or probably best to buy a new jug. The deck is approximately 15’x18′.
Thanks in advance for your time.
Sorry, posted before attaching pictures and now don’t see link to post, will do once the question is approved if that helps.
Please snd us some pics so we can proplery help with the prep direction to go.
Shelf life is 12 months if opend and 3 years unopend. It would probably no be good.
Thanks. I’ll try to repost…but there is no link for posting pictures on my browser. I have tried Chrome, Edge, and cell phone, and there is no paperclip icon or other way I see to attach a picture?
It is in the bottom right corner of comment box.
I saw that reference in a previous post…but it is not there. I would of course send you a screenshot showing that…but someting is different on my browser/end.
I have the 4 icons on the left bottom, but there is no paperclip on the right (above the post comment)
It is most likley your browser settings. Open a clean window on chrome with ctrl/command + shift + N. See if that works.
PROMISE, not trying to be difficult. No luck with that or incognito window. I’ll try reboot laptop soon and see if that helps.
Reboot resolved whatever the issue was! Thanks.
Clean and brighten with pressure washing. Apply 2 light coats wet on wet to the floors.
-Type of wood if known: unknown
Approximate Age of Wood: 10-15 years
-Previous stain used was Sherwin Williams superdeck solid stain
-When was the last time wood was stained: Stairs and upper deck were repaired and stained 4 months ago, rest is over 3 years ago
-Wood Type to be Stained: Deck
Do you have access to a pressure washer: yes
Miscellaneous Info: New home owners with a 690 ft deck looking to have a finalized product of grey solid stain. I already cleaned and pressure washed with Olympic cleaner and lightly sanded.
1. Do I need to clean, strip and brighten before I apply the stain or can any of those steps be skipped?
2. How much of each product do I need?
Thanks for your help!
When reapplying a solid stain you need to remove all loose and peeling stain. You can then cover the non peeling stain with the RAD Solid Stain. About 7 gallons for two coats.
Has any one done the deck boards in brown oak and expresso for railing? Want to try a 2 tone look?
Not that we know of.
Our deck has a semi-transparent stain which is 2 years old. Can I apply a solid stain without stripping off the original semi-transparent stain?
Yes.
Do I need to use the cleaner and brightener before applying a solid stain?
Yes, that would be best. You always need to prep when reapplying.
What happens if I underestimate the amount of stain I need for my deck and need to buy additional stain? Is there a retailer in my zip code (01740) that I can pick up stain on the day that I need it? What is the delivery from RAD?
Only online. Shipping takes 3 days to MA.
We have a 1,200 sq foot redwood deck that needs restoring, we did last year, but the statin is peeling off, it did not even last a year.
The deck is 18 years old.
The time before last (before we bought the house the deck was refinished using: Pittsburg Paints Weatherscreen Water repellent deck stain 717- naturaltone redwood
Last year, in 2022 we refinished the deck using: Pittsburgh Paints & Stains® Weatherscreen® Naturaltone Redwood Semi-Transparent – Oil based Deck & Siding
Yes, we have access to a pressure washer.
This is very thick on your deck and it looks more opaque/solid then a true semi-transparent. To get this off you fully you would need our RAD PaintStrip and possibly some sanding. This would allow th use of our semi-transparent stain. The other option is to remove the peeling stain only and then cover the intact stain with our solid stain.
I am going to use stripper and brightener before semi transparent stain. Deck is 2000 sq feet. How much of each product do I need
Hi, please post some pics of the deck and the stain on the deck that needs to be stripped. Do you know the brand and type of stain?
Can you see my previous post
We get many 100s of questions so we cannot see your other post easily unless you replied under your previous post.
How do I add a pic
Click the attachemnt icon in the corner. Looks liek a paperclip.
Don’t see that. Anyway from previous post, I was advised to use stripper then brightener then semi transparent stain. After seeing pic. I just need to know how much to order of each product for 2000 sq ft. Also i use your brush not pad correct?
It’s in the bottom right corner. For 2000 sq feet, your will need 3 of these kits to strip and brighen with:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
For the stain, about 15-20 gallons for the 2 coats applied wet on wet. Use the yellow brush for the floors. Stain pads for vertical wood like rails.
What’s best for older deck?
Is the gray in the pics bare wood or a gray solid stain?
Good morning – I have 2 questions. (1) How long is unopened semi-transparent stain good for, and (2) how long after the stain stripper and additives are mixed together are they effective for? TIA.
1. About 3 years.
2. The stripper +addtives will not go bad once mixed.
Can restore a deck be thinned slightly? If so, with what? I have a fair amount of settlement with what I think is not enough liquid to absorb/blend into the product.
Thanks
Bruce
No, it cannot be thinned.
New homeowner and seeking to restore my gazebo. The construction is (probably) 10-15 years old and appears structurally sound — no sign of rot. There is no hint of the wood having ever been stained or sealed previously.
Prior to taking the attached photos, the wood was dark and heavily coated with dirt and mildew. I pressure washed it, which improved things immensely, but it still has that dull gray mildewy color and readily absorbs rainwater.
The wood is quite appealing when wet and that look is more-or-less what I would like to accomplish by staining/sealing it.
I realize that additional treatment will be needed prior to staining/sealing, but I really have no idea where to begin. Sand? Cleanse? Brighten? I’ve heard good things about your products and any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Use the RAD Cleaner and Brighener while pressure washing for prep:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
Stain after with the RAD stains:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-5-gallon.html
I purchased this house last year, so I have no idea how old or what type of stain is used. As you can see there are 2 different stains from decking to handrails. The railing going towards grass was added last summer. The deck is approximately 160 sq. Ft. Excluding railings. What would you recommend for stripping/cleaning and how much semi-transparent stain would be needed? I assume there is a delivery charge to Canada?
On the flooring you have what looks like a solid opaque stain. You will need this stripper to remove it:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-paint-solid-stain-stripper-5-gallon.html
The railings you can use our regula deck stain stripper:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
Are the stripper, cleaner, and brighteners safe to use around stainless steel cable rails?
Yes.
I stripped a portion of the dock that is on the left hand lower side and a little of the left gang plank and than brightened the entire dock. Should I strip the remainder of the dock and rebrighten the dock or will it look good after we stain the dock?
Thanks
Strip and brighten all so it is even prior to staining.
I have a 10 x 12 redwood deck built last fall. Two weeks ago, before finding your product, I ended up at a big box store and was talked into using Olympic Waterguard Clear wood sealer. I wanted less color but a “wet wood” look. I was told this product would be what I wanted. Since it was water clean-up and no where on the product did it mention it was an Acrylic product, I gave it a try.
The results was a disaster. It doesn’t even look like I did anything to the deck other than the water beads up on it. I now realize it is an acrylic product. Will your RAD Stripper product strip off the sealant? My railings are black metal and so I am concerned about using paint stripper products possibly damaging the rails.
The attached pictures were taken after a rain, showing the water beading up on the deck.
I do have a pressure washer, Any suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Use the RAD Stain Stripper with both additives: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-stain-stripper-additives.html
RAD Brightener would be last.