Make Restoring Your Exterior Wood …Easy!
Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener system is a powerful “eco-friendly” two-part restoration system.
Step 1 Wood and Deck Cleaner that deeply cleans your wood to remove dirt, grime, mold, algae and general graying. The cleaner will help prep neglected wood and or prep for re-coating with a wood or deck stain.
Step 2 Wood Brightener is used after the wood cleaner to “brighten” the wood while neutralizing the cleaner to a natural pH balance. This step will improve the overall appearance of your wood while helping the wood deck stain longevity.
- 100% Biodegradable product
- Concentrated powder formula – Cleans up to 1000 sq. feet!
- Prep wood surfaces for re-coating with a wood or deck stain
- Restores weathered gray wood to natural color
- Eco-friendly
Currently have a pressure treated wood deck stained with TWP 1504 Black Walnut in 2021 and am ready to strip and re-stain. I have the Restore-a-Deck kit. Here are my questions:
1) I still have 1 1/2 gallons of the original 3 gallons of 1504 stain from 2021. Is it still usable three years later?
2) For prep – I have a 2100 psi power washer and a surface cleaner attachment. Should/could I power wash BEFORE using the stripper and brightener, or just hose/sweep the deck surface off, then apply the stripper?
3) Once stripper is applied, can I use the surface cleaner attachment with my power washer to clean the surface before applying the brightener?
4) Once I’ve cleaned and brightened the surface, how soon after should I begin re-staining? Asked another way, what’s the maximum amount of time I can wait between finishing the stripping/brightening process and applying a new coat of stain?
Thanks!
My questions regarding disposal of the cleaner & brightener keep disappearing (happened a few weeks ago & today). Why are they not being answered?
Thanks
Hi John, not sure what you are reffering to but we have answered every one of your question on this subject and they are clearly on the website for the world to see.
Thanks, I wasn’t able to find them for some reason
How do I dispose of the leftover cleaner and brightener? If I mix them, do they cancel each other out so I can pour in the drain? Or should I take to the haz waste pickup? Thanks
You should talk to your local city/twp about disposing of chemicals. They typically have days set aside for this.
Can I use tsp on wood cedar furniture?
No, use the Gemini Restore Kit for prep, not TSP.
I meant TWP?
Yes, you can use TWP on wood furniture.
What product do I use on new cedar, aged 6 months, before applying stain/sealer?
The Gemini Restore kit.
Can you use TWP 1500 series on a deck that was previously coated with TWP 100 of the same color without stripping the old TWP 100?
You should strip and brighten when switching. FYI stripping is just as easy as cleaning, just removing it down to the bare wood.
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit
I have a massive deck – just under 2000 square feet – so I am working on cleaning first. I have cleaned about half and was going to apply brightener when I was completely done cleaning. This will not all be on the same day! I see in the comment now that the brightener should be applied while deck is still wet. Any advice for me? Should I still go back now with the brightener even though deck has dried? Ugh!
Finish the cleaning at this point and then brighten all when done.
Could I use the Cleaner and rinse, then immediately after use the Brightener? Or is there a dry time needed between the two products? Thanks!
As soon as you are done with the Cleaner, you immediately use the Brightener while the wood is wet.
Is there an ingredient list for gemini cleaner and brightener?
Sorry, but we do not share our formulas. Trade secrets.
I stained horizontal deck last year and I’m now about to stain vertical wood. While prepping verticals with restore a deck, will it harm previously TWP stained boards if gets on them? Not planning on another coat on horizontal until next year or later.
Best to keep the prep products off any areas you do not want to stain.
Last fall, I stained the deck except the post and having left over TWP stain. I am thinking to re apply the stain to the deck when I apply it on to the post. Can I do that? What prep is needed?
Whenever you recoat, you need to prep and that would be with the Gemini Restore Kit.
Last spring I stained my new deck in back facing south and front stairs facing north with the color pecan which I’m very pleased with. But I think I messed up by added a wet on wet coating on all flat surfaces . I don’t think it was supposed to do that on a new deck.This is a new home.So by the time i got around to cleaning with restore a deck cleaner and brightner was about a year and a half in the blasing sun in the back. Will it cause a problem? And also what’s the best way to clean a deck between stainings
You should be okay. Just use warm water and some dish soap to clean off dirt.
I will be using this kit on a deck that was stained about three years ago with TWP 1503 dark oak. I will be using the same TWP, same tint to re-stain it. Is this kit enough to the job, or do I need to strip the old stain?
The Gemini Kit will work well for this.
Do you recommend to wash off the cleaner a pressure washer with gentle nozzle, or a hose-end sprayer?
You need to pressure wash off the cleaner, not just rinse.
Thanks. I’ll pressure wash it off hard. Wish me luck> new six month old Pergola.
You want to be about 6-12 inches away when washing. Close enough to remove what is needed but not too close that it can damage the wood.
Will Gemini restore a deck kit remove mill glaze
Yes.
Should I cover vinyl siding prior to using the cleaner or brightener?
That would vary based on whether the siding has oxidized. To be safe, you can cover.
After you mix the restore a deck cleaner and brightener in your 5 gallon buckets can it sit for long periods during the day and/or overnight?
Not the Cleaner. It has to be used within a couple of hours after mixing.
When is it too cold to stain? Will be sunny, dry and in the 70s this weekend but nights dip down to high 30s/low 40s. Still OK to strip, wait two days and stain?
No issues.
Will the prep damage my composite decking if I’m cleaning cedar railing? Also will it damage galvanized metal?
It shouldn’t but always test first to make sure no reactions.
Have an old deck with a non TWP stain on it right now. see photos.
Want to use TWP 207 on it. What kind of prep is needed before start staining?
Strip and brighten:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Use both additives with the stripper:
https://www.twpstain.com/wood-stain-strippers/rad-stripper-additives
do I need to sand?
Only if you cannot fully strip it off. You may have some stubborn spots.
To restore cypress beams, we applied Restore-a-deck Cleaner with a paintbrush, scrubbed with a stiff brush and rinsed with a garden hose. A lot of the old Cedertone 101 was removed. My contractor was tired and said he would apply the brightener tomorrow. We didn’t realize the brightener should be applied same day. How should we proceed?
Brighten as soon as you are able.
I’ve completed the application (wet on wet) of TWP 100 Semi-Transparent Oil Stain – looking good.
Can I put yet ANOTHER COAT of the same product down without stripping & brightening ?
Will product be absorbed into the wood, or lay on top and never dry ?
No, you cannot add a 3rd coat now.
Installed two rough sawn cedar columns on porch 3 weeks. This porch gets a lot of afternoon sun. The columns have never been treated. Should i still prep with the Gemini kit even if the wood hasn’t aged much?
I will most likely use the TWP100 Cedartone once prepped.
No need to prep if rough sawn new wood.
we recently sanded very similar posts to Micah’s because our builder didn’t test the stain and it came out super dark. the posts are about 1 year old. do we need to do all the cleaning steps or since we sanded off the stain can we just proceed with stain?
Post a picture and what grit paper did you use?
We applied cleaner and Brightener to our deck about 3 or 4 weeks ago and still have half the deck to finish. Do we need to clean and brighten again or would a good sweeping be ok?
If more than two weeks you should redo the prep.
I’ve applied TWP100 to my deck twice now in 4 years. It’s getting to where it needs a third application. Is it necessary to apply Restore-A-Deck to it beforehand, or would a regular deck wash be fine? I was hoping the stain would last longer, but 2 years seems to be the limit here. Thanks.
Always prep with the Gemini Kit when reapplying.
My deck is 14 months old. I’m getting ready to stain it the first time. Do you recommend using the restore product first and then the stain? And which product is a better for horizontal decking the twp 100 or 1500?
Yes, you have to prep with this kit. Use the 1500 Series.
So, I didn’t follow instructions, I guess. I applied the cleaner to a vertical log-sided wall with a sprayer, kept it wet for 15 minutes and rinsed with a pressure washer, but did not scrub and did not apply the brightener right away.
Now I have a spotty, streaky mess. can that be salvaged?
More carefully reading the instructions it says to do small sections at a time and apply brightener immediately. Is the expectation to have 2 sprayers, one with cleaner and one with brightener? What’s a recommended ‘small area’ to do at a time?
Post some pics of your prep so far.
Here’s 2.
You will need to strip and brighen this to fix it.
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Strip in sections of about 200 square feet at a time. Repeat until all is done or one side is done. Brighten while wet.
Thanks. The rest of the home is in pretty good shape (as was this wall before applying the cleaner)with a few specific spots showing bare wood and a couple of areas appearing dirty. Water still beads on much of the surface. I was told by the previous owner that it was 100 series TWP.
Do I need to apply the cleaner before applying a maintenance coat? Can I “spot maintain “ or do I need to do everything?
Strip and brighten all to ensure it is even when finished.
Thanks. Last question:
Do you advise stripping everything so that it all looks the same as the section that I submitted pictures of, or because the cleaner/brightener would ruin the rest of the finish as well if properly applied?
Strip and brighten everything to ensure it is even when finished.
When do you have to sand in addition to cleaning and brightening? Our deck was stained five or six years ago (before we owned the house) with TWP cedar color. The wood is solid still but there’s quite a bit of fading/streaking. Will that be addressed by the two step process? I’ll be staining again with TWP afterwards. Thanks!
Post some pic for prep tips. You can upload them in the comments.
Here are photos of the deck. It does take a beating between high elevation sun and shoveling/snow blowing all winter long. Do I prep with clean and brighten, strip and brighten, or sand and clean/brighten?
Thanks!
Strip and brighten. No need for cleaner or sanding:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Dang. I already bought clean and brighten. I should have asked first. heh.
it is pretty worn down so it may come off with the Cleaner and pressure washing.
The 1st step says to use 6oz of product for every gallon, what is 6 oz if using a measuring cup ?
6-8 oz per gallon of water by volume, not weight.
What am I not understanding ? If my pump sprayer is 2 gallons how do I determine how much product goes in. How do I put 16 oz. of product in.
Not sure what you are asking. You add the powder to the water and mix it in a bucket first and then pour that into a sprayer to apply. 6-8 oz per gallon of water.
OK I think I understand, make 5 gal of mixture first then add 8 oz of that mixture to every 1 gal. of water
No. You mix 6-8 oz of powder per gallon of water. It is very simple :).
I think that since a cup is 8 oz., 6 oz. would be 3/4 cup per gallon by volume vs weight.
I don’t have access to a pump sprayer for the cleaner and brightener. Would it still work if I put it on with a brush or sponge mop? Is there another ?
Hi, best to buy a pump sprayer. They are only about $40.
Can wash water from the Restore kit safely be diverted to landscape without harming plants. Does it have potential to stain concrete?
It should be fine as long as you rinse the plants from direct over spray. Rinse concrete as well when done.
I used the Gemini Step 1 and 2 on July 22. But we’ve had some rain over the past week and likely won’t be able to stain until Aug 4, which is 2 weeks later. The wood still looks clean – do I need to clean it again before staining?
No, you should be okay.
Is twp honeytone 115 and honeytone 1515 exactly the same tint? I asked a rep from where I bought it and said it was, however when I applied 115 on a few boards it looks a bit lighter then the 1515. Please elaborate.
No, they are not the exact same. Close but not the same.
If it rained this morning can I apply cleaner to an already wet deck or should it be dry? Deck has never been stained or painted.
Yes. Damp or dry is okay.
Thank you.
Thanks…..glad I asked.
Is it ok to use the rotating head on pressure washer PSI 3000 before the stripper then brightener?
No. Never is is that on wood. It will tear the wood. Use a fan tip while pressure washing with the stripper.
I have a two tone deck with white painted rails and stained deck boards and rail cap. I want to clean an brighten the deck boards and cap. Do I need to cover the painted areas to keep the cleaner/brightener from getting on the painted areas?
It should be fine but always prewet and rinse over spray right away while working.
Hello, I purchased the 1500 and plan on pump spraying my cedar split rail fence. It has never been treated, it is about 6 years old, but has been palletized until installation last year. So, it’s not new wood, I don’t believe it would have wax as it is split rail? It has grayed a bit since installation last fall. My question is, I have 15 acres and I cannot reach any hose to the fence. Can I just apply the twp without RAD? I would have no way to wash it off. Thank you!
You should always prep before applying any wood stain. Skipping the prep can lead to issues with final appearance and performance.
Stained deck with TWP 200 a few years ago. Looking to restain after using the Gemina Restore Kit. Can we switch to another series of TWP stain with similar color – TWP 100 or TWP 1500? Or, do we need to re-stain with same TWP 200?
If you switch you would need to use the RAD Stripper and Brightener kit.
Black is rust from your screws/staples and is not caused pay Part A. Water causes rust. Screws and staples are supposed to be coated/treated against rust. If they rusted then they used the wrong type of staples when they fence was built.
Greetings. Just install a Redwood fence last Oct., 225 linear feet. 7′ high. Need to wash/prep prior to a transparent or light stain. Are there some directions that someone has posted for cleaning? i.e. “how long to have twp cleaner stay on the wood before power washing it off?”, etc
A pic is attached.
The directions are on the containers and in the pics for the product above.
Hi. Yes, I would assume so, buy I’m doing my research & want to know this up front. Is there a way to get those details before I buy?
Hi, As we mentioned, the directions are in the pics for the product above. You can read it there. Also on this link:
https://www.gemini-coatings.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/895.pdf
Thank you. For some reason I did not get the 1st pic..
I have an Ipe deck that has been coated with TWP 100 a couple times. I plan to use the RAD kit along with sanding to prep the deck before recoating. At what point in the process should I do the sanding operation? Before step 1 of RAD, before step 2, or after RAD but before coating?
After cleaning, prior to brighener. Do not sand finer than 80 grit.
I have a tall deck you can walk under. Does your deck calculator account for the underside of the deck (joists and posts)?
No. You would have to double it if you want to stain the undersides. Most people do not bother doing the undersides as it is only for aesthetic purposes.
I have a deck stained with 1520 that needs to have the horizontal surfaces restained. It isn’t in bad shape, but is showing some wear on the horizontal surfaces. Do I need to power-wash it along with using the cleaner and brightener or just use the cleaner and brightener with a garden hose and no power washing at all? If power washing is also needed, what pressure is appropriate? I’ve had several contractors in the past say to never use over 1500 psi. My power washer is 2700 psi.
Use the Gemini Kit while pressure washing for prep. 2700 PSI is okay. It is only 2700 at the tip. Once 6-8 inches away, it drops in 1/2.
To be clear, complete stripping isn’t necessary? Will some of the old stain remain and it would be OK to restain over it?
You can do either stripper or cleaner. If you clean it and it does not come off fully, you can stain over it.
My deck was refinished last fall with a built in sealer. Looking to give it a good cleaning now that winter has left it with a bit of mildew, etc.
Not planning to refinish or stain anytime soon; just want a cleaning.
Would this product be a good choice?
Our products should only to be used when you plan on recoating.
Great. Thanks!
700 sq ft deck .. how much restore a deck product will I need for the cleaning and brightening?
One prep kit should be enough unless very dirty and or oxidized.
I have cleaned and brightened, there are places previous stain has been completely removed but other areas not. See photos. Previous stain was TWP 101 Cedartone and that’s what I’ll use again. Do I need to do anything to even things out or am I good to proceed with staining? Photos look brown but in fact coloration is the old cedartone stain, and the bare wood very light/golden. Thank you!
Does it look even when wet with water? If so you can stain like this and it should even out as well.
here it is with a light wetting, still some uneveness. Will staining even everything out or more prep needed? Thank you!
Staining will even it out like wet with water. If you are okay with that, then no more prep. If you want it to be a little more even, then strip and brighten it: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Pics jv2000
Powerwashed my old (10+ yrs) deck. Need to sand bcof splinters. What else do I need to do before staining? Which stain is best for old decks in Chicago weather? See pics
Use this kit after sanding:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain with the TWP 1500 Series after:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
Meant to say vertical* below