DESCRIPTION
Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener is a biodegradable, powdered concentrate that is mixed with water to brighten and restore the natural beauty of all species of exterior wood. This product excels at brightening, removing rust stains, and tannin stains caused by fallen leaves. Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener is a safe, product that will not only brighten but neutralize the surface of the wood, creating an ideal surface that is ready to be stained.
This product is step 2 of the Restore A Deck system.
WHERE TO USE
Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener is intended for use on all types of weathered, exterior wood surfaces including decks, fences, siding, outdoor furniture, gazebos, and playsets.
Recommended for surface preparation prior to initial application of semi-transparent finishes and stains. The product can be used as a cleaner and brightener for redwood, or as a neutralizer to further brighten wood species, like pine, that have been cleaned with Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner or stripped with Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. For lasting protection of your exterior wood, after using Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener, treat the surface with Restore-A-Deck Premium Wood Stain.
Note: Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener is not formulated to remove intact paint, stain, or clear finishes. This brightener is not a cleaner. It will not remove grayed wood fibers. It is meant to serve as a wood brightener and pH balance after using a deck cleaner or stain stripper.
ADVANTAGES
- Neutralizes stain strippers
- Brightens and restores wood surfaces
- Restores pH balance of wood
- Powdered formula makes 5 liquid gallons when mixed
- Extremely cost-effective. When mixed, the cost is less than $6 a gallon.
- Eco-Safe formulas
- Improves absorption of wood stains
- Safe to use on all exterior wood surfaces, not just decks
Coverage: 750-1000 sq.feet per container.
How soon after Step #1 cleaning can I apply Step #2 Brightener?
Right away.
To clarify my post, the 1 year old pressure treated pine deck boards have not been stained or sanded.
Hello,
Yes, rinse “all” wood for a total of 20 minutes. One coat should be good.
Great, thanks. I’ve order the TWP VOC compliant semi-solid stain & and your 10″ deck brush for staining the deck boards. What brush type do you recommend for applying stain to the balusters? They are a higher quality, dense pine with few knots – similar a mid-weight hardwood. It’s understood that a natural bristle brush is ideal for an oil-based stain; is this applicable to the TWP stain? Second question: suitability & advisability of applying this stain using an airless sprayer – here with a Wagner Power Painter Plus.
I first used semi solid stain on my new deck wood last year. Needs an additional coat this year. How should I prep the wood
Use the Gemini Restore Kit for prep.
I know ideally stain should be applied 48 hours after cleaning / brightening / drying. If it rains unexpectedly, how long a time can go by before staining and still get optimal results?
2 weeks.
I have a deck that is mostly composite (Trex) However, I have two cedar posts holding up a cedar pergola and I also have a cedar privacy wall all on the deck. Will the runoff from applying this brightener to the cedar portions of this deck stain or damage the composite portion?
No, it should not.
question about applying a 2nd coat. I have read that it needs to be a “wet on wet” application. To put the 2nd coat on, you need to walk on the 1st coat before it is completely dry. Do you need to do anything special while walking on the wet 1st coat to appl the 2nd coat? Don’t want to have shoe tread marks on the deck.
Just make sure you wear shoes that you do not care about and do not step in your second coat while working.
I’ve been using TWP-100 series, 4-parts 101 Cedartone + 1-part 100 Clear (16 gal), on my 2500 sq.ft Cedar Siding home for 15-20 years. I use this mixture to “lighten” the color of the stain, however, it still gets a little darker with each application every 4 years. Thoroughly power wash with cleaner additive before staining & yearly in between.
My question is, can I just use the Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener to “lighten” the color of my siding before another staining of TWP Cedrtone? Also, do I need to do a wet-on-wet application every 4 years on is 1 coat sufficient?
TWP is the best product I’ve ever used!
Brightener alone does not lighten the stain. To lighten it, you would have to remove it by Stripping and then Brightening it. One coat should be enough when applying maintenance coats.
If 16 gal is wet-on-wet, how much is needed for 1 coat?
About 2/3 or 10 gallons.
A couple more things.
1) Can the Semi-Solid like Cedar Chest or Autumn Foliage be applied over TWP-101 Cedartone just normal prep without stripping?
2) New treated pine decking aged 6 months. A little hard to find directions here but looks like…use Restore-a-Deck & only apply ONE coat if using TWP-100 series. If correct, when do I apply next coat/coats?
3) New treated pine decking aged 6 months. If I use your Pro Semi-Solid what is the procedure for application after Restore-a-Deck?
TY
1. No, you need to strip off the 101.
2. https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
3. https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
One coat for new wood after Gemini Restore Kit prep.
Got it…when to apply next coat on 2 or 3. One coat or two wet-on-wet coats next application?
Most likely 2 coats wet on wet.
Hi, We have another deck area yet to be sanded and stained. It has 4 year old twp redwood. Very grey in some areas and some still had some twp stain left. Do I need to sand? If I use stripper will it cause damage to any other wood it may touch such as the cedar siding on the house? What is best way to prep this area? Thanks
Strip and brighten is the correct way to prep this. Cover the siding wood.
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Hi, redwood deck sanded, cleaned, and dried for several day. We applied dark oak 1503 but as picture shows was very spotty and dark in some areas. Also the dark oak is really a dark oak. Can we mix it to lighten it up some and we are thinking with 1520 pecan? We have huge deck area yet to do and 3 – 5 gallons of dark ok 1503. Any suggestions? Thanks
The unevenness is due to the prep. You have internal darkening in the wood causing the stain to take differently.
You can lighten the Dark Oak by mixing in the TWP Clear. Pecan may be too dark to lighten it that much but you could use it.
Thank you. Should I have after I sanded to apply brighter or is there a product that I can apply to the stained or cleaned wood to help absorb all the stain evenly?
Without knowing what you did exactly for prep and how it looked after the prep was done, it would be difficult to offer advice. It looks like not remove all the prior stain or did not brighten evenly.
Can the brightener step be done immediately following the stripper on the same day?
Yes and it is supposed to be done right away.
What is the proper mix ratio of TWP brightener to water? I cant read the label!!
6-8 oz per gallon of water or the entire bag into a 5-gallon pail.
We built a cedar deck 5 years ago. We used TWP 120 Pro Series incorrectly–we did not allow unprotected weathering of the wood. 2 years ago, we re-stained the deck. This year we used Safe Strip (which worked really well) to removed the old stain. Should we use the Brightener as our next step? Or should this be the year we let the wood be unprotected, and apply the Brightener and stain in the fall? Is it too late for that since we’ve already made the mistake of staining it?
We live in Michigan and have had 4 days of 70+ degree weather (which gave us the itch to strip the deck thinking we’d get a head start on Spring). However, next week we may get snow.
Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
You can stain it now. Brightener then wait 48 hours to stain. If you need to wait due to weather, use the brightener a few days or a week before the staining.
Thank you so much for your prompt response. Would you suggest that we sand it before applying the brightener?
No need to sand.
I dripped stain onto aluminum power coated rails. What should I use to remove?
Try a graffiti remover like Goof Off.
Use the stripper again while pressure washing, not just a hose. Let dry and lightly sand or buff off the fuzzies. Brightener last.
Thank you so much for the help and the quick reply! This website is so useful.
I’ve power washed my deck, but I still see spots of mold stain which I believe the mold is deep penetrated in deck wood. Would this brightener remove the mold stain? If it doesn’t any recommendation of other products or alternatives, please?
Post some pics.
See attached pictures
That looks old stain that has not come off. Stripper while pressure washing and then Brightener.
If I am sanding my deck to get it flat again do I still need the brightner. My deck has never been stained. I am going to use the TWP 100 rustic stain.
Yes use it after the sanding and do not sand finer than 60-80 grit.
Can Restore A Deck Brightener be used safely on a composite wood deck, such as Trex? Trex says brighteners with oxalic acid can be used. Is oxalic acid the base for your brightener? or is it something else?
Thanks
You can use the RAD Brightener on composite decks.
My deck measures 16’x26’ and 40’ of railing but no spindles as they will be a different colour and 5 steps of 6’ wide. How much stain will I need? I sanded my whole deck, will I need a brighter?
What is the total sq footage of all wood added up? You should clean and brighten after sanding?
How soon after I use the brighter can I apply the stain?
48 hours.
Do I need to mask off my siding (painted with Sherwin Williams Exterior Acrylic Latex paint) before applying the BRIGHTER with a pump sprayer?
No, just pre-wet and rinse well any overspray when done.
Do you recommend applying the Brightner after sanding and before staining redwood pergola
Yes.
Can the Brightener stay on longer than 20 min before being washed off
Yes.
Can you apply this product to the wood when it is still wet after pressure washing or should you wait until the wood is dry?
Wet is fine.
After stripping and brightening the deck, is it ok to wait a week or two before re-staining?
Stain withing 2 weeks of prep. Not longer.
[quote name=”BH”]I just finished power washing my deck. Not sure how old it is, but the wood looks good. It’s been recommended I let the power-washed wood dry for a week or more before moving on to brightener. Would you agree? And after brightener (and rinsing the brightener), how long before I stain with a clear oil stain?[/quote]
You do not wait a week after the pressure washing to apply a brightener. Brighteners (and cleaners) are used during the pressure washing process to aid in the outcome and for better overall prep. Apply the brightener now would best.
I just finished power washing my deck. Not sure how old it is, but the wood looks good. It’s been recommended I let the power-washed wood dry for a week or more before moving on to brightener. Would you agree? And after brightener (and rinsing the brightener), how long before I stain with a clear oil stain?
[quote name=”Gloria”]I contacted you earlier, but have forgotten steps to follow in restaining or sealing a deck that has has one tome sealer on it for about 6 years. Where can I find your reply or would you reanswer it?[/quote]
You will need to prep with the Restore A Deck Stain Stripper kit for this to remove the OneTime stain:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I contacted you earlier, but have forgotten steps to follow in restaining or sealing a deck that has has one tome sealer on it for about 6 years. Where can I find your reply or would you reanswer it?
[quote name=”Margaret Leinhauser”]Three decks, including steps, total
415 sq ft. How much stain and brightener do we need? Decks 7 months old and never stained. I assume the brightened is the only prep needed.
thanks[/quote]
You need to clean and brighten for the prep. Use the Gemini Restore Kits.
1 Gemini Kit
3 Gallons of Stain. Only 1 coat on new wood.
See this for more info on new wood:
http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Three decks, including steps, total
415 sq ft. How much stain and brightener do we need? Decks 7 months old and never stained. I assume the brightened is the only prep needed.
thanks
[quote name=”Jason S.”]What prep steps should be taken when staining new cedar fencing?[/quote]
Please see this about new wood:
http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
What prep steps should be taken when staining new cedar fencing?
[quote name=”John R”]Thanks for the prompt answer! Two more questions: 1. Should I use the stripper if there’s nothing to strip?
2. When I recoat with TWP 100 (in 2 years), do I need to do the 2 step prep?
Thank you[/quote]
Use the Cleaner, not the stripper. When redoing in 2-3 years, you will need to prep by cleaning and brightening.
Thanks for the prompt answer! Two more questions: 1. Should I use the stripper if there’s nothing to strip?
2. When I recoat with TWP 100 (in 2 years), do I need to do the 2 step prep?
Thank you
[quote name=”John R”]I just pressure washed a 20yr. old cedar deck and the wood looks clean and natural colored. Do I need to use Wood Brightener on it? I’m not interested in bright wood so much as having the stain go deep into the wood and bond well.
Thanks[/quote]
The brightener will help the stain to penetrate better into the wood.
I just pressure washed a 20yr. old cedar deck and the wood looks clean and natural colored. Do I need to use Wood Brightener on it? I’m not interested in bright wood so much as having the stain go deep into the wood and bond well.
Thanks
[quote name=”phekno”]I’ve gotten some old stain mostly removed from my deck last year, but there’s still a little left that needs to be stripped. Plus the deck has been sitting without stain on it for 9-12 months, so it’s has some greying on it. Should I finish stripping and then use the cleaner and brightener, or just finish stripping and use the brightener?[/quote]
Finish stripping all wood then brighten. You may have to rewash the areas that have grayed.
I’ve gotten some old stain mostly removed from my deck last year, but there’s still a little left that needs to be stripped. Plus the deck has been sitting without stain on it for 9-12 months, so it’s has some greying on it. Should I finish stripping and then use the cleaner and brightener, or just finish stripping and use the brightener?
[quote name=”engbldr”]Do you have to cover plants and lawn around the deck when you use the stripper and brightener to protect them from any caustic reaction?[/quote]
Yes you should cover well or prewet and rinse right away any over spray.
Do you have to cover plants and lawn around the deck when you use the stripper and brightener to protect them from any caustic reaction?
[quote name=”Jean Day”]In the process of stripping all paint and paint film off pine siding with mix of Borax, washing soda and ammonia, I may have cleaned the wood accidentally; it looks like it, turned golden. I have a little more film to “clean off.” Can I go straight to a brightener now before 100 series?[/quote]
As long as all of the old stain is removed then you should be okay.
In the process of stripping all paint and paint film off pine siding with mix of Borax, washing soda and ammonia, I may have cleaned the wood accidentally; it looks like it, turned golden. I have a little more film to “clean off.” Can I go straight to a brightener now before 100 series?
[quote name=”Grace Faille”]If I use you stain remover and am then going to apply stain do I need the brightener?[/quote]
Yes you have to use the wood brightener to neutralize and restore the wood color before applying the stain.
If I use you stain remover and am then going to apply stain do I need the brightener?
[quote name=”Geraldine”]We applied Sickens stain and it is now peeling can I start by using your stripper and then what are the next steps ?[/quote]
Which Sikkens? Not all versions are strippable.
We applied Sickens stain and it is now peeling can I start by using your stripper and then what are the next steps ?
[quote name=”Dick Barbar”]I recently power washed a small redwood deck. It’s stripped of all dirt and stains. Can I just apply brightener without using cleaner first before staining?[/quote]
Yes that would be fine.
I recently power washed a small redwood deck. It’s stripped of all dirt and stains. Can I just apply brightener without using cleaner first before staining?
[quote name=”mhwitz”]Our redwood deck is 20 years old. It has been treated with Penofin. It is now gray and dirty. What are the steps we need to do so we can use TWP1500 on the wood? Will using the RetoreADeckCleaner prep the deck and the we apply the TWP1500? What should we purchase. Thanks.[/quote]
You would need to remove the Penofin with the Restore A Deck Stripper and Brighten after with the RAD Brightener. This will prep for the TWP.