Applying TWP (Total Wood Preservative) deck stain is something that most deck owners can do themselves. Using TWP wood stain will ensure a lasting finish on decks and many other exterior wood surfaces. TWP stain protects against moisture, preserves natural wood color, prevents mold/mildew, is easy to apply, and is the only EPA registered wood preservative.

Prior to applying any TWP wood preservative product, the wood surface should be cleaned thoroughly. Weather must be taken into consideration when staining a deck or other exterior wood surface. Follow these weather tips for TWP application:

Temperature

Air temperatures can affect the overall results of an exterior staining project. TWP Total Wood Preservative is best applied in temperatures ranging from 45-95 degrees with 60-80 degrees being the optimal range. The temperature should also not drop below freezing within 8 hours after the stain application. This could cause improper curing of the product.

If temperatures are too hot and/or applying in direct sunlight where the wood surface is hot to the touch, the stain can flash dry. This leaves the stain coat looking splotchy, uneven, and may have inconsistent coloring.

Rain in the Forecast

If the wood surface gets wet allow it to dry a minimum of 24 hours before attempting to apply TWP stain. This can vary depending on how wet the wood got, temperature, and the age of the wood. It is best to do a water test drop to determine if the wood is ready for stain. If the water soaks in right away then stain, if it beads, do not stain.

It should not rain 12 hours after applying TWP. The stain may be able to take some rain earlier but it depends on wood porosity. Because oil and water do not mix, the stain will not be affected much by a little rain if it has already soaked into the wood. On the other hand if the stain is still wet and sitting atop the surface, rain can cause separation circles or may completely wash the stain away.

Be sure to always check your local forecast prior to staining any exterior wood surface. This will ensure that TWP wood stain gives you the beautiful lasting results you expect.

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  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Ede Nachbar · 04/07/2015
    Hi. I put on one coat of TWP 1500 and finished around Noon yesterday. It was a cloudless day, so it was good conditions for drying. It rained 13 hours later, a fairly hard rain. This morning when I checked the deck, the water was more pooling on the boards rather than beading up into little beads, and it seemed like some of the pools had a small bit of oil in them (they had that oil in water sheen). Since it didn't rain for 12 hours, which is the time specified that it must not rain, is my stain going to be OK? Will I have oil circles on the deck around where the water pooled? If so, what can I do to fix any problems that might arise from this?

    Thanks!
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    TWP Stains · 02/04/2015
    Hard to say. Open and stir to see if there any any clumps. Needs to be smooth in consistency.
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    William Beldham · 02/03/2015
    Someone (not me!) left the TWP stain in the detached garage where the temp got down into single digits. Is it ruined? The container is new, unopened.
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    TWP Stains · 10/20/2014
    Brandy Hudson:
    [i]brandy[/i]
    I just stained by 900 square foot treated pine deck on Friday, and there was not supposed to be any rain for 2 days, and it began raining about 12 hours after I finished the deck, it was a light rain but rained on and off most of the day. Now as it's finally drying out there are very large water spots on the deck where the larger puddles of watered were laying. It's in WV and the weather is not very cooperative this time of year but I'm not sure what to do now. If I stain over it again will it cover the spots or just make them worse? Should I do it now or wait until springtime to start over? I really like the color of the stain and don't want to darken it too much with another coat if there's a way around it. I used twp 1500 in dark oak. Thanks
    Brandy

    Do not stain over the spots, it will make it worse. Leave alone and see if the water spots can be removed with a wet rag after drying. Sometimes the spots are just mineral deposits from the rain water. If not then you might need to redo in the Spring.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Brandy Hudson · 10/19/2014
    [i]brandy[/i]
    I just stained by 900 square foot treated pine deck on Friday, and there was not supposed to be any rain for 2 days, and it began raining about 12 hours after I finished the deck, it was a light rain but rained on and off most of the day. Now as it's finally drying out there are very large water spots on the deck where the larger puddles of watered were laying. It's in WV and the weather is not very cooperative this time of year but I'm not sure what to do now. If I stain over it again will it cover the spots or just make them worse? Should I do it now or wait until springtime to start over? I really like the color of the stain and don't want to darken it too much with another coat if there's a way around it. I used twp 1500 in dark oak. Thanks
    Brandy
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    TWP Stains · 10/14/2014
    phil0144:
    I stripped off old stain and brightened my deck, let it sit for several days, then stained it with Cedartone 1500 last Wednesday. The temperature was about 55° during that day and every day since then, but has been in the low 30's every night. I still have tacky spots on the deck. Will it absorb/dry this week when it goes back into the 60's, or do I need to do some extra work now?

    It will dry so best to just leave it alone until it does.
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    Stephen Phillipps · 10/13/2014
    I stripped off old stain and brightened my deck, let it sit for several days, then stained it with Cedartone 1500 last Wednesday. The temperature was about 55° during that day and every day since then, but has been in the low 30's every night. I still have tacky spots on the deck. Will it absorb/dry this week when it goes back into the 60's, or do I need to do some extra work now?
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    TWP Stains · 10/10/2014
    David Loverich:
    Hello,

    I recently purchased your Natural Pine deck stain and stained my deck yesterday. Today, there was a light mist and rain (which was not in the forecast). I noticed small white spots appearing in the stained areas. Does this mean I'll have to sand the entire deck and re-apply or is there any chance I can just add another coat after it drys? I live in Washington State.

    Thanks for your time and I hope you're having a great day!

    Best,

    David Loverich

    Day after you should not have any issues.
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    TWP Stains · 10/10/2014
    Randy Wright:
    A contractor just finished a wet-on-wet application of TWP 101 on my cedar deck at 3:30 in the afternoon yesterday. It was seasoned and had been properly prepped before this and was dry and ready. Lo and behold, a large rainstorm came through overnight. I looked this morning and the water was beading up on the deck surfaces. It looked like the stain was dry enough to take the rain, but I know this is pushing it. Should I expect any problems with the finish?

    For this you are probably fine.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Randy Wright · 10/09/2014
    A contractor just finished a wet-on-wet application of TWP 101 on my cedar deck at 3:30 in the afternoon yesterday. It was seasoned and had been properly prepped before this and was dry and ready. Lo and behold, a large rainstorm came through overnight. I looked this morning and the water was beading up on the deck surfaces. It looked like the stain was dry enough to take the rain, but I know this is pushing it. Should I expect any problems with the finish?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    David Loverich · 10/09/2014
    Hello,

    I recently purchased your Natural Pine deck stain and stained my deck yesterday. Today, there was a light mist and rain (which was not in the forecast). I noticed small white spots appearing in the stained areas. Does this mean I'll have to sand the entire deck and re-apply or is there any chance I can just add another coat after it drys? I live in Washington State.

    Thanks for your time and I hope you're having a great day!

    Best,

    David Loverich
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    TWP Stains · 09/23/2014
    kthomas45:
    I have read the algae can be a problem with oil based stains. Can you comment on how well TWP holds up to algae growth?

    TWP contains an EPA registered algaecide that helps to prevent the growth of mold and algae in the stain.
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    Kevin · 09/22/2014
    I have read the algae can be a problem with oil based stains. Can you comment on how well TWP holds up to algae growth?
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    TWP Stains · 09/18/2014
    Tom F.:
    I'm paying a contractor to clean and stain my cedar fence with TWP 100 (the fence was installed new about 1 year ago). The fence was pressure washed a week ago and today the contractor began staining (the forecast stated no rain for next two days). The contractor finished staining one large section of the fence when a heavy rain shower started about 30 - 60 minutes after the stain application. The contractor stopped the work due to the rain and said they would return to finish the job after the fence has had a chance to dry. Should I be concerned about the large portion of the stained fence that was exposed to the steady rain shower within 1 hour of the application? What should I look for and what should now be done to ensure the fence is stained properly? Thanks!

    No you will be fine since it is vertical wood. There will be no issues.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Tom F. · 09/17/2014
    I'm paying a contractor to clean and stain my cedar fence with TWP 100 (the fence was installed new about 1 year ago). The fence was pressure washed a week ago and today the contractor began staining (the forecast stated no rain for next two days). The contractor finished staining one large section of the fence when a heavy rain shower started about 30 - 60 minutes after the stain application. The contractor stopped the work due to the rain and said they would return to finish the job after the fence has had a chance to dry. Should I be concerned about the large portion of the stained fence that was exposed to the steady rain shower within 1 hour of the application? What should I look for and what should now be done to ensure the fence is stained properly? Thanks!
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    TWP Stains · 08/03/2014
    Matt Showman:
    I finished staining my fence with 10% chance of rain; by the next morning the chances increased to 80% and did, in fact, storm. The stain was on for 17 hours before any rain. I checked the surfaces; I didn't see any runoff and the rain was beading on the woods surface. Does that mean the stain was already sealed and ok?

    You will be fine!!
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    Matt Showman · 08/03/2014
    I finished staining my fence with 10% chance of rain; by the next morning the chances increased to 80% and did, in fact, storm. The stain was on for 17 hours before any rain. I checked the surfaces; I didn't see any runoff and the rain was beading on the woods surface. Does that mean the stain was already sealed and ok?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    TWP Stains · 07/02/2014
    PJ:
    Your product data sheet says to ensure application 2-3 days before rain, yet you advise in a comment thread 12 hours. Which is correct?

    In most scenarios it can handle a rain in 12 hours.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    PJ · 07/01/2014
    Your product data sheet says to ensure application 2-3 days before rain, yet you advise in a comment thread 12 hours. Which is correct?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    TWP Stains · 06/19/2014
    Robert Dodson:
    I've just cleaned my deck and plan to apply TWP 100. Previously the deck was treated with a water based, solid color stain (Behr). For the most part, weather, sun, and cleaning have removed all traces of it, but in some areas (shade and under mats) the old stain is still intact. Do I need to remove it? If so, what is the best removal method? Thanks.
    Rob Dodson
    Ps I found the lid on the 5 gallon can of TWP 100 hard to remove. As I plan to order another, please let me know the best way to get the lid off.

    Yes you do need to remove any solid stain for the TWP to work well. Probably sanding is best. Use a flat head screwdriver to pry up the tabs on the 5 gallon pail. Thanks!