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Brightening Decks/Wood after Cleaning
When brightening Wood or Decks, use a Wood Deck Brightener. Not only will this “brighten” the wood it will also neutralize the cleaner or stripper, ensuring that your deck stain will perform properly
- Apply immediately after done cleaning/stripping the wood. Do not allow the wood to dry! Take extra care to pre-rinse vegetation.
- Apply Deck Brightener following manufacturer’s directions. Most brighteners can be applied with a pump-up sprayer. The brightener should dwell on the wood for 5-15 minutes. Makes sure that you mist the deck with water if it starts to dry. Use protective clothing, glasses, and gloves. We sell environmentally friendly products but they can still cause a reaction to skin and eyes.
- When done take time to rinse the wood, home, vegetation, cleaner residue, grime, and wood fibers.
- Wood should dry for 48 hours prior to a TWP Stain application.
*Make sure that you follow all manufacturer’s instructions
I have two questions:
1) I stained with Dark Oak 103 three years ago. I just used RAD 1+2 with light pressure washing on the exposed half of my deck (mostly the horizontals and stairs) . I believe the darker residual in the photo to be old stain and not mold. I’m wondering if this looks cleaned/brightened enough? Should I clean and brighten again? I’m adding another coat of the same stain (Dark Oak 103).
2) I have unopened left-over stain that was stored in a climate-controlled room. Is three years too long? I suppose I could test in a small area.
1. Looks good to stain.
2. Hard to say until it is opened.
Will I be able to visually tell if the product has broken down or is no longer viable? Or do I need to open and test?
If mixes 100% smooth it is probably okay. If clumpy or skinning, it is bad.
I am going to restrain my deck. It currently has TWP Cape Code grey and is in good shape. Do I need to use the wood deck brightener before putting on the stain?
You need both the Cleaner and Brightener.
I am about to start the stripping and brightening steps for our previously TWP100-stained deck using a pump-sprayer. The brightening instructions seems to say I should not allow the wood to dry between stripping (including pressure washing) and brightening. But it is a large deck, and I don’t see how it will be possible to keep the entire deck wet through stripping and washing until brightening. Just how important is it to avoid drying between stripping and starting brightening? Thanks for your response.
Mist with water to keep from drying out and brighten as soon as your are done.
I understand keeping it wet is best. But let me ask this a different way. How bad is it if I cannot keep the deck wet between stripping and brightening? Does the brightening simply not work if the deck dries out before I can start?
It still works and needs to be done.
For sure, I’ll definitely apply the brightening. And I’ll do my best to keep as much of the deck wet as possible after stripping and washing.
I am going to apply TWP 100 to a new deck. The deck itself was installed 6 months ago. Should I use the “wet on wet” method for a 6 month old deck? Thank you.
See here for new wood tips: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Only one coat.
[quote name=”Stephanie Smallwood”]I finished stripping a few days ago but haven’t yet applied the brightener and I’m about to go out of town for a week. Is it ok to apply the brightener now and apply stain 10 days later when I’m back in town?[/quote]
It should be fine.
I finished stripping a few days ago but haven’t yet applied the brightener and I’m about to go out of town for a week. Is it ok to apply the brightener now and apply stain 10 days later when I’m back in town?
[quote name=”x96piggott”]I installed pressure treated would last year. I applied a cleaner and rinsed with a power washer. Four days later I applied a brightener. I noticed that there are wood fibers or fuzzies sticking up on the wood. Is it ok to sand at this stage prior to application of TWP stain?[/quote]
Yes but rinse the deck after with water well to remove any sand dust.
I installed pressure treated would last year. I applied a cleaner and rinsed with a power washer. Four days later I applied a brightener. I noticed that there are wood fibers or fuzzies sticking up on the wood. Is it ok to sand at this stage prior to application of TWP stain?
[quote name=”ginalorenzo”]I stripped my deck last week, and didn’t have time to apply the wood brightener. Then it rained a few days. Can I still apply wood brightener? The wood doesn’t look grey, it’s a natural color, it’s 4 years old, so in good shape.[/quote]
Yes you still can and should.
I stripped my deck last week, and didn’t have time to apply the wood brightener. Then it rained a few days. Can I still apply wood brightener? The wood doesn’t look grey, it’s a natural color, it’s 4 years old, so in good shape.