Essential for Prepping for Deck Staining

Previously Stained Deck/Wood

When removing a failed transparent wood or deck coating it is needed to use a Wood Stain Stripper. This will soften the old coating allowing easier removal.

Note: It is need not needed to do Step 1 Cleaning if you are using a Stain Stripper.

*This process will work on the majority of transparent and semi-transparent stains. It will not be as effective on solid or opaque stains.

  1. Wet wood or deck down thoroughly with water. Take extra care to pre-rinse vegetation and house.
  2. Apply Wood Stain Stripper following manufacturer's directions. Most deck strippers can be applied with a pump-up sprayer. The stripper should dwell on the wood for 10-15 minutes. The wood will "darken" in color during this process. Make 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.
  3. Pressure Wash or Hand Scrub the wood to remove the old coating, dirt, graying, mold, mildew.
  4. When done washing take time to rinse the wood, home, vegetation, stripper suds, dirt and wood fibers.
  5. Use a Wood Deck Brightener to "brighten" the wood and neutralize the wood back to the proper pH balance. This should dwell on the wood for 5-15 minutes. Once done make sure to rinse the wood, home, vegetation, etc.
  6. Wood should dry for 48 hours prior to a TWP Stain application.

*Make sure that you follow all manufacturers instructions.

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    SL_PA · 08/10/2023
    Once mixed with water, how long will any leftover RAD stripper or brightener last if the buckets are sealed with a lid?
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      TWP Stains · 08/11/2023
      Months.
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        SL_PA · 08/11/2023
        Backing up a bit:  New pressure treated deck built summer of 2020.  TWP 1500 stain applied spring of 2021.  Stain is faded a bit and water doesn't puddle quite as well but otherwise is uniform in color and in decent shape.  Do I strip and brighten before applying a fresh coat of the 1500?
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          TWP Stains · 08/11/2023
          Can you post a picture in the comments?
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            SL_PA · 08/11/2023
            First pic is the portion of the deck exposed to elements.  Second pic is the portion of the deck covered by a gazebo which is winterized with tarps.
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              TWP Stains · 08/12/2023
              Yes, you can strip and brighten here for the prep.
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                SL_PA · 09/02/2023
                Obvious question, but wood can be wet from a previous night's rain before starting stripping and brightening, right?  Just needs to be dry 48 hrs before new stain is applied.
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    larry nore · 08/02/2023
    i did use a pressure washer ,  i was told not to hold it to close .   tried not to ,   with the oxidation the fix is sanding correct.  and my other question was the white stuff in the grains do i have to sand so much that it takes all of the white away or will brightning take it away 
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      TWP Stains · 08/02/2023
      Between some boards is oxidation fibers that were not rinsed well after it was removed. Any minor spots on top of the wood will go away and not be noticeable once stained. if you cannot see it when wet, you will not see it when stained.
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    larry nore · 08/02/2023
    these are a couple of pics of what i am talking about 
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      TWP Stains · 08/02/2023
      That looks like oxidation. Typically that happens when you are not using a pressure washer or not being close enough to the wood when using the pressure washer after applying the stripper.
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    larry nore · 08/01/2023
    i used the stripper as you said and i had to apply 3 times to get it then i used the brightner , ran water over it forever.  when it dried it was all white with a scale like look to it.  I am in the process of sanding this off now as there is no way staining over it would look ok or last.  what do you think i did wrong.  when i sand all of the grain lines have a white look to it so do i have to sand deep enough to take them out also.  very frustrated this is happening .  i tried sending pics but couldnt figure out how 
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      TWP Stains · 08/01/2023
      Post pictures by clicking the attachment link (paperclip) in the bottom left of the comment box.
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    larry nore · 07/24/2023
    if i do decide i want o strip my cedar deck due to the twp peeling and i want to sand it , what is the best sander to use like ( belt sander or what ) 
    if i use a stripper and a brightner do i have to stain it right away after or can i wait a week or so 
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    Barbara · 05/04/2023
    I did use twp stain on my deck but want to avoid a stripper because the deck is close to our well water. Is it ok to sand the twp stain off
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    John · 06/13/2022
    Is a little raining while your doing the stripper and brightener ok? 
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    Wendy · 02/20/2022
    Part of our deck has old stain & the other is new PT lumber. Can I use the stain stripper on the new lumber too as a cleaner before using the brighter?
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    DWalker · 01/25/2022
    We have a deck that is stained with TWP 100 series and are changing to the Semi-Solid Pro.  It's my understanding that we will need to strip the TWP 100 before applying the Semi-Solid. 
    Our deck is two-tone.  The top handrail is stained and the spindels are painted.  When we apply the stripping product, will it also remove the paint from the spindels?
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      TWP Stains · 01/25/2022
      It will not remove paint unless the paint is peeling. 
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    Erik · 08/04/2020
    When the stain was being applied some dropped in ceramic tile and some in a cement floor. Can it be removed if so how?
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      TWP Stains · 08/05/2020
      Try a graffiti remover cleaner from your local paint store and pressure washing.
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    Gary Lukacek · 06/29/2020
    I have a deck that was stained last fall with SupeDeck. It’s a semi-transparent oil based stain made by Sherman Williams. When I power washed this Spring i had some areas that flaked and came up. I sanded those area with 80 grit sander. I power washed the total deck again. Can I use TWP 100 to re-coat this deck without further prep? Less than 5% peeled up. I can just touch up damaged areas with SuperDeck but looking for better longevity between staining. Thanks for your help.

    Gary in Wisconsin.
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    Mark · 05/18/2020
    I have a 10 year old cedar log home that has been stained twice with TWP-100 Honeytone at 1 years and 6 years. It is time to stain again and we want to make the tome more "brown" (Honeytone is too orange for us). Previous stain prep was power washing only and the surface has held up well. What is the recommended process for the latest coating treatment? We need to use TWP-1500 in our region now.
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    Bob G. · 06/06/2019
    I have a new deck installed approximately one year ago. No discoloration or other problems. What is the minimum prep required before applying TWP 100?
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    Cris · 03/25/2018
    If I have solid stain (previous owner's mistake) on my deck, is there a reasonable way to return back to a deck stained with semi-transparent stain?
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      TWP Stains · 03/25/2018
      Cris, to remove a solid stain and use a semi-transparent, you will need to power sand the solid stain completely off.
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    TWP Stains · 05/21/2017
    David A Neuhaus:
    Using 100 series Cedar tone on a new cedar deck. The deck was finished in late fall 2016 and did not have time to properly age. After 1.5 months, I used the cleaner and brightener and then stained the deck (rather than face a st. Louis winter without any stain.

    Now that summer 2017 is here, the vertical wood is perfectly stained, but horizontal boards are faded and discolored. I expected this and am wanting to properly apply the stain to these areas again.

    - Can I do this or will it not absorb, because there is still a bit of stain left?
    - How can I prep this wood to complete staining for just the horizontal boards?
    - Should I use the cleaner and/or brightener? or gentle power washer for prep?


    P.S.
    BEST STAIN IN THE WORLD. Hands down your 100 series is the best on the planet.

    Use the Gemini kit at 1/2 the concentrate (4-6 oz) and a light pressure rinse for the prep. You can do just the horizontals. Thanks!
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    David A Neuhaus · 05/20/2017
    Using 100 series Cedar tone on a new cedar deck. The deck was finished in late fall 2016 and did not have time to properly age. After 1.5 months, I used the cleaner and brightener and then stained the deck (rather than face a st. Louis winter without any stain.

    Now that summer 2017 is here, the vertical wood is perfectly stained, but horizontal boards are faded and discolored. I expected this and am wanting to properly apply the stain to these areas again.

    - Can I do this or will it not absorb, because there is still a bit of stain left?
    - How can I prep this wood to complete staining for just the horizontal boards?
    - Should I use the cleaner and/or brightener? or gentle power washer for prep?


    P.S.
    BEST STAIN IN THE WORLD. Hands down your 100 series is the best on the planet.
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    TWP Stains · 04/27/2015
    m harnage:
    If I previously applied TWP 1500 and want to use it again years later, do I need to strip or will cleaning be sufficient?

    Use the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep.
    • Reply
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    m harnage · 04/27/2015
    If I previously applied TWP 1500 and want to use it again years later, do I need to strip or will cleaning be sufficient?
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    TWP Stains · 06/29/2014
    jim pohorylo:
    need to strip "Rhino Guard wood defense"
    it is an opaque type.
    This company went out of business...
    looking to strip and try the TWP product.
    20 year old pressure treated pine..
    would i need the brightener as well?
    24 x 12 ft deck plus 3 stairs and another 4 x 6 deck off our master...
    living in southern connecticut..

    need to be pointed in the right direction. quantity and steps needed.

    thanks!!!

    jim

    Strippers will not remove a solid opaque stain. You will need to sand it off. Once sanded off you should brighten than apply the TWP.
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    jim pohorylo · 06/28/2014
    need to strip "Rhino Guard wood defense"
    it is an opaque type.
    This company went out of business...
    looking to strip and try the TWP product.
    20 year old pressure treated pine..
    would i need the brightener as well?
    24 x 12 ft deck plus 3 stairs and another 4 x 6 deck off our master...
    living in southern connecticut..

    need to be pointed in the right direction. quantity and steps needed.

    thanks!!!

    jim