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
100% Biodegradable product
Hi, would I used Gemini Clean and Brightener with pressure washer, then rinse, then remove splinters with course sandpaper, then use brightener to neutralize? If it gets rained on then I must redo the brightener?
Then after letting it dry to 15% or drier, it will be ready to stain? I’m in Canada, so use TWP 200?
You have a solid stain on the deck now. TWP cannot be used over this. You would have to 100% power sand to remove first. After 100% sanded off, you can then clean and brighten and use the TWP 200 Series.
Most of the stain is literally peeling off…Behr, and could we use a stripper for parts that are adhering well? Thank you.
A stripper will not remove this solid stain. You will have to sand to remove it.
Another deck I plan on staining and would I do the same process? Thank you!
Another solid stain so must be sanded to remove.
I have recently sanding the flooring of my deck. I sanding the railings 2 years ago. I have noticed a film on the sanded flooring, while finishing the rest of the flooring. (#1) Do I need to “Clean” the deck (using your Wood and Deck Cleaner) or can I just use The Wood Brightener? (#2) Do I need to resand the railings?
Clean and brighten all wood including the rails is the proper way to do the prep.
(1) do you suggest I resand the railings or just clean, then brighten them?
(2) the two photos show a film on recently sanded flooring. Guess it is clear I need to apply
a cleaner, then a brightener on the flooring.. Is this correct?
Clean and brighten all wood including the rails. No need to sand the rails.
We’re getting ready to stain a new tight knot cedar deck that has been weathering for 11 months. We will use Restore-A-Deck to clean and brighten and then apply a single coat of TWP100 in Dark Oak. We are located in the Pacific NW. If we clean and brighten, what is the longest we can wait before staining without having to re-prep? Ideally we’d plan on waiting 24-48 hours, but are concerned about rain either before or after we stain. Thanks!
14 days.
Here is a picture of current stain. Thanks for all the help!
Use this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
With both additives: https://www.twpstain.com/wood-stain-strippers/rad-stripper-additives
I was planning to do restore deck, cleaner and brightener, but had a rain last night. Should I wait until the deck dries, or is it sill ok on the wet deck?
You can prep to a wet deck.
If I sand my deck, do I need to apply the restore-a-deck as well? I have a semi-transparent stain on an older deck that is beginning to chip away.
Yes.
Thank you, should I clean before sanding or use cleaner after sanding closer to when I stain?
I plan to sand, wait one month, clean and then stain with TWP100 Cedar. Is this a good plan?
Yes, that will work. Clean and sanding.
Last questions… just found the stain the previous homeowners used and it is Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Semi-Transparent from 2018.
What is the best way to remove this before applying TWP100?
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Does the stripper work on the Waterborne Superdeck?
Post a picture.
Here are the pictures of the deck
@Charles S Surprenant Use this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
With both additives: https://www.twpstain.com/wood-stain-strippers/rad-stripper-additives
Sanding may be needed to remove what cannot be stripped after to get it all off.
will the cleaner or brightener harm alum. clad windows or glass/screens
It should not but always test spot first.
Hello- can you please help me? My new deck is pressure treated pine, and is about 7 weeks old. HOT weather here in the 90s for a few weeks now. Is the wood okay as is with the TWP 100 series stain? I am confused after I read things on the website. I have a very very good prep wood cleaner at home already, along with a power washer?
See here about new wood: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Hello,
We built this deck in October of 2019 – we are looking to stain and seal it. It is made of AC2 treated pine. Do we need to do any prep work or can we just use the 100 series right away?
You have to prep it with the Gemini Restore Kit.
carl again, bamboo fence, can I use the restore-a-deck kit and then apply TWP 200 or 201 SERIES OIL BASE STAIN. Will this help to make the bamboo look bright again. Should I pressure wash first ?
the fence 5184 sq ft, How many restore kits and how many gals of TWP 200 or 201 is needed?
Sorry, but no, the TWP 100, 200, or 1500 will not work on Bamboo.
Hi – returning customer. Three pics: after one season pre-wash; after pressure wash; after cleaner and brightener. Uneven coloration throughout. Boards are under 15%. Can I stain this?
Yes you can stain.
Thanks! If this is a dad who replied, Happy Father’s Day! I’m getting up at the crack and busting out this bad boy. Love your products and the support is amazing. -Lansing, MI.
Yes, I am a dad. And yes, I went to MSU. Go green!
Go white! I think it turned out well!
what color is this? I love the color
1501 Cedartone: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
I think I read in the instructions for the brightener that it needs to be washed down with water for 25-30 minutes after using it. Is that a typo? High or low pressure? If the wood is dark in some areas after it dries, but no old stain left, do I reapply the brightener?
It should be rinsed for about 20 minutes when down.
I stripped and brightened per the instructions, but there are some dark areas on the wood after drying (but no stain left). Do I just reapply the brightene again, or leave it and stain it?
You can stain this.
Use this for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Instructions are in the pictures of the link above.
I have a 2 yr old deck. Treated flat boards and cedar spindles and railing. Used Sherwin-Williams Deckstain last yr and have some mold entrapped in wood. Would like to chemically remove mold and old stain-clean deck and restain. What product should I use and what is the process?
Post a picture.
Can this be used on composite decks?
For cleaning, yes.
I have a very neglected deck that I want to restore with the 1500 natural stain. It has turned completely gray with lingering spots of old and quite faded redwood stain. Do I use the stripper/brightener followed by the restore-a-deck kit or will that be redundant? Also, will your product remove the gray or will it need to be sanded?
Post a picture.
Additional Info: Most of the deck is over 20 years old. Some of the deck has been repaired and is only 10 years old. The wood has some minor grooves from being pressured washed too hard and the wood likes to turn black when it rains. Last year we also had the deck treated by a company called Seal Smart to help save it. What do you recommend we do to best prep the deck for staining? Thank you for helping us. We really appreciate it.
Strip and brighten for prep would be best for this.
Would sanding provide any benefit?
Not really unless you want to remove splinters, etc after the prep.
Thank you>
I have a brown pressure treated deck it is 2 years old and i would like to apply twp 200 (i am in Canada)
this would be the first time staining this deck as well as using your product. would i just use cleaner and brighter and then proceed with the stain after 48 hours? any helpful tips? thanks
Yes that is correct. Prep with the Gemini Restore Kit and then stain with the TWP 200 Series.
We just applied full coat of TWP 100 last summer after a full sand down. How should we prep for a restain this year? Do we need to do the Gemini restore a deck? Thanks!
Yes, use the Gemini Restore Kit.
Does the deck need to dry between step 1 and step 2 or can step 2 be applied to the wet deck?
By the way, step 1 is amazing!
Apply Step 2 to damp deck.
Deck received one coat of twp100 last fall. Deck had been previously sanded and then used Gemini restore a deck cleaner / brighter kit. Will be doing a recoating this week. Will be using restore a kit cleaner/ brighter again. Don’t want to use pressure washer. Will a garden hose with a pressure head do the job? Only want to surface clean. I don’t want to remove original coat.
Yes, that should work. You can dilute the cleaner in half as well to 2-3 oz per gallon of water.
Will a garden hose with a pressure head be ok for recoating a onetime New staining Completed last fall?
Yes.
Last year (2019) I used 1500 Clear (no UV protection) on a dock that had weathered for 5 years and a deck that had weathered for 1 year. Water still beads up on both. Will pressure washing and then applying another coat of 1500 Clear prolong the life of the stain? What prep, if any, do I need to do before applying another coat of 1500 Clear? Thank you.
Wait until next year to prep and apply. Use the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep.
I am in the process of staining my cedar fence for the third time with TWP 1500 using the gemini Restore-a-Deck to prep each time and have been very happy with the results. I have a couple of questions:
1. The cleaner says to mix 6 oz. to one gallon of water. Is this a volume or a weight measurement? The brightener says to mix one cup (8 fluid ounces) to one gallon of water. Both the cleaner and brightener are 2 lb. packages and each makes 5 gallons total. Does this mean I can measure one cup of the cleaner as well, or do i have to weigh it? Standardizing the measurement units would be very helpful.
2. The TWP has held up so well that when restaining the first half of my fence, the stain was not completely soaking in and was remaining wet for over an hour. I did as directed and tried to wipe off the excess, but am not sure I was very successful. I brushed the stain on this time (used garden sprayer the first time, someone else applied last time). Do you have any recommendations on application to minimize how much I have to wipe off/waste?
Thanks
1. Volume. One cup for each will work.
2. Just apply and back brush right away.
Applied TWP100 to new deck last summer after cleaner and brightener, as well as waiting 8 months after construction. Looks great now(under roof) but heard I should re-apply again this year. How should I prep the wood before applying?
Use the Gemini Restore Kit.
Photos omitted from previous post, sorry.
I tested your 1500 Black Walnut and Dark Oak samples both on virgin cedar shingle and previously coated and weathered cedar siding (see pic). I want to determine the correct surface preparation for the previously coated siding. The original linseed oil based stain is very dark (Cordovan + 4X black, see pic of original stained siding) and I want to maintain that same dark color as much as possible. Must your cleaner and brightener be used together-or-not-at-all and are either necessary where I want to keep the original color and darkness? (I would, of course, pressure wash with just water if no other cleaning.) I’ve read in some of your posts that the brightener neutralizes pH of the cleaner. I don’t want to brighten if that means removing the previous pigments but is the pH adjustment still advisable (stainless steel nails) and what will the wood look like after your brightener? Is the cleaner/brightener necessary for penetration or some other effect that would extend the time between re-coating? Because I don’t need to further darken the old stain I think I should choose your Dark Oak stain and not the Black Walnut. However, I will need to stain some new siding in a few areas where some siding needs to be replaced. Can I use some universal tint to tint the Dark Oak color? Thanks
You cannot use the TWP over a different brand of stain. It must be fully removed first by stripping and or sanding. TWP cannot be tinted.
Is the TWP200 a safe product to use on a wood playground set? Is it kid friendly once cured?
Yes.
Hello, I have a couple questions on brightening and when to stain.
1. I have already stripped down the deck and sanded everything, but I need to brighten it yet. Our weather has been a lot of two days sunny next day rain (twin cities), so its been hard to plan when to stain. There looks to be a few rain free days starting next Wednesday (fingers crossed) so that is when I will try to start staining. Can I go ahead and brighten now, or should I wait until I am closer to the day I start staining.
2. Is there anything I need to do with the deck (besides waiting for it to dry again) since I wrapped up most of the sanding earlier this week.
3. for rainy locations do you recommend staining sections at a time to see how it goes or is it better to wait for good weather and paint the whole thing at once. was wondering if I should try to paint the railings this weekend while nice before the rain starts again on Tuesday. It rained last night so the deck is still kind of damp from that. I can’t win.
4. Any other words of advice to time this out right. I poured two weeks of prep in to this project and starting to get nervous that the rain will ruin everything.
Thank you again for any advice.
1. Brighten now is fine.
2. Nothing else.
3. Wait for good weather and do all at once.
4. It can take a ran 12 hours after staining.
Thank you! Your help and advice is very much appreciated.
We installed new cedar deck railing last summer. We applied a water based stain/sealant prior to installation. Unfortunately, it didn’t soak into the wood but rather just seemed to leave an uneven mess. Our deck flooring is composite. What do we need to do to correct this problem before we apply TWP 100 series stain/ sealant this summer? My husband lightly pressure washed yesterday. So the images I’m sending are after the pressure wash.
Strip and brighten the wood with this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Will the strip and brighten products damage our composite decking?
No.
Do I have to apply using a sprayer? Could I simply mix with water in a bucket, then use a scrub brush to apply?
Does not work as well this way. Sprayers are more effective and easier as well.
I applied two separate coats of 100 series natural to a new pressure treated deck last year 6 months after it was built. This year it looks washed out and dull, Can I just reapply series 100 after cleaning?one coat or two? Would clear water and a power washer be sufficent, it does not look dirty.
Prep with the cleaner and pressure washing and apply one coat.
Am I understanding right? This will not peel and will not need to be stripped or sanded to apply another coat in a year or two? I have used items that produce a film or skin and DO NOT want a product that does that. Just had my deck torn out and replaced 2 years ago do that! Does the TWP 100 produce a film/skin?
TWP is a penetrating stain that can be cleaned and reapplied as needed.
My pressure treated deck was put in 2 years ago and never treated as well as an old fence that I want to use the TWP 100 on. A week ago I cleaned the wood with another product that cleaned and brightened the wood. Both areas look like new. It has rained several times. Must I use the restore a deck clean and brighten or can I just go right to staining?
Go ahead and stain.
Another question. If I start the stripping process and it takes longer than expected, can I stop and resume the next day? I’m just concerned as the brightener says I need to apply while the stripper is still wet.
Yes, but always best to brighten as soon as possible.
FYI it looks worse the morning. What can I do?
Did you brighten the wood yet?
Let the wood dry and then assess.
Yes I did the brightening step yesterday. It looks like a lot of grain raising is happening. How do I resolve that and is that normal?
The issue is you over stripped and that caused the furring. The dark spots you were seeing was not old stain but the stripper darkening the pH of the wood internally when applied. This is normal and when you apply the brightener it then neutralizes it out and restores or lightens the wood to a neutral pH balance.
Let the wood fully dry out. Then you can sand or buff out the raised grain if needed.
Ok. I’ll try less stripping on the next section.
What sandpaper grit do you recommend?
60-80. Or a buffing pad on a floor buffer is by far the easiest. Pads look like this.
I applied the stripper and waited 20 minutes. Started to remove with the power washer but it wasn’t enough so I had to use a stiff scrub brush and work it in repeatedly, then go over it again with the power washer. I did that twice but there are still some spots that I can’t get the stain out of. Is this what it’s supposed to look like?
Also, I have a few questions. It says moisten the deck first before applying the stripper but if I apply the stripper to a dry deck, is it stronger?
That will go away when you brighten the wood.
Hope so. I went over it another time so 3x 20 min soak with the stripper, brushing, then power washing. Did the Brightener after. We’ll see how it looks in the morning if it doesn’t rain tonight
Can the cleaner and brightener
be used around vinyl windows??
Yes.
Hi, is this safe to use on a deck that drains onto a TPO or PVC roofing membrane? Thanks!
Yes.
Can i use on teak?
Yes.
After use? Is it safe to allow pets in the area? I would like to prep and stain the fence surround my dogs’ yard.
Yes.
I thought I had included pictures but if you don’t see them let me know cause I do have pictures
I have ordered the Gemini restore a deck kit and twp200 for our deck. It is about 7 years old and we stained it 4-5 years ago with semi transparent stain when the original finish wore off. When we did the stain we sanded. We have never done the railings and plan on doing them. Do we need to sand first?
No pics
Hope these work
No need to sand. Strip and brighten for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I just received my stain to add maintenance coat to my fence with previous 1500 stain on it.
I mistakenly ordered Strip and Brightener rather than Clean and Brightener. I don’t want to return it as I am planning to stain this next week. Is there some other homemade cleaner solution i could make up before applying Brightener? Thank you
No, there is not a homemade cleaner that will work.
Hi…. I want to do my deck. I have railings and framing under the deck that I don’t want to be stripped and are actually stained in a different color. Under the deck is also a concrete pad… a lower patio. There is also a painted wooden ceiling – with gaps for drainage – under the deck and forming the ceiling for the area above the patio. So with all this going on is it likely that either the other stained wood (the railings and framing), or the concrete, and/or the painted ceiling will be damaged from the sprayed on Restore-A-Deck process? Wondering if I should just sand the deck instead….
The prep will not harm paint.
Thanks. 1. Will it harm concrete or vinyl? 2. Most importantly, since the posts and railings are a different stain color, made of wood, and in good condition, should I avoid getting any of the RAD material on these surfaces….
Last – on the website I can’t find any info on “process.” Is a Pressure washer necessary?
Thanks again.
1. No.
2. It should not be an issue unless the coating is failing or peeling.
It helps to pressure washer, yes.
This will be my 3rd time staining my deck with the TWP 100 series. In the past I have prepped it with this kit, is it suggested that you use the kit each time you are planning to recoat the stain?
Yes, correct.
I have ordered this kit. My deck has never been treated so it’s bare cedar (about 4 years old). How long between cleaning and brightening and how long after brightening and staining? Also, my deck is about 4′ above the ground do I need to protect the house siding (painted wood) from the cleaner/brightener running down the house under the deck? Thanks
You clean and brighten the same day. You stain 48 hours. Directions are on the containers. It will not harm the paint on the house.
Dear TWP,
I am a contractor. I have a client with a cypress pergola. Exposed to the sun and rain.
This structure has a ceiling, exposed eves and support posts, all of cypress construction.
Upon new construction three years ago all of these surfaces received one coat of your 100 Clear product.
Now the lower surfaces that see direct UV and rain are grayed and mildewed. The upper surfaces and ceiling are still natural colored but with heavy mildew growth.
My job is to refinish all surfaces and try to match the heavily weathered with the lightly weathered surfaces.
Please give me a protocol using your products to achieve this goal.
Thank you,
Gordon Willingham
Architectural Coatings LLC
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Prep all wood with this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Stain all with a tinted color for UV protection. Honeytone is the lightest.
I have 25+year old deck that was untouched for at least 19 years since we moved in. Yesterday I did power wash it and day/ night difference revealed. It is now very light natural wood color. I plan to sand some spots, railing. Do I need any to prep it? It has no stains and feels as raw wood. I plan to use 1500 two stain.
thank you Jan
Send a picture.
Picture
Prep looks good to stain.
Thank you!
I have a few dry days coming in the forecast and hoping to fit in some deck staining. Questions.
– Can the cleaner and brightener be used back to back, or should a period of time be between the two?
-How of long of drying period is needed for the wood to dry after it is cleaned, and before staining?
-Use them back to back.
-48 hours.
How do you know if your deck only needs the ‘Restore-A-Deck’ Cleaner/Brightener product or if it needs the Stripper/Brightener?
What stain brand is on there now? Post some pictures.