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
Have an old deck with a non TWP stain on it right now. see photos.
Want to use TWP 207 on it. What kind of prep is needed before start staining?
Strip and brighten:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Use both additives with the stripper:
https://www.twpstain.com/wood-stain-strippers/rad-stripper-additives
do I need to sand?
Only if you cannot fully strip it off. You may have some stubborn spots.
To restore cypress beams, we applied Restore-a-deck Cleaner with a paintbrush, scrubbed with a stiff brush and rinsed with a garden hose. A lot of the old Cedertone 101 was removed. My contractor was tired and said he would apply the brightener tomorrow. We didn’t realize the brightener should be applied same day. How should we proceed?
Brighten as soon as you are able.
I’ve completed the application (wet on wet) of TWP 100 Semi-Transparent Oil Stain – looking good.
Can I put yet ANOTHER COAT of the same product down without stripping & brightening ?
Will product be absorbed into the wood, or lay on top and never dry ?
No, you cannot add a 3rd coat now.
Installed two rough sawn cedar columns on porch 3 weeks. This porch gets a lot of afternoon sun. The columns have never been treated. Should i still prep with the Gemini kit even if the wood hasn’t aged much?
I will most likely use the TWP100 Cedartone once prepped.
No need to prep if rough sawn new wood.
we recently sanded very similar posts to Micah’s because our builder didn’t test the stain and it came out super dark. the posts are about 1 year old. do we need to do all the cleaning steps or since we sanded off the stain can we just proceed with stain?
Post a picture and what grit paper did you use?
We applied cleaner and Brightener to our deck about 3 or 4 weeks ago and still have half the deck to finish. Do we need to clean and brighten again or would a good sweeping be ok?
If more than two weeks you should redo the prep.
I’ve applied TWP100 to my deck twice now in 4 years. It’s getting to where it needs a third application. Is it necessary to apply Restore-A-Deck to it beforehand, or would a regular deck wash be fine? I was hoping the stain would last longer, but 2 years seems to be the limit here. Thanks.
Always prep with the Gemini Kit when reapplying.
My deck is 14 months old. I’m getting ready to stain it the first time. Do you recommend using the restore product first and then the stain? And which product is a better for horizontal decking the twp 100 or 1500?
Yes, you have to prep with this kit. Use the 1500 Series.
So, I didn’t follow instructions, I guess. I applied the cleaner to a vertical log-sided wall with a sprayer, kept it wet for 15 minutes and rinsed with a pressure washer, but did not scrub and did not apply the brightener right away.
Now I have a spotty, streaky mess. can that be salvaged?
More carefully reading the instructions it says to do small sections at a time and apply brightener immediately. Is the expectation to have 2 sprayers, one with cleaner and one with brightener? What’s a recommended ‘small area’ to do at a time?
Post some pics of your prep so far.
Here’s 2.
You will need to strip and brighen this to fix it.
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Strip in sections of about 200 square feet at a time. Repeat until all is done or one side is done. Brighten while wet.
Thanks. The rest of the home is in pretty good shape (as was this wall before applying the cleaner)with a few specific spots showing bare wood and a couple of areas appearing dirty. Water still beads on much of the surface. I was told by the previous owner that it was 100 series TWP.
Do I need to apply the cleaner before applying a maintenance coat? Can I “spot maintain “ or do I need to do everything?
Strip and brighten all to ensure it is even when finished.
Thanks. Last question:
Do you advise stripping everything so that it all looks the same as the section that I submitted pictures of, or because the cleaner/brightener would ruin the rest of the finish as well if properly applied?
Strip and brighten everything to ensure it is even when finished.
When do you have to sand in addition to cleaning and brightening? Our deck was stained five or six years ago (before we owned the house) with TWP cedar color. The wood is solid still but there’s quite a bit of fading/streaking. Will that be addressed by the two step process? I’ll be staining again with TWP afterwards. Thanks!
Post some pic for prep tips. You can upload them in the comments.
Here are photos of the deck. It does take a beating between high elevation sun and shoveling/snow blowing all winter long. Do I prep with clean and brighten, strip and brighten, or sand and clean/brighten?
Thanks!
Strip and brighten. No need for cleaner or sanding:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Dang. I already bought clean and brighten. I should have asked first. heh.
it is pretty worn down so it may come off with the Cleaner and pressure washing.
The 1st step says to use 6oz of product for every gallon, what is 6 oz if using a measuring cup ?
6-8 oz per gallon of water by volume, not weight.
What am I not understanding ? If my pump sprayer is 2 gallons how do I determine how much product goes in. How do I put 16 oz. of product in.
Not sure what you are asking. You add the powder to the water and mix it in a bucket first and then pour that into a sprayer to apply. 6-8 oz per gallon of water.
OK I think I understand, make 5 gal of mixture first then add 8 oz of that mixture to every 1 gal. of water
No. You mix 6-8 oz of powder per gallon of water. It is very simple :).
I think that since a cup is 8 oz., 6 oz. would be 3/4 cup per gallon by volume vs weight.
I don’t have access to a pump sprayer for the cleaner and brightener. Would it still work if I put it on with a brush or sponge mop? Is there another ?
Hi, best to buy a pump sprayer. They are only about $40.
Can wash water from the Restore kit safely be diverted to landscape without harming plants. Does it have potential to stain concrete?
It should be fine as long as you rinse the plants from direct over spray. Rinse concrete as well when done.
I used the Gemini Step 1 and 2 on July 22. But we’ve had some rain over the past week and likely won’t be able to stain until Aug 4, which is 2 weeks later. The wood still looks clean – do I need to clean it again before staining?
No, you should be okay.
Is twp honeytone 115 and honeytone 1515 exactly the same tint? I asked a rep from where I bought it and said it was, however when I applied 115 on a few boards it looks a bit lighter then the 1515. Please elaborate.
No, they are not the exact same. Close but not the same.
If it rained this morning can I apply cleaner to an already wet deck or should it be dry? Deck has never been stained or painted.
Yes. Damp or dry is okay.
Thank you.
Thanks…..glad I asked.
Is it ok to use the rotating head on pressure washer PSI 3000 before the stripper then brightener?
No. Never is is that on wood. It will tear the wood. Use a fan tip while pressure washing with the stripper.
I have a two tone deck with white painted rails and stained deck boards and rail cap. I want to clean an brighten the deck boards and cap. Do I need to cover the painted areas to keep the cleaner/brightener from getting on the painted areas?
It should be fine but always prewet and rinse over spray right away while working.
Hello, I purchased the 1500 and plan on pump spraying my cedar split rail fence. It has never been treated, it is about 6 years old, but has been palletized until installation last year. So, it’s not new wood, I don’t believe it would have wax as it is split rail? It has grayed a bit since installation last fall. My question is, I have 15 acres and I cannot reach any hose to the fence. Can I just apply the twp without RAD? I would have no way to wash it off. Thank you!
You should always prep before applying any wood stain. Skipping the prep can lead to issues with final appearance and performance.
Stained deck with TWP 200 a few years ago. Looking to restain after using the Gemina Restore Kit. Can we switch to another series of TWP stain with similar color – TWP 100 or TWP 1500? Or, do we need to re-stain with same TWP 200?
If you switch you would need to use the RAD Stripper and Brightener kit.
Black is rust from your screws/staples and is not caused pay Part A. Water causes rust. Screws and staples are supposed to be coated/treated against rust. If they rusted then they used the wrong type of staples when they fence was built.
Greetings. Just install a Redwood fence last Oct., 225 linear feet. 7′ high. Need to wash/prep prior to a transparent or light stain. Are there some directions that someone has posted for cleaning? i.e. “how long to have twp cleaner stay on the wood before power washing it off?”, etc
A pic is attached.
The directions are on the containers and in the pics for the product above.
Hi. Yes, I would assume so, buy I’m doing my research & want to know this up front. Is there a way to get those details before I buy?
Hi, As we mentioned, the directions are in the pics for the product above. You can read it there. Also on this link:
https://www.gemini-coatings.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/895.pdf
Thank you. For some reason I did not get the 1st pic..
I have an Ipe deck that has been coated with TWP 100 a couple times. I plan to use the RAD kit along with sanding to prep the deck before recoating. At what point in the process should I do the sanding operation? Before step 1 of RAD, before step 2, or after RAD but before coating?
After cleaning, prior to brighener. Do not sand finer than 80 grit.
I have a tall deck you can walk under. Does your deck calculator account for the underside of the deck (joists and posts)?
No. You would have to double it if you want to stain the undersides. Most people do not bother doing the undersides as it is only for aesthetic purposes.
I have a deck stained with 1520 that needs to have the horizontal surfaces restained. It isn’t in bad shape, but is showing some wear on the horizontal surfaces. Do I need to power-wash it along with using the cleaner and brightener or just use the cleaner and brightener with a garden hose and no power washing at all? If power washing is also needed, what pressure is appropriate? I’ve had several contractors in the past say to never use over 1500 psi. My power washer is 2700 psi.
Use the Gemini Kit while pressure washing for prep. 2700 PSI is okay. It is only 2700 at the tip. Once 6-8 inches away, it drops in 1/2.
To be clear, complete stripping isn’t necessary? Will some of the old stain remain and it would be OK to restain over it?
You can do either stripper or cleaner. If you clean it and it does not come off fully, you can stain over it.
My deck was refinished last fall with a built in sealer. Looking to give it a good cleaning now that winter has left it with a bit of mildew, etc.
Not planning to refinish or stain anytime soon; just want a cleaning.
Would this product be a good choice?
Our products should only to be used when you plan on recoating.
Great. Thanks!
700 sq ft deck .. how much restore a deck product will I need for the cleaning and brightening?
One prep kit should be enough unless very dirty and or oxidized.
I have cleaned and brightened, there are places previous stain has been completely removed but other areas not. See photos. Previous stain was TWP 101 Cedartone and that’s what I’ll use again. Do I need to do anything to even things out or am I good to proceed with staining? Photos look brown but in fact coloration is the old cedartone stain, and the bare wood very light/golden. Thank you!
Does it look even when wet with water? If so you can stain like this and it should even out as well.
here it is with a light wetting, still some uneveness. Will staining even everything out or more prep needed? Thank you!
Staining will even it out like wet with water. If you are okay with that, then no more prep. If you want it to be a little more even, then strip and brighten it: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Pics jv2000
Powerwashed my old (10+ yrs) deck. Need to sand bcof splinters. What else do I need to do before staining? Which stain is best for old decks in Chicago weather? See pics
Use this kit after sanding:
https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
Stain with the TWP 1500 Series after:
https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
Meant to say vertical* below
Used Rustic 100 Series on new PT Pine deck last year and now ready to do the heavier wet on wet 2nd coat. The cervical surfaces all still look good and do not need another application but the horizontal surfaces do. Do you still recommend both steps of the Restore-A-Deck before reapplication? If so should I just do it all so I don’t have spots on the cervical surfaces from the cleaner/brighter?
Yes, both steps. Might be easier to do all but you can get away with just doing the flooring.
I applied 2 (wet on wet) coats of 1500 Cedartone 3 years ago to 10 year old cedar deck planks. The stain held up well and I’m pleased with the product, but the cedar is now gray with some mildew on some planks (north side of house, most of the deck gets about 6 hours of sun a day). This week I applied Restore kit (step 1 Cleaner and step 2 Brightener), scrubbing in the Cleaner with a stiff deck brush, letting sit for 15 mins, and rinsing off the Cleaner and Brightener with a power washer, but I went easy with the rinsing to avoid fuzzing up the cedar (don’t want to sand it). 95% of the 25’x25’ deck looks good and clean, and ready for another application of new 1500 Cedartone in a few days when wood is dry. Questions:
1. Some areas of deck under patio furniture and where it gets less sun did not turn completely gray, with some 1500 stain visible from 3 years ago. Can I apply new fresh 1500 Cedartone stain to these areas where 3 year old stain is visible? Will it absorb in?
2. Since it’s not new wood and I’m applying same stain and color as 3 years ago, should I apply one coat only or apply the same 2 (wet on wet) coats? Plan on using a 12” staining pad and back brushing with a brush.
3. 1% of the boards have light / faint green in the wood grain from mildew that the Cleaner didn’t remove. How do you recommend I remove the mildew from these few boards? Can I spot clean it with bleach / water combo, apply step 1 and 2 again just to these few boards?
Thank you for your help!
1. Yes, it should be okay.
2. 2 Light coats applied wet on wet.
3. The is algae deep in the wood grain. Most likely will not come out and is not a big deal anyhow. Do not spot bleach, it will discolor the wood.
Thank you! Please help me understand why it’s ok to apply the 1500 again with a light amount of algae in the wood grain. Should I try to hand sand the few spots with the light algae? If so, would I need to apply step 1 and 2 after sanding? Or, should I try a vinegar / water mix to remove the algae in the wood grain before staining? If I leave the light green algae in the wood grain, will the algae prevent the stain from fully penetrating into the cedar, allowing the algae to grow back quickly? Thanks again!
The alage will not come out if deep in the grain. Post some pics to see if an issue or not. Do not spot sand as your stain will take lighter in those areas.
Please see pics for example of cedar boards with the worst green mildew / algae. Thank you!
If you want to try and kill it, then use bleach at 1 part to 4 parts water. Apply and let sit on the wood for 15 minutes. Rinse well when done.
Thank you. Is that what you recommend I do? Or do you think I would probably be OK applying the 1500 Cedar tone stain as is without the bleach? You had mentioned earlier that up line bleach solution would discolor the wood. Just want to make sure. Thank you.
If you do all wood then it should be okay. You cannot spot-treat it as it will then show unevenly when done.
A quick follow up: I reapplied the Step 1 cleaner with a stiff brush and Step 2 brightener to the few cedar planks that had some green algae / mildew and 95% of the green came out. Those few planks look a bit ‘whiter / brighter’ than the other planks but hopefully it all blends when I stain it. Thanks again for your help!
Great!
Pic number 2
I used gemini cleaner and I unfortunately let some railings and post dry before I could thoroughly rinse and I got spots that I can’t even powerwash off. Is there a solution for this? Sanding it off maybe?
Post some pics.
Here are pics
The best thing to do is to strip and brighten to remove the old coating and the spots so it is even again and down to bare wood: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Will I need any of the boosters to go along with it? Will scrubbing be necessary?
What brand is the current stain, TWP? You will need to pressure wash while using the stripper.
Yes its twp honeytone.
So no additional boosters or scrubbing needed?
Do I still apply brightener?
No booster is needed. Applying stripper to all wood and then pressure wash off. Brighten after.
Purchased this to use on pine beams on my porch overhang before staining with the 200 series. These beams butt up against vinyl siding, metal soffit, stone facade and concrete stoop – will this product harm these materials/should I be covering these areas before applying?
It should not but always test a spot first.
What do I need to prep for stain pro 100 series on a new constructed pressure treated pine deck After the 6 month dry out period?
Prep with the Gemini Kit: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I’m using new kiln dried cedar S4S planks to replace old cedar decking. Keeping the never coated old cedar railing. Planing on using the restore a deck on railing and decking before I apply TWP101. I live in the Kansas City area. I can either apply the finish in September or April/May. Is it better to wait till next spring for better absorption, or apply in September before too much graying sets in? Will I get comparable results either way?
Do it this Fall.
Does the brightener need to be done immediately after the cleaner, or can a night pass in between? I started cleaning the deck and ran out of daylight so didn’t have time to get the brightener on and am wondering if now the brightener won’t work as well.
Best to do it right after cleaning but you should still use it no matter what if done a day later.
We have an older deck made from southern yellow pine. The previous owners decided to paint the deck and a year later it began to peel very badly. Now we are stripping the paint off and sanding with 60 grit then 100 grit sand paper. What would you recommend in regards to prep after sanding? Also, would 1500 series (Dark Oak color) work well on an older deck in upstate NY? Thank you!
Use the Gemini Kit after the sanding. The 1500 series is the correct product for NY.
Do you have a recommended product for restoring a cedar roof? What are the necessary steps?
Use the 200 Series: https://www.twpstain.com/wood-and-deck-stains/twp-wood-stains/twp-200-series
Part of our deck is older redwood stained about 3 years ago and part new kiln dried clear redwood installed 6months ago ..we are pleased with the result utilizing restore a deck for prep 3days ago..the deck was stained today with cedar tone 1501 which was previously used on the older section..of course the new wood has come out much lighter and the painter wants to come back and put another coat on the new deck area after it dries mentioning that it will darken it…wondering if it will even absorb more stain and if you have any other recommendations including just leaving it alone and living with the different shades?Thank You
Leave it alone. It will blend the next time you redo.
My deck is 20 years old with a semi stain which was done about 4 years ago. Do I need to use just the stripper, brighter and then stain? Thank you
Please post some pics in the comments area for prep help.
We have applied TWP 100 Rustic 116 to our cedar shutters and front porch cedar columns over the last several years but just used a pressure washer to clean them before reapplying. Are you recommending Restore-A-Deck before reapplication of TWP 100 and if so would we use both cleaner and brightener?
Yes, correct. Use while pressure washing.
sorry…is that just the wood” drying” out
We of course will wet again before using brightener
I have a very old deck and pressure washed the deck first which brought out the white in the wood (Oxygination I believe), then I sanded the deck and used the Gemini Restore a Deck kit after the sanding. The deck looks much better now and I am ready to stain it but there is still quite a bit of white looking wood (see picture attached). I bought 1500 series HoneyTone stain, will it stain OK? Will the white go away once I stain it? Thanks!
You are okay to stain now.
Do you need to cover steel siding when using stripper, cleaner or brightner?
No, but rinse well with water when done.
I had certain parts of my deck & stairs replaced with fresh wood and I need to stain them. I want to prep the fresh wood for stain without damaging the stain that is already applied on the surrounding wood. How should I use this kit. Thank you.
See this about new wood:
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
It will be very hard to spot prep and stain. Best to do it all wood at the same time.
Would I need this if I sand the deck since the previous owner did a poor stain job on the deck?
Yes, as final prep.
Do you need to use this before staining cedar treated wood that has never been stained before?
Yes.
Weill this product neutralize a stripper or do I need another product to neutralize the stripper before using this product?
If you are stripping then you do not need this kit. Neutralize with this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-wood-brightener-detail
In the Instructions of the cleaner it says that if an existing covering is on the wood than it needs to be stripped first before using this product. Will this product neutralize the stripper?
The cleaner does not neutralize the stripper. The brightener does and is needed. You do not need to use the cleaner if you are stripping.
Thank you!