Rain Before or After TWP – Dry and Curing Time of TWP
Protecting your exterior wood surfaces with TWP (Total Wood Preservative) is a project that most homeowners can complete themselves. TWP will preserve the wood’s natural beauty and shield it from the harsh elements. The user-friendly formula is easy to apply and maintain but care should be taken when considering when to apply the stain. Weather can be a tricky and create problems. Most of all rain should be avoided at all costs.
A perfect forecast for staining would be 1-2 days with no chance of precipitation. Prior to staining, the wood should air dry for 24-48 hours after it has been cleaned. If it rains within that window soaking the wood again then wait an addition 1-2 days before staining. It is important the wood is dry before staining otherwise moisture could be trapped under the stain creating an environment for mold and mildew.
In most situations, TWP will take approximately 4-12 hours to dry but it will take longer to fully cure. Check the forecast and confirm that rain is not expected for at least a day or two. Once the conditions are right and the wood is completely dry you can begin staining. It should not rain within 12 hours of applying TWP stain to any exterior wood surface. A quick light rain will most likely not harm the stain if it has already been absorbed. A heavy rain however may leave separation circles on the surface and ruin the finish.
If an unexpected rain does ruin your TWP finish it may be necessary to sand or strip the stain off and recoat it. This would be unfortunate and obviously an extra expense so plan your staining project around any potential rainstorms for the best results. When applied properly under the right conditions, TWP will provide a long lasting beautiful finish that can be enjoyed and maintained for many years to come.
How long should I wait before putting the furniture and barbecue back on my newly stained deck with TWP 101?
24-48 hours.
used the dark oak stain on the deck. less than two months later I am seeing some Mold on top. followed instructions on the can. used a stain remover to remove the old stain. used a wood brightener. even sanded after the two. Deck gets full sun during the day until about 5.
TWP has a mildewcide to prevent mildew from growing in the stain but no deck stain can prevent mildew from growing on top of the dried stain. This is not a stain issue but more an issue with your environment.
The deck is only 2 years old, built with all new pressure treated wood. The pic I sent you appears as though the wood is old but it’s not.
BTW, my deck is 500 sq ft
Had a hard pop-up rain approx 3 hours after second coat of TWP 1520 Pecan was applied. All splotchy now. I am handicapped so sanding the floors boards is impossible (for me). I’ve noticed “stripping the stain” as an alternative method. Please advise on WHAT PRODUCT to buy and HOW to use it before restraining. If sanding is my only option, I will need to hire it done. If so, please advise the most efficient process to do so. Thanks! jimkulwicki@comcast.net
Are you sure it was even harmed by the rain? Post a picture or two after the rainwater fully dries.
This is the “after” pic. I’m positive the splotchy look is from rain hitting it after 2-3 hours after the 2nd (wet on wet) coat. I’m anxious for your response on what to do. Thanks!
You will need to remove and start over to fix this. Use this kit while pressure washing to remove it: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I’m afraid you’re right…it ain’t gonna be pretty without stripping the stain and starting over. Bummer! Thanks for your prompt advice!
Today is day 5 after the second coat of stain applied to my porch/deck. Still feels tacky to me??? We have had days of rain and high humidity like everyone else. do you think the stain will ever dry. Still waiting to put rug and furniture out there???
Yes, it will dry. Was the second coat applied wet on wet?
What if it was applied wet on dry?
Then it could be sticky and tacky as the first coat would have started to cure already. it will dry, just takes time.
My deck is treated pine, several years old. Last Fall it was professionally stripped and stained with TWP 1500 Black Walnut with great result. This spring I pressure washed (without Gemini kit) and applied a second coat of the same stain, again with good result. The deck dried for several weeks. Then I placed 2 storage bins on the deck, which remained in place for 4 weeks. When they were next moved, this is the result, when rained on. What would cause these “lighter” spots? Will I need to touch up these areas with an additional stain coat?
Looks like the stain continued to cure after the boxes were set there. Does it look better when the rain dries off the wood?
It does appear less noticeable when dry, though still faintly visible. What might that signify? Should I expect it to improve over time or should an additional coat of stain be applied to those areas?
Yes, it should even out over time. Spot applying and it will stand out even more.
I washed yesterday and it rained all day today (Monday). Can I stain Wednesday evening if it will rain again on Thursday night? Highs in 50s lows in 40s. Also, if II stain on Wednesday, can we walk on it by the following Sunday?
Bah for my rainy rainy climate!
Hard to say. The wood has to be fully dry when you stain and it should not rain on the deck for 24 hours after. Your low temps do not help the drying the wood and stain. It will take longer.
I stained my deck about 3weeks ago with twp, it had a few white spots that showed up not long after but they’ve still not gone away and are actually bigger. I clean them off but when it rains they come right back. I’ve never had this problem before. Suggestions? Causes?
That is mineral deposits from the rainwater that is left on top of the stain after drying. It will wipe off with a wet rag. It will slowly stop doing this soon.
I stained my new cedar fence about 11 days ago with twp 101 and had about 3 days of low 50’s and sun afterwards. I can still smell it outside and am wondering if its ok to be outside around it or do i have to wait until i cant smell it anymore? When will this smell go away in these low 50 temps.
In these temps, it will take longer to cure but the smell will go away. It is not permanent. It will not harm you in the meantime.
Want to pass along a strange success story. I pressure washed redwood railings on our north facing deck in mid-summer, but did not get around to applying TWP 1500 natural until just this week. Not optimal temperatures (highs only upper 50’s, lows in the upper 30’s), but no rain forecast. So did some light sanding, used a compressor to blow clean, and applied 2 coats – wet on wet, and after a few hours, wiped off excess. It is looking very good and feeling good (i.e., not tacky) two days later. The forecast is for a few more days of this cool, but dry weather. I think I may have gotten the work done just in time for winter! This is at 7500′ elevation in Colorado.
Great! Post a picture!
Fall TWP stain work in Colorado.
The deck had TWP1500 dark walnut applied about 3 years ago. Owner wanted to re-stain to get house ready for sale. I power washed the deck only. Some of the old stain did come off. Deck does get direct sun in the afternoon to dry. 2 days later applied a coat of the 1500 with a roller. After a couple of days, owner wanted another coat to blend in areas where the color shade was different due to the uneven removal of the old stain. In both cases of areas of knots and cracks in the board, it looked like sap was bubbling up. About a month later, gray circles started to appear. Another month, the whole deck has turned gray. How do I fix this besides a complete sand strip. More importantly, what went wrong. Burke
Post a picture.
Pics. They show the change over time. The areas of gray are on the horizontal boards. I haven’t visited the job for over a month and don’t know if the verticals are also graying out.
Hello,
A couple of things were done wrong in the process. For prep, you should have used the Gemini Restore Kit or RAD Stripper/Brightener kit while pressure washing. This would have given a better and more even surface for staining. When applying a second coat, it needs to be done wet on wet. When done wet on dry (as you did), overapplication can result. You can see that this happened in your process as the TWP filmed on top of the wood, instead of in the wood, creating a “shine” to the stain. TWP is not supposed to be shiny.
As for the white spots in the final, it looks like sap leached out of the wood. Not 100% certain on this. Another possibility is something sitting on top of the TWP since it was over applied. Possibly mineral deposits from water. This should come off with a wet rag if mineral deposits. The TWP stain itself does not turn white/gray so something else caused this.
Hello – I had a similar issue, what solution do you suggest to remedy
this. I believe this was wet on dry, 12 hours out of a rainstorm
The white is sap leeching out of the wood. Try a solvent to clean. The shine to the wood was because it was over-applied and the second coat was not done wet on wet.
1) Does leeching mean the boards were not weathered long enough ?
2) Will the shine fade or do I need to sand and re-apply 2 coats wet on wet for the desired look ?
3) Will the stain always appear shiny if applied wet on dry ? Or simply becasue too much was applied ?
4) I have another deck that never received a second coat, it has been in the elements for a year, does it need to be fully sanded to bare wood or just scuffed up to apply the new application ?
1. No, nothing can stop or prevent sap from leeching.
2. It should fade.
3. Yes, if over-applied, it will be shiny.
4. Prep with this and then recoat: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
I built a pergola with rough redwood and stained it about 2 months ago. It dried nicely and looks great. BUT, we got our first rain shower since we stained/built the pergola and to my surprise, my entire concrete patio where the pergola was built over is cover with oil stains. I don’t understand what happened and why it did but it appears as if the rain stripped some of the stain off the wood…any idea what happened? Should we expect this to happened every time it rains or is this just a one off incident?? The stains appear to be coming from all pieces rafter/beams fron the pergola.
TWP is a full curing stain so this should not happen unless over applied. It should be a one and only issue.
You can go to your local paint store and purchase a quality graffiti remover and use that to remove the excess stain residue that never penetrated and never cured and washed off when it rained.
***Follow the directions on the can***
***A quality high pressure powerwasher is helpful***
I’m a professional stain contractor who deals with this stuff all the time, it just happened to me on a new large pergola that was standing over a large new slab of concrete last month 🙂 fun fun
I am having the same issue with my Pergolla. The stain is running down my cast stone columns. I stained the redwood about 2 months ago. Would anyone know how to clean that stain off of my columns. I’m sure I applied the stain heavy.
How long does it take TWP to cure before we can pressure wash the siding with detergent/chemical?
3-7 days.
Should 2 coats be applied to a newly sanded deck? Paint store said second coat must be applied while first coat is still wet.true??
Sanded wood typically can only take one coat of stain.
Hello, I can not catch a break with our Chicago weather, as usual, for the last month and a half. Rain and/or high heat and humidity has been our weather literally almost every day. I need to start staining my fence because the prepped wood is starting to dark. What is the least amount of time needed to be absolutely safe before it rains? I keep seeing different times between 4 and 48 hours. Right now, Im struggling just trying to get 24 hours of no rain after applying and the weather forecast is showing rain every day for the next week. I am using 1500 California Redwood. Id like to finish my fence project soon! Thanks! Bob.
12-24 hours after applying before rain.
Do you need to seal this with a clear coat?
No. You cannot seal over the TWP stains.
I used Benjamin Moore stripper and B-M Restore brightener.
Bought some PT 6″ x 6″ x 12′ posts to border a gravel driveway and they are “Home Depot Wet”, I really do not want to handle them twice (200′ anchored with rebar) and cant really justify waiting a year to place them. Not super concerned with the quality of the appearance but don’t want to “trap” any moisture causing rot from the inside out. My experience with PT wood, even ground contact grade, has not been favorable so i want to help it last a little longer with TWP. Thoughts?
Hello,
You cannot pre-stain this and you cannot coat all sides with TWP. You would need to install, let weather for 4-12 months, and then prep and stain only the exposed wood.
How long after you apply the product before you can put furniture etc back on the deck?
24-48 hours. Just make sure the stain is dry and not tacky.
I finally have a chance (time) to apply TWP to my fence. There is rain in the forecast for tomorrow (and for the next 7 days). So if I apply today, I will have a minimum of 15-18 hours of guaranteed no rain.. Your thoughts.
Should be okay.
We stripped and used a brightener prior to staining, waited 2 days for the deck to completely dry. I stained the deck last year with TWP and it dried in under 12 hours. This year 24 hours later the deck is still not dry. I bought the stain last year, does it go bad? Any solutions
It might have gone bad if it was an opened container or you may not have prepped correctly this year prior to applying. Let it dry/cure for a few days and see if that helps.
We stripped and stained our deck 2 years ago. This year we power washed, waited a couple of days and applied another coat. The stain didn’t dry completely after a day and a half of sunny 80 degree weather. Any ideas?
Did you use the Gemini Restore Kit this year while pressure washing? It most likely was not prepped correctly this year so it has not been able to dry or cure correctly. if it another few days to dry and hopefully that helps.
We applied a maintenance coat this year to our deck. About 10 hours after we apply the steam it rain a lot. We now have areas where the steam has left circles and splotch marks on the deck surface. What do you recommend we do? If you’re going to recommend sanding, could we use a big sander or do we have to use a small handheld sander?
You will need to remove the stain and start over. Use this prep kit and pressure washing to remove:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Ok thank you. Am I applying wet on wet two coats now since we will be stripping it?
Yes.
My deck is 4 years old. My dogs have scratched the heck out of it. I used TWP and put another light coat on each year. However it needs to be completely redone due to the wear and tear by the dogs. Should I use a stripper or do I have to send it.
The easiest way to prep this would be to strip and brighten the wood:
https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I have some small areas on my deck where the stain is still sticky after 48 hrs. The deck was completely dry after pressure washing 48 hrs before application. I tried to remove any excess stain from the deck when applied. Will these spots eventually dry?
Yes, you can speed it up some by removing the excess. See this:
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
I keep trying DEW but dumb phone does few. Sorry
That posting didn’t turn out so good. I applied twp after power washing and drying 2-3 days. No rain forecast but there a few every morning. Sunny spots are dry but shaded spots are tacky after 30 hrs. Gonna be ok?
Yes, it will be okay and will fully cure/dry.
[quote name=”Pat3″]My new never stained cedar deck had been drying for 48 hours after I cleaned & brightened it. We got a quick light drizzle last night. The deck seems fairly dry this morning, no water sitting on it. Should I still wait another 24 hours before applying stain? Thanks[/quote]
Yes. 24-48 hours after a rain.
My new never stained cedar deck had been drying for 48 hours after I cleaned & brightened it. We got a quick light drizzle last night. The deck seems fairly dry this morning, no water sitting on it. Should I still wait another 24 hours before applying stain? Thanks
I have a 1 year old cedar deck. Builder was very explicit in telling me not to stain until one year had passed. Hired a professional crew. Well worth the $. They cam in and did a chemical wash/prep. This is a 2nd story, covwered deck, with three 2 story support beams. Cedar rail with iron spindles. They let chem wash dry 24 hours. Now applying stain to everything-even the underside. Natural Cedar. I am going to wait 60 hours before putting furniture, grill and rugs & planters back on the surface. Lucky to have a 4 day window with no rain forecast. Looks like a great product, used properly by professionals.
[quote name=”ed sultini”]After the TWP 100 is applied how long before the deck can be used with chairs and tables? Just verifying timing so we do not have any issues with the surface quality. I know weather conditions may effect the drying time but if we have the best weather conditions how long would it be?
Thanks Ed[/quote]
Wait 2-3 days for furniture. Should be dry to the touch and not sticky.
After the TWP 100 is applied how long before the deck can be used with chairs and tables? Just verifying timing so we do not have any issues with the surface quality. I know weather conditions may effect the drying time but if we have the best weather conditions how long would it be?
Thanks Ed
[quote name=”john A florio”]stained with TWP. Went on very well and I believed very thin. After 4 hours some surfaces still tacky, shiney, and not dry. Instructions said wipe off excess with dry cloth. Had to wipe down the entire deck, buff the deck with cloth and wipe away as much as we could. How long will it take for the TWP to fully cure/dry?[/quote]
Takes about a day to dry. Full cure another couple of days or so.
stained with TWP. Went on very well and I believed very thin. After 4 hours some surfaces still tacky, shiney, and not dry. Instructions said wipe off excess with dry cloth. Had to wipe down the entire deck, buff the deck with cloth and wipe away as much as we could. How long will it take for the TWP to fully cure/dry?
[quote name=”Patrick Davis”][quote name=”TheSealerStore”][quote name=”PATRICK DAVIS”]I just built a brand new pressure treated wood deck, and had it stained. We got an afternoon shower just a couple hours after the finished, and more rain the next day. The stain has now been curing for about 48 hours, color 115 honeytone of TWP100, and it has large spots that almost look like coffee stains. Are these separation circles? Or will this go away. I am guessing that these have formed where the water pooled up after the rain.[/quote]
Yes, they are separation circles from the rain. To fix you will need to strip and start over. Also we would like to point out that you cannot stain new wood right away. Wait 4-12 months after install and the wood has to be prepped before staining. See this for more info:
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/%5B/quote%5D
Are the separation a problem from a punctuonality standpoint, or just aesthetics?[/quote]
Aesthetic at this point but if you did not follow the new wood weather and prep, it will fail by next Spring. You could just deal with it this year and fix next.
[quote name=”TheSealerStore”][quote name=”PATRICK DAVIS”]I just built a brand new pressure treated wood deck, and had it stained. We got an afternoon shower just a couple hours after the finished, and more rain the next day. The stain has now been curing for about 48 hours, color 115 honeytone of TWP100, and it has large spots that almost look like coffee stains. Are these separation circles? Or will this go away. I am guessing that these have formed where the water pooled up after the rain.[/quote]
Yes, they are separation circles from the rain. To fix you will need to strip and start over. Also we would like to point out that you cannot stain new wood right away. Wait 4-12 months after install and the wood has to be prepped before staining. See this for more info:
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/%5B/quote%5D
Are the separation a problem from a punctuonality standpoint, or just aesthetics?
[quote name=”PATRICK DAVIS”]I just built a brand new pressure treated wood deck, and had it stained. We got an afternoon shower just a couple hours after the finished, and more rain the next day. The stain has now been curing for about 48 hours, color 115 honeytone of TWP100, and it has large spots that almost look like coffee stains. Are these separation circles? Or will this go away. I am guessing that these have formed where the water pooled up after the rain.[/quote]
Yes, they are separation circles from the rain. To fix you will need to strip and start over. Also we would like to point out that you cannot stain new wood right away. Wait 4-12 months after install and the wood has to be prepped before staining. See this for more info:
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I just built a brand new pressure treated wood deck, and had it stained. We got an afternoon shower just a couple hours after the finished, and more rain the next day. The stain has now been curing for about 48 hours, color 115 honeytone of TWP100, and it has large spots that almost look like coffee stains. Are these separation circles? Or will this go away. I am guessing that these have formed where the water pooled up after the rain.
[quote name=”Becky F”]Can you recommend a stain remover that is not caustic and should I put a brighter on before staining again. I heard a brighter opens up the pours of the wood before staining. Also, how long should I let the wood dry before restating.[/quote]
All stain removers are caustic. Use the Restore A Deck Stain Stripper and pressure washing to remove. You must use the brightener after to neutralize. Dry for 48 hours after the prep.
Can you recommend a stain remover that is not caustic and should I put a brighter on before staining again. I heard a brighter opens up the pours of the wood before staining. Also, how long should I let the wood dry before restating.
[quote name=”Becky F”]We stained our deck two weeks ago and we still can’t put our chairs on as the stain gets scratched. How long will we need to wait until the stain is completely cured. Concerned.[/quote]
Hello,
TWP is a penetrating stain. If it is scratching then it did not penetrate and this could be the result of incorrect prep and or over applying. Feel free to reply back to the email with some pictures.
We stained our deck two weeks ago and we still can’t put our chairs on as the stain gets scratched. How long will we need to wait until the stain is completely cured. Concerned.
[quote name=”Dan Causie”]how long do you wait before moving furniture on the deck. ( cure time?)[/quote]
This will vary based on the age of the wood, how many coats, and the temperature. It can vary between 12-36 hours.
how long do you wait before moving furniture on the deck. ( cure time?)
[quote name=”lynette hodges”]How long do you wait to apply a second coat of twp stain 100. Also how long does it take to dry as far as rain is concern. Ours was stained then it rained about 2 hours later all night. Is their a problem that the stain wont hold up.[/quote]
You apply the second coat wet on wet. 20-60 minutes after the first coat. It should not rain on newly applied stain for 8 hours after applying. If it was affected, you will see small separation spots all over the wood.
How long do you wait to apply a second coat of twp stain 100. Also how long does it take to dry as far as rain is concern. Ours was stained then it rained about 2 hours later all night. Is their a problem that the stain wont hold up.
[quote name=”Keith Baker”]I recently stained a Cedar deck and about 3 weeks after it was done the dog walked on it with muddy paws. I have tried cleaning it with dish soap & water by mop & it doesn’t clean it. What do you recommend?[/quote]
If the mud stuck to the stain before it fully cured, then you cannot just remove the mud without removing the stain as well. Basically it stuck the to stain while the stain cured and hardened. You would have to strip all and start over.
I recently stained a Cedar deck and about 3 weeks after it was done the dog walked on it with muddy paws. I have tried cleaning it with dish soap & water by mop & it doesn’t clean it. What do you recommend?
[quote name=”Amyjsloan”]My stain has been on for 48 hours and it is still tacky to touch. What can I do?[/quote]
See this article:
http://www.twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/