Restore-A-Deck Brightener Only

I removed the old stain with stripper then used brightener about 6 weeks ago. So its past the recommendation to stain within 2 weeks. Do I need to reapply brightener?

I purchased everything to stain my deck including stripper, brightner and stain. One more question, so can strip the deck one day and brighten the next day or is that not recommended? Thanks for all your help.

We are using the brightener after stripping the deck. The deck is a 900 square foot deck and it will take a while to completely strip. There is really no way that parts of deck will not dry after stripping before adding the brightener. Also, if the stripping is really difficult because the stain is stubborn it could take 2 days to completely strip the deck. Further, the days here are sunny and warm so I plan to use the stripper in the morning and then add the brighten in the evening after the sun goes down for the day.


You recommend that you use brightener while the deck is wet from stripping and this leads me to some questions do to the size of the deck and complexity of the conditions: 1) if part or all of deck dries after stripping and sun hits it during the day until the evening, can I brighten in the evening? 2) Will the sun cause a lot of damage to tigerwood during one day of no protection? 3) do I just wet the deck again in the evening (it was stripped in the morning) and then add the brightener?

I used Behr Semi transparent stain on a redwood deck 10 years ago. Most had worn off. I cleaned the deck with TSP and bleach, using a power washer to get rid of gunk, algae and graying. Some red stain remains which I plan to sand off. After sanding, can I use just the brightener and apply your stain, or do I need to go through stripping and brightening again?

I have two unopened containers of brightener and one unopened container of the cleaner. They are 3 years old. Have they retained the necessary effectiveness? Or, do I need to buy fresh product? Thanks.

After using stripper, how long do I need to wait to apply the brightener?

Can I brighten my deck in a light rain?

I did a good cleaning and power wash at the end of the summer last year and my deck has never been stained. Do i need to to do the cleaner step?

The cedar fence on our recently purchased home is about 4 years old and never stained (from what I can tell). I cleaned it first with outdoor bleach and removed all the mold and mildew. Then, power washed (to remove the light-gray after bleaching). The wood is mostly down to bare wood look, but still have spots of light gray. Then, I found your web site indicating this was not the recommended prep. Hmmm.

Should I use the brightener before I stain or do you recommend another approach prior to staining?

Matt H:

I will be belt sanding my deck to get a 2 year old peeling film (Benjamin Moore Semi) stain off...I have been told with sanding I don't need to use the kit. I am thinking the brightener might still be good but don't want to waste effort/time. Thouhgts?

After sanding we suggest using both the Cleaner and the Brightener for the final prep. This will help the new stain to soak in better into the wood grain.

I will be belt sanding my deck to get a 2 year old peeling film (Benjamin Moore Semi) stain off...I have been told with sanding I don't need to use the kit. I am thinking the brightener might still be good but don't want to waste effort/time. Thouhgts?

Joe H:

Will brightener or cleaner damage paint? My deck railings are painted but I have cedar deck boards that I want to brighten. Also, foundation wall of house is painted where deck is attached to house

It should not harm paint.

Will brightener or cleaner damage paint? My deck railings are painted but I have cedar deck boards that I want to brighten. Also, foundation wall of house is painted where deck is attached to house

John Kay:

how long does the brighter last after being applied. Is it 10 or 14 days? I've being getting a lot of rain after being applied does that effect my window of staining of 14 days. Any info would be appreicated. thank you.

About 14 days.

how long does the brighter last after being applied. Is it 10 or 14 days? I've being getting a lot of rain after being applied does that effect my window of staining of 14 days. Any info would be appreicated. thank you.

Bryan Laskey:

I would like to wash the cedar siding on our cottage. It has a nice coloured stain on it that I like. Not going to restain, sand or touch it up. It's in great shape. Just dirty. Simply want to clean it. Would you recommend the cleaner & brightener? Thank you.

Hello, our products are not designed for when you plan on reapplying the stain only.

I would like to wash the cedar siding on our cottage. It has a nice coloured stain on it that I like. Not going to restain, sand or touch it up. It's in great shape. Just dirty. Simply want to clean it. Would you recommend the cleaner & brightener? Thank you.

John K:

What's the best way to apply Brightener to the rails? my rails will be sanded down, no stripper used it has a solid color stain on it.

Pump sprayer.

What's the best way to apply Brightener to the rails? my rails will be sanded down, no stripper used it has a solid color stain on it.

Mike Adkins:

Our water is very hard. Will it be ok to mix with your chemicals, or should I find soft or RO water?

It should be fine.

Our water is very hard. Will it be ok to mix with your chemicals, or should I find soft or RO water?

This last weekend finished cleaning but held off on brightening. You always say brighten while wet from cleaning.Wondering what the risk is?

Answer

Best to brighten/neutralize when wet. Not brightening right away could results in "furring" of the wood. This of course can be sanded off.

Marie:

Will brightener damage concrete under my deck when applying? Does it damage plants and shrubs?

No it will not damage concrete. It may "burn" leaves of plants some if not rinsed off within a timely fashion.

Will brightener damage concrete under my deck when applying? Does it damage plants and shrubs?

SumTxDude:

This last weekend finished stripping 130ft of treated pine retainer wall but held off on brightening because I want to do some sanding and not quite through stripping porch post and rails. Basicly I can't get it all done in one weekend which is when I'm able to work on it.
You always say brighten while wet from stripping/cleaning. But I've also seen answers that it would be ok to wait.
Wondering what the risk is? Just neutralize the cleaning solvents before they penetrate deep and dry? Is it ok or more or less the same if you wet it good before brightening?
I was going to finish everything... stripping, sanding, putty joints then wet and brighten 3 or 4 days to a week before finish coat. Thoughts and/or facts behind the timing? -Thanks.

Best to brighten/neutralize when wet. Not brightening right away could results in "furring" of the wood. This of course can be sanded off. Putty does not work in outside wood and will not blend or "stain" to match the deck stain.

This last weekend finished stripping 130ft of treated pine retainer wall but held off on brightening because I want to do some sanding and not quite through stripping porch post and rails. Basicly I can't get it all done in one weekend which is when I'm able to work on it.
You always say brighten while wet from stripping/cleaning. But I've also seen answers that it would be ok to wait.
Wondering what the risk is? Just neutralize the cleaning solvents before they penetrate deep and dry? Is it ok or more or less the same if you wet it good before brightening?
I was going to finish everything... stripping, sanding, putty joints then wet and brighten 3 or 4 days to a week before finish coat. Thoughts and/or facts behind the timing? -Thanks.

Julie Blenn:

I also realized that some of the Part 1 cleaner dried onto the glass of my deck windows. What harm will this do, and how can I reverse the problem ?

Just rinse well with water and make sure all the residue comes off. Brighten when done. It will be fine.

I also realized that some of the Part 1 cleaner dried onto the glass of my deck windows. What harm will this do, and how can I reverse the problem ?

I applied step one Restore-a-deck, the cleaner, and was not able to finish washing it before the sun went down. By morning , the cleaner will have dried onto the unfinished portions, and I know the can says "do not let it dry on".

Will this cause harm ? How should I handle it ?
I plan to finish pressure washing in the morning : will this be adequate ?
The rest of the deck looks fabulous !! Thanks for yur excellent product !

Dana Clark:

Ive stripped my deck with a Behr product which pretty much sucked. I'm going to buy your deck stripper to go back over the entire deck,and hopefully finish it off. Do I follow with just the brightener or do I need both the cleaner and brightener? Also, I started stripping the deck this past weekend and it won't be until after I recieve your product that I resume. Is it okay that my deck is sitting there, or should I go ahead and use the Behr product (brightener & cleaner) I have on hand to "Neutralize" the current stripper?I've rinsed and rinsed, but from what I've read there's surely still some stripper in the wood.

After the stripper you go straight to the brightener. No need for the cleaner. You are fine with being halfway done. Just start stripping with the Rad.