Restore-A-Deck Brightener Only

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.

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.

Maggie, you should not mix stains of different brands. Also you have to strip all if switching stain brands.

I just reread my questions. Actually the wood deck is 3 levels plus the long bench which acts as a railing along the back, plus there are two large square holes that go around a couple of ornamental trees and the horizontal boards go in different angles to each other in a pattern and there is a natural cedar sauna barrel on top of part of the deck. Since trees have died from a disease, it is now a good time to strip what I have to, since they will not be affected. Still there are way too many angles and areas on which I must watch for drips and pooling while lying at odd angles with a paint brush to really want to have to do what currently does not need refinishing. After the advice to mix 2 different stains made by 2 different SW affiliates;even though the SW rep said it was "normal" for people to mix stains in this way, I did not bother to inquire about preparation. I do not want to be stripping fresh stain because it failed quickly; so I am seeking advise on mixing similar products.

30 year old deck. Around 800+sqft horizontal surface with two levels and built in long bench along the back. Deckscape semi-transparent was used last 3 times I stained deck. I pressure washed and spot scrubbed in the past. Last done 2 years ago. I blow leaves, etc off around 5 times a week from April to November and about twice a month in the cold months and keep gaps between boards clean. Verticals and shaded areas holding well. Flat, sunbaked surfaces peeling, some dry rot & other damage, but too expensive to replace so much, especially since odd thickness & width boards. Can I use stripper on flat and not mess up verticals too much? Then use RAD cleaner on the verticals and areas that are intact. Then restain all? Seems odd, but man @ Sherwin Williams said OK to mix 2 unopened cans of Deckstain & new SuperDeck semi-transparents in same 5 gallon bucket to keep color uniform. Wise to mix SW's old product & new product lines w/ different chemistry even though both water based? Thanks.

Frank:

Hello. Used the cleaner and brightener and love how they made our Tigerwood deck look beautiful again! Unfortunately, unexpected delays now make it at least 3 or maybe 4 weeks out from time of brightening to applying the stain (Armstrong Clark for hardwood). Must I re-brighten before applying stain? Do I also have to re-clean?
Thank you!

Re brighten and rinse well with water. Only clean again if it gets dirty or starts to gray again.

Hello. Used the cleaner and brightener and love how they made our Tigerwood deck look beautiful again! Unfortunately, unexpected delays now make it at least 3 or maybe 4 weeks out from time of brightening to applying the stain (Armstrong Clark for hardwood). Must I re-brighten before applying stain? Do I also have to re-clean?
Thank you!

Gianni:

Hi, I'm build a covered porch using 6x6 and 6x9 cedar posts and beams. I had the cedar milled locally last summer 2014. I lightly sanded it before building. It still looks clean and new. Do I really need to use the cleaner or can I just use the brightener before I apply my stain? Thanks.

You should do both.

Hi, I'm build a covered porch using 6x6 and 6x9 cedar posts and beams. I had the cedar milled locally last summer 2014. I lightly sanded it before building. It still looks clean and new. Do I really need to use the cleaner or can I just use the brightener before I apply my stain? Thanks.