Restore A Deck Solid Stain and Prep on the Same Day!
Restore-A-Deck Solid Color Wood Stain is an extremely durable synthetic-resin, opaque wood finish that helps protect against the damaging effects of water, fungi, and UV radiation on exterior wood surfaces. This V.O.C. compliant water-based product provides exceptional protection for nearly all exterior wood surfaces in a beautiful matte finish.
Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain can be applied the same day as the prep. Make sure that all standing and visible water has dried off the surface after prep. Typically 2-4 hours at 70º F and less than 50% humidity.
Order Solid Stain Samples: RAD Solid Stain Samples
Download RAD Solid Stain Color Chart
Note: We would suggest downloading and printing the color chart by clicking the picture to the left. There is also a full version of the color chart picture below and in the product pictures above.
*Colors will vary based on full sun or shade.
WHERE TO USE
Restore-A-Deck Solid Color Wood Stain can be used on interior or exterior horizontal and vertical wood surfaces including: wood siding, log homes, decks, fences, outdoor wood furniture, pressure-treated and all other natural wood surfaces.
ADVANTAGES
- Both a solid stain and sealer for your wood
- Protects wood from damaging UV rays
- Available in pre-mixed solid color (opaque) finishes
- For use on all softwood types
- Dries to a flat finish
- Water-based, easy cleanup
- Low VOC content (
- For use on all exterior wood types and surfaces, not just decks
- Eco-Safe
- Easy to reapply as needed
- Does not promote mold/mildew growth
- Low VOC content, compliant with all US states and Canada
Restore-A-Deck Solid stain can be applied the same day as the prep. Make sure that all standing water has dried off the surface after prep. Typically 2-4 hours at 70º F and less than 50% humidity.
Note: Restore-A-Deck Solid Stain can be applied to dry or damp wood.
New Wood Note: New wood is not the same as “damp” wood and needs to weather and be prepped before staining. Restore-A-Deck Stain and New Wood
Coverage:
RAD Wood and Deck Solid Stain applies at about 200-350 feet per gallon. Actual coverage varies depending on wood porosity.
Restore A Deck Solid Stain Application Tips
- How To Apply RAD Stain to Damp Wood
- Restore-A-Deck Stain and New Wood
- Restore-A-Deck Stain Hot Sun Application
- RAD Two-Toned Wood Decks
Color Chart Below is the RAD Solid Stain on Wood Samples
Available Solid Stain Colors: Espresso, Brown Oak, Classic White, Cypress, Desert Taupe, Coastal Gray
WARNING: This product can expose you to Ethylene oxide, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm, and Cumene, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.p65Warnings.ca.gov.
Do you sell five gallons of stain
Only comes in single gallons.
I purchased a cabin with large deck where stain on floor is peeling. Unsure what prior product was used. What is your recommendation on how to strip and restain? I would like to keep the poles, railings untouched as the stain here to be in good condition.
Hi, you have a filming “varnish” type coating on your flooring. To fix this, it would be best to power sand it all off. Look at renting a drum sander and use no finer than 60-80 grit. Once sanded off, use the RAD Cleaner and Brightener kit for final prep. Stain with the RAD Stain in Light or Dark Walnut colors.
Would your product RAD Paintstrip be able to replace sanding in this situation?
Not here since it is “confined” with your wood walls, rails, etc. that do not need stripping.
If I decided to use your RAD Solid stain in Brown, could sanding then be avoided? What kind of prep would be needed for floors? Would still like to avoid doing anything to the cabin body and deck rails as they are in good condition. Thanks!
We would not suggest using a solid stain over this varnish. You should sand no matter what.
If I sanded the floors and then used the cleaner/brightener kit, would the cleaner/brightener damage the vertical surfaces (skirting around deck and rails already stained)? Do these all need to be tarped?
It shouldn’t as long as you prewet and rinse the over spray right away.
If there are boards that need to be replaced, is there anything that could be done to make the new boards blend into the rest of this deck? I’ve read your article stating that new wood needs to season before stain.
Would boards that have been purchased and stored in a shed 3+months, be considered aged/weathered enough?
I would like to complete this project in the next 2 weeks. But reading the articles, if you have to replace old boards with new, seems like I should wait another 3 months. Then I would clean, sand floors, brighten, stain the deck.
This a vacation rental property and would like to make things look nice despite having to perform maintenance on the deck. Seems like new board will really stand out and be unsightly.
You cannot make new wood match old wood with a semi-transparent stain. You cannot weather the wood inside a shed. It mus be installed, weathered, and then prepped.
So a solid stain on a deck with combo new/ old wood might be a better choice? If I am going for an uniform deck look and didn’t have time to wait to season new wood?
Another consideration is maintenance. This deck floor gets high traffic. Would you choose the RAD semitransparent vs RAD solid? Looking for ease of maintenance.
Yes, a solid stain would blend the wood better. You still have to season the new wood with a solid stain. You have no choice here.
Maintenance is the same between the two different types.
Looking at my pics, what color solid stain would you recommend to best match (for my floors)?
Espresso.
We had a brand new pressure treated deck that we let dry out before staining. We then used Valspar One-Coat Exterior Stain and Sealer to paint/stain it a dark gray. It’s been just over a year and it’s already fading and peeling. Can we use your product over top or do we need to sand or strip the current stain? This is a nightmare. We are in Coastal Georgia near the marsh and the heat is brutal. We only stayed the decking as the railing is vinyl. Thanks.
Best to strip off as much as possible before using our solid stain.
Is the coverage of 200-350 sq. ft per gallon for one coat or two coats? I am looking to stain an approximately 600 square foot deck (sanded / stripped) with railings and stairs.
200-350 sq. ft per gallon per coat. You would need about 5-6 gallons for the 2 coats.
I want to strip and paint 700+ square feet of decking and deck siding with RAD solid and semi-stains. The deck floor is old, previously stained (painted?) pressure-treated lumber that we purchased two years ago when someone was redoing their deck with TREX. The railing is new pressure-treated lumber that has been exposed to the elements without stain for two years. Our deck project got sidetracked two years ago due to injury, and we’re hoping to stain it before winter.
So many questions. . .
First, the deck has been power washed. Should we use the RAD paint and solid stain stripper for the deck floor and under deck siding?
We wanted to do a solid stain on the deck boards and a semi for the railing. We like the expresso, but the deck gets direct afternoon sun in the summer. Maybe the brown solid stain would be a better choice? Which transparent stain looks best with the brown solid stain? (Yes, we purchased samples, and yes, we’re still perplexed.)
The storage area underneath the deck has white vinyl siding on the sides and old deck wood on the front. We would love thoughts on using the white solid stain to try and match the vinyl siding versus using the same semi-transparent stain we choose for the railing.
Finally, if we can’t get everything done in one day (most likely), is it best to do the stripping and brightening on the same day and stain on a later date?
The attached photos are of a corner of the deck so you can see the used deck wood with new railings and of the enclosed area under the deck with the vinyl siding on the side and old deck wood on the front.
Confused yet? Thanks for any help you can give!
It will look “odd” to have only the new railings semi-transparent. The rest of the vertical wood has remnants of old solid stain/paint, so you would have to use the RAD Paint Strip on those if you want to use a semi-transparent on the below verticals and the rails on the steps.
The flooring will have to be stripped with the RAD Paint Strip to remove as much as possible of the different layers you have there before using the RAD Solid Stain.
👉Your best option is to use one solid stain color for all wood so it looks even due to the many issues you have going on and to have a consistent color when done. 👈
Can you please explain which sequence and products do I need to use to obtain long lasting results? The previous stain was a Behr Solid stain. Now I want to go with RAD’s solid espresso stain.
Thanks!
Use this kit while pressure washing for prep: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
The goal is to remove the loose and peeling solid stain. You can then cover the intact solid stain with the RAD Solid Stains.
I want to strip and paint 3,000 square feet of dock with RAD solid coastal gray. Docks are removed for winter. Dock material is 2 x 6 treated yellow pine twenty years old. Last stained in 2019 using Olympic Maximum semi-transparent stain. What do you recommend?
Hello,
Use these kits to prep:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
You do not have to remove 100% of the Olympic since you will be using the RAD Solid Stain. Remove all that is loose or peeling. You can then cover the intact stain with the RAD solid stain.
I would like to put two coats of coastal solid stain on my dock wood. What is the minimum time to allow between coats?
You can apply the second coat as soon as the first coat is dry. Could be 1-2 hours.
For the second coat of solid wood stain, can it be done a few days to a week after the first coat?
Best to do the second coat within a couple of days at the most.
Total of 850 sq footage and 2 coats thanks
For two coats of the solid stain, about 7-9 gallons for 850 sq feet.
I’m staining a 28’ x 24’ cabin with t1-11 siding. I’ve removed the old solid stain as best I can. Planning on 2 new coats of solid. Looking for an educated guess on total gallons-thanks
We need a total sq footage of the siding, not the sq footage of the cabin itself to help with this.
I’m looking for a very dark gray solid stain. is there any way mix the coastal gray with a black stain? Do you have any options?
Sorry but no, that is not possible.
Hi, I scraped my Dad’s deck, cleaned with soap and power washed it, then I scraped it again. It had previous coats of stain on it, the last one was a Wolman’s durastain, a solid stain, a lot of it pealed off in big pieces. It is an older deck but is solid. I plan to use your products, what are my next steps? Also, what is normal shipping time to Michigan?Thank you! Larry
Post some pics for prep help. We are in Michigan as well. Bloomfield Hills.
I am planning to use a solid deck stain for our 4 year old deck. It was previously stained with a semi-transparent stain (2 coats). Should I apply 2 coats of the solid stain and what application tools do you recommend for solid stain? I plan to use the cleaner and brightener before staining. Also, can solid stain be applied wet on wet or if I do 2 coats, do I have to wait for the first coat to dry?
2 coats of solid stain. Solid stain is not applied wet on wet. Must be dry for second coat. Use brushes and rollers for the solid stain.
Would it help to prime the deck prior to applying your solid stain? I’m thinking of applying Rust-o-leum Rocksolid Deck Start Wood Primer. What do you think?
No, never prime before using our solid stain.
I’ve got an older deck that was stained with Cabot solid stain about two years ago, and it’s peeling pretty bad. I’d like to re-apply with RAD cedar solid stain (similar color), but want to be sure all necessary prep steps are taken. Do I just need to use the RAD cleaner and power wash? Or do I also need to use stripper and/or brightener? Is sanding required if all old peeling solid stain is removed?
Thanks!
Use the stripper and pressure washing to remove the loose and peeling solid stain. Brighten after. You can cover the intact solid stain with the RAD Solid Stain.
Why does it need to be brightened if he’s using solid stain?
Needs to neutralize the stripper.
Is the color accurate? I used natural cedar color from Behr and it looked pumpkin orange when we finished it. I am interested in a light brown. Will Cypress meet my needs?
Colors vary based on wood type, age, application, sunlight reflection, your screen monitor, etc. Best to test samples:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-solid-stain-sample.html
part of my deck was stained last summer will valspar water base semi-transparent stain. The deck was prep with pressure wash and cleaner and was allowed to dry a few days in hot sunny weather. My deck is also covered. While cleaning it this year with hot soapy water there is noticeable wearing of the stain. I would like to restain it with a better longer lasting product. There is dog traffic on it as well. What is your recommendation.
Strip and brighten for prep with this kit:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
And then apply the RAD Solid Stain.
The solid stain, so it is not a wet on wet application? Does that mean I allow it to dry before a second coat? Will I need a second coat…
Solid stain second coat has to go on after the first coat has fully dried. You will need 2 coats.
Can you apply with a paint sprayer
Yes.
Can this be applied on a deck that has been previously stained? I plan to use a similar color – gray. I am sanding all areas that have peeled, and going beyond the edge of the peeling. I would also power wash it. Thanks.
Yes, it can.
Looking to take on my deck and I am wondering if I need to seal the deck after I stain it with this product? And if not needed, will sealing help protect? If so how do I go about sealing?
No, you cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain. It would peel if you did.
I was wondering if the stain (either the solid or semi transparent) fills small cracks in the wood? Or do you recommend that the cracks be filled in with wood filler and sanded, and would that be done before cleaning and bleaching or after?
Cracks are normal on decks and should be left as is. Do not use a wood filler.
Will 1 gallon of RAD solid stain cover 1 coat of 200-350 sq feet or 2 coats of 200-350 sq feet?
I have a deck of around 320 sq feet that needs to be stained, should I buy 1 gallon or 2 gallons?
1 coat of 200-350 sq feet. You should get two gallons.
We have the RAD solid stain in brown oak on our deck, it’s been about 5 years and it’s time to restrain, there is some black mold, mildew on some boards. Do we. Need to do a full sand before re-staining? We plan to use same stain again, is there any other prep needed?
Use the RAD Cleaner and pressure washing for prep. Goal is to remove any mildew, dirt and loose stain. You can then cover it with a new coat of the solid stain.
We tried the paint stripper in several spots, but it did not get it all off. We ended up using the orbital deck sander and sanded first with 20 grit, then with 80 grit. We got most of the paint off but not all in just few spots. Do we need to use the brightener since we sanded? We would like to use your solid stain on the deck floor. Will this adhere over the few spots that still have some paint on it? Should we power wash before staining or dry vacuum?
Thanks
No need for the brighener here since you are using our solid stain. It will cover the intact paint/stain that is still on your wood.
We have a 15 year old cedar deck that has been stained with an oil-based stain. About a third of the deck rotted out and we are replacing it with new cedar decking. What is the best way to prep the old deck and the new deck so that the final deck will look as uniform as possible?
See here about new wood first: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood
Wait for 3 months or longer and then strip the old stain and clean the new wood. Brighten all when done.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/order-restore-a-deck.html
Use the RAD Solid Stain after to have the new and old wood blend.
We have power washed our bare wood (approximately 10 plus years old) deck with Zep. Do we need to do any other prep before RAD?
Post some pics of your prep.
Here are 2 pictures. I hope they are ok.
The prep looks splotchy. this means your stain could dry unevenly as well. We would go over it again with our cleaner and brightener prep kit.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
We love the RAD solid stain we applied last year. What is the best way to clean the deck without harming the stain? We have a lot of dirt residue on it that the rain is not washing clean. Thanks!
Warm water with some dish soap.
I would like to stain an outdoor shower that I built 10 months ago with pressure treated lumber white. Are there any special steps I should take? How long should the solid white stain last?
Prep with this:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
On vertical wood, about 3-5 years. Not sure if it will get moldy due to the shower but you might want to consider this for your shower area. It will work on all surfaces, not just the paint.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-guard-mildew-cleaner-preventer-1-gallon.html
Hello, we just applied the first coat of RAD solid stain. Forecast says rains is coming in less than 48 hours but more than 24 hours. Should we apply second coat after the rain stops or go ahead and do the second coat now and hope it will dry in 24 hours? If we wait, what prep product would we need before putting the second coat? Thank you!
Do it now for the best results. It can take a rain 4-8 hours after.
Ok, thank you very much!
Do you sell this in 5 gallon buckets?
Only single gallons.
Hey. I spent a lot of money and time stripping a SW Superdeck solid stained 30 year old deck. I also had to replaced 10-15board with new pressure treated wood from a blue big box store. I plan to use RAD solid stain to extend the life of the deck for a few more years before replica g the entire deck. Can apply the solid stain to new wood planks? Or do I have to wait 3 months to cover those boards? Also, do I need antiskid sand for the new planks? Thanks.
No, the new wood has to weather and be prepped.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood
No on the antiskid.
Stripped and cleaned deck last year, never got around to staining. We were toying with replacing, but it’s too expensive And we don’t use it, we have a big cement patio. We just want the rust color gone to a nice greige. What product should we use. There seems to be a layer of semi solid and a layer of solid over it in some parts.
Please reply back with some pics of the deck.
I am switching from Armstrong Clark semi-transparent on one deck and semi-solid on another to solid stain RAD on both. What products do I need to prepare both decks?
The RAD Stripper and Brightener kit.
Hi! I already have a RAD solid stained deck. Its been 3 years and needs restained. How do I prep to restain? I have some flaking which I plan on addressing. Thanks!
Pressure wash with stripper to remove any loose stain. Cover the intact stain with the new solid stain.
Good Morning. I am putting down new PT boards on a walk and plan on using a solid stain on all my decks/walks in the fall after it has seasoned. The old deck has semi-trans RAD that was applied two years ago and is still in great condition. Can the RAD solid be applied over the semi without stripping if the semi is not peeling?
Yes, it can but you still need to clean the wood.
I have plants surrounding my porch. Does the stripper and cleaner damage plants
Cover the plants when applying the stripper and cleaners and then rinse with water when done.
Do you need stripper/brightener with solid stain? Is that sold in a package?
Is there a previous coating on the deck and if so, is it peeling? Pictures of current condition would help with prep. You can upload them in the comments.
There is a previous solid stain on the deck which you can see is peeling. This was done approximately 3 years ago.
Strip off what you can to remove the loose stain. You can cover the intact not peeling stain with a new coat of the RAD solid stain.
I used this 3-4 years ago on my deck and now it is starting to peel. Is it natural to start peeling over time? What is the best way to re-apply should I spot treat or do I need to repaint the whole deck? Also do I need to sand, or just paint over the peeling parts?
It is normal to redo every 2-3 years. As for prep help, feel free to send some pics in the comments.
Here are some photos
No pics.
Here it is
here
2/2
Pressure wash for prep all wood to remove any loose stain and recoat all. You cannot spot treat as it will not blend.
It is normal to recoat every 2-3 years. You last bought in 2020.
Attached are some recent photos (hope you can zoom in and see the details). The last time the deck was cleaned and stained was 2 years ago using your deck cleaner and brightener and the using the light walnut stain. The deck gets full sun during the day along with extreme heat (June -Sept). I was hoping I could clean and brighten along with another coat of light walnut without having to strip and sand? The deck is around 300 square feet.
Yes, you clean and brighten and then apply one coat.
I have a tongue and groove pine deck that I’ve replaced rotted boards on the ends of the deck. The new boards look very different from the original boards. My concern is even with sanding there might be a significant color difference between the two. Will solid RDA stain provide a consistent color and coverage?
Yes, it would give an even color to the wood.
I have an older wooden deck that I’ve used the (now discontinued) Thompson solid stain on it many times. Going forward, I want to use the Restore-A-Deck solid stain. I have removed the loose, peeling stain from the floor and believe I’m ready for the RAD cleaning/stripping products. I will follow with the stain, as shown in your videos. I am wondering what to do with my spindles as the old Thompson stain is intact. Can I use the RAD stain over it?
Also – will any of the RAD products hurt the foliage around the deck as it is washed off the deck?
thank you for you guidance!
Yes, you can use the RAD solid stain over another solid stain as long as the old stain is intact and the surface is clean. If you get any of the prep on foliage, rinse overspray immediately, and it will be okay.
I have a new pressured treated fence. The square footage is 996 square feet. This is total for both sides 498 square feet/side but does not include post and mounting boards. Fence has been cleaned with mold and mildewcide about 2 weeks ago. What is the square feet coverage for a gallon of RAD and do you recommend one or 2 coats for this project.
2 coats if rough cut wood. About 10 gallons.
Is you deck prep materials/process required or can a good pressure wash suffice?
Pressure ashing alone is not going to get you the best results and could cause damage to the wood if excess pressure is used.
We got the first coat on our railings, but it is projected to rain in 2 days. Can it be rained on, and then put the second coat on after the rain stops?
Yes, but it has to be fully dry for the second coat
Hi there! Thanks to your expert help we have made it through most of our restaining project. We need to finish the spindles but temps are starting to drop in MN. If the daytime temp is above 45 but it falls below 45 at night, are we ok to stain? It isn’t too cold yet but nights are getting chilly! Thx in advance!
You are okay as long as it does not drop below freezing the first night.
Yes, correct. Bleach will kill the stains. 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. let sit on there until gone.
Hi, I am applying solid stain but having difficulty applying it between boards because gap is too small. Any suggestions?
No reason to stain between gaps. If you want to get it down a little bit, then use a narrow brush.
Hi! My prior comment seems to have disappeared. I just got my deck repaired (replaced some boards), sanded down to the wood (there was a solid paint on it) and then stained with Arborcoat in white for the railing and Cliffside Grey (very light grey) for the boards. Unfortunately, the maple tree leaves and seed pods falling on the deck have left permanent orange/brown stains within the first few days (deck was finished 9/11, stains started 9/12). I am unable to get the stains washed off. They seem to have stained the paint. Can I strip this with restore a deck stripper and apply solid restore a deck wood stain in white to the railings and grey to the floor boards? Or does this need to be sanded down to the wood again? This has been an expensive project and I am super disappointed. The deck company chose the stain, I only chose the color, and I trusted them and did not expect this result. Any advice much appreciated!
No solid stain will be immune to leaf stains. You cannot strip a solid stain so you would have to sand it all off if you want to remove it.
Is it possible to paint over this with a darker color without having to sand it all off again?
Yes, just clean it for prep.
I just finished my deck and stairs using the RAD Semi-Transparent Dark Walnut. I had some stubborn patches of the old stain that I couldn’t easily remove on the stair risers. I don’t like the final results. I’d like to use a Solid White on the risers and the facia boards, which I haven’t stained yet.
Do I need to wait until the Spring to apply the Solid White to the risers? Deck was finished 3 days ago. Thanks!
Yes, wait until Spring.
When do you expect to get the brown solid stain back in stock?
Friday or Monday.
Thanks