RAD STAIN 1gal MenuWhen working with newly installed wood and decking surfaces, the Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain is ideal after 3-6 months of natural weathering. Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain’s long-lasting composition works hard to absorb quickly and penetrate deep into the wood grain to withstand the elements and stay true to its beautiful finish long after the staining project is complete.

Before beginning the staining process, it is recommended that new wood surfaces be installed 3-6 months before prepping and staining. To prep new wood surfaces after the waiting period, use Restore-A-Deck Cleaner. It’s concentrated powder formula is cost-effective, easy to transport, and especially good at removing dirt, grime, mold, and mildew that is prone to showing up on new wood surfaces.

Note: Kiln dried and KDAT wood still needs to weather after install. About 1-2 months. Rough sawn cut wood does not need to weather. 

After the new wood has been cleaned, the wood will appear slightly darker. To restore the wood and neutralize the pH, use Restore-A-Deck Brightener to lighten it to its original appearance. The RAD Wood Brightener further opens the wood pores for an ideal surface to apply Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain.

Following Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener, continue with Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain. Unlike other brands of wood stain, Restore-A-Deck’s formula can be applied to wood surfaces following the Brightener on the same day on damp wood or can be applied to dry wood on following days. If applying to damp wood, it is recommended to allow the wood to dry 2-4 hours after prep is complete.

Only 1 coat should be applied to new wood that is less than 9 months old for the RAD semi-transparent stain. A light maintenance coat of the RAD semi-transparent stain should be applied 12-18 months after the first coat was applied. Every 2-3 years after that is normal.

For the RAD Solid Color Stain, apply 2 coats. Reapply as needed down the road.

Restore A Deck Stain Application Tips

If you have any questions, please comment below.

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    Moe Fortin · 09/28/2020
    Hi
    Just purchased planed cedar planks to build a deck. Do I need to weather these plank before applying your Restore-a-Deck stain?

    Thank You
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 09/28/2020
      Yes, weathere and prep as the article explains.
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    Richard · 09/28/2020
    I have 2 decks where I had to replace some of the boards and now both have to be stained. My wife wants to be able to see the wood grain. What would you suggest that I use to even the color of the old vs the new boards? Thank you!
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      RAD Products · 09/28/2020
      You can use either the semi-transparent or solid stains after the wait and the prep.
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        Richard · 09/28/2020
        Sorry what is the wait and prep?
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    molly · 09/26/2020
    We're building a new deck and I'd like to stain the pressure treated deck boards before they are on the joists, close together and more difficult to reach. Is this not possible?
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      RAD Products · 09/27/2020
      No, you cannot prestain new wood nor would that help. You only need to stain the exposed side after install, weathering, and prep. You never need to stain the undersides.
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    Steve · 09/24/2020
    Just finished install of new yellow wood pine deck, will next April or May be right time for prep & Stain (1or2 coats). Moisture is at 18%
    what should it be?
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      RAD Products · 09/24/2020
      The next Spring is correct. Follow the directions in the above article. Moisture % does not matter. One coat.
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    jenn · 09/23/2020
    I would be using on new rough sawn juniper horizontal fence rails with weathered oak barrel staves. If I sand the juniper, does that change the ability to apply the semi-transparent stain before weathering? I cannot stain only the staves and not the rails since once they are installed, it will be much harder to do one element and not get it on the other. Also, I'm trying to preserve the beautiful purples of the insides of the oak staves while keeping the lighter outside oak color and juniper from darkening. Does the "natural" tint the wood and how much?
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    Marki · 09/21/2020
    I'm in the process of using semi-transparent stain on my cedar deck railing and it looks like I won't be able to finish two coats today (there's 65 feet of railing).

    Can I wait a day or two to put on a second coat or should I just leave it with one coat and add another coat in the spring?

    Thanks once again for all your great help.
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      RAD Products · 09/21/2020
      Has to be wet on wet so if you cannot get it on the same day, then do a second coat in Spring.
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        Marki · 09/21/2020
        thanks. If I wait til spring for the second coat will I need to do the cleaning and brightening steps again before staining?
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    Roy · 09/09/2020
    I have a new cedar deck that seems really smooth. Should I sand it with 60 or 80 grit to open up the wood before cleaning and brightening. It is 25' x 11'. Any tips for painting around metal, decorative balusters would be appreciated.
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      RAD Products · 09/09/2020
      Sanding does not open the pores but closes the pores. Wait the 3+ months, clean and brighten, and then 1 coat. Tape and use a stain pad and back wipe any excess that gets on the metal railings.
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    Liz · 09/07/2020
    I cleaned, brightened and stained one deck/stairs section in one day. The second set of stairs I cleaned/brightened but it started to rain so I had to wait to stain it. I had to sand down some rough areas. I applied stain about a week after cleaning/brightening and the second picture the grey stain is very light, more brown tones than the deck/stairs I was able to complete in one day. What did I do wrong? How can I make this match the more that looks more grey?
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      RAD Products · 09/07/2020
      it is the way the wood takes the stain that results in the final color. There is not a way to "fix" this outside of removing and starting over.
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    Krissy · 09/03/2020
    I have recently sanded a 20 year old deck down to fresh bare wood (removed 4 layers of old paint and stain). I plan to use your semi-tranparent stain. After sanding to fresh, bare wood, do you still recommend 2 coats?
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    Karen · 09/02/2020
    The new wood on my deck that was prepped after a year for restore was first power washed which I was told not to do on new wood and I asked the painter not to do it but he did applied the restore over the wet deck and it rained the next day which is today. I am very upset because I now have A wood plank with a hole and it looks like someone sanded my deck. Question: should restore have been put on a wet deck and allow rain than stain with semi transparent paint. My wood also doesn’t not have one shade. There are a lot of different shades. The deck was wet not damp.....no wait in between power washing....Looking forward to your answer.
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      RAD Products · 09/02/2020
      Post pictures.
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        RAD Products · 09/02/2020
        And what stain did you use?
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          Karen · 09/02/2020
          The semi transparent stain has not been used yet. I believe the restore needs to be put on a dry deck? I called the paint store.
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            RAD Products · 09/02/2020
            What product are you asking about? Full name and picture, please.
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              Karen · 09/02/2020
              Y painter has the full name. I think he used the cleaner will have to ask....I know he didn’t use brightner. Can’t take pictures because it’s pouring out. Painter cleaned deck yesterday with your product.
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                RAD Products · 09/02/2020
                I do not think he used our products so we cannot help without knowing for certain what he used.
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    George D · 08/29/2020
    That should have been bleach, not blew h!
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    George D · 08/29/2020
    Existing redwood is gray. New is bright pinkish w/ no treatment yet. Has been about 3 weeks since installation. Considering solid espresso. Has been cleaned w/ TSP and blew h. No mold or mildew present. Do I have to brighten, or can I just apply solid stain? If brightening is needed, can I use oxalic acid?
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    Claudia · 08/27/2020
    I am getting ready to install a new cedar fence made from rough cedar boards. I saw that rough cut wood does not need to weather. Does that apply to typical rough knotty cedar boards used for fencing? I am building the fence as part of my wrap up before renting my property and leaving the continent, so won't be here after weathering. Also, this is going to be a two sided fence on which you can only treat to the outer surfaces after installation, so I was hoping to install pretreated wood and then later only restain the outer sides. What's the best way to protect the wood I am installing?
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      RAD Products · 08/27/2020
      If it is rough sawn wood then you can stain now with no prep and prior to building the fence.
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    Pg · 08/25/2020
    Hi, I just installed kayu bato on my covered porch about a month ago. I know the wood was at the yard for at least a month before I installed it. I'm getting it sanded next week. Did I read things properly, does this mean I can stain after sanding? After sanding, do I use the cleaner then brightener before staining? The moisture content of my boards are around 10%
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 08/25/2020
      No, you cannot stain it until it weathers for 3 or more months after install and then the cleaner/brightener for prep.
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    Erin · 08/21/2020
    Another...
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    Erin · 08/20/2020
    Just finished sanding our deck then applying RAD products. Problem is my husband applied them in the wrong order. Instead of just strip then brighten, he then applied the cleaner last. Now what do we do? We were going to apply semi transparent stain but since some old stain is still showing through and since so much work has been done and we are only here at our northern MI cottage for another week, I'm being talked into just going with a solid stain. Can the stain be applied as-is, or do we need to clean/brighten again?
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    Teri L. · 08/12/2020
    I recently answered you by return email to my questions of 8/6/2020 below as I could not figure out how to upload the photos by clicking on camera. The deck photos are still on that return email. Hope you will access them. When I poured water I didn't see bubbles like in photos on the net. One of my photos shows some of the test water running with the slight slope of the deck. It had rained the previous two nights and part of the day, so the wood was not entirely dry to the touch for my test. Since then it has rained and the water has not bubbled.

    We are also in the process of replacing screws that have caused black marks. (Builders didn't sink the screws and the ceramic coating came off many of the screw heads.) We plan to use Savogran oxylic acid wood bleach on the marks, following the directions to triple rinse and then follow up with application of a solution of one tablespoon of baking soda/gallon of water because we are using a water base stain (as per directions on the container.) Then we would do the light cleaning and brightening with RAD products before restaining. Any comments or instructions concerning the black marks would be appreciated.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 08/13/2020
      The black marks are rust from the screws and those should be replaced. After replacing the screws, the brightener will help to remove the rust stains.

      You should be able to prep and stain this year.
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    Teri L. · 08/06/2020
    Last fall we stripped our cedar deck of the Behr semi-transparent stain that failed after one year. It was too late weather wise to restain at that time. This summer we used RAD cleaner and brightener to prep for restaining. This did not touch the gray that was on the wood, and which Behr said caused the peeling of their stain in some places that first winter. (Behr said that on a gray deck we should have used stripper, not cleaner - this was not in Behr instructions.) So we followed up with RAD stripper, then brightener and power washing to remove the gray. We've done quite a bit of hand sanding (60 grit) to remove fuzzies nd the white that accumulated in and around knotholes. From reading your website, because of the sanding, we were thinking that we should "lightly clean" (with half strength (?) RAD cleaner) then brighten again to open the wood pores and we'd be ready to stain with one coat this year and then next year lightly clean and brighten and do a second coat of stain. Now, I've just read your answer to a question that makes me think we may need to wait at least 3 months as for new wood. This would put us into the rainy season again. Do we need to wait? Thank you.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 08/07/2020
      Can you post some pictures and when you spill water on the wood, does it soak in right away or bead?
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    Peter D. · 08/02/2020
    Do I need to clean and brighten 2 month old rough cedar fence before staining with Natural?
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    Dave m · 07/26/2020
    I plan on using stain on a new pine fence. I love the deck cleaner. With pine should it sit awhile? Can stain be sprayed?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 07/26/2020
      If the pine is smooth you have to wait and prep. If rough sawn, then you can do right away. You can spray but back brush to ensure an even application.
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        Dave Motti · 07/26/2020
        Have to wait for posts to dry out a bit. I’ll order stain this week
        already signed up
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    gd · 07/23/2020
    im not seeing the answer to my question anywhere...so I am posting it here: how long after final coat do i need to wait before walking on the deck? 24 hrs? longer? Im in a sunny climate and deck is mostly exposed...so it will dry very quickly. Thanks
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 07/23/2020
      4-8 hours for walking.
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        gd · 07/24/2020
        thank you. One additional question: I installed the deck @18 months ago. Los Angeles. Decking is siberian larch. The sun really did a number on it, so i had to go back around and face screw many boards (originally fastened with kreg hidden fasteners). I also power sanded the whole thing with a belt sander to take out all the raised spots, etc. I was more than halfway done with the sanding when I decided to use RAD. So the questions: is this now considered "new wood"? Do I need to wait months before applying RAD? And should I do 2 coats wet on wet? Or can I proceed with cleaner/brightener and one coat now and do another in April or so (of 2021).
        • We will reply to your comment shortly
          RAD Products · 07/24/2020
          Yes, clean and brighten and then 1 coat now and another next Spring.
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            gd · 07/30/2020
            I cleaned and brightened, then stained the next morning. Looks amazing. Its now been about 32 hrs (i finished stain around noon yesterday) and parts of the deck are still sticky. They are not obvious spots where it pooled. I tried to be very diligent about brushing out excess. Anything i can do about the sticky spots? will they go away? Can i neutralize them somehow?
            • We will reply to your comment shortly
              RAD Products · 07/30/2020
              It should fully cure and dry. Just give it more time.
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    Brett J Westby · 07/21/2020
    I have 6 month old 5/4 x 4 western red cedar deck. I used your cleaner and brightener before staining with your Cedar color semi-transparent stain. I know it say only one coat on new wood but it seems a little blotchy to me. I just stained the deck a few hours ago, can I put another coat on it ti smooth out the color? If not what do you recommend? Thanks
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 07/22/2020
      No, it will not take. Leave as is and lightly clean and apply another coat in the Spring.
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    Dawn · 07/07/2020
    I have an 8 month old cedar deck that I cleaned and brightened and stained last weekend. The cleaner and brighter worked like a charm! I used one coat of the Natural Semi Transparent RAD stain after letting the deck dry 2.5 hours. I used the sponge applicator and the recommended deck brush. It went on great, however it is a very bright yellow-orange color. I wouldn't call it natural. Thinking it would tone down after it dried. I waited patiently, however, it is still very orange. I bought lots of this stain (20 gallons to be exact) to stain my entire fence as well. I'm worried that I won't be able to live with the orange color if it covers my entire yard. Is there something I can add to the stain to tone it down a bit before I stain the fence? And what about my deck? Now that the stain is on there should I strip it off and try a different color? Thanks!
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 07/07/2020
      The final color will always vary based on the wood type and age of the wood. You can strip it off the deck and do another color if you like. As for the fence, you could add some Dark Walnut into the stain to brown out the color some.
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    WHM · 07/07/2020
    I will be using the RAD Soldi Color Stain, and per above, applying two coats. Some articles indicate that a 2nd coat should be applied wet-on-wet, but not this one. Should I stain an entire deck board with a first coat and then immediately apply the 2nd coat, or wait for the 1st coat to dry?
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      RAD Products · 07/07/2020
      Not with the solid stain. The first coat must be fully dry before applying the second coat.
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    BB&R · 07/06/2020
    After prepping pressure treated lumber with Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener, how long can I delay the application of the semi-transparent stain? Rain storms are always an issue!
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    Evan · 07/06/2020
    Getting ready to stain a new pt deck (8 months old) with your semi-trans. Since the install, some splintering and such has occurred that needs sanding. Can I sand with 80 grit then clean and brighten and still expect even stain penetration? Thanks
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      RAD Products · 07/06/2020
      We would not suggest power sanding. If you want to smooth splinters, then hand sand with 60-80 grit paper.
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    Corie · 07/04/2020
    If a cedar fence is stained on both sides with RAD stain, can one side be a RAD solid color and the other side be a RAD semi-transparent color?
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      RAD Products · 07/05/2020
      No, the stain will bleed through to the other side and look unsightly if you have two different colors.
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    Rick · 07/03/2020
    Ready to order! 20 year old deck, I flipped all the boards last year to expose the “good” side and replaced 35 of them. Floating dock is 21 x 36 including 2- 2.5 c 36 sides. How much cleaner, brightener and natural stain do I need to make it happen?
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    Kimberly · 07/03/2020
    1-If we replace some of the old decking with untreated cedar boards, should we still wait 3-6 months of weathering before staining?

    2-What is the best tool to use to apply the solid stain to the deck?
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    Jerry Lane · 06/28/2020
    On Saturday I did a maintenance of Cleaner/Brightner/Semi-transparent stain on my covered deck when it was Mid 80's. 24 hours later, temp has dropped to 60, with rain forecasted for Monday, then temps are back up to mid 70's.
    #1 Will the weather affect my work?
    #2 I want to put a mat under my BBQ to protect the deck. How long should I wait?

    Thanks, JL