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Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Additives

by RAD Products

We are pleased to announce two new additives for the Top-Selling and Top-Rated Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper!

These products work as additives for the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper and are not effective as standalone products. They work to help remove difficult-to-remove coating brands such as:

  • Behr Semi-Transparent Acrylic (water-based) Stain
  • Thompson Semi-Transparent Acrylic (water-based) Stain
  • Super Deck Semi-Transparent Acrylic (water-based) Stain
  • Most other Semi-Transparent and Semi-Solid Stains

Note: For best results, use the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster Additive in conjunction with Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel.

Restore-A-Deck Stripper BoosterRestore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster – Up to 300% More Effective

Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster Additive is a special blend of solvents that is added to premixed 5-Gallons of the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. The Restore-A-Deck Stripper Booster will raise the effectiveness of the stain stripping up to 300% by helping to break down the surface tension of difficult-to-remove wood stain finishes.

This product works as a Booster additive for the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. For even better results, use the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Thickening Gel in conjunction with the Restore-A-Deck Stripper Booster. The Thickening Gel adds the ability to cling to vertical and horizontal surfaces for up to 1 hour.

Restore-A-Deck Booster should be used to increase the effectiveness in stripping difficult-to-remove wood and deck stain coatings. Stripper Booster improves effectiveness on removal for most exterior wood and deck finishes including:

  • Acrylic-based wood and deck coatings
  • Oil-based wood and deck coatings
  • Clear wood and deck sealers
  • Transparent wood and deck stains
  • Semi-transparent wood and deck stains
  • Semi-solid exterior wood and deck stains

Restore-A-Deck Stripper Thickening GelRestore-A-Deck Stripper Thickening Gel Additive – Clings up to 1 Hour

Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Thickening Gel is a special blend that is added to premixed 5-Gallons of the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. With a longer dwell time, Restore-A-Deck Stripper Thickening Gel will raise the effectiveness of the stain stripping by adding the ability to cling to vertical and horizontal surfaces for up to 1 hour. Works especially well on improving the performance of the stripping on vertical wood such as wood railings, wood fences, and wood sided homes.

Restore-A-Deck Thickening Gel should be used to increase the effectiveness in stripping difficult-to-remove wood and deck stain coatings. RAD Stripper Thickening Gel improves effectiveness on removal for most exterior wood and deck finishes including:

  • Increased effectiveness for vertical surfaces such as railings, wood siding, log homes, and wood fences
  • Longer dwell time for horizontal and decking surfaces
  • Clings to wood for up to 1 hour

If you have any questions on these two additives, please ask below in our comment area.

RAD Paint Strip 5 GallonImportant Note: Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper may not fully remove Solid Color Wood Stains, Paints, Varnishes, and Excessively Over-Applied Acrylic Semi-Transparent and Semi-Solid Coatings. To remove these deck and wood stain types, use the RAD Paint & Solid Stain Stripper

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Jeff
Jeff
1 year ago

Does this work on TWP stained wood?

pete martel
pete martel
1 year ago

what product besides the restore a deck stripper should i use ?  the thickening gel additive or the booster) to get CETOL Sikkens off of my log home    Please respond asap as i want to start this product immediately. thank you so much as i am so praying this product will work..
pete

Beth
Beth
1 year ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Thanks.  The vast majority of the old finish isn’t shiny.  It looks like this after the first cleaning – not shiny but chunky & brittle .  Does that change your recommendation?  Also, the siding is rough sawn, so we don’t want to create smooth patches, although we can still sand the shiny patches to roughen them.

Beth
Beth
1 year ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Great! Any impact to ground water with this combo?

Beth
Beth
1 year ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Fantastic! Thank you for your prompt and thoughtful advice! 

Carolyn Hassan
Carolyn Hassan
1 year ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Darn. Is that doable for two not so handy people? Do we have to sand banister and top of banister too?

What about our side deck? Can we do semi transparent here? Or what would you suggest? Feels super brittle but In okay shape. Thank you!!

Carolyn Hassan
Carolyn Hassan
1 year ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Awesome. It would be —> strip, clean and brighten for this side deck as the current stain isn’t opaque, correct?

Stacey
Stacey
1 year ago

We are getting ready to stain a newly resurfaced deck. The frame and posts were previously stained multiple times. We’re not sure what kind was used. Will the stripper work or should we just sand? Do we need to also use the gel or booster if we use the stripper? Thanks!

Dan Zimmerman
Dan Zimmerman
1 year ago

We have a deck with pressure treated pine, about 10 years old and has been treated with Olympic Maximum clear sealant at least 3 times.  I am interested in switching to RAD Natural Semi Transparent.  Will I need the Stripper + Brightner + RAD Semi Transp combo.  Other suggestions or helps? 

Aubrey Whitley
Aubrey Whitley
2 years ago

I have a western red cedar pergola. It was originally stained with Duckback Superdeck. The oil based version before Sherman Williams purchased them. I’ve cleaned and brightened with a pressure washer. A couple of the vertical surfaces that are not as exposed to the weather still have some old stain on them. I plan on using your stripper and thickening gel. Do I need the booster or just mix the stripper at a higher concentration? Here’s a couple of pics. In the 1st one the left side is stain free. The right side under the eves still has stain.

Ed Kilgallon
Ed Kilgallon
2 years ago

I’ve used your products for years but now, with a new home and a larger deck, I decided to hire someone to prep the deck for staining. The attached pictures are the result of two attempts to remove the previous stain with what they said was a bleach based stain remover.  As you can see, it wasn’t effective. I’m assuming I would have much better results with your stripper products but would like your opinion in case I am missing something. 

Ed Kilgallon
Ed Kilgallon
2 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Darn. Thanks for the quick reply. Would I have to use the same color or can I apply another given the type of stain?

Ed Kilgallon
Ed Kilgallon
2 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Sorry, I’m a little confused. Do you mean I can or a not apply a solid stain?

Bill
Bill
2 years ago

I live in Florida and have a large pergola that has multiple coats of stain that need to be stripped off. The sun just tears up the stains and wood and I want to give it the best protection. 90+% of the surfaces are vertical. I want to take off all the old stain and start over. This will be a challenging job for this 73 yr old. What do you recommend.

Bill
Bill
2 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Here are some pictures

Bill
Bill
2 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Thank you.  I appears that brown would be the best matching color.  Is it possible to stain with Cypress and have it cover well?  There are also a couple of beams in the front and a few rafters that were replaced last week with PT.  Will those boards match with the older boards once stained?  Can the opaque stain be effectively applied with a sprayer and after the stain has dried/cured will it be effected by insect killing sprays?

Thomas Kirk
Thomas Kirk
2 years ago

Deck was previously stained with Behr Semi-transparent Wood Stain and Sealer in One.  Do you recommend using your RAD stripper and brightener to remove it before applying a different semi-transparent stain?  Any other suggestions or watch outs?  Thank you!

Bob
Bob
2 years ago

I have a 4 year old deck stained with Behr Premium semi transparent redwood stain.  It’s peeling in a few spots.  Later, I discovered RAD and used it on my wood fence which looks much better.   How do I get all of the Behr stain off my deck?  Or is it impossible?

Ron
Ron
2 years ago

If I have a cedar deck that is 20 years old  with a few solid stains application, what products should I use. From reading the thread it seems that stripper is not going to remove all of the old solid stain unless sanded. I will be using a solid stain again. So should I use stripper or just cleaner? Do I need any additive or the boaster? Do I need brightener? How long does it take to ship to Michigan?

Mike G
Mike G
2 years ago

So I have a semi-solid Cabot deck stain to remove. Being told to sand it off that gel products will “make a mess”. Willing to try your product if you feel it will work.  Please give me your fiduciary response and I will follow it. Thank you

Mike G
Mike G
2 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Photos as requested – thank you so much

Mike G
Mike G
2 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Thank you!

Avatar photo
2 years ago

I’m refinishing a one year old cedar deck where Ready Seal was applied incorrectly (product was not mixed well before application) the second coat (applied shortly after and mixed well) restored proper color but a few months later, resulted in peeling, blotchiness due to it not penetrating and rather, just drying on the surface. The deck has been cleaned of most of the second, failed coat but I’m worried a new coat won’t penetrate due to any sealer still present in the wood. Will the RAD stripper along with booster work to remedy this prior to re stain/sealing? If not, would you have any recommendations?

Mark
Mark
3 years ago

Is this safe to use on stained teak? I’m trying to get the stain our and go back to natural teak.

Rich
Rich
3 years ago

I used “Seal Once Exotic” deck sealer on my new garapa deck and it absorbed non-uniformly into the wood and now I have a blotchy mess. I need to remove it and refinish the wood, so what stripper product do you recommend?

Richard Abrams
Richard Abrams
3 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

That’s not good news for me…. Where it absorbed, it’s tenacious. I used your 2 part Restore a Deck another time and it worked great. Is that what you suggest to try or is it another of your products that might have the best shot of removing the sealer?

roicarl
roicarl
3 years ago
Reply to  Richard Abrams

Have you tried stripping discs? Am researching for my deck project this summer and am considering using these after I do the Restore-A-Deck products.

Xiomara
Xiomara
3 years ago

Will RAD stripper remove Ready Seal semi-transparent stain oil based from vinyl sliding and concrete from overspraying of a deck?” .

Xiomara
Xiomara
3 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Thank you.

Jessica
Jessica
3 years ago

We have painted railings. I am sanding 98% of the paint off. On the hard to reach spots will the stripper additive help get off white paint remnants?

Holger
Holger
3 years ago

I have a cedar deck which was stained about three years ago (deck is about 4 years old). The stain is an oil based product (Olympic Maximum) and starts to flake/peel. According to your calculator I have 720 sq. ft. of surface area (deck and railing).

I was considering the Restore-A-Deck Stripper/Brightener Kit, is that what you would recommend? Do I also need the additives? How much do I need?

Many thanks in advance!

Holger
Holger
3 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

I had to wait for a break in the rain – attached two pictures. Thank you!

Shane
Shane
3 years ago

Will this remove a solid color latex deck stain that has aged for a few years?

Shane
Shane
3 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

So is there any sense in applying the cleaner or brightener prior to applying a solid stain? Or can I just stain it after sanding? Also, can I cover a dark stain with your lighter gray solid stain?

Shane
Shane
3 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Isn’t the brightener required to neutralize the stripper? Or are you just saying sand and strip without chemicals?

David
David
3 years ago

Our deck had Sherwin Williams Semi-Transparent applied 4 years ago but it looks more like solid. It is starting to peel up (see pic) and I’m going to switch to RAD solid in a different color. If I don’t strip it completely before applying will it be very noticeable/uneven where the old stain has come off? Would it be more durable if it were stripped before applying RAD? Trying to figure how much effort to put in. Thanks!

David
David
3 years ago
Reply to  RAD Products

Thanks! Does brightener still need to be used after cleaner with this solid(ish) stain in place?

Ray
Ray
3 years ago

I am finishing building a new fence, which I understand will need to set for a year prior to prepping. The posts are treated douglas fir, which I have already heavily sanded; the rest of the wood is cedar wood.

Should I start with using the RAD Cleaner, and then use the RAD stripper with enhancer and thickening gel additive on the posts only to lighten them up? Then use the RAD brightener to finish.

Can I do these steps sequentially without waiting for anything to dry? Of course, I know it will need to dry well before applying the stain.

Thanks!

Gary RJ
Gary RJ
3 years ago

RAD confirmed previously that I should strip my deck before re-staining. Can I use the Chapin cleaner and stain sprayer for your stripper and additives? Is there an alternative to spraying the stripper products? I don’t have easy access to a pressure washer, do I need one to clean off the stripper and additives? What is best way to rinse off the brightener? I will be ordering the stripper, additives and brightener today. How long before I get them? Thank you

Teri
Teri
4 years ago

We plan to use the RAD Stain Stripper Booster and the RAD Thickening Gel to remove failed Behr Semi-Transparent Stain. Can we mix all the products only in the amount that we expect will be needed for our 300 square foot deck and store the remaining portions of dry stripper powder and unmixed booster and thickening gel for future use? What are the shelf lives of the unmixed products?

Harvey
Harvey
4 years ago

Can rad stripper with additives (including gel thickener) still be applied using garden sprayer? Special nozzle neede?

Karen
Karen
4 years ago

Hello! My question is on whatprep products and techniques to use if I am going to switch to your brand in the solid formula? The deck has had several Wolman products applied in the past, but not sure if semi transparent or solid. Does it make a difference in how I prep if it was one versus the other, given that I am going to be applying the RAD Solid?

Chris
Chris
4 years ago

P.S. My remaining (unstained) cedar posts are about same color as untreated railings and I am really hoping to keep the same natural color when I do stain.

Chris
Chris
4 years ago

I have a new (6 mos) mixed-wood deck: railing is pine, posts are cedar. Last week I applied Sikkens/PPG ProLuxe Cetol SRD, 1-coat, transparent matte stain in Bitternut color. Says it’s high-solids alkyd-oil formula. It came out MUCH darker than expected and with spotty sheen, so I’m thinking my handyman over applied the stain in multiple coats. Sunny & hot TX weather, but under 90 since. Will your stripper remove such a new, heavily applied stain? Only a portion of the deck was done, and now I’m totally stuck! Thanks.

Chris
Chris
4 years ago

I already have a deck brightener (different brand) to restore PH balance. Can I use that, or is there something proprietary in your deck brightener and therefore must be used with your stripper?

Christian Wyman
Christian Wyman
4 years ago

I have an 20 yr old deck with several coats of Olympic Solid Stain on it. I have tried several other stripper products with partial success. Will your product stripper with the added booster and thickening gel be effective at removing solid color deck stain?

Peter Broadmore
Peter Broadmore
4 years ago

Can RAD Stripper be applied in warm, sunny conditions?

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