Restore A Deck Staining BrushHow to Apply Restore-A Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain with wet on wet application

Applying your Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain easily to exterior wood is a reality thanks to advancements in wood stain technology. It should be noted that there is a technique for applying to exterior wood for best results. This is called wet on wet application. Following this wet on wet application guideline is recommended when you wish to apply a second coat of stain on top of your first coat of stain before the first coat has completely dried or cured. This allows for fewer issues to arise over the drying period for a perfect, clean, finished product.

 

Our recommended guidelines for wet on wet stain application:

  • Always properly prep your wood surface first with Restore-A-Deck Cleaner or Restore-A-Deck Stripper followed by Restore-A-Deck Brightener.
  • Hot sun application tips: Restore-A-Deck Stain Hot Sun Application
  • Start with vertical surfaces first, such as railings. Make sure horizontal and other surfaces are protected from excess paint. After the first coat is complete, apply a light second coat to the top of the railing only between 20 minutes to 1 hour after the first coat has been applied.
  • Repeat this process for all benches or vertical structures.
  • Once all vertical surfaces are stained, apply one coat of Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain to flooring and horizontal surfaces, ensuring the entire floor is covered.
  • Reapply a second light coat 20 minutes to an hour after the first coat has been applied to all flooring and horizontal areas.
  • Note that it is ok to walk on the first coat of stain even if it has not dried completely, but take precautions to not step in your second coat of stain to ensure a smooth finish.

Some final tips:

  • Only apply 1 coat to new wood. Skip the second coat, you won’t need it. See here for tips on new wood: Restore-A-Deck Stain and New Wood
  • Wear shoes and clothes you do not care about getting the stain on. It’s bound to happen.
  • Apply the coats quickly to ensure you are not overlapping
  • Only apply 1 overall coat to vertical surfaces while horizontal surfaces may require 2
  • Avoid excessive application, filming of the stain may occur
  • It is recommended to use the Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Stain with the Restore-A-Deck Stain Brush, stain pad applicator, brush, or sprayer. If using the Restore-A-Deck Solid Stain, use a hand brush, roller, or airless sprayer.

If you need Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain application help, feel free to post a comment. If you have any suggestions or tips we are not mentioning, we want to hear from you. Leave a review including pictures of your finished product and indicate how well the project has been holding up over time.

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  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    robert otteni · 05/22/2020
    I am a deck service provider but I have never used this product. I am planning on using this on a cedar deck. We sand the deck to prep it. Can I apply on to the sanded deck without using any other chemical treatments.
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      RAD Products · 05/22/2020
      No, it should be cleaned and brightened after so the stain can soak in better.
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        robert Otteni · 05/22/2020
        When I sand the deck area it is very clean and bright already. We sand with a 20 then 40 then 60 grit sand paper.I then vacuum and blow off any dust. I then apply the stain to a clean deck. Are you saying that I then need to apply a chemical treatment before I apply the stain even after all this sanding
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    Crystal · 05/21/2020
    This is light walnut. Sorry I left that out. That was so important when I was searching photos and trying to choose
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    Crystal · 05/21/2020
    I am in love with this stain. The color is gorgeous on our pressure treated deck that’s 7 years old. We have been staining a deck since 1993 and have only had one stain we liked as well, and it’s discontinued. Other than the fact that I have a tiny portion of a board that didn’t take the stain, and I ordered way too much, the whole experience was a pleasant one and we are so glad we went with this brand. I hope I can say the same in a couple of years when it has had a chance to wear. I have some trim inside the pool yet to do when the water warms.
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    Joe · 05/17/2020
    When applying to a pine wood decking that is 4 years old and has never been stained, does the wood have to be dry after washing it or can the 1st coat of stain be applied with the wood still wet from being washed and brightened?
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    Joe · 05/17/2020
    Can a roller be used for the semi-transparent stain? If yes, what type of knap?
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      RAD Products · 05/17/2020
      No, use a stain pad or brush. Rollers do not work very well.
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    Bill · 05/16/2020
    If I just stained my deck 3 and a half hours ago and looks pretty dry but I think it needs a second coat is it to late at this point ?
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    Jenny · 05/15/2020
    We have two separate decks both have been power washed and prepped. The upper deck is maybe ten years old and was previously stained. Should we do one coat or two? Should we use a wet on wet technique? Do you use this wet on wet technique on railings? The lower deck is three years old but has never been stained? How many coats and what technique? Rain is predicted many nights how long should the stain be on before it is ok to be rained on?
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      RAD Products · 05/16/2020
      Did you remove all previous stain for the upper deck? You will have to if you want to use the RAD semi-transparent stain. Two coats for both decks. Wet on wet application. No rain for 6-8 hours after applying.
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    B Taylor · 05/13/2020
    I prepped my older deck by sanding it first to remove the fuzzies. While I used 60 and 80 grit in most areas, I used 36, 40, and 50 grit in the more difficult areas before applying the semi-transparent stain. I was reading today that it should only be 60-80 grit. Not sure how I missed this. I only put one coat of semi-transparent stain and it looks okay. I can see some of the sanding marks. Do you think I will need to re-sand it? It’s a huge deck 12 x 36. How soon can I add another coat?

    In the process, I sanded some of the fastener screws. And now the wood has become discolored due to the corrosion. Will that be an issue?

    Last question, on two other smaller decks, after sanding those, I did the wet on wet application. And again I read today, after sanding only coat once. Is this a matter of wait and see? One deck looks perfect, the other one it was getting dark outside so there is some overlap in a few small areas. Can I spot sand the overlap and re-stain the whole deck with another coat, and if so, how soon?

    Thanks so much. At least I’m getting good deck experience! I’ve been very happy with the RAD product.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/14/2020
      No need to resand. You may want to replace the screws that you sanded as that will turn into black rust spots. Wait and see on the other decks. You cannot spot fix the overlaps. You cannot add another coat on top once it has dried right now. You can in 9-12 months.
      • We will reply to your comment shortly
        B Taylor · 05/14/2020
        Thank you so much. Unfortunately I already have black rust spots. The deck is quite large. Do I sand the black spots out and then replace the screws? And do I need to strip the deck and start over? Or since there’s only one coat on it, can I spot sand the dark spots and apply wet method in 9-12 months?

        Or do I not worry about the black spots? Will they harm the finish or wood? Or cause the stain to fail?

        I used a Bosch belt sander to sand due to improper stain project previously and then fuzzies.

        Thank you so much.
        • We will reply to your comment shortly
          RAD Products · 05/14/2020
          You will not be able to fix the spots unless you strip it all down and then brightens the wood. Might want to wait until next time. I would not worry about them. They will not cause any issues.
          • We will reply to your comment shortly
            B Taylor · 05/14/2020
            Thank you so much! I appreciate it. I’m going to replace the screws that have not caused an issue yet, and not worry about the rest and see what it looks like next year!
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              robert otteni · 05/22/2020
              Before I sand a deck the first thing I do is to check the screws for height. They should be below the surface to be sanded. Sanding will lower the overall thickness of the deck board. The screws are galvanized coated and sanding removes the coating and thus the rusty screws you may have.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    B Taylor · 05/13/2020
    I’ve stained my deck using the RAD semi-transparent in natural. Can I change it to light walnut, or must I strip it first?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/14/2020
      It would be best to strip it fort to ensure an even coverage.
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    Matt · 05/12/2020
    Do you have to do wet on wet application for both semi-transparent and solid stains? Or can I just do two solid stain coats at my leisure without having to worry about overlap marks?
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      RAD Products · 05/13/2020
      Not solid stains. The second coat goes on after the first coat fully dries for solid stains.
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    Sandy S · 05/12/2020
    I have sanded the whole boat house area to get all the old stain off that soaked into the old wood. The stripper did not work and caused the old wood to open up and had to sand it anyway. I am ready to stain. I am using a brush and a staining pad. The old wood, in parts, is very ruff so a pad would catch. I was going to apply with a brush and wipe with the pad. Is this OK.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/12/2020
      Just one coat for sanded wood. No need to back wipe, just apply one coat evenly.
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    RJJR · 05/12/2020
    Good morning, I bought two glider benches made of pine. It’s not treated. Can I use your stain on this as a protectant? I’d like to use the same volt I put on the deck. They’ll sit on a patio next to the deck and think the colors will go well. Thanks
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    Russell · 05/12/2020
    My deck had some Lowe's junk applied last time (I will never do that again, used TWP in the past and it was great!). I used the combo stain stripper with booster added and then the brightener. I probably did too much work than needed as I pressure washed it clean first, but anyway. The stuff worked really good but there are some small dots left over on a few boards. While I was waiting for it to dry I sanded a couple spots and that did the trick. So being the perfectionist that I am, I decided to sand the whole thing. I am doing that tomorrow (washed it on Saturday btw). I have a few questions though. After I sand it I have read I just sweep, vac and then use a "tack" cloth. I was going to use a plain microfiber for the tack cloth since I bought the water based stuff. Can I just skip that and rinse it down real good since this stuff is water based and I read on one site that it actually absorbs the this stain better when damp? I plan on using a stain pad to apply. I am kind of nervous about this and I do have a pump sprayer. Will the results from them be the same? I just think spraying might be easier and faster and less room for messing it up. I have spent a lot of time already so I dont mind if that is the best route. Please let me know.....thanks!
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/12/2020
      Sanding reduces the stain's ability to soak in. You should let it sit for 1-2 months now and then clean and brighter for final prep. Also only one coat of stain after sanding. Applying to damp wood later is okay and use a stain pad.
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    Tom · 05/11/2020
    I have a few questions. First, I have a solid stain on my 1000 sq ft pressure treated pine that has solid chocolate brown Coronado Maxum stain. I am sanding down to the bare wood. I read that I should treat this as new wood and use only one coat. How long should I wait before staining with your semi transparent. New wood is supposed to weather several months before staining but I also read in one reply to wait one month after wood has sanded to bare wood to stain. I'm not sure which way to go with this. Second, my 700 sq ft deck skirting is solid board with the same solid stain. I want to do a two tone scheme with the verticals stained using your solid white stain. Some of the current stain is flaking and pealing but by and large most of the stain has remained well adhered to the boards. Can I get away with sanding off the lose stain and applying over top of the existing stain? Lastly, some of my railing posts have checked and I want to know if I can use painters caulk to fill the cracks and cover with the solid stain? Thanks!
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/11/2020
      1-2 months is okay and then clean and brighten for prep. Just one coat. Yes on sanding the loose stain and then applying the solid stain. As long as the caulk is paintable, you should be okay.
      • We will reply to your comment shortly
        Tom · 05/12/2020
        What about using painters caulk to fill some cracks in the vertical posts before staining with our white solid stain? I didn't get a reply to that question. Can I use that?
        • We will reply to your comment shortly
          RAD Products · 05/12/2020
          Yes, we replied to that. See above.

          "As long as the caulk is paintable, you should be okay."
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    Joe Thompson · 05/10/2020
    Looks like only one pic came through. Trying to send more here.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Joe Thompson · 05/10/2020
    Hello, okay, sending some pics. All wood you see is old. I power washed all wood you see over the past few days. I plan on using your semi transparent stain on all wood you see, even what is up under the roofing. Do you think this will work out, be okay, to stain all of it? Secondly, your brush sounds good for the flooring, but could I use a roller or regular paint brush on the non flooring pieces as it seems like that might give me better control? Thanks a lot for your time and feedback.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/10/2020
      You should clean and brighten the wood for final prep. You can stain all wood. Do not use a roller. Stain pads and brushes are best.
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    Sandra S · 04/29/2020
    I have a 20x10 foot floating dock. I will be staining it in the hot sun. I live in Florida, so it gets hot. If I mist the whole dock, it might be dry before I get to the rest of it. Can I use a spray bottle mister to re-wet the area that might dry. Is it alright to apply with a large paint brush?
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    Brian Q · 04/29/2020
    In regards to my sanding question: I will be staining with RAD light walnut stain.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Brian Q · 04/29/2020
    I used RAD stripper and brightener today. There are a few rough railing/fence areas that I want to lightly sand with 60 grit. Is it OK to lightly sand and then stain without stripping/brightening again?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 04/29/2020
      Hand sand to remove splinters, not power sanding as they could lead to uneven application.
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    Clarence · 04/20/2020
    Can I strip just the six boards and restain them now?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 04/20/2020
      It is not possible to spot strip boards. You could sand it off. Use 60 grit.
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    Clarence · 04/20/2020
    I did the wet on wet application and accidentally second coated only half the length of six adjacent boards. Naturally this is right in the middle of the deck and is very noticeable. What can I do to correct this?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 04/20/2020
      You cannot spot fx this after it has dried. Sorry.
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    Sandra Stubbs · 04/07/2020
    I have a floating dock 10X20 ft. I have stained it before and the stain peeled or faded. I have pressure washed the wood and sanded, but some stain still remains. I like the semi-transparent stain. My dock is 300 ft out in the water. I have a lot of work. What do you suggest?
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    Kami · 03/14/2020
    What kind of hand brush is recommended for applying semi-transparent stain to horizontal deck boards? Thank you! (I forgot to order the deck stain brush when I placed my order, and I don't want to wait on shipping.)
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 03/14/2020
      Use a stain pad not a brush. Any brand will do.
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    Ildiko · 11/02/2019
    My 8 yr old redwood deck previously had a solid stain on it that was badly flaking, so I completely sanded the deck down to bare wood. I do not see it anywhere in your tips about sanded wood whether I should I treat sanded wood as new wood. Should I do 1 or 2 coats for semi-transparent stain on this deck?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 11/02/2019
      One coat. Make sure to use the RAD Cleaner and the RAD Brightener for the final prep.
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    Scott · 10/21/2019
    Can you use an airless sprayer to apply the Semi-Transparent Stain?
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    Russ · 10/21/2019
    Just some clarification needed with respect to number of coats on vertical surfaces.

    In your recommended guidelines it says:

    "Start with vertical surfaces first, such as railings. Make sure horizontal and other surfaces are protected from excess paint. After the first coat is complete, apply a light second coat to the top of the railing only between 20 minutes to 1 hour after the first coat has been applied."

    Then in Final Tips it says:

    "Only apply 1 overall coat to vertical surfaces while horizontal surfaces may require 2."

    So is 1 coat on vertical surfaces typically enough (after cleaning and brightening of course)? Thanks!
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Antony k · 09/29/2019
    I stained my deck using the Restore-A Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain with wet on wet application.
    I finished staining 3pm with temperature of 68 -70 degrees F. I live in Toronto Canada and unfortunately the weather forecast was not accurate and by 7pm it started to rain. I was heartbroken.
    1)- What's the damage done?
    2)- What do I next.
    Please help.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 09/29/2019
      It is probably okay but best to address the situation after the rain stops and dries off the wood.
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    Chris D · 09/23/2019
    I have a 20x20 foot cedar deck which we just pressure washed the prior Cabot stain (deck is 1 year old) how much stain would I need to purchase? We just had two days of hard rain and are due to get more in two days or so. How wet can the boards be in order to apply, the reviews I've read said your product can be applied to damp wood?
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    FredR · 09/22/2019
    I only need to do the deck railing - The floor is Trex. I measured 320 square feet (160 on each side). The deck is at least 15 years old and I need to strip semi transparent stain. From the explanation above, I only need one coat for the rails, but 2 for the top of the railing? how many gallons do I need?

    Also the top of the railing has no stain left. Can I use the stripper there too to make it easier or do I need to have cleaner for the top and stripper for the rails?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 09/23/2019
      Strip all is fine. About 2-3 gallons should work.
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    RJ · 09/22/2019
    What is the best product to remove dried stain from vinyl siding?