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
    veronica · 07/20/2020
    if I am using a staining pad to apply the semi-transparent stain, do I dip the pad into a bucket of the stain and then rub it on the wood? how do I know that I am not over-applying?
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      RAD Products · 07/21/2020
      Make sure hen applying that it fully soaks into the wood.
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    Dave c · 07/20/2020
    If you use Your solid stain Over a semi transparent stain all I have to do is pressure wash and I can’t apply damp? Isn’t this advice the opposite of everything else your website says. Please clarify since you say your product works best with damp wood that has been stripped.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 07/20/2020
      You cannot apply a solid stain over an old coating of the semi-transparent stain while the wood is damp. It would have to be dry. If you strip and brighten all of the semi-transparent off, then yes, you can apply it to damp wood.
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    Jim Abbatoy · 07/06/2020
    I didn’t know of the RADbrush when i ordered. Can a paint roller or other soft broom be used with semi-transparent?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 07/07/2020
      Not a roller or push broom. Use an exterior stain pad or regular handheld brush.
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    Insley · 07/05/2020
    I found the stripper onlyoption. Sorry.
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    Corie · 07/04/2020
    Regarding cedar decking that is weathered (18 months) and will be cleaned and brightened...do we need to apply two stain (semi-transparent) coats wet on wet? The deck is too large to do wet on wet in one day. If we can do one coat, when can we do a second coat?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 07/05/2020
      Two coats wet on wet. It cannot be wet on dry of doing two coats.
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        Corie Turner · 07/05/2020
        Thank you. If the deck is too large to do two coats wet on wet, can we do one coat and do another a few months later?
        • We will reply to your comment shortly
          RAD Products · 07/06/2020
          The size of the deck does matter when it comes to wet on wet. Just break it down into sections or have someone start applying the second coat 20-45 minutes after the first. If you end up only doing one coat, then wait until the Spring of next year to apply another.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    B Taylor · 07/04/2020
    Video of mold.
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    Insley · 07/04/2020
    Hi! I laid a new deck last summer and bought you cleaner/brightened/semi-trans dark walnut stain kit to protect the deck. Everything went smoothly until a flash storm came out of nowhere. My awning covered most of it, tarps the other parts. But some rain (a lot in some places) got through and parts of the deck have somewhat lighter spots today and it’s still tacky/damp on the deck. Is it possible
    to do a third coat since it’s still wet? Thanks.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 07/05/2020
      No, you cannot do a third coat after it dries and it will not take. Best to leave as is.
      • We will reply to your comment shortly
        Insley · 07/05/2020
        That’s what I figured. So I left it. It looks awful - when can I start the process over? Do I need to strip so that the new stain will be an even coat when I redo it?

        Thanks!
        • We will reply to your comment shortly
          RAD Products · 07/05/2020
          You would have to strip it and brighten for prep. You can do this now or later.
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            Insley · 07/05/2020
            Do I need any of the additives?
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              RAD Products · 07/05/2020
              Both would help to make the stripping easier.
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                Insley · 07/05/2020
                I’m only doing a horizontal surface. Is the gel necessary? Also, I have brightener. Is it possible to just purchase stripper?
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    Shara · 06/24/2020
    I have been told that the darker color stains actually protect the wood better from UVs. I plan to use RAD semi-transparent stain on a pressure treated pine deck. I like the natural color but am wondering if the light walnut color would give more protection since it is darker?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/24/2020
      Slightly more but not that much. You will still need to redo at the same time.
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        Shara · 06/24/2020
        OK, I'll go with my first choice, natural. Thank you very much!
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    Amanda · 06/23/2020
    We followed the directions to the letter to do a wet-on-wet application of your stain following the Stripper and Brightener, BUT the finish is not beading up when water hits it as I think it should. Our deck is a long-neglected meranti (hardwood) - it looks great, but I'm concerned that the water is still soaking in despite 2 coats of stain. Any suggestions?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/24/2020
      It is not supposed to bead water but shed water. The stain is breathable. It is correct.
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    Scott · 06/19/2020
    We did a second coating on a portion of our deck on a hot day. It is now 48 hours since application, and that portion of the deck has a shiny/blotchy appearance. I think this is "filming"/why we weren't supposed to do this. What is the solution to this? Wait a while and then start from scratch? Sand it down later? Any suggestions are appreciated.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/19/2020
      You over-applied. Leave it as is. If it starts to fail in a year or two you will have to remove and start over.
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    Danny Hawtin · 06/19/2020
    I applied my first coat last evening and it has been drying all night. Is it ok to put a light second coat on this morning?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/19/2020
      No, second coats have to go on wet on wet, not after the first coat cures. You can lightly clean and recoat in late Fall or Spring.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    isaac · 06/17/2020
    After using wooster brush for semi transparent how should i clean it?
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    isaac · 06/17/2020
    when should i use stain pad and when should i use wooster brush?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/17/2020
      Use pad for floors and brush for rails or edges of floors as needed.
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    isaac · 06/17/2020
    Can i shake the gallon semi-transparent bottle to mix? Or should i pour into 5 gallon bucket and stir first before applying?
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    isaac · 06/17/2020
    So vertical beams and spindles only one coat?
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    paul · 06/15/2020
    It rains a lot here. How soon after rain can I apply solid stain to old and new wood, how many coats, and how much cure time before next rain?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/15/2020
      4-6 hours after rain. It can be applied to a damp deck but not soaking wet. No rain for 4-8 hours after. Two coats.
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    Julie · 06/12/2020
    Pressure-treated pine decking installed June 2019. Connecting stairs with three steps installed September 2019. Untreated to date. Have RAD Cleaner, Brightener, and Semi-Transparent Stain.

    1. Okay to apply cleaner (and rinse off) in sections? What about brightener?

    2. Apply two coats stain to decking and stairs now (June 2020) or wait until September when stairs at one-year mark?

    Thanks
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/13/2020
      1. Apply cleaner and pressure wash off. You can do this in sections. When done do the brightener all at once.
      2. You can do two light coats wet on wet this Summer or in the Fall.
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    Bill R · 06/12/2020
    If we Clean and Brighten on one day, but cannot stain until the next day, do we have to do anything to the deck before staining (e.g., misting/dampening the deck before applying stain)? There's a small chance of rain the morning of the day we can stain, but the afternoon should be clear with temps in the low 70s and completely clear the day following the day we stain. We're applying the same stain we used 3 years ago. Thanks.
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    Tom · 06/12/2020
    I have a large deck >1500 s/f with railing. Can I strip and brighten one day and then stain the following day?
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    Hackett · 06/10/2020
    Purchased the RAD deck brush. Not going to use a pump sprayer to apply stain to avoid over spray to vertical areas already completed. What is best way to apply stain using brush? Stain in treat then dip deck brush?
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    Michele Jones · 06/08/2020
    I will be applying the solid color stain in the early morning to my deck before it gets hot with full sun. Will be in shade for about 6 hours before it will get full sun, is that enough time for the stain to set up properly before getting full sun??
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    Michael M. · 06/05/2020
    Have horizontal area that did not get applied properly/evenly. Used semi-transparent natural. Pressured treated pine not stained previously. Possible to just sand, clean, stain? Want to avoid stripper getting on vertical areas that are finished properly.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/06/2020
      Yes, you can do this.
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        Michael M. · 06/06/2020
        Use 60 or 80 coarse sandpaper? Okay to use small orbital sander? Would go faster and more even than by hand.
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    Sandy · 06/02/2020
    I have applied the semi-transparent stain to my floating dock. I think I would like to apply a second coat, but I have waited over 12 hours now. Can I apply the second coat anyway later.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/02/2020
      Not at this point as it has already cured. You can lightly clean and reapply another coat in 6-9 months.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Sk · 06/02/2020
    Do you think I need a stripper or is a cleaner plus brightener sufficient
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/02/2020
      Strip and brighten if switching brands of stain.
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    Jen · 06/01/2020
    Hello. For semi-transparent stain application, do you have a preference between pump sprayer or airless sprayer (with tip specific for stains)? Too much deck to stain by hand (brush/pad/roller). Based on other comments, I assume back brushing is recommend for both spray options. If airless, how much (if any) extra stain do you recommend buying? Thanks in advance.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/01/2020
      It does not matter which sprayer and they will both waste some stain when applying. About 10%.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Gary · 06/01/2020
    Can you apply stain with a pump sprayer?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 06/01/2020
      The semi-transparent yes, but you will need to back brush to ensure an even application.
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    Hackett · 05/31/2020
    I applied semi-transparent stain to balusters using pump sprayer. Although tried cover,horizontal flooring and steps have stain spray on flat areas that has dried especially where posts meet floor. Do I have to strip to finish horizontal area? If I have to strip, do I have to clean and brighten again? Deck has never been stained.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/31/2020
      Stip and then brighten.
      • We will reply to your comment shortly
        Hackett · 05/31/2020
        What is result if I just stain the entire area without stripping?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Katy · 05/30/2020
    I prepped and stained my deck last year with semi-transparent RAD. It seems like the stain got worn away in many places over the year. Do I need to strip the old stain off my deck before staining again or can I just clean and brighten before applying? How many coats should I apply?
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    Victoria Silveira · 05/30/2020
    I used the RAD cleaner and brightener last Sept and applied semitransparent stain to boards and solid stain to the top and bottom of the railing. (I was trying to do the minimum to protect the wood from the snow only). I am planning to tackle railing posts this weekend but hoping to refinish what I did last fall as well. Some areas are looking a little bit scuffed. Do I need to do the whole process again on boards and top of railing? Also, what is the best way to do cleaner and brightener on posts? Thanks!
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/30/2020
      Spray on cleaner and brightener and then lightly pressure wash off. Rinse the floors down when done and touch up the spots on the floor lightly and blend in.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Rebecca · 05/29/2020
    I power washed, stripped. Brightened my 26 year old redwood. Applied TWP100 semi transparent. Worked late into darkness and this morning am seeing areas that I missed in the vertical surface. 1.Can/ should I spot treat this morning?
    2. When it needs to be redone in a few years can I clean and brighten and apply the same stain and color over the top without stripping?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      RAD Products · 05/29/2020
      1. Yes.
      2. Yes, correct.
      • We will reply to your comment shortly
        Rebecca · 05/29/2020
        You guys rock!! Made the DIY project go better than I expected. Thanks for your great advice and quick response. If this Corona thing goes much longer I'll be tackling more projects!!