Restore-A-Deck Stain and Prep on the Same Day!
Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain is an advanced, water-based, semi-transparent stain formulation designed to penetrate deep into wood pores for maximum protection and longevity. Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain protects wood from harmful UV rays and damage caused by water penetration. Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain is safe to use, has a low odor, and is easy to clean up with soap and water. It is ideal for all wood types including pressure-treated pine, cedar, fir, or redwood.
Recent advancements in water-based wood stain technology have allowed the active ingredients in the Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Stain to offer better UV protection, excellent penetration into the wood grain, the ability to apply to damp wood, all in 5 beautiful semi-transparent colors that highlight the natural wood grain.
RAD Semi-Transparent Wood and Deck Stain will increase the life, appearance, and durability of all exterior wood surfaces. With the easy-to-apply and maintain Eco-Safe formula, you’ll be able to finish faster and enjoy your exterior wood or deck for years.
WHERE TO USE
Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Wood Stain is intended for all wood types of weathered, exterior wood surfaces including decks, fences, siding, outdoor furniture, gazebos, and playsets. You can apply Restore-A-Deck Premium Wood Stain to hardwoods including mahogany, ipe, or other types of exotic hardwoods.
Restore-A-Deck Semi-Transparent Wood 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 Semi-Transparent Wood 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 Deck Stain applies at about 100-200 feet per gallon. Actual coverage varies depending on wood porosity.
Restore A Deck Stain Application Tips
- Applying RAD Stain Wet on Wet 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
ADVANTAGES
- Stain the same day as the prep!
- Utilizing the latest advancements in water-based stain technology
- Cost-effective stain and sealer for your wood
- Deep penetration into the wood grain resulting in less chance of wear and tear
- Protects wood from damaging UV oxidation and graying
- Available in 4 beautiful semi-transparent finishes – Natural, Cedar, Light Walnut, & Dark Walnut
- For use on all exterior wood types and surfaces, not just decks
- Eco-Safe
- Dries to a flat, natural-looking finish
- Water-based, easy cleanup
- Easy to reapply as needed
- Easy to remove if needed
- Does not promote mold/mildew growth
- Low VOC content, compliant with all US states and Canada
AVAILABLE SEMI-TRANSPARENT COLORS:
NATURAL, CEDAR, LIGHT WALNUT, DARK WALNUT, COTTAGE 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.
Hi there, looking for some advice as I asked my husband to buff out some areas that had raised wood fibers from power washing and instead he used a sander so now the deck looks like this. How should we proceed? Should i have him sand the entire deck now so its the same color? If so, what grit number? We will be staining with RAD light walnut. Thanks!
Yes, you will need to sand all wood evenly with 60-80 grit and then final prep with the wood brightener to open the wood pores after sanding. Only 1 coat of the stain when you sand.
I cleaned, brightened, and started to to stain my deck. Now it is raining and I won’t be able to finish it for 2 days. Is there any recommendation about dealing with the “line” between the stain I initially applied and the stain I am going to apply now?
You will not be able to blend if you stopped in the middle of any boards. If you stopped at exactly the edge of one deck board, you should be fine to proceed as long as you do not overlap.
Last year, I power sanded the entire deck, applied the cleaner, then the brightener, and finally applied your RAD semi-transparent stain product. Followed directions and only did 1 coat. The deck looks great but I’m noticing a bit of a lighter hue on the ends of the deck that get pelted by rain. I’m assuming the proper process of applying a 2nd coat is to clean the deck with restore-a-deck cleaner, and then apply a coat of semi-transparent stain. I read in one of the posts that you had recommended using the brightener, but in other posts it was recommended to only clean and then apply the stain. What is the proper process? Thank you! Love your products!
Using the Brightener is typically needed to neutralize after using the Cleaner.
hello! we have stripped our deck to remove a previous dark stain color that was damaged. The wood coloring beneath is uneven. Some areas are bright and some areas are much darker and uneven in texture. What can i do to even the color of the wood prior to staining?
Also, do you think the light walnut semi transparent color would look well here? I believe the wood is pine. Ty!
Did you brighten the deck after stripping? Light Walnut would work here.
We did not brighten. We power-washed it and then used a stain stripping solution. There is still some stubborn stain left. How would you recommend removing it? Using more stripping solution or power-washing or both? Or sanding ?
Once all of the prior stain is gone, this it sounds like I should use a brightener. We also have raised attached fibers in some areas and i read from a previous post that those should be sanded-buffed out. Thanks for the guidance
You must brighten after stripping to neutralize and restore the pH balance. To redo, use this kit:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
thank you. how many gallons of stain do I need to purchase for a space that is 8.5 feet by 19 feet? 2 coats of light walnut
2 gallons.
Thank you will do. Can you advise on how much semi-transparent stain I will need to buy? 19×8 feet deck
Cottage Gray Semi Transparent stain applied to tongue & groove beetle kill/blue stain pine patio ceiling. Truly sheer, truly one coat with easy cleanup & adequately water-proofed. Is this likely to quickly sun fade in window skylights? A second test coat became much more opaque…
It will be fine and do not add more after the first coat has cured.
Does this deck need to have the stripper applied to it.
Yes, strip and brighten for prep.
Does this deck need the stain stripper applied to it.
its not perfect but looks much better. I ordered 3 gallons of semi transparent cedar stain (app 250 sq ft of deck space) and need only 1 1/2 gallons for 2 coats. Picture was taken right after I applied the second coat so may look a little uneven in spots. Overall, happy.
What is the shelf life of RAD stain?
12 months if opened. 36 months unopened. Cannot freeze.
I used cleaner & brightener and brushed my redwood deck. Then I found that the fiber was brushed off from the wood and curled on the surface. Do I need to sand the wood before staining or the stain can cover it up?
Thank you.
If wood fibers/pulp are on your wood, then you should wash it off first before staining.
The fiber is partially connected to the wood. I tried washing it off and scrubbing it off with my hand, but it didn’t work. It looks like the only way to remove it is sanding.
The other question. In how many days do I need to stain the deck after cleaning and brightening? I have finished step 1 and step 2, but didn’t have time to finish staining on the weekend. Can I do it next on next weekend?
Thank you.
You can sand or buff off the raised wood fibers. Stain within 2 weeks of prep.
I have another question.
Do I need to remove the sap on the wood before staining?
Thank you.
If you have sap then it will show through the stain so up to you if you want to remove it or not.
Is it necessary to let new wood age for 3-6 months if it is for a covered patio ceiling (not a surface exposed to elements)?
Yes, and prep. You need the mill glazed removed, etc.
Hi there,
I had RAD cedar stain on my deck now. I wouldn’t say it’s peeling, but it could use a reapplication. Do I need to sand the deck again if I use the same RAD cedar stain? Pressure wash?
Thanks!
Solid stain?
Thanks for the reply. What’s on the deck now is RAD semi-transparent cedar colour. I’d be putting the same thing on.
Use RAD Cleaner and then the RAD Brightener for prep for reapplying.
I goofed up and misread the directions about applying the second coat. I applied the 2nd coat to all surfaces with an hour of applying the first coat but after the first coat was dry to the touch. There is minimal tackiness and all surfaces have a light gloss sheen. How bad of a mistake did I make and what will the short and long term consequences be?
Hard to say but it should be fine.
Can a second coat be applied the next day?
No. It has to be wet on wet if applying a second coat otherwise you would need to wait 6-12 months and prep to recoat.
Is there any way to even the dark and light areas?
Looks like uneven application. Try applying a very light coat to all the wood. You cannot spot-apply.
What color was that supposed to be out of curiosity? Thanks!
Cottage Gray
I have a yardistry gazebo that came pre-stained. I’m seeing white marks bleeding through the stain in some areas. I’m thinking the best product to use to refinish is the Restore-a-deck natural semi-transparent. See pics. What procedure should I use to restore finish close to original and how should I apply this product?
Strip and brighten for prep and then you can stain it with the RAD Stains.
Do you think any sanding will be required or will the stripper remove the white residue?
Maybe, hard to say.
About 4 months ago I stripped the stain off of my 5 year old deck. I’m just now getting back to work it and currently in the process of sanding the gray and fuzzy off. Will I still need to use a brighter after sanding? Also I live in south Alabama and wanted to ask if your stain holds up in extreme heat?
Yes, you need to brighten again. Works very well in Alabama.
Great, thank you.
How long should the stain dry before it can handle foot traffic and have deck furniture placed on it? Also, since I live in SE Michigan, do you have a Bloomfield Hills showroom for purchasing stain and supplies? I may need more stain quickly, and the none of the dealers listed in your dealer locator link at the top of your page carries Restore-A-Deck stain.
24 Hours. You can come into our store. M-F, 8am to 5pm
Thanks! And I did indeed visit your store this morning and picked up the extra stain and two brushes that I needed!
Just stained the house with your Cedar stain and we LOVE the color! We want to pick up a gallon for future touch ups. Is there a batch number we should use to get a consistant color? I saw a label on the top of the five gallon bucket with a number and thought it may be the batch. We couldn’t be happier with your products. The stripper took 30+ years of layered stain off in the first pass!
The color is consistent between batches so no need.
Fantastic! Thank you!!
Just sanded solid stain off of my deck using 40 grit sandpaper on a belt sander. I plan on using a semi-transparent stain after cleaning and brightening. Should I do one or two coats of the stain?
Typically just one coat if you power-sanded the wood.
My deck (pressure treated lumber) was stained with Earthpaint MOUNTAIN XT stain (oil based) about 6 years ago. Can I strip the stain, brighten and then apply this product? Also do you sell samples for testing the color?
Post pics in comments for prep advice.
samples: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-stain-samples.html
I have a large deck that is over 1600 sqft. Most is exposed but about 400 sqft is covered. After heavy power washing, the exposed past is pretty well stripped. The covered portion has not been power washed yet and still is stained. I suspect power washing that section will only partially strip the stain.
Use the RAD Stain stripper with both additives and pressure wash. Brightener last.
So no issue using water based stain on a deck that was previously stained with an oil base (cashew) stain?
As long as you remove all the old stain then you can use the RAD Semi-Transparent Stains.
Also what is the minimum temperature for application (lowest night time temperature after daytime application) for the water based stain and also for the oil based (100) stain.
50s.
If I have a cedar deck and want to maintain a cedar color, should I use natural or cedar colored stain? May be a dumb question…
Any color you like will work. Both enhance the cedar wood you have.
we actually used the light walnut stain on ours and it looks a lot like our original cedartone stain.
Hello. My deck is made with 5/8 pre-stained pressure treated pine that was built in 2017. I’ve not treated it since then and water just soaks into the wood. Do I need to strip it or can I get away with cleaning/brightening before staining with the RAD semi-transparent stain?
Was it ever stained prior? Pics would help with prep.
The wood was prestained at the lumber yard. See attached pic – one board has retained some of its color but most have faded. Water just soaks into the wood instead of running off.
Strip and brighten for prep is the correct way.
We want to stain an old stairway (never stained) that’s affixed to the wood siding of house (recently grey solid stained and in good condition). We do not want to get the stain from the stairs (or the cleaner/brightener/power wash debris if possible) onto the wood siding.
– Can we use a hose to prep the wood (clean/brighten/rinse) instead of a power washer?
– Will painter’s plastic block the stain splashes?
– Which stain(s) can be removed easily if we get stain onto the siding?
– Anything else you recommend?
We were planning to spray stain and back brush – to get under the stairs and between wood pieces – but now we worry about overspray and ruining the wood siding.
-No.
-You can put plastic sheeting on your siding.
-None come off easily.
Just tarp it well and you will be fine. You are overthinking these things 🙂
Should I shake the stain before pouring some of it in a smaller container?
Yes.
I have a 3 year old deck made of pressure treated wood. It have never been stained. There is some greying. I plan to use a semi-translucent RAD stain.
What do you recommend for preparation? Does it need cleaner and brightener? One or two coats of stain? What is the best application method?
Use both Cleaner and Brightener for prep. Two coats applied wet on wet. Use stain pads for r brushes for applying.
Can I buy 1- 2.5 gallon jug of stain?
We do not sell those individually.
Received our 2 2.5 gallons of light walnut stain along with the cleaners, brighteners, brush and single gallon that we ordered. Apparently the transit process wasn’t too kind since one or both of the 2.5 gallon containers leaked. Boxes were left on our concrete path – going outside now to try and power wash the leaked stain which had soaked through the shipping box. Is this a common problem with UPS etc?
UPS quality of service has gone downhill since covid. More packages and not enough workers lead to a much larger amount of issues and damages. Very sorry that this happened and if you need an extra gallon to finish your job, let us know and we will send at no cost.
Thank you very much. I appreciate the offer. Anticipating putting down the stain in the next few days if Mother Nature cooperates so I’ll know shortly if I’m going to run short. It has been a pleasure doing business with you. I have never dealt with a customer service group as responsive to all of my questions etc as good as you all!!
You are welcome!
When deck floor stained with RAD semi-transparent shows wear, does it have to be stripped, or can it be cleaned and recoated?
Clean and recoated.
brush, roller, or pad for application. Are 2 coats necessary? how much product for a 25 x 11 deck floor?
Brush or stain pads are best: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/decktools.html
Two light coats wet on wet: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-wet-on-wet-application.html
About 3 gallons.
You can only remove all and start over. The RAD has to be applied wet on wet if doing two coats.
How long does this stain stay good for if the seal is not broken and is stored where it will not freeze?
2-3 years.
Can I get samples of semi transparent stain?
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-stain-samples.html
How many hours should I wait after power cleaning to apply the stain?
Also, it rains a lot where I live, how many hours does the stain have to be applied before it is ok for it to be rained on without having negative effects?
See tips: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/how-to-restore-a-deck-stain-to-damp-wood.html
It can take a rain about 6-8 hours after applying.
I used your products and have finished staining my deck. Used semi transparent cedar stain. I only applied one coat and I think is looks great. Is a second coat needed to insure that I won’t be re-doing deck next year?
More is not always better and if doing a second coat, it has to be applied wet on wet: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-wet-on-wet-application.html
Is it OK to apply stain the night before projected 95 degree temperatures as long as it’s below 95 when applied?
Yes.
adding to my previous post… I should also ask – what will the outcome be if I do use the semi transparent stain that froze over the winter?
It has most likely gone bad.
thank you – what will be the result if I use it? thank you
Sticky mess if bad.
what if the stain was left in the garage over winter and froze?
Gone bad of frozen.
I bought the cleanse and brightened combo after uploading pics and getting opinions. Couldn’t tell if we had stain or not… I haven’t used it yet. And it rained and today I noticed these areas…. Do I need to buy some stripper or am I ok with cleanser?
Use the stripper and then brighten.
Do I need the booster or just the regular stripper?
No booster needed for this one.
The lighter section is correct and the darker section looks like it has a slight shine. That means over applied slightly. Best to leave it as is, most likely it will even out.
Ok. Thank you. Like I said I think it dried before second coat. If it doesn’t even out my best bet would be to strip that section and redo next year?
You will have to strip all the floors and redo. It is not possible to spot strip.
Uggh.
Is this product water-based? Is it safe to use on a raw pressure-treated wood roof deck with EPDM below? There’s no way to protect the EPDM during application.
Yes, it is water-based and will not harm the EPDM.
I have a ~400 sq ft deck, which was likely stained sometime in the past couple years and has what looks like rather significant water stains? I do have a power washer. Would you advise cleaner/brightner or stripper/brightner? Based on color I am also thinking the cedar semi- transparent is way to go. Please advise. Thank you.
You will need to strip and brighen and use both stripper additives as well: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/rad-stain-stripper-additives.html
can i use a wagner spray to spray on the restore deck stain?
Yes.
We powerwashed our IPE deck close to the wood a few days ago and plan to stain using RAD. I have attached 2 photos of the deck + a 3rd photo of the porch ceiling which is the color we’d like to restore to.
A few questions please:
1) For prep, do you think we should use (A) RAD stripper + brightener or (B) RAD cleaner + brightener or (C) none based on these photos? Unsure if the deck has been stained in the past.
2) As for the stain, do you have a recommendation on which color of the RAD semi-transparent stain to match picture #3 (ceiling of the porch which hasn’t been as subject to the elements)?
Thanks you very much for the help!
1. Clean and brighen while pressure washing.
2. Natural or Cedar color.
Bought a house last year and have no idea if we should buy cleanser or stripper. Which do you suggest? Pics attached. Thanks!
It is hard to tell if the wood is very gray from UV or if you have a gray stain on the wood? Can you tell from looking at it closer?
I can see what might be previous stain on the siding…. But here are some up close pics. Majority is that gray color
You should be okay with using the Cleaner and then the Brightener.
Over a year and a half ago, I needed to sand off the old paint (or solid stain) and I got just about everything sanded off or at least as best I could. I ran out of time before the winter came and since then, wood has weathered considerably. Do you recommend I sand again or would I be ok cleaning, brightening and then applying the dark walnut stain? I also have new wood (deck gate) that is clearly lighter in color because it is newer…any recommendations on how to get the gate to match the rest of the deck or is this just how its going to be? Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Clean and brighten all and then stain with the Dark Walnut.
I would like to refresh and stain a cedar picnic table that has been outside unstained for 2 years. Do I need to apply a sealant on top of your stain to make food-safe?
No need and you can never apply a sealer over a deck stain, it will peel if you do.
thanks!!
Hi. Did you respond to my 4/27 questions? I did not see it on your website. Thanks, Robert Arbios
Yes, Constant wear from heavy water running off the roof will degrade the stain. The only way to fix this issue (any stain will have this problem) is to add a gutter on your roof to divert the water. The best way to fix it is to clean and recoat all the wood.
Is the natural color stain dry clear or does it have a tint to it?
It is tinted. Clear coatings (no tint at all) will not provide any UV protection from graying.
I was so pleased last August when I completed the stripping, brightening, and staining our 20-year old 150’ cedar deck with your Dark Walnut product. But the cold wet Seattle winter apparently took its toll with this area under the garage drip line. What happened and what can I do to fix it? Don’t care if it doesn’t match the rest – just want to get some protection on this old wood.
can I purchase a sample? I am thinking Cottage Gray would be good, but I am not sure how it would look on oak.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain/restore-a-deck-stain-samples.html
I used Armstrong Clark stain 2 years ago after the cleaner and brightener. Do I have to strip and brighten if switching to rad stain or can I just use cleaner?
Strip and brighten are correct.