Deck care can be an art but it is one of those arts that anybody can master by following some simple guidelines. Deck care in general refers to cleaning and staining the wood on a regular basis. Typically a deck needs cleaned and retreated every year or two. Quality wood cleaners or stain strippers are essential in prepping the wood correctly prior to staining. Most professionals suggest using an oxygenated cleaner like Restore-A-Deck. RAD Step 1 Cleaner, RAD Deck Stain Stripper, as well as other cleaner/stain stripper brands, are high in pH and although they do a great job of prepping the wood they do not leave the wood in an ideal state.
Wood cleaners and stain strippers raise the pH level of the wood during the prepping process. This darkens the wood’s appearance and does not offer the perfect surface conditions for the new stain to penetrate properly. In order to correct this issue, a deck brightener should be applied. This is step number two in the RAD kit. The brightener (also called a neutralizer) will lower the pH of the wood brightening it up again and helping to enhance the beauty of the wood grain. These acidic conditions open up the wood pores so they are more accepting of wood stain. These are the perfect conditions for a long lasting beautiful finish.
So the question is when to apply the brightener. Right away or let dry? Right away after cleaning is when to apply the brightener. After washing the wood and rinsing well, mix the brightener up according to the directions. Apply with a pump sprayer and let it sit for several minutes. You should notice the wood brightening up right away. After the brightener has done its job simply rinse the deck again for 20 minutes until all soap suds are removed. It is best to always brighten when the deck is still wet from washing. Not brightening right away could cause wood furring. If the deck has been allowed to dry and brightened at a later time, the furring can always be sanded off prior to staining.
Important Note: Restore-A-Deck Brightener is used only with the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. It is not needed for the RAD Paint & Solid Stain Stripper Gel
I have brand new IPE wood deck which I just cleaned. The wood looks very bright and clean. Do I need to use a brighter on such new wood?
Typically you always brighten after using a cleaner to neutralize.
How soon can it rain after using the brightner?
Does not matter when it rains after applyinging the brightener.
I cleaned my deck with your cleaner and I used the brightener on 1/2 of it and then I ran out. Can I brighten the next day or should I just leave it alone?
Brighten the next day to complete.
I just stripped and whitened my deck now it’s supposed to rain for 10 days can I stain or do I have to redo the whole process
No need to redo prep unless longer than a couple of weeks.
I have a bit of confusion regarding when to stain following deck brightening. On several of the inquiries it appears that it is okay to stain same day following the application of the brightener which of course is preceded by the wood stripper or cleaner. Yet, on the actual instructions on the brightener container it says to wait 48 hours before applying stain. Which is it?
It depends on the stain brand you are using. If using RAD Stains, you can apply to damp same day or deck wood. If using any other stan brand, you need to have the wood dry for 48 hours. Basically, you follow the directions of the stain brand you are using, not the Brightener as it varies brand to brand.
Thank you for your timely response. I use nothing but RAD products. They are the absolute best. It is good to know that I do not need to wait 48 hours between brightening and staining.
Great! Don’t forget to enter our contest this year: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-prep-stain-contest-2024
Hi. Just to confirm the guidance here. I have read through all the discussion below. I have the RAD stripper, cleaner, brightener, and TWP 100 stain ready to go.
I installed a new deck in two phases.
The questions I have are:
Thank you!!
1. Use stripper only where you have old stain.
2. Strip/clean all first. If you want to buff off any fuzzies, do this after the strip/cleaner, prior to brightener.
3. No.
4. Yes.
Thank you! Very clear!
Hi there,
I am planning to clean my deck with 30 second outdoor deck cleaner, along with using a pressure washer, and deck brush.
Following that I am under the assumption I should apply brightener when deck is wet based off the aforementioned comments.
1) If my brighter has a cleaner component too, is that okay? Is that “too much cleaning”? (Thompson’s water deal deck cleaner and brightener)
2) Following this, after 48+ hours, I plan to sand it. Does one have to apply brighten again before staining?
3) If I plan on doing two tone staining (dark for floorboards) and white for railing. Is the process the same for everything ?
If you could clarify i would really appreciate it.
Thanks!
Do not sure the 30 second cleaner. It is a poor cleaner and very bad for wood and deck stains. For proper prep use our cleaner and brightener kits.
1. Brighteners do not “clean” the wood.
2. Not suggested to sand the deck as it hinders the stain’s ability to penetrate. If you do sand, never sand finer than 60-80 grist and clean and brighten after.
3. Prep is the same but the stains apply differently.
What happens if it rains after I use brightener? Do I need to apply again? And how long to wait after I brighten to stain. Wood need to fully dry I assume.
Rain does not harm the prep. As for applying the stain, if using the RAD stains, you can apply them to dry or damp wood.
Thank you so much!
I am applying the solid color stain today and I may not be able to get the second coat on. Should I wait until I have a day when I have time for both coats? Also, Do I wet the wood for the second coat? Can I apply the second coat with the hot sun application process because my deck is in direct sunlight most of the day. Thank you.
Best to do the solid stain coats on the same day. You do not wet it down for the second coat. Avoid hot sun if possible.
I sanded my older deck because of terrible flaking and peeling. I now need to brush or sweep the dust from sanding off. After that, what should I do? I am planning to use your solid stain. I added pictures of the sanded deck
1. Should I power wash and then use the brightener?
2. Use the brightener and then lightly wash?
3 use a cleaner, then brightener?
4. What is your suggestion?
Thank you.
Apply brightener and the pressure wash rinse.
Does the deck need to be wet for the brightener? And then how long after pressure washing before I apply the solid stain? Thank you for your time!
Damp or dry is okay. Apply the solid stain to a damp or dry deck is okay.
One last question. I am replacing a few boards and I know I have to awhile before I can stain them. Will I be able to use the stain I buy now for the rest of the deck on the new boards when the time comes?
Yes.
Hi! I just stripped my deck to fix an over saturation problem (shouldn’t have done two coats) and then sanded the entire deck with 80 grit paper and an orbital sander to remove any remaining stain traces and to get rid of all the fuzzies after the pressure washing. The wood literally looks brand new. Do I still need to brighten it or can I just apply the stain? (I’m using RAD products) Also… should 1 gallon of stain be enough to cover a 300sq ft deck with no railings?
Always brighen after sanding to open up the pores of the wood and to help remove any sand dust. One coat of stain. You will need 2 gallons.
I have a pretty new deck and plan on pressure washing it to clean it. Can I skip the cleaner and just use the brightener
No. See this: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood.html
Cleaned my deck 3 days ago and it is now dry. Should I re-wet the deck before applying brightner?
Yes.
Hi I just started applying my brightener, I didn’t realize the nozzle on my pump sprayer was broken and it dries by the time I bought a new one am I okay to start a day later and apply the brightener even though I cleaned yesterday
Yes.
HiI have a 160 ft long, 6ft high (w 8ft wide sections) cedar fence that is 10 months old and haven’t stained yet. I’ve read the instructions and what you wrote above but have some questions:
1. If I am supposed to apply brightener while the fence is still wet from cleaning, does that mean the best strategy is to have 2 pump sprayers – 1 with cleaner and 1 with brightener – and apply/pressure wash/rinse the cleaner for a couple of sections, then apply and rinse brightener, then move onto next section? Assuming i don’t want wood furring, i don’t see any way to realistically do it without having 2 pump sprayers.
2. My fence actually looks fairly new (only graying on top and no visible dirt). I get that i still need the 2 step cleaner and brightener, but when pressure washing the cleaner, can I just use my 800 psi washer?
Thanks
1. You can just use the same sprayer. Just rinse it out and switch.
2. Send some pics.
Thanks. Here are some pics
We would use the prep products as you have mill glaze to remove as well.
Ok. So I have used RAD cleaner (used 1700 PSI pressure washer to agitate) and RAD brightener. Took a couple of days because of size of fence and needed to break up into sections to ensure it would dry out before next steps.
Problem now – aside from the fact that the wood seems a little too rough in places – is that I have white spots / splotches in places. This is mostly on the top of top rail, but also on vertical surfaces as well.
I assume these will show up when I stain. How do I fix this? Do I do a light sanding with 80 girt paper on these spots? ‘Go harder’ with pressure washer? or…?
Most likely it will not show when stained and we do not suggest spot sanding as the stain will take unevenly if you do.
Sorry – I meant to say: “break up into sections to ensure it would NOT dry out before next steps.”
Hello,
Removing old Sikkens from pine deck. Using sanders. I’d love to use stripper instead, but it seems really toxic. After sanding will wash, rinse, and brighten, then rinse again. Will be using TWP stain.
Are these the correct steps? Thanks
Yes correct steps. RAD Stripper is not toxic.
I’ve cleaned and then sanded (to level and get rid of gouges) a cedar deck with 80 grit. The more heavily sanded areas have exposed new wood surfaces which are amber in color – will RAD Brightener even out the difference in the color tones on the deck?
No, a brightener cannot even out uneven sanding. Only sand all evenly will fix this.
What if it rains after brightening? Am I correct that it needs to dry for 24 hours before staining after brightener is used?
What stain brand are you using?
TWP 500
The TWP 500 is no longer available so I assume you meant the 1500 Series. You will need 48 hours after prep to let the wood dry before staininig.
Hello,
I am planning on restoring my 15 year old deck. It has not had a stain on it for the past 6 years. All old stain is gone. There are areas that need to be sanded due to splinters. I have bought the restore a deck cleaner and brightener and plan to use a TWP semi transparent stain. I’m getting conflicting information on the proper steps of when to sand. Do I sand, clean, brighten, and stain? Or I was also told by deckhelp to clean, dry, sand, brighten, and then stain…? What is your recommendation??
thank you in advance! Bryanna Harris
You actually do not even need to sand. If you want to sand, then sand either prior to cleaning or after cleaning but before the brightening.