TWP with Wet on Wet Application Tips
TWP Stains are to be applied “Wet on Wet” when the wood is absorbent enough to handle more than 1 coat of the stain. This is typically for wood and decking that is older than 12 months and has been exposed to the elements. Applying the TWP “wet on wet” is similar to applying 1.5 coats of stain. The second coat covers twice as much square footage as the first coat.
Applying TWP “wet on wet” is very easy and not complicated once you understand the simple steps.
How To Apply TWP Wood Stains “Wet On Wet” to a Deck:
- Apply the TWP to the verticals first. This would include the railings, benches, and any vertical walls.
- Lightly apply one coat of stain to the horizontal flooring. Apply to the entire floor surface. If your deck has multiple levels, do one level at a time before moving to the next level.
- Wearing shoes that are disposable, walk back onto the “wet” stain and reapply another coat to the “tops” of and railings, walls, and benches. You may walk on your first coat of stain 10 minutes after finishing.
- Apply your second coat of stain to the horizontal flooring. Take care to not step in or leave footprints in your second coat!
- Finish stairs last, repeating the above steps.
TWP Staining Tips
- Do not apply 2 coats of stain to new wood or decking.
- In most cases, a second coat only needs to be applied to horizontals as the verticals will last twice as long.
- Apply your second coat of stain within 10-60 minutes of the first coat.
- Watching for puddling on the floor. This usually happens under railings and benches.
- Wear shoes and clothes that are disposable.
- TWP Wood Stains can be applied with a stain pad, brush, roller, or sprayer.
If You Need any Help, Please Ask Below!
how long before rain contacts it can the stain be applied
12-24 hours.
Weather reports call for medium chance of rain every day the next two weeks but I have my deck prepped now. What is the minimum drying time for the stain?
12 hours.
Applied twp 100 series on steps and ran out of paint. Painted the next day and painted over steps. Now the steps look darker where it has two coats. Should I repaint area where the steps are lighter? It’s been 18 hours. No pooling at all just lighter color stain where there is just one coat.. Ideas, tips?
Yes, you can try that but a very light coat.
Thanks for the quick response
Thanks for the quick response.
Have your Russet Brown 206 from 3 years ago on my deck and is still in fair shape. Thinking about going to redo with maybe your 205 or something that has less red. How will that look over coating russet? Will it stain lighter or get muddy or non uniform because it is a different base color? Should I use a different series?
Strip and brighten for prep: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Try the 1500 Series.
I used your wood prep kit I did my best to keep the fence wet for 15mins before rinsing it off but in some places their is a light white powder on the fence. Will power rinsing the fence again remove the film?
Hello, after applying the cleaner, you pressure wash it off for best results. Not rinse off. You may need to go over it again.
a) I can’t receive TWP 100 Pecan in Canada anymore. Therefore what would you recommend I put over TWP 100?
b) I used a deck cleaner/brightener and it turned a lot of my deck white. I had a little TWP 100 left over and gave it one coat but it doesn’t cover/penetrate the white areas very well. Any advise?
-Try 200 Series. Cedartone or Butternut.
-You should strip and brighten the wood at this point so it is even in appearance: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
I need to sand should I do it before or after cleaning?
Sand first.
I have a company adding 1530 after a couple years. However they are applying only one coat on the horizontals and it would be a couple hours on the areas that I would want a second coat. I saw you put “wet on wet” but how much harm would it be adding say 5 hours later?
It may not take and dry spotty or shiny if you do not do it wet on wet.
So should I re-clean or just wait until next year?
Wait until Fall or Spring. Lightly was to remove dirt for prep.
I have a large deck and plan on doing a wet on wet application. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to complete one full coat before the first coat cures. Is it OK to do section by section even though it’s one continuous deck so that I can properly apply wet on wet?
Do it all at once. Lightly spray on your first coat. It will be very fast. Do your second coat with a stain pad or brush.
i am putting up a new cedar deck. a) can I apply this to a new deck? b) Ive read several places to first stain all sides of the lumber then build the deck resealing the cuts. any advantage to that?
See this about new wood: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Do not prestain or seal all sides.
I just applied a coat of TWP 100. how long should I wait to apply a second coat?
20-60 minutes after the first coat.
How long before furniture can be placed on stain?
24 hours is normal. Just make sure it is fully dry.
Are there local dealers of TWP stains? I need to see the color selection first hand. Colors not true online.
We are an online dealer for TWP products. We offer samples for testing: https://www.twpstain.com/stain-samples
Can we apply a 2nd coat after the first one 12 hours later on our deck?
Not always a good idea as the first coat has already cured. May dry with shiny and thick spots.
We have a 3 year old deck which was stained using a single coat of TWP1500 2 years ago and are now planning on a maintenance coat using the same product. Should we use a single coat this time around or wet on wet?
Just one coat.
I have a freshly stripped, 18 year old, Cypress Deck that I am staining with TWP1520 and a friend told me that I should do two “maintenance” coats over the next two years to get the best stain finish and seal. Do you agree that this would be a good idea?
Just one maintenance coat.
Ok, what would you suggest as the amount of time to wait to apply that one maintenance coat?
9-12 months.
Hi, I applied 1500 series two days ago. Yesterday some rain occurred, not heavy, though it does not seem to have made any damages to the stain, maybe because it was 24+ hours after the end of the first coat application and is hot outside, 75-80 degrees. Now the water, which is not much, is drying. Would like to apply second coat (did not do it wet on wet two days ago). Can I do it in the next few days, i.e. within less than a week after the application of the first coat? Of course, I will make sure… Read more »
No, you can only apply wet on wet when initially done. Best to leave alone and do a light wash and recoat in the late Fall or early Spring of next year.
Yesterday I applied TWP1520 Stain to a 16 year old, Cypress Deck that was thoroughly Pressure Washer stripped, Sanded, Cleaned and Brightened so that none of the previous stains were left and it looks like some of the boards actually sucked in all of the Wet-on-Wet two coats I applied and some have slightly “wet” looking spots across the deck. What should I do the make the boards look “evenly” coated?
See here: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
I applied the stain with a 5 inch deck brush and made sure that I applied the stain very evenly. What seems really strange is that the dry spots and wet spots are right beside each other on the same board. Should the boards all have the very “dry” look, or should they be slightly shiny at all?
Shiny means it was over-applied in those areas. Too much stain and it could not soak in. It is supposed to not be shiny.
Thanks for that info…Any chance that time might heal this problem? Also, if I have to remove the excess with a mineral Spirits soaked wipe, does this remove the stain that did soak in and I need to perform some sort of re-coating of the “wiped” areas?
You are only removing the excess with the mineral spirits, not the stain in the wood grain. It does dull over time.
Hi, I applied yesterday with a spray gun one coat of 1500 series black walnut stain on my 20+ years old deck, in Massachusetts. Prior to that, the deck was stripped of its old stain and sanded, as much as possible. I see that now there are some small spots, which did not get any paint or enough paint. They are almost entirely in between the boards. Can I apply paint with a brush on these spots after 2-3 days? Thus, the project will be completed. Or, should I wait more time before applying?
You can touch up but wipe off any excess stain that gets on the already stained areas right away. Saturate any oily rags in water and lay flat to dry outside.
How to calculate coverage for a maintenance coat
Use the calculator on this page. Just one coat is needed.
I have applied a maintenance coat after 1 year. Used roller and brush. bubbles are forming on the deck boards. Tried to go over with rush and roller and they come back. Bubbles are lighter in color than the stain. Would applying wet on wet help?
The bubbles will dry and go away
How do I remove a coat of TWP that I applied incorrectly?
Use this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Hi! I applied a coat of your oil base TWP to our new deck. It absorbed very quickly and looks good. I need to go over a few places with the mineral spirits to remove some excess stain. The problem is that it now appears I did not adequately stain in between some of the boards. I can see raw PT wood now that it is dry. I know if I go back and try and fill in it will be very noticeable. Thoughts? Should I wait a few months and apply a second coat? I have waited too long… Read more »
Wait a few months, light wash, apply one light coat.
Perfect! Thanks so much.
I have cedar log posts on my porch. They were cut and installed in 9 months ago. What TWP product should I use to seal my posts?
Also, what does it mean that TWP 1500 clear is “*no UV protection” ?
Clears have no pigment and that means it cannot prevent the wood from graying.
Use the TWP 1500 Series.
How soon after the stain, TWP 100 Cedar, is applied that rain won’t affect the finish? This is going on a 10-year-old deck which is mostly bare wood now. Prepped with TWP cleaner and brightner (Wow, worked wonders).
No rain for 12 hours after applying.
How long does it have to cure with the second coat before being able to walk on it?
12-36 hours as it varies based on air temp, wood, etc.
We are going to install rough sawn channel rustics cedar on our house. With the rough side showing. Can we stain one coat to the cedar prior to installing. Does it require two coats if rough?
In a couple of years do we clean and then apply another coat?
I’m wanting to use cedar tone. Will it darken as new coats we applied?
Forgot to say but I was going to use TWP 1500 series cedar tone.
Also exactly what is the maintenance procedures?
Install first and then stain. 2 light coats. When time to redo, clean with the Gemini Restore Kit and recoat. It does not darken.
I applied TWP 1504 on my then-new deck 2 years ago. Need to reapply. There are some places on the deck that are lighter than others now. For example, the area under the table is darker as it wasn’t exposed to sun as much. What steps do I take to reapply and what if anything special needs to be done to account for the uneven wear?
Strip it and brighten. See this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Hello,
I have a 20 month old pressure treated deck that has never been stained. The deck looks aged can I put 2 coats on or should I still use 1 as you recommend for the first time?
Thank You
John Dut
2 Light coats applied wet on wet.
Hi,
I have a new (6 months old) pressure treated lumber deck and considering the 1500. I’m confused about the wet on wet. Should the deck be wet for the initial coat or only still wet when applying the second coat?
For the second coat, you apply it while the first coat has not fully dried.
TWP 1500 or 100 stain for previously stained exterior cedar logs?
The previous coating if not TWP will need to be removed. Once prepped correctly, use the TWP 1500 Series.
I have a 10 year old PT shadowbox fence. I originally used an oilbased product that rhymes with duper deck. That product is not the same anymore as i understand. I originally applied with an airless sprayer and backbrushed. One coat only. The fence is in dire need of a restain. I pressure washed over a year ago but never pulled the trigger on a stain. I need some advice. I liked how that product applied and looked.. Which one of your products should i use and hkw can I calculate coverage. I believe i used over 5 gal the… Read more »
Prep with this: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
And use the TWP 1500 Series. Coverage would be about the same as the SD.
I’m applying 1500 Natural to a new redwood deck. Would you stain the railings or the decking first? I’m wondering how careful I need to be when staining the railings – will any drips that get onto the decking cause problems? If I stain the decking after, would those drips be less visible?
See this about new wood first: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Rails first and then the floor. Tarp floor to catch drips when doing the railings.
When staining the deck floor should I use the wet on wet method (2 coats)?
Yes, unless the wood is new or has a previous coating of TWP.
There is a previous coat of TWP stain which will be cleaned and brightened before applying new stain. So for this I should use just 1 coat?
Probably 1 but that can vary based on the prep as the cleaner may remove down to the bare wood if the current coating is heavily worn.
What’s the difference between the 100 series and 1500 series stains?
See here: https://www.twpstain.com/difference-between-twp-100-and-1500-series
We stripped old stain and applied twp 1500. We would like to restrain again this year. What would our process be? Use stripper/brightened? Need advice. TIA
Clean and brighten with the Gemini Restore Kit.
I’ve got a fir wood deck. I’m in the process of power sanding to take off the old surface stain. I will have it sanded down to new fresh wood. Was thinking to apply TWP 1500 Natural Color. How many coats will I need to apply? What should I use to apply the stain?
Do not sand finer than 80 grit. Clean and brighten for the final prep after the sanding is done. Stain with one coat.
I applied a wet on wet application of TWP 100 on my deck 2 years ago. It had no maintenance paint done last year. The paint looks good and even, but no longer beads and needs the maintenance done this year.
I play to use the restore kit (cleaner + brightener). I am assuming one layer of paint is enough. Is this correct?
Thank you.
That depends on the prep. If you still have TWP base layer after the prep, then just one coat. If down to the bare wood, do the two coats again.
we just had one coat of 100 applied to our new deck. How long do we wait for it to be be dry? Also, what would be the earliest we could add a second coat if we are looking to make the color darker? If we switch to a darker color of the 100 do we need to remove what we have on there at that time or just put new color on top?
See this about new wood: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
You can do another coat in 6-12 months. If you want to go darker, you can use the Gemini Restore Kit for the prep.
Dries in 24-48 hours normally but that depends on the weather.
Do we wipe the stain off at any time
Remove excess stain that does not soak in after 1 hour or so and only if needed. Use rags. Make sure to saturate all oily rags in water and lay flat to dry outside, away from buildings.
We stained our 26 year old deck with TWP 1500 after stripping and whitening it with Restore a deck. Came out beautiful! The horizontal part of the deck gets a great deal of sun and could be recoated next year. What would be the procedure to do it properly?
A light cleaning with the Gemini Cleaner and one coat of the TWP.
I’ve have 2 gallons of unopened TWP 120 (Pecan) that has been stored in our home, not garage, for just under 4 years. If shaken by machine, is there any reason that I shouldn’t use this stain?
As long as it mixes evenly (no clumps) you should be kay to use.
I am going to apply on a new deck after cleaning and brightening. Is the “wet on wet” technique consider one or two coats? I understand I should only apply one coat, but not sure if the second “wet” on a “wet on wet” coat would be considered part of the first coat or considered a second coat. Can you please clarify?
We on wet is two coats. Only one coat for new wood: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
We have a new deck that has never been stained so do we only APPLY one coat?
See this about new wood tips: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
I am ready to apply my TWP with a brush. What type of brush should I use?
Use an exterior stain pad. It works much better than a brush.
I just cleaned and brightend a 2 year old PT wood fence behind my shop. I also just purchased a few gallons of the TWP 100 to be apllyed this weekend. Do I need 1 or 2 coats of stain on the fence? I have enough for 2 coats but was wondering if applying to a fence should take 1 or 2 coats?
Do the two coats wet on wet.
I have a 25 year old cedar deck in Seattle. It’s generally been well cared for. Last year I sanded it completely and foolishly applied a water based Behr deck product that went on like paint and has worn really poorly with lots of flaking and peeling.
I plan to re-sand the whole deck this month and use your 100 series product. If I am going to sand all the old stain off, do I need to use any of the deck cleaner or brightner products or can I just re-stain after sanding?
Thanks.
Richard
Yes. After the sanding, use the Gemini Restore Kit for your final prep.
Can the second coat of a wet on wet stain be applied the next day? I was pulled away before I could finish.
It may not set up properly if the second coat is applied to a dry coat the next day. This will vary though based on the porosity of the wood.
I just bought a western red cedar fence kit.. the wood seems completely dry and the manufacturer says it’s dry but isn’t entirely sure when the trees were cut and milled. My garage gets close to 100 degrees during the day and I’ve left them to dry there with fans on for over a week.. just to be sure. Would you recommend staining them with my TWP 100 as each individual piece of the panels or should I erect the entire fence and stain it outside? I was considering doing it inside the garage with proper safety precautions of course… Read more »
Please see this about new wood: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
It needs to be installed first.
My husband and I just applied the first coat of TWP to our new deck. The wood has been aging for 7 months. After about 12 hours, it just spontaneously rained for 30 mins. Is there any protocall if this happens?
We checked the forecast and thought we were in the clear but it’s been a surprising rainy season. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
See this for tips: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/it-rained-on-my-twp-how-to-fix/