Last Updated on January 19, 2021 by TWP Help
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!
I recently purchased a home with a 4′ tall cedar fence that is 3 years old and never stained. Previous homeowner left 4 unopened cans of TWP 100 clear. I would like to use the clear to use it up but want UV protection. I purchased a 5 gallon can of TWP 120 – Pecan and have power washed the fence to restore wood and remove dirt.
Can I use pecan as the first coat to provide UV protection and color and then apply the clear as a wet on wet second coat to provide additional waterproofing and mildew protection?
Thank you for your help!
No, you cannot apply the TWP clear over a TWP stain color.
Thank you for the quick reply. I have read other Q&A responses that allowed 2 colors to be mixed together. As an alternate, can I mix equal parts of the pecan and clear together or 2 parts pecan to 1 part clear and apply the 2 coats? I understand this will lighten the color of the pecan, I am just looking for a way to use the product that was left. Thanks again!
Yes, you can mix them together. The ratio would be up to you.
It’s very hard to find a sprayer that can spray flammable stains like the TWP 100, any recommended airless sprayers?
TWP is not flammable but combustible. Big difference. All airless sprayers will work and 90% of pump sprayers. Stay away from the cheap pump sprayers.
If I strip old stain off do I need to use deck brightener & cleaner on after stripping? Thanks
You always have to use a brightener after using a stripper to neutralize. You do not need the cleaner.
What deck stain VOC levels does NJ permit?
TWP 1500 Series: https://www.twpstain.com/twp-1500-series
I have cantilevered beams extending 5′ from my home and supporting a deck (decking has been removed and the beams are exposed.) I have sanded old stain off, cleaned and brightened the wood. After it has dried 48 hours, how many coats of TWP 1500 should I apply? Wet on wet? Or dry between coats.
How fine of grit did you sand the wood?
80
It’s a beautiful day today and construction of the new deck flooring will begin tomorrow. I’d like to stain the 37 year old beams today while I can stil easily access them. They have been sanded with 80 grit to bare wood cleaned and brightened (finished two days ago.) I have TWP 1500 Pecan stain-should I apply one coat or two, and if two, wet on wet or dry between coats? Thanks for your answer.
You cannot pre stain new wood. See here about new wood. https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
It’s not new wood. I am having the new flooring installed without stain.It’s the existing 37 year old beams I want to stain today.
Sorry. Just one coat will work.
Thanks for the quick reply. I’ll get to work now.
I recently re sanded my existing mahogany deck which I feel looks real good but some grain color still remains. Should I treat the wood as old or new, re coating with one or two coats. Also is it required to wipe down/remove excess stain after a final coat
Just one coat on Mahogany wood. Remove any excess stain that does not soak in after an hour.
Thank you, appreciate the timely reply.
Michael
I have composite decking flooring and am now replacing my railing & stairs with KDAT (KIln Dried After Treatment) Pressure Treated wood with metal balusters. I have been told KDAT lumber can be stained after 3 months, or even less time. How long should I wait to stain KDAT wood and what pre-treatment do you recommend for TWP 100 Cape Cod Gray stain.
See here: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/kdat-and-twp-wait-period-for-new-wood/
Thank you, perfect!
My painter used the wrong color stain on my deck. He used Cedar Tone and I wanted Dark Oak. It’s a new deck and the stain has been on for less than a week. Can I use Dark Oak on top of the Cedar Tone or does it have to be removed? He also used the Cedar Tone on the handrails which should have been painted white. Can you offer any suggestions on how I can fix his mistake? I will have to hire someone else to complete the job and I want them to get it right the first time. Thanks for any info you can provide.
You will have to remove it with this: https://www.twpstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit-detail
Also, did you follow the new wood directions? https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Thanks so much for responding so quickly. The painter did not follow the new wood instructions. This is a new deck and has been up for less than a month. The contractor who handled the entire process should have known this info but I guess it’s up to me now to find someone else who can correct the problem.
Hello – I purchased TWP 101 Cedartone along with the deck cleaner and brightener. We have since cleaned and brightened our 11 month old dock and now waiting for it to dry. If you don’t mind I have a few questions and confirmations :
– We plan on applying one coat because of the age of the dock. Is that correct?
– Given that we are in South Florida and it is tough to get a string of “dry” days, I wanted to be sure the minimums required. We plan on waiting 48 hours to dry and hoping rain will no occur after we start since it says a few days after as well. Any guidance on what we should absolutely ensure happens with timing?
– I purchased the brush to apply the stain. Given that the brush is pretty wide, is there a recommended way to have the brush access the stain when applying it? (roller tray, etc.)
Thanks for all the help and guidance.
Only one coat. 48 hours after prep or rain to dry. No rain for 12-24 hours after. You can dip brush into a paint tray.
Thank you! One more question I forgot to ask. Since we get a large amount of dew here, is that ok as long as we wait for it to burn off before starting?
Yes that is okay.
When needing to recoat twp in a few years, how do you prepare the deck for a fresh coat? Can the deck just be cleaned and then presure washed?
Prep with this kit” https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
After the initial wet on wet application, if it needs another coat do I need to also do wet on wet or just a single coat?
You cannot apply more than the 2 wet on wet coats.
It has been approx. 3 months since initial wet on wet application. One section of the deck is lighter than the rest.
You cannot spot apply so you would have to do all. Best to do this in Spring and you will have to clean the deck first.
TWP 100 on horizontal wood deck. must second coat be brushed or can i spray second coat as well as the first coat
Brush or stain pad for proper application and an even appearance.
Is 1500 series also applied on wet decking after I use the rad support and brightener
No, TWP has to be applied to a fully dry deck 48 hours after prep.
How soon before I can put furniture back on my freshly stained deck? Second application finished at noon yesterday.
24-48 hours.
I applied 1 coat to a new wood door and let dry before applying a 2nd. I have not used TWP before and just went along with customers request for 2nd coat. Well after 12 hours the 2nd coat is still wet, I find myself on your lovely website Q&A learning about “Wet on Wet”. My 2 mistakes are clear after reading instructions. I am sure stripping everything and starting over is a solid but timely option. Any advice? Should I attempt to wipe down 2nd coat with 50% mineral spirits?
Try wiping it down first to see if that fixes it. If not, then you will need to remove it. Also, only one coat on new wood and you may have not followed the new wood directions: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Applying to aged new pre-treat wood. Verticle only (Railings & Posts). What are outside temperture parameters.?Sunny location, days are 50-60’s currently, night times 40-to mid 30’s.
See here about new wood: https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
Temps are 50-90 for applying.
Thank You and regarding ‘dry/cure’ time if then drops to 40 to mid 30’s about 8-10hrs later, still ok?
Yes but cannot drop below freezing the first night.
I have the following project. We live in Boston. I have Approx 350 ft of old cedar fence, 6ft high, in my yard (15+years old), but most of the wood is in good shape. I don’t know if it was every stained or cleaned at any point (appears not). My goal, is to get a few more years out of this fence prior to selling the home. Have some weak posts that needs fixed, but going to go with cleaning and staining. Prior to coming across your site with lots of helpful info, I decided to buy 30 second outdoor cleaner, applied with pump sprayer followed by power washing. Overall, the approach has pretty dramatic results cleaning the wood, but its a lot of work, and i’ve just gotten done with this inside and working around the outside, which seems to be going faster. The power washer has roughed up the surface pretty good in some spots, but the old crud was thick. My questions are the following.
1. Given the amount of cleaning done already, does this need further prep work prior to applying TWP 1500? If so what would you suggest? (you can see pics)
2. How many coats do you suggest for such an old fence? It will help improve appearance of the home, but it is a fence in the end so not sure if it needs 2 coats as not walking on it, but don’t wanna waste all the effort.
3. I have a stain sprayer. Will it also need to be back brushed? Could I use roller after the sprayer?
4. Given it has a nice light color now that its cleaned, we want to retain the lightest color available. I’ve ordered some samples, but would appreciate suggestions. I was thinking honeytone maybe.
5. We have some big pine trees on once side of the fence. And i’m thinking of just leaving that side of the fence as will be huge pain, if not impossible to get behind the trees to clean/stain fence. Any major issue just doing one side? Or what if I change mind and do it later down the road if trees get cleaned up.
6. What timeeline would it be to order/ship/receive the order?
7. Minimum temperature for applying stain?
Thanks so much, appreciate any guidance. Andy in Boston.
1. No more prep is needed.
2. 2 coats.
3. Not a roller but a stain pad or brush.
4. Honeytone is the lightest.
5. No issues.
6. 3-5 days
7. 50 degrees.
Thanks for quick reply. Awaiting samples. How much stain for size I mentioned and recommended application method? Also is “wet on wet” process what you recommend, and is there a link you have specific for a fence explaining technique?
Thanks again.
Wet on wet as the above article explains is correct. About 15-20 gallons for the two coats.
So applied the first coat on some of the vertices yesterday and the rest today! Can I apply a second coat to the ones I did yesterday?
Needs to be wet on wet when doing two coats.
I appreciate your quick response! Very impressed with your company!
A customer requested that I stain some exterior columns with TWP 101 and then seal with a couple of coats of Marine Varnish. Is this a recommended practice?
No, you cannot top coat TWP with a varnish, it will peel.
What type of sprayer do you recommend for applying TWP 101 on a wooden deck?
A quality pump sprayer will work.
When applying wet on wet on horizontal surfaces do you first wipe down the excess before applying second coat or does the wipe down occur after the two coats are applied wet on wet
You do not wipe down the first coat. Only after the second and only if needed.
What I know of my deck history is: 6 years old, weathered for 1 year, stain and prep unknown lasting 2 years with pealing, stain and prep again unknown lasting another 2 years with pealing. I decided to power wash and sand which has taken the summer to do due to schedule, weather, and physical limitations. Some areas have grayed. In Wisconsin and weather now cooling at night 50’s down to 30’s at times. Most mornings now tend to have condensation on the deck. Would I be better off letting the staining go until next year vs risk getting wet overnight prior to drying? Clean and brighten prior to stain? One coat vs wet/wet? Also can I use foam brushes for the TWP 101?
Do in Spri is okay. Prep with this kit: https://www.twpstain.com/gemini-s-restore-a-deck-cleaner-and-brightener-kit
2 coats applied wet on wet. Use stain pads or brushes.
Thanks for your response. I have the RAD. If I buy the TWP stain now, will unopened cans be good for my spring application?
Yes.
Where can I find your product in Canada?
You cannot. We can ship to you directly from our website to your home.
What can be done if after 48 hrs some shinn or wet look or bloch on deck
https://www.twpstainhelp.com/twp-stain-is-spotty-or-shiny/
how long before a dog can walk on after stained?
When fully dry. 24-48 hours is normal.
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