The Armstrong Clark2019 Spring/Summer Restoration Contest is closed!
Excellent job to all and we appreciate you entering our Armstrong Clark staining contest for 2019!
We will contact the winners via their orders.
First Place
Mike Checko
First Place = $500 + Weber Grill ($500 Value) + 5 Gallon Pail of Armstrong Clark Stain
Second Place
Leslie
Second Place = $350 + 3 Gallons of Armstrong Clark Stain
Third Place
John B
Third Place = $200 + 2 Gallons of Armstrong Clark Stain
4th (NEW): Honorable Mention:
$100 + 2 gallons to Ed Sallie
Sorry for all that did not win the prizes. We were extremely impressed with all the feedback and entries this year!
Enter our Armstrong Clark Stain Summer Stain Contest!
Armstrong Clark Stain Contest Details
- All Armstrong Clark Stain and Prep products must be purchased first from this online retail site (ArmstrongClarkStain.com) between May 1st – Sept. 14th, 2019.
- Deadline for entry is Sept. 30th, 2019.
- The winner will be decided by October 15th by our team.
Contestant winners will receive
- First Place = $500 + Weber Grill ($500 Value) + 5 Gallon Pail of Armstrong Clark Stain of your choice!
- Second Place = $350 + 3 Gallons of Armstrong Clark Stain of your choice!
- Third Place:= $200 + 2 Gallons of Armstrong Clark Stain of your choice!
*Total winnings will be $2000 in payouts and prizes.
How To Enter Contest
- Enter by Sept. 30th, 2019.
- In the comment section below, post a short description of your deck/wood staining project, the products used to prep, and the Armstrong Clark Stain and Color used. Example of wood projects that can be entered: Decks, Fences, Wood Side Homes, Log Cabins, etc.
- Add 2 before prepping pictures of the wood that was restored (no more/less). You can still enter if you do not have the before pictures. Decks, wood fences, wood homes, etc are allowed.
- 2 after staining pictures must be included (no more/less).
- If having trouble uploading the pictures, please make your picture(s) size smaller (below 1 MB).
Any questions or issues posting, please ask in the comment area.
We look forward to all Armstrong Clark Stain entries!
*Disclaimer: All products must be purchased from ArmstrongClarkStain.com. The contest is not open to products purchased from other online dealers or from physical retail stores.
I have a 900 SQ ft Tigerwood deck. It is now 2 years old. I originally used a well known stain on it but is never dried right and did not last and looked horrible. I purchased Restore A Deck Stripper / Brightner kit and 5 gallons Amber Armstrong Clark stain. I cleaned and stiped the deck ,let it dry two days and applied the Armstrong clark stain. It went on so much eaiser than what I hacd used before, and completed the entire deck in one day. It looks so much better now.
You posted this in the wrong year/contest. Post here: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/articles/188-armstrong-clark-2021-contest-win-prizes
Attached are pictures of our new fence stained with Semi transparent Natural Oak. This was new constructed with rough Cedar 6×6 posts and finished 1”x6” cedar boards. Denver Colorado.
Please post this in the 2020 contest. This is last year.
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/articles/186-armstrong-clark-2020-contest-win-stain-and-cash
Attached are before and after pictures of the shutters I stained on my house with your Semi Trans Rustin Brown Stain. I waited one year to allow the treated pine to cure and then cleaned, power washed and stained the shutters. The stain was very easy to apply with a stain paintbrush. I am very pleased with the way it turned out. The rich natural colors in the stain brought out the beautiful highlights and character of the pine wood. The stained shutters gave the house a finished look it needed so badly and now everything blends beautifully with the landscaping. I’ve gotten multiple thumbs up from neighbors and friends alike and shared your info with them. Thanks so much for your great product.
Please post this in the 2020 contest. This is last year.
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/articles/186-armstrong-clark-2020-contest-win-stain-and-cash
Our south facing fence is exposed to the harshness of the bitter winter winds, the bleaching rays of the summer sun and the salty, sea air of the north west. The value of the Armstrong Clark Stain (Transparent Natural Tone) pertains to the ease of application, the protection against the elements, and the beauty of the end result. We are ever so grateful to our neighbour for recommending this product, so much so that we have recommended it to others. They took note of the results and purchased the same product for their own fence. We have every confidence that our fence will endure the elements for years to come because of the Armstrong Clark Stain.
Here it is. 🙂
This is our lovely log-faced cabin in Windham, NY, which is in New York’s beautiful Catskill Mountains. As you can see from the before pictures, our mahogany deck receives a lot of sunshine and weathers through harsh winters. The deck had not been treated for approximately three years and needed some attention – I had previously used Australian Timber Oil, and then Arborcoat products – but with each application we’ve been increasingly disappointed with the results.
After some online research I found Armstrong Clark, and I sent an email to their info@ email address with a few photos of the deck to ask questions about recommended prep. I was very pleased to receive a reply that very same day directly from Jake Clark, the CEO of Armstrong Clark Stains. I had the pleasure of speaking directly with Jake about the details of my project, and I was happy to learn that the deck didn’t need any additional prep beyond the cleaning and rinse that I had done with a scrub brush.
I ordered the Ipe Stain in Amber, and the customer service team was good enough to send confirmation that the order had shipped out on time to match up with my application schedule. I applied the product with a lambswool roller and cut brush, and evened out any pooling with a clean rag.
I have to say, this product is truly a pleasure to work with! No obnoxious odor – and it lays down beautifully. We couldn’t be any happier with the result. Thank you so much to the entire Armstrong Clark team!!
Ed Sallie
Windham, New York
We recently purchased this home. We loved everything about it other than the deck. It was painted multiple times (different colors) and it was peeling in every spot imaginable. It was nothing short of ugly! I decided to take this project head-on. I did a lot of sanding to include on my hands and knees with a small hand sander. This wasn’t an easy project so I wanted to make sure whatever stain I put on the deck was the best in the market!! After admiring the fabulous pictures on the Armstrong Clark website and the glowing reviews I pulled the plug and ordered samples. I tested out a few of the colors to get an idea for which one would be complementary to the house.
However, the main purpose was to really test the stain to see how it applied on the existing wood and how it would stand up to our weather and everyday use. Reviews are not always a guarantee. After a few weeks of having the stain applied to the deck, I knew I had hit the jack pot with this stain! No hesistation on our end whats so ever.
Prior to staining, I used the Armstrong Cleaner kit. I am glad that I didn’t cut corners by skipping this step. Finally, the time came to apply the stain. Since I couldn’t decide on the best color, I elected to use two of my favorite. One being the Semi-transparent Cedar tone which I used on the top of the railings and the floor of the deck. To accent this I choose their Semi-solid expresso to use on all of the spindles. It was such a relief that after all this work that I was able to apply the stain so easily. I used a chinex brush and it turned out wonderfully!! It so hard to believe it could look this good!
I cannot tell you how many compliments I have received on our deck. It gave new life to our patio. I feel so much relief knowing that it will be so easy to maintain in the years ahead.
We recommend their products with true sincerity! Thank you again for making my deck look so beautiful.
Christopher and Victoria
New York
Our deck was 12 x 22 and in bad shape. We enlarged and replaced everything except the frame. The Armstrong Clark Natural Oak stain did a wonderful job. The neighbors are thinking of using your products!
Whoops, photos loaded out of order but you get the point!
My not-so-tiny house build! Just finished siding the front this weekend (except for one piece of trim). Siding is tongue and groove western redcedar with a light charring from a garden torch. Trim is also cedar but got a good burn. Everything was treated on all sides (including siding endcuts) with Armstrong Clark Amber before installing. I’m proud to say I burned, stained, and put up every board myself.
I spent quite a bit of time researching stains, and now after some of these boards have been up in rain and shine for 4 months, I’m confident the AC was a great choice. I had initially used another highly recommended product on my fascia boards, but it failed in just a few months. The fascia have been holding up great now with the AC. With this stain and utilization of a “rainscreen” gap system during install, I’m confident this siding will last many decades of northwest winters.
Photos:
1. Front (South side)
2. Back (North side)
3. Test fitting a board before burning and staining.
4. Arch window trim ready for the flamethrower and a coat of Amber
Cheers,
Tanner
Love my deck now that I’ve used Armstrong Clark semi-transparent cedar stain. I found your website doing research on deck stains and read all the positive reviews. I was surprised your located in my home state of Michigan. I used your restore a deck cleaner and brightener with just a brush and handle and couldn’t believe the great results I got. I followed up with your semi-transparent cedar stain that went on very easily, applying two coats. I have previously used retail store products that peeled off and years prior I had used a power washer which left marks on some of the boards. So happy I followed the instructions of just cleaning with a brush, letting it set for 15 minutes and rinsed off with a garden hose. The rain water beads up on the deck now and I can’t stop looking at my beautiful deck! Thank You!
I began my deck staining project in May of this year. However prior to this I had done some extensive research to find the best deck stain product and colour that would not only enhance my new deck investment but also provide the best protection from the damaging effects of the weather elements and UV rays.
After talking to several deck experts and reading many online product reviews a d customer reviews, I was convinced that Armstrong Clark Semi-Transparent stain was my best choice and would provide the best look and long lasting protection I was looking for. Although not available to purchase directly in Canada, I felt it was worth the additional shipping charges and the currency conversion to purchase this stain. All of my previous experience with the deck stain products available in Canada have been well below my expectations and just dont stand up to the harsh extreme cold weather climate of Canada. I really liked the look of the semi-transparent Cedar stain that Armstrong Clark offers and decided to select that product for my project. I also decided I would use this project as a test for potentially using Armstrong Clark for staining the wooden fence around the perimeter of my property.
I used the Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener first to prep the wood for the staining and ensure the best outcome from this product for my project. I then applied the stain and was very pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to apply the product and how well it adhered to the wood in a very consistent uniform look. We were very pleased with the finished product and definitely will be using Armstrong Clark for our fence project and any future exterior wood staining projects. Ive also already used the product for an outdoor planter that I built for my wife and she absolutely loves it.
I have received many compliments from friends and neighbours, many of which have asked what product I used. I have no hesitation in reccommending the Armstrong Clark brand. I should also mention I will also be staining the new deck my parents had installed at our cottage with Armstrong Clark. Will send pics once its done!
Congrats on formulating an amazing product that can actually withstand the tough and unforgiving Canadian climate but also provide such a natural beautifying colour.
Cheers!
No job too big, no deck too small…
In May 2018, I extended my existing deck with an 10 × 12ft project. Using large retail lumber store I purchased Sienna pressured-treated pine. With this common mass produced wood I knew I had to wait a year for the deck to settle and more importantly when the time came to stain, I also needed a top-quality product to preserve the wood. I read dozens of articles online and the absolute majority ranked Armstrong Clark Stain as one of the best- since I invested 1000s into my deck I only wanted the best! And located in Toronto, Canada we can experience some harsh northeast elements. In Aug 2019, I ordered two 1 gallon semi-transparent CEDAR color stains from the online Armstrong Clark site and shipped to Toronto with no issues arriving in a few days.
Since it has rained the few days prior the only prep work required was I a thorough sweeping. Using a 2 inch “average” brush (not dollar store as those bristles fall out) I commenced the staining! The product went on beautifully and was very forgiving. If I missed a corner or spindle, I could easily go back to touch-up and the stain blended perfectly. Only 1 coat was required and finished with a half gallon for future touch-ups.
Im delighted with the results and have already had compliments from the neighbors! The deck looks “cottage-y” and makes a bold classic statement. A new Armstrong Clark customer for life.
– Ryan McLean
Toronto, Canada
There are so many great entries so far. Our project is close to our heart because I actually rebuilt this deck about 8 – 9 years ago. The previous homeowner had let the deck lapse to the point where planks had rotted and boards were unsafe. When I replaced it, I decided to go the extra step of putting in under-mount screws, so there is not one screw through the top. That increased the install time by countless hours. So when it came time to protect the deck I had a vested interest in making sure I used only the best. I used another popular stain and was shocked by how poorly it worked. After much research my wife found Armstrong Clark. We used Restore-a-Deck Steps 1 and 2 and finished it with semi-transparent Sierra Redwood. We’ve been using it ever since. The results were – and have been – nothing short of fabulous. We decided to redo it just a few weeks ago as added protection going into another long, harsh Chicago winter. In the two “After” pictures below, you can see that it is highly effective – the rain just beads up and luxurious.
Before and after.
Before and after
More photos to enjoy!
This is the before and after i was hoping to get in by today. Natural Oak Semi-Transparent Stain by Armstrong and Clark over Red Cedar Shingles. Power washed First. Special Thank You to Harry Adler in Providence R.I. for turning us on to this Amazing Product.
We are Proud to show this beautiful exterior red cedar shingle stain project done by Good Deeds Painting and Renovating Inc. Our Manager Cheikh Seye and his crew worked very hard to acheive award winning results with this Armstrong-Clark Oil semi-transparent Natural Oak stain. We reviewed many competitive oil stains and were very pleased with our decision.
I just recently moved to a new home in Maine. The house has a deck of rough sawn lumber which is awesome, but it has never been stained or protected at all for who knows how many years. I used the combo kit, power washing with the Restore a Deck Cleaner and Brightener before putting down the Transparent Redwood Tone stain. I am extremely happy with how it came out! The dry, rough, old lumber sucked up the whole 5 gallons, but it couldn’t have been closer to the perfect amount. Actually looking forward to doing another coat on the horizontal surfaces next year if it needs it after a rough winter. Not much odor to the stain, lingered for a few days. Went on super smooth with a roller even in the spots with very uneven boards. Considering doing all the cedar siding next!
2nd picture.
We live in Alberta Canada. We bought the Cedar Transparent Stain. This stain has outdone any of the stain we have here. We did put deck at home 2 years ago and is still perfect even with our terrible winters. This year I am doing the deck at the lake. Attached is the deck half done! Looks fantastic
A project put off for 14 years the staining of the 24×42 deck built in 2005 never stained nor treated but after a few repairs it was cleaned with a-c restore-a-deck then stained with 10 gals of Armstrong/Clark semi-trans driftwood gray which transformed it to new life to our surprise it sealed most of the weathered cracks and is very water repellent, great products that are easy to use. Thanks
Over July 4th weekend, we transformed our unfinished new cumaru fence into a work of art. We used Restore a Deck Cleaner, and Armstrong Clark Semi Transparent Mahogany stain.
Here are the After Photos
More
We installed a beautiful Brazilian Redwood deck that did not appreciate the deck sealer that we used each year for five years. After searching the internet, I contacted Armstrong Clark by email. We were extremely pleased when a representative replied. Through several emails and after sending photos, he recommended resanding the entire deck. We did as requested and ordered Mahogany Armstrong Clark Stain. The first photo is the one that I sent showing how poorly the deck took to previous sealer. We are so thankful for your advise and product. It is totally amazing that the next photos show how beautiful our deck is back to its original color. So thankful for your advice and product.
A do it yourself deck project became a majored endeavor as the under pinning and some deck boards needed rebuilding and replacement. A good pressure washing and cleaning and brightening using Gemini 895 Restore-a-deck Cleaner & Brightener Kit. Then the Armstrong Clark Cedar Semi Transparent stain. This labor of love urned a 28 year old redwood deck back into an inviting backyard spot.
Fence & Deck project.
We decided early spring to have our small back yard completed with cedar deck and fencing. The back yard had an existing PT fence and two short privacy pine panels to separate us from our neighbors. After much research on the internet we decided that Armstrong Clark fence and deck stain was our best option. All other products available in Canada had varying reviews. We purchased four gallons of natural tone deck and fence stain along with the Restore a Deck cleaning and Brighten kit. The PT fence was a challenge using just the cleaning kit and in hindsight we should have ordered the stripper kit, however we are pleased with the results although a little darker than new cedar results. We waited two months before cleaning, brightening and painting the fence with a four inch roller. We waited as advised the minimum three months before cleaning, brightening and painting the new deck. The cleaning was performed using the kit as instructed, garden hand sprayer and a 1600 psi pressure washer four inches from the surface. My wife was amazed how much of the grey material from the wood came off during the cleaning process. Stain was applied to the deck using a pad and back brushing. In total only two and three quarter gallons were used for this project. We are really pleased with the results and really glad we chose the Armstrong Clark product. We will definitely be purchasing these products to maintain our fence and decking in the coming years. (Unfortunately we forgot to take photos immediately prior to cleaning).
My name is David Noles and I make Native American Flutes. I wanted a serene place for my clients and myself to play our flutes. This pergola was a long time coming. The pergola,end tables ,bench and flower table is western red cedar stained with Armstrong Clark semi transparent stain. This is without a doubt the best stain I have ever used, and I have used a lot in my years.
(one of the photos didn’t post)
Since 2012, we have been using Armstrong Clark semi-transparent cedar stain on our 22 year old cedar deck. We usually re-stain every 2 years; this time life got ahead of us and it was 3 years. We used Restore-A-Deck cleaner and brightener with a deck sprayer and 2000 psi power washer. Our deck is located in Massachusetts on the south side of our home. After trying many products in previous years, we’re sold on Armstrong Clark for ease of application and durability!
This is a 45’x16’ Ipee hardwood deck, had Penofin Rosewood oil finish on the the pictures that look like bare wood in the before pictures. The Penofin came off with just a pressure washer and some 220 sanding. Used your mahogany hardwood stain on the the after pictures. Absolutely stunning in the difference between the the two, the wood grain just pops out.
before and after black walnut on cedar fence
I used Armstrong Clark mahogany semi transparent stain on my back deck, back door entrance, side deck entrance, front porch and railings. The wood is red meranti. The result in just beautiful.
I am planning on staining my deck on Friday. Daytime high will be 71 degrees and overnight low will be 43 degrees.
Should be OK?
Yep.
After months of research reading all the reviews and testimonies of which stain to use and what to use for cleaning and prepping deck I decided to choose Armstrong Clark Clark semi solid stain I decide to do my porch before I tackle my large deck I ordered a sample I use the restore a deck cleaner and brightener I had to sand and strip off old paint the deck is over 10 years old I followed all the directions on the stain and restore a deck products the stain applied smoothly and I was very impressed with the results I will order again for my larger deck of the new color stain espresso semi-solid
Contest entry: NE Pennsylvania family pool deck & pavilion project. We used the suggested cleaning chemicals to prepare the virgin wood. Applied black walnut stain per directions on website using brush and paint pad tools.
The stain went on very well and results were fabulous!
cedar fence , dark walnut Armstrong Clark
first time ive used this material
I have a 4 year old cedar deck that was originally stained with BM semi trans (please never use)…came across Armstrong Clark in my internet travels 2 years ago, got the BM stain of the deck in a very painful process, then RAD cleaner/brightener, and finally applied my fist coat of the Natural Oak semi trans and loved it. From that point on I have never looked back. Onto current day, the current project was a to re-apply the same stain after the 2 year mark as I get a lot of rain/snow in my neck of the woods. As always came to the site to ask a few questions, did the cleaner/brighter combo again…waited for things to dry and just finished applying one coat of semi trans Natural Oak again yesterday. Looks back to the great state it did a couple years ago. Love the stain…and the service you guys provide! Keep it up please 🙂
First two are pics are before prep and second two are after stain.
ARMSTRONG CLARK STAIN Redwood tone is not just for decks. We are using it on our fence and so is our neighbor. We will have the pretty fences in the neighborhood thanks to ARMSTRONG CLARK and the muscle that is building these fences.
We would love to see some pictures.
Pine deck is 1 year old. Cleaned with Restore a Deck cleaner and brightener. Applied Armstrong Clark semi transparent chestnut and it Looks great! It rained 3 days after applying and had no issues with it. Awesome product.
We have a weather beaten redwood deck that is 20+ years old. Over the past 6 years during our ownership it has been restained with another brand of semi transparent oil stain multiple times. The finished color was uneven, the oil was very sticky and the product would fail after one season. This time I pressure washed the deck and cleaned with a deck cleaner. I used Armstrong Clark semi-solid oil stain in its new Espresso color. The product went on beautifully and evenly. The deck color is even, consistent, rich and shows a hint of the natural grain. We couldn’t be more pleased with this excellent product.
New screened porch and deck installed with exotic hardwood. Prepped the deck by sanding to clean up the wood as well as bringing out the figure. I have had some experience finishing an IPE deck in the past with another product, but after doing some research on A&C I decided to try the Amber hardwood stain. The finished project really brought out the beauty of the wood and exceeded my expectations.
Well, this is a 15 year old deck… not taken care of very well. I used restore a deck stripper, cleaner and brightener.. and was shocked! Then I used a 5 gallon bucket of Armstrong Clark semi solid mountain cedar on the 900 sq ft of deck. All this was done by getting wonderful advise from this forum- I am so grateful! Am loving the deck now…
10 year old Tigerwood deck. Hasn’t had any work done to it in 7 years and was badly worn. I was skeptical about achieving very good results, but was pleasantly surprised. Used the Restore-A-Deck stripper and Booster with pressure washer. Then used Restore-A-Deck brightener. Applied the Armstrong Mahogany Hardwood stain and was very pleased with the results. I will follow the process of annually using the Restore-A-Deck cleaner and re-stain with Armstrong Hardwood stain every year as recommended for these Brazilian hardwoods.
New pressure-treated pine fence; stain is Armstrong Clark’s semi-transparent Rustic Brown. Previous fence was leveled by hurricane Irma. I researched and researched for the best semi-transparent stain for the Southeast US (humidity, weather, high heat index) and Armstrong Clark kept popping up. The product used for the stain prep was Behr Premium 1-gal. All-In-One Wood Cleaner. GREAT product! I had no issues applying this stain in 80% humidity with the outside temperature ranging from 85° – 95°. I highly recommend Armstrong Clark, especially if you live in South Florida.
PS I was referring to the stain when I said “great product!”. The way I wrote it, it looked like I was referring to the preparation product.
Very very happy and impressed . Renewed a 17 year old IPE wood porch deck
17 year old partially covered porch IPE wood deck. Initially we finished with popular high end oil/stain product . Over time sun and age killed the finish and left all surface dark grey. We power washed. hand scrubbed and machine scrubbed with little success . We researched and found that Armstrong Clark product was high rated. I called their tech dept and they were very willing to help and spend time discussing my circumstances. I then ordered sample . Tried sample and very impressed after rain, cold and hot New England spring. We ordered the step three refinish products . After seeing it a long time contractors fiesta response was “ did I sand it”. The raw wood finish was beautiful after 17 years of neglect. Since we used the hardwood mahogany finish we’ve received rave compliments from everybody who’s seen it. Almost everybody asks us if we installed new decking before the finish work. By far best product I’ve used. Makes me and my wife look like professionals. Front porch is beautiful .
Any pictures?
Additional after photo
10 year old weathered cedar deck exposed to the sun and ocean salt air (as well as a picnic table). It was brushed and new nails added where the planks had warped. Armstrong Clark Semi-Transparent Cedar was used with a foam deck brush and back-brushed by hand to prevent pooling of pigments. Pleased with the results. Rain water now pools and beads on the surface and it was popular with visiting family.
New deck- pressure treated pine, prep and stain 11 months after build. Prepped with Restore a deck cleaner and brightener per manufacturers instructions. Natural Oak semi-transparent stain applied with Lambskin Pads – went on smooth and easy. Deck looks great!
Used the stain to restore a treehouse in Minnesota
My 20 year old cedar deck needed some TLC. I sanded it, replaced the stringers (with new pressure treated), stairs (with new cedar), and railing (with glass and aluminum). All wood sanded to 80 grit. Used Armstrong Clarke Amber stain. Easy to apply and looks great!
Steven