Armstrong Clark Oil Based Wood Deck Stains

Armstrong Clark Wood and Deck Stain Photo Album

by Armstrong

The Armstrong Clark Stain Photo Album

Armstrong Clark Wood Stains comes in 16 different color choices. Armstrong Clark penetrates into the wood grain while “enhancing” the natural color tones of your wood.

Very Important: We do not guarantee final colors due to age and species of the wood, and how wood is prepared, affects the final color of an applied stain. Please use an Armstrong Clark Sample can to test for color and absorption on your wood before beginning application. Please wait 48 to 72 hours after applying the sample before viewing for the final color.

Final Armstrong Clark color will vary based on:

  • Type of Wood
  • Age of Wood
  • Prepping of Wood
  • Application method

Any Questions on Armstrong Clark Colors? Ask in the Comments below.

Armstrong Clark Stain Photo Gallery

There are over 100 pictures of all Armstrong Clark stain colors. Descriptions of stain colors are below each picture.

Colors are listed in the same order as Color Chart.

Armstrong Clark Stain Colors Horizontal small

Espresso Thumbnail

If you have used the Armstrong Clark Stains, we would love to see your photos!

Please add them in the comment area below

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Keith
Keith
22 days ago

I have a cedar fence (smooth not rough sawn) and I put a clear wood protector on it 18 months ago. I loved that look, but the fence grayed quickly and I’m looking for something with UV protection that will last 2-3 years. Your transparent natural doesn’t have enough protection for that does it? That would be my choice in appearance…..

The semi cedar is more orange than I’d like. Do you know what kind of wood this Semi Amber is on? That might be the best balance of appearance and protection but the other amber pictures are darker than what I’m looking for.

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Michael Corcoran
Michael Corcoran
3 months ago

I’m a contractor in New Jersey and I love your product.
Mahogany treads with Amber stain.

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Casey
Casey
5 months ago

I ordered a sample of rustic brown and natural oak, thinking the rustic brown would be darker than natural oak. Once I placed the samples on the wood, it was the exact opposite. Natural oak is very dark and rustic brown is lighter with more of a red tint to it? I’m just confused as the natural oak is significantly darker than in the color chart (when compared to rustic brown). I guess this has to do with the type of wood I’m using?

Bo Moreland
Bo Moreland
5 months ago

We have a pressure treated deck (southern pine I believe). The amber color is listed under hardwoods and softwoods on the AC website. The deck is about 8 months old and has been cleaned and powered washed.

Can amber be used on my deck?

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Michael barbo
Michael barbo
6 months ago

When you say not recommended higher elevation to what elevation do you refer? My home sits at 5778 feet above sea leve ( I live in Colorado)

joe
joe
7 months ago

If you put a semi-solid stain (e.g., Expresso) on 20-year-old mahagony decking under a covered porch which has different exposure to sunlight, will it have the effect of giving consistent color across the deck? Thanks.

joe
joe
7 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Perfect. Thanks!

Bonnie
Bonnie
7 months ago

What stain colors would be more gray brown. Have tried amber, cedar, mountain cedar, and walnut. All except walnut very yellow orange on cedar. Walnut darker than hoping for.

Luna Dee
Luna Dee
7 months ago

I want to PRESERVE a pressure treated pine deck, 5 years old. Will first sand off 3 year old latex semi-solid. I’d like blue or purple! but appearance comes second to durability and longevity. What product and prep do you recommend? Northwest Indiana.

Luna Dee
Luna Dee
7 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

I know – that was a joke. Repeat query without colors.

Jim Chase
Jim Chase
8 months ago

Replaced our deck a year ago and now this summer staining it.. very happy with the Armstrong stain. My grandson helped and got it done in one day. Thinking about adding a second coat to flat surfaces but very happy.😁

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David DiMassimo
David DiMassimo
8 months ago

Hello! I purchased mountain cedar from you in 2015, I did a re application of the same product on the deck only (leftover) in 2019. This is a great product. I am looking now to change it up, it is pressure treated material an honestly I am sick of looking at the terrible grain that it has. I am thinking espresso with doing a lighter color on the rails, a grey color but see you dont have anything and may go with a solid stain color for someting differnet on the rails. What do you recommend for prep on the deck? Would just a cleaning do as I am going darker, and maybe the rails.

Kathy Dam
Kathy Dam
9 months ago

can you only guy through the internet?
do you send sample colors
I have a new deck live in northern Illinois and have all day sun on 85% of deck

Vick Gower
Vick Gower
10 months ago

We live in Central Indiana and have a new deck made of pressure-treated wood. It receives 8-10 hours of direct sunlight during the day. Our main concern is to protect the wood from UV damage. A contractor who works with your stains said, once they have properly prepped and applied a Semi-Transparent stain it will provide sufficient UV protection for at least 2-3 years. He said he prefers it to Semi-Solid because those can look patchy and tend to peel instead of just fade. Which can make for tougher reapplication when it is time to re-stain. Would love to know if Semi-Transparent will satisfy our objective in your opinion as well. Thanks!

Anna
Anna
10 months ago

I’m looking to restain my old fence. I’m considering the black walnut and espresso. Which of the two has less red in it? I’m looking for a true dark brown. Also is the espresso semi transparent?

Al Martel
Al Martel
10 months ago

Hi, considering a cedar deck that has been stripped with the restore-a-deck products, and plan on using the cleaner and brightener product before this years stain, what is the best recommended stain to keep the cedar’s natural colour and not yellow it any further? Thanks

Al Martel
Al Martel
10 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

I’m back, thank you for your reply. I’d love to order samples, but we are in Canada and with shipping and timing schedules, we don’t have time to go through that specific process. Thanks for your time, you guys are a priceless resource. I’m not sure if anyone else has had this problem but I can’t seem to attach photos of our current decks state and what we’re looking for, does it have to be a certain format besides jpeg? Apologies

Al Martel
Al Martel
10 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Hello, apologies in advance again.. no matter what size and resolution I try it will not allow me to drag/attach photos onto here. Is there any chance I can email them instead?

Al Martel
Al Martel
10 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

I didn’t have that option and had to switch browsers all together. Yes for prep advice and possibly not having to take all this time for samples then ordering the actual product since we live in Canada. We are looking for that colour tone below so if we can get it close with your recommendation we are happy to order and skip the sample step.

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Al Martel
Al Martel
10 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Thank you very much

Jane Ann Kantor
Jane Ann Kantor
11 months ago

From the images above it’s hard to tell the difference between Transparent Natural and Transparent Cedar. I assume TC has a red tint to it and TN is more clear? Thank you!!

Jane Ann Kantor
Jane Ann Kantor
11 months ago

It’s time to clean and stain my pressure treated wood deck. (Last done 2 years ago) I love your product and have been using it for years. I have used semi transparent cedar in the past but now considering using transparent natural. I will use your restore a deck first. Would transparent work over semi transparent (deck quite faded now)

Ray Johnston
Ray Johnston
1 year ago

Hi, I have a western red cedar ceiling with armstrong clark natural transparent on it. It darkened the cedar more than i was expecting. Can that be lightened in some way?

Valerie Friedrich
Valerie Friedrich
1 year ago

Which armstrong clark stain is more brown and does not have red in it? mountain cedar or woodland brown… I cannot remember which stain I bought about three years ago. I believe it was mountain cedar… ? Thanks so much. You don’t keep purchase info from three years ago by any chance? 

Valerie Friedrich
Valerie Friedrich
1 year ago
Reply to 

Thank you so much! I assume it was the Mt Cedar semi-solid … was Mt Cedar ever available in a semi transparent! Learned a lesson to take pics of my paint cans and not rely on my memory! Thanks again!

Barb Kalled
Barb Kalled
1 year ago

Forgot to post my photos…sorry!!  Again…I live in NH an am planning to re-stain my small mahogany deck, which is completely weathered. I am attaching some photos of a small section of board when it was new (all the same piece of board, but looks different in different lighting). Which color of the hardwood colors would be the closest? Amber looks too light, Mahogany looks too red, and Black Walnut looks too dark, but closer than the other two. Which would you recommend I use? Thank you.

Barb Kalled
Barb Kalled
1 year ago

I live in NH an am planning to re-stain my small mahogany deck, which is completely weathered.  I am attaching some photos of a small section of board when it was new (all the same piece of board, but looks different in different lighting).  Which color of the hardwood colors would be the closest?  Amber looks too light, Mahogany looks too red, and Black Walnut looks too dark, but closer than the other two.  Which would you recommend I use?  Thank you.

Roger Franklin
Roger Franklin
1 year ago

A picture of the upper portion after aanother contractor claimed to have used Armstrong Clark semi trans. As you can see it now looks like a solid color stain or paint.

Roger Franklin
Roger Franklin
1 year ago
Reply to 

Agreed thanks.

Roger Franklin
Roger Franklin
1 year ago

Our original work on the lower flooring portion.

Roger Franklin
Roger Franklin
1 year ago

I have a real problem. I am a licensed general contractor in Colorado as well as owning a painting company for 30 years. I have done many decks over the years. Back in June and July I repaired and completely stripped and restained a 20 yr old pressure treated pine wood deck for my mother and father-in-law in Pennsylvania. The deck was originally Armstrong Clark Driftwood semi-transparent on all flooring and railings. We ordered 5 gallons of cedar and 5 gallons of driftwood semi-transparent from you for the finish coats. Needless to say it turned out amazing. Approximately a month later another company came out and pressure washed a retractable awning covering the upper portion of the deck without protecting it. Whatever product they used to remove the algae either had bleach in it or something that completely discolored the cedar flooring portion of the deck with a chemical reaction. The owner insisted on fixing it claiming he knew what he was doing. He had one of his workers lately sand that upper damaged portion and supposedly restained with Armstrong Clark cedar semi-trans. I question whether he used Armstrong Clark as that portion he tried to fix looks like solid color stain or even paint. He now insists on redoing that portion by stripping it but we’re not having anything to do with him again. I would like to strip his existing finish and restain again to match ours. Would you recommend using the stripper brightener kit or do you give pause after looking at these pictures?The solution isn’t fun and a lot of work but I want to proceed correctly. I am including pictures of the damaged portion of the deck, another picture of our original work our work on the bottom flooring portion and a third picture of his final product that looks like a solid color stain. Thank you for your time and a great product.

Paula Bowman
Paula Bowman
1 year ago

Is the wood stain also a sealer?

Ava
Ava
1 year ago

The picture of the sample off semi solid Mountain Cedar looks much darker than all the photos of Mointain Cedar in the album which look like a lighter natural color. Will a semi solid cover small rust marks around screws? Deck is only a year old but deck brush when prepping deck apparently removed coating despite a warranty. I’m told I got a bad batch. So can no longer use semi-transparent. Perimeter is painted brown want a two tone with lighter top. Amber semi-solid looks light in some pictures as well. Am hoping I don’t have to use a solid stain now that will peel and I’m running out of warm weather in Northeast. Been impossible finding 4 days without rain. Completed prep can’t stain until no rain. Thanks

Maureen
Maureen
1 year ago

Please post your pics in one gallery spot. This is brutal. All I want to see is some semi-solid decks and I can’t find any. Please make this easier!

Bibi
Bibi
1 year ago

Any picture of sequoia semi solid?

STLKS
STLKS
1 year ago

How do I know if I should use the Clean and brighten or the strip and brighten as prep work. Our deck is about 7 years old and was stained once previously. I can’t remember if it was  your product or another. 

John
John
1 year ago

I purchased the semi transparent rustic brown.  
what’s the best applicator for a large deck.

John
John
1 year ago

I purchased a house with a pt wood deck.  The previous owner sanded deck.  From the pictures attached can u suggest next steps?  Would like to use rustic brown semi- transparent stain.  Thanks

John
John
1 year ago
Reply to 

Thank you 

David Speis
David Speis
1 year ago

I need a quart sized container for some replacement boards on my deck.  Do you sell that size?

Dawn Bishop
Dawn Bishop
1 year ago

As a furniture restorer, I have had a lot of experience with staining, including deck staining. I have tried many stain formulas and by far Armstrong surpasses in consistency, durability and color. I have a 30 year old, large pressure treated deck. After two separate applications of solid oil stain to hide the previous owners stain color, I had had it with the constant mildew, chipping, scraping, etc. I considered demolishing the deck and installing Trex, but frankly, I love “real” wood. So, I figured I would try one more time to bring this deck back to life with a little structural alteration, glass-blasting, cleaning with Armstrong cleaner and staining. I couldn’t believe the final product. I highly recommend the cleaner and brightener (don’t skip-its an easy process) as despite the results after blasting, the cleaner/brightener made it look like new wood. I combined (50/50) of Driftwood (semi) and Rustic brown (semi) to come up with a color that resembled a pergola already in place. The result was a very natural aged barn look. I also highly recommend mixing a combined color several times during the application process so it stays consistent. I can’t recommend this stain enough! Thank you

Dawn Bishop
Dawn Bishop
1 year ago
Reply to  Dawn Bishop

Before photos: 

Armstrong Clark Semi-Solid Stains
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1 year ago

What about the use of patio rugs. After staining, when is it okay to put them down?

Lori O
Lori O
1 year ago

Rustic brown deck. Turned out beautifully!

Sharyn acampora
Sharyn acampora
1 year ago

I put new kiln fired floor decking. The railing are old they have cabot Australian timber oil jarrah brown. Last year I covered de king with transparent cedar tone. Color was off. I cleaned ( not stripped)and brighten using your product. I want to re stain using semi trans. Chestnut. 

Frances
Frances
1 year ago

We are very happy with the result of the stain – semi transparent chestnut – on our deck. We applied just one coat as instructed. Color initially was a bit darker but after a few days I think it finally set. 

Allison Reid
Allison Reid
1 year ago

I currently have water based a semi- Solid from Sherwin Williams on deck. We have pressure washed the entire deck. I have also used an orbital sander with 60 paper on the entire deck. I am afraid to use any cleaners on the deck because we have an asphalt driveway , and I have older plants all the way around the deck. I am afraid a cleaner or brightener will harm them. Can I use AC Semi Solid Oil with the prep work I have already done?  

Allison R Reid
Allison R Reid
1 year ago
Reply to 

Here are the pics of the prep work.

sherri
sherri
1 year ago

We have aged cedar shingles. All the colors the contractor provided have a lot of red. What are our options. The previous stain is TPW Cedar it looks more brown.
They are recommending an oil base stain.

Terri
Terri
1 year ago

Are semi transparent natural oak and hardwood amber close in color on pressure treated lumber? We’ve used (and liked) the amber before, but understand the semi transparent lasts longer. Any advise? 

Greg
Greg
1 year ago

How will your semi-transparent stain hold up on Iron wood? 

Simon
Simon
1 year ago

I have a redwood deck and I am trying to achieve this look. Which stain color will be the closest match? Thank you!

Simon
Simon
1 year ago
Reply to 

Thank you! Ordered a sample. 

Ray
Ray
1 year ago

My 750 sq ft PT deck was built about 12-14 years ago, and been stained most recently with TWP semi-transparent Dark Oak. The wood is in good condition, and was last stained 5+ years ago. I’m planning to stain it with AC semi-solid Mountain Cedar or Woodlawn Brown.
Can you offer any advice or suggestions? 

Nancy
Nancy
1 year ago

Any pictures of cedar decking stained in Oxford Brown or Espresso?

Carolyn Pendry
Carolyn Pendry
1 year ago

I have an existing redwood deck, semi transparent in rustic brown. New deck now adjoins. I would like to even out the contrast to be somewhere in the middle. What is involved? What do you suggest? I love your product!

Carolyn Pendry
Carolyn Pendry
1 year ago
Reply to 

Would sanding the old deck be unsuccessful or too labor intensive?

Darlene Polito
Darlene Polito
1 year ago

I stained my deck 2 years ago with semi transparent cedar and it needs refreshing. I was thinking of using a darker semi solid. Can I go to the darkest espresso over the cedar colour? I would love to see some examples of the espresso semi solid but noticed that it is not represented in your photo album. Could you add some pics of the espresso?

Jeff
Jeff
2 years ago

Hi there. We just had a screened in porch built in June. The porch has vinyl windows/screens (EZBREEZE) installed. It is fresh pressure treated wood as of June. Due to the windows, using a pressure washer is not an option. Can I apply directly to pressure treated pine that has been installed now for 3 months? moisture content is below 12%.

Bill Whetsel
Bill Whetsel
2 years ago

Cedar deck using Armstrong Clarke semi transparent cedar stain. 

helen
helen
2 years ago

Hi, we followed all the instructions, weathered our kiln dried, T&G, fir decking for just over a year and the dark walnut stain we applied is much lighter and redder in color than the samples we applied.  Is it ok to put a second coat on it after the first has cured?  If so, how long should we wait?Thanks,Helen

Nancy
Nancy
2 years ago

Can your stains be used to refinish kitchen cabinets? If so what prep do I need to do first?  Any application advise?

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2 years ago

A few years ago I did my entire home using A-C stains: cedar siding, cedar soffits, redwood trim and hemlock windows. Beautiful and much better than the Penofin I used many years before. Lat week I re-did my mahogany doors with the hardwood stain – see the picture – absolutely beautiful.

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