Armstrong Clark Stain 1 Gallon

Hi,
I just finish installing my new western red cedar deck. I'll have to wait about 3 months to apply a stain to the wood. That takes me to beginning of October. Should i stain it before winter or just wait in spring?

G Egeland:

We are just installing a new cedar deck here in Seattle, Washington. Two questions:
1. We want to highlight the grain and tone of the wood as much as possible. What color would you recommend?
2. We want to wait 3 months for the deck to 'season', but that pushes us into the beginning of the rainy season. Would you recommend shortening the 'seasoning' time or waiting to stain until spring? Non-rainy periods become few and far between beginning in mid-September.

Any color is fine. Highly suggest you order a few samples from our site to test first. You cannot shorten the waiting period of new wood.

We are just installing a new cedar deck here in Seattle, Washington. Two questions:
1. We want to highlight the grain and tone of the wood as much as possible. What color would you recommend?
2. We want to wait 3 months for the deck to 'season', but that pushes us into the beginning of the rainy season. Would you recommend shortening the 'seasoning' time or waiting to stain until spring? Non-rainy periods become few and far between beginning in mid-September.

sonia:

I have 10 year old pressure treated deck what product would you recommend to stain with. thanks for your help sonia

Look at one of our semi-solid colors for the best UV protection for this deck.

Thanks!

I have 10 year old pressure treated deck what product would you recommend to stain with. thanks for your help sonia

Jake:

[/quote]
Amber is the same as the Super Cedar, just renamed.[/quote]

Thanks! So just for clarification, what is the reason for the additional cost for semi-transp. amber over semi-transp. cedar? Colorwise, they look similar. I understand the amber is formulated for hard woods, but does this mean it will perform better on a standard deck? Should I go with semi-transp. cedar since my deck is NOT made of exotic hardwood? Thanks for your help!

Amber can be used on all wood types and there is only one version of it.

[/quote]
Amber is the same as the Super Cedar, just renamed.[/quote]

Thanks! So just for clarification, what is the reason for the additional cost for semi-transp. amber over semi-transp. cedar? Colorwise, they look similar. I understand the amber is formulated for hard woods, but does this mean it will perform better on a standard deck? Should I go with semi-transp. cedar since my deck is NOT made of exotic hardwood? Thanks for your help!

Jake:

About 4-5 years ago, I stained my deck using a color called "transparent super cedar", which is no longer offered. I'd like to re-stain this Spring and was hoping to order the same color. Doing a quick google search, someone mentioned that super cedar is now the amber color? I'd like to purchase whichever color is the closest match and not sure whether to go with a transparent or semi-transparent color since the super cedar did have a nice rich tone that makes me think it was more of a semi. Thanks!

Amber is the same as the Super Cedar, just renamed.

About 4-5 years ago, I stained my deck using a color called "transparent super cedar", which is no longer offered. I'd like to re-stain this Spring and was hoping to order the same color. Doing a quick google search, someone mentioned that super cedar is now the amber color? I'd like to purchase whichever color is the closest match and not sure whether to go with a transparent or semi-transparent color since the super cedar did have a nice rich tone that makes me think it was more of a semi. Thanks!

DaveO:

i live in Virginia, have a 7 year old pine deck than has twice been treated with Cabot's Australian Timber Oil- Mahogany Flame. That is no longer available in my state. I want to re-stain the deck floor boards & hand rails, but not the pickets (they don't need it), so I want something that will match. do you think that I could mix 2 of your colors to match what I have? I plan to pressure wash the deck but not strip it.

The closest color to the Mahogany Flame is the AC mahogany. No need to nix colors. You will need to remove the Cabot first before using the AC.

i live in Virginia, have a 7 year old pine deck than has twice been treated with Cabot's Australian Timber Oil- Mahogany Flame. That is no longer available in my state. I want to re-stain the deck floor boards & hand rails, but not the pickets (they don't need it), so I want something that will match. do you think that I could mix 2 of your colors to match what I have? I plan to pressure wash the deck but not strip it.

whunt:

I have a new "heart redwood" deck. 1) Please confirm that the right stain would be your regular stain rather than the "Hardwood/IPE" stain.
2)The deck was installed around Oct 1 and it will be freezing and snowing here in Colorado mountains very soon. Should I wait until spring to apply? 3)Should I pretreat? Thanks

Yes on the regular AC and yes you should wait 3 months and prep with the Restore A Deck Kit first.

I have a new "heart redwood" deck. 1) Please confirm that the right stain would be your regular stain rather than the "Hardwood/IPE" stain.
2)The deck was installed around Oct 1 and it will be freezing and snowing here in Colorado mountains very soon. Should I wait until spring to apply? 3)Should I pretreat? Thanks

You can apply the AC to the unfinished (not primed) wood.

TheSealerStore:

After install you should let the wood weather untouched for 3 months. After weathering you will need to prep with the Restore A Deck Kit. Not sure what you mean about "primed"? If you mean a primer paint then you cannot use the Armstrong.

By primed yes, I meant primed with an oil based wood primer. This was applied to the tongue, groove, and underside of the boards but not the top face that I would like to stain. None of the primed faces will be visible once the wood is installed - does that still make it unsuitable for staining?

anelson86:

I will be installing T&G fir flooring (non-PT) on a covered front porch and would like to stain it. Prior to staining I plan to use a floor sander to provide a smooth surface. What sort of preparation is recommended before using an AC stain? This will be new wood that has been primed on the back and all sides prior to installation. It may also be worth noting, I have now had this wood stacked on the porch for about 1 month.

After install you should let the wood weather untouched for 3 months. After weathering you will need to prep with the Restore A Deck Kit. Not sure what you mean about "primed"? If you mean a primer paint then you cannot use the Armstrong.

I will be installing T&G fir flooring (non-PT) on a covered front porch and would like to stain it. Prior to staining I plan to use a floor sander to provide a smooth surface. What sort of preparation is recommended before using an AC stain? This will be new wood that has been primed on the back and all sides prior to installation. It may also be worth noting, I have now had this wood stacked on the porch for about 1 month.

Kim:

I have a new pressure-treated pine deck that is 4 weeks old. When can I apply a deck stain?

Wait about 3 months and you need to prep first with the Restore A Deck Kit.

I have a new pressure-treated pine deck that is 4 weeks old. When can I apply a deck stain?

I am sorry, I didn't realize that when you scroll all the way down it gives you an idea of what the colors are. I previously sent an email for some samples. Please disregard.

Dewey:

Hi,

I recently bought a townhouse with an 18-year-old deck, probably made of pressure-treated pine. Looks like it was never stained or sealed.

It's not in great shape, but I think I can get some more years out of it if I take care of it properly. I plan to pressure-wash it as a first step.

It's on the east side of a one-story building, so it gets sun for about half the day, maybe a little more. Located in the Northeast US (plenty of cloudy days, and long winters.) Would a transparent stain be appropriate, or should I go semi-transparent?

Also, if I started out with Natural Tone, could I put one of your other shades over it later on if I wanted to?

Thanks!

You should use the Restore A Deck Kit when pressure washing as it is heavily grayed. Definitely use a semi-transparent or semi-solid color for this. It is really dried out and needs the protection.

Hi,

I recently bought a townhouse with an 18-year-old deck, probably made of pressure-treated pine. Looks like it was never stained or sealed.

It's not in great shape, but I think I can get some more years out of it if I take care of it properly. I plan to pressure-wash it as a first step.

It's on the east side of a one-story building, so it gets sun for about half the day, maybe a little more. Located in the Northeast US (plenty of cloudy days, and long winters.) Would a transparent stain be appropriate, or should I go semi-transparent?

Also, if I started out with Natural Tone, could I put one of your other shades over it later on if I wanted to?

Thanks!

Mrs Mac:

We will be putting up bamboo fencing around our property. It is recommended that an Oil-based, UV resistant sealant be applied to the bamboo prior installation. Which stain is the better choice? I read in the comments that the Amber has 3 times the trans oxides for better UV protection. Is that true for bamboo?

AC is not suggested for bamboo.

We will be putting up bamboo fencing around our property. It is recommended that an Oil-based, UV resistant sealant be applied to the bamboo prior installation. Which stain is the better choice? I read in the comments that the Amber has 3 times the trans oxides for better UV protection. Is that true for bamboo?

Deborah Schinnerer:

I have new cedar deck stained with cedar semitransparent. Should I clean it to keep it looking nice and when does it need to be restrained? We are on Michigan lakeshore.

New wood should be restained 1-2 years after the first application then every 2 years moving forward.

I have new cedar deck stained with cedar semitransparent. Should I clean it to keep it looking nice and when does it need to be restrained? We are on Michigan lakeshore.

Betty:

I can't tell the difference between the woodland brown and sequoia colors. Do you have any pics of decks with these colors? I'm looking for a deep brown with reddish undertones. I can't test out first as my deck needs to be painted soon- next week. Thanks.

We do not have pics. They are both reddish colors but in the scenario neither are mostly brown with a hint of red. Probably the Sequoia would be closest.

I can't tell the difference between the woodland brown and sequoia colors. Do you have any pics of decks with these colors? I'm looking for a deep brown with reddish undertones. I can't test out first as my deck needs to be painted soon- next week. Thanks.

Anne:

Our deck is about 20 years old, made of pressure treated pine, has been stained several years ago but now is almost gone. Do we need to strip it, or will Armstrong Clark cover even the areas that still have stain?

Yes you need to strip and brighten the wood for prep before applying the AC.

Our deck is about 20 years old, made of pressure treated pine, has been stained several years ago but now is almost gone. Do we need to strip it, or will Armstrong Clark cover even the areas that still have stain?