Armstrong Clark Oil Based Wood Deck Stains

Armstrong Clark Staining Instructions

by Administrator

Choosing Armstrong Clark Oil Based Wood Stains will ensure lasting beauty and protection for all your exterior wood surfaces. Backed by five generations of experience in oil-based coatings and cutting edge technology, Armstrong Clark Wood Stains will not only meet your wood protection needs but far exceed them.

Determine the square footage area of the surface you plan to stain. On decks be sure not only to measure the floor but also railings, spindles, steps and all areas that you are planning to stain. Armstrong-Clark Deck and Siding Stains will cover approximately 150-200 sq. ft. per gallon depending on age and wood porosity.

The Armstrong Clark Staining Instructions

Armstrong Clark Deck and Siding Stains come in many different colors and tones. Keep in mind that the actual color results can vary depending on the type, age, condition, and porosity of the wood. Color samples are available if needed.

Prior to using any of the Armstrong Clark Wood Stains it is important to prepare the wood surface properly so the stain will perform as expected. See the RAD Wood Cleaner or Stain Stripper products for properly cleaning the wood surface prior to staining.

Allow the wood surface to dry 1-2 days after it has been cleaned and prepped. Be sure no rain is expected on the day of staining and for 3-4 hours after application so the stain can cure properly.

To apply Armstrong Clark Deck Stain you can use a roller, brush, stain pad, or airless sprayer. Mix the stain thoroughly prior to use. Unlike other stains, Armstrong Deck Stain can be applied in direct sunlight and on hot days. If the first application of stain penetrates within 30 minutes another coat can be applied for added protection.

If applying by sprayer, use a roller or brush to go over the sprayed areas for a more even appearance. After 24 hours use a dry rag to remove any remaining puddles or glossy areas.

Armstrong Clark Wood Stain is environmentally friendly and does not contain an offensive odor. It is easy to apply and very user-friendly. Enhancing the appearance of your deck and giving it lasting protection is the best investment you can make and Armstrong Clark Oil Based Wood Stains makes it easy.

Need Help with Materials Needed? Ask Below with your sq footage.

How to Calculate Square Footage

Deck Sq. Footage

Flooring Length x width =?

Railing Length x height =?

Steps Width x Depth x #of Steps =?

Add up all 3 for the Total Sq. footage.

Fence Sq. Footage

Length x height =?

Multiply x 2 for both sides = Total Sq. Footage

Coverage Rate for AC Stains

The specified coverage rate for Armstrong Clark is 150-250 square feet per gallon for the first coat. Second will apply at 200-300 per gallon. This averages to about 100-125 sq. feet per gallon for 2 coats wet on wet. From this, and from measuring the surface you can calculate how much stain you need. For more aged wood you could easily factor in some extra stain. On newer wood that is still smooth and dense, you probably are not going to use as much.

Note: Hardwood Decking spreads about twice as far. 300-400 sq feet per gallon and only 1 coat.

For maintenance coats you are not going to use near as much stain as you did initially staining bare wood. There are just way too many variables to know the exact coverage rate. There is really no way of knowing exactly how much stain you will need. It is better to buy more than you need than to not have enough. You can always save left over stain for next time. Armstrong Clark has a shelf life of 1 year if opened and 3 years unopened as long as the can is properly resealed.

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Mark
Mark
4 days ago

Is it ok to use your semi-transparent stain on a pressure-treated pine deck after cleaning with oxygen bleach and oxalic acid? I have not done any treatment to the deck since building it 1 yr ago. Also, is there a sealer that can be used over your stain to make it last longer? Thank you!

Armstrong
Admin
4 days ago
Reply to  Mark

Yes, you should be able to use the stain as long as the wood is prepped correctly. No, you cannot apply a sealer over a deck stain. That would lead to peeling.

Kevin
Kevin
15 days ago

Hello,

We stained our deck a few days ago, but when I wipe certain spots with a dry cloth, I am getting some stain on the cloth.

Should I use a dry cloth to wipe these areas or should I spray with a hose and then wipe it? I thought I remembered reading a comment about rain after applying can help “wash off” excess stain but I can’t find it… Thanks.

Armstrong
Admin
14 days ago
Reply to  Kevin

Rain water may remove the excess stain. To speed up the process, you could use rags and mineral spirits. Make sure to saturate any oily rags in water and lay flat to dry outside.

Eric Jorgensen
Eric Jorgensen
1 month ago

How long after staining can I walk on deck?

Armstrong
Admin
1 month ago
Reply to  Eric Jorgensen

1-2 days.

Eric Jorgensen
Eric Jorgensen
1 month ago

I used RAD Cleaner and Brightener following directions, and see that I have either some fuzz or furring, either from too much pressure in pressure washer, or too concentrate cleaning solution/too long letting sit. I suspect the latter…but either way I have a fuzzy look as the wood is drying. Solution? Light sanding before it dries?

Armstrong
Admin
1 month ago
Reply to  Eric Jorgensen

Yes or rent a floor buffer with sanding pad. Very easy:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/wood-fuzzies-furring-on-deck/

Edward
Edward
1 month ago

I stained the floor of my deck with AC Amber stain and as i finished a fast moving heavy rain storm soaked the completed deck. Did the rain wash away any protective elements of the stain? Should i add a second coat?

Armstrong
Admin
1 month ago
Reply to  Edward

Post some pics in comments after the rain water has dried.

Edward
Edward
1 month ago
Reply to  Armstrong

The deck floor near the railings were dry for days when it rained. The other part of the deck floor was rained on after about 1 hour after applying the stain. Looks like there is no shine on the floor that was rained on.

IMG_0918
IMG_0919
Armstrong
Admin
1 month ago
Reply to  Edward

It looks good. No need to apply more stain.

Elaine Fischer
Elaine Fischer
1 month ago

I just replaced the deck steps with new cedar, planning to clean and restain the deck next week. What do I do for the new cedar steps, so white and pop pretty?

This is my third or fourth time redoing the deck with AC stain and RAD prep products.

Michael Wawrzonek
Michael Wawrzonek
1 month ago

I have a pressure treated pine deck that is 6 years old and never been finished. I’ve sanded the stains and glaze off of it with a floor sander and 60 grit paper. Do I need to do any more prep or can I apply the stain to the freshly sanded surface?

Armstrong
Admin
1 month ago

Brighten the wood and give it a good pressure wash rinse. This will open the wood pores so the stain can dive deeper into the wood grain.

Michael Wawrzonek
Michael Wawrzonek
1 month ago
Reply to  Armstrong

What do you mean by “Brighten”?

Armstrong
Admin
Ovidio garcia
Ovidio garcia
2 months ago

Hi I have a mahogany deck and I’ve used your product but I have ran into problem I applied 1 coat it rain and it got wet so I added another coat it has been two weeks and some parts are wet and some are dry what would you recommend

Armstrong
Admin
2 months ago
Reply to  Ovidio garcia

Remove all and start over using this kit:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper

Lenine
Lenine
2 months ago

Hi! Looks like we over applied the Armstrong Clark Natural Oak Semi-Transparent wood stain in a redwood deck and the stain is still not dry after many days. What do you recommend to fix the problem?

Armstrong
Admin
2 months ago
Reply to  Lenine

Try wiping it all down with mineral spirits and rags to remove the excess stain. Make sure to saturate any oily rags in water when done and lay flat to dry outside.

George
George
3 months ago

I have an IPE deck that gets heavy sun and we encountered a fading problem in less than six months. The deck is four years old and we used your products last year and are presently oiling after cleaning. Is there any additive available to increase or extend the sun protection in your product ?

Armstrong
Admin
3 months ago
Reply to  George

No, that is not possible. IPE, being very desnse, requires annual coatings. Make sure you are using one of our hardwood colors:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/hardwood-and-ipe-stain

Victor_6
Victor_6
3 months ago

Can I do a second on Ipe after 12hrs?
Can apply clear coat after 24hrs and what clear can be applied over Armstrong Product?

Armstrong
Admin
3 months ago
Reply to  Victor_6

No. IPE is too dense to take a second coat and you cannot add a clear coat over a deck stain like AC. It will peel if you did.

Megan Workman
Megan Workman
3 months ago

I used the cleaner brightener and stain system last fall, this summer the stain on the heavily used area seems to be rubbing away. Can I put a second coat on? And, what surface prep do I use.
Thanks

Armstrong
Admin
3 months ago
Reply to  Megan Workman

Post some pics in comments for prep help.

Megan workman
Megan workman
3 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Here are some pictures

IMG_6406
IMG_6405
Armstrong
Admin
3 months ago
Reply to  Megan workman

Use the Cleaner and Brightener kit and then apply 1 coat of stain.

Megan workman
Megan workman
3 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Here are some pictures of the issue areas.

IMG_6406
IMG_6405
Jim
Jim
3 months ago

Do you have any product for ipe that does not have pigment?

Armstrong
Admin
3 months ago
Reply to  Jim

No and stain must be pigmented for UV protection. No pigment and the wood will gray in months.

Sean
Sean
5 months ago

How long should I let the product dry before walking on it and then how long before bringing the furniture back on the my deck?

Armstrong
Admin
5 months ago
Reply to  Sean

Typically dries in 4-12 hours but full cure can take a couple of days.

david rosner
david rosner
5 months ago

Can I do 2 coats of the hardwood ipe semitransparent stain? Trying to darken it a bit more…

Armstrong
Admin
5 months ago
Reply to  david rosner

Not on hardwood decking. It will not take as the hardwood is too dense.

Adrian Burns
Adrian Burns
9 months ago

I have just treated an old ipe deck with Armstron Clark wood stain. The deck is over 20 years old. It was left untreated for over five years and then occasional (x3?) treated with Penofin. Last treatement over 7 years ago. This time it was pressure washed, stripped with a hyrogenated product (Penofin Pro-Tech cleaner) and then treated with an oxalic acid based conditioner. When completely washed clean and dry, two coats of mahogany Armstrong-Clark were applied wet on wet. Photos attached.
What would be a maintenance schedule going forward? We are in San Franciso; not too hot, sunny but often wet an foggy and never frosty.
Thanks,
A

IMG_5035.jpeg
Armstrong
Admin
9 months ago
Reply to  Adrian Burns

IPE wood needs to be recoated annually in most scenarios. Clean and brighten for prep and one coat of stain.

Adrian Burns
Adrian Burns
9 months ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Excellent1 Thanks for the prompt reply.
A

Scott Harris
Scott Harris
10 months ago

Staining for the first time. The new deck boards have been down for a year already. I cleaned & brightened & ready to go. Do i do one (1) coat now & then one (1) coat in Spring?? Or……do i do two (2) coats now??

Armstrong
Admin
10 months ago
Reply to  Scott Harris

That varies on the porosity of the wood so hard to say. To be safe, do one now and one in Spring if needed.

Scott Harris
Scott Harris
10 months ago

What if rain is in the forecast? How many days prior to rain can semi transparent stain be applied?

Armstrong
Admin
10 months ago
Reply to  Scott Harris

AC can take a rain about 12 hours after application.

Luis
Luis
10 months ago

I am wondering what product you would recommend for this heavily weathered cedar siding?

2023-11-14 at 21.40.32_13e2d152.jpg
2023-11-14 at 21.40.32_cdd712f3.jpg
2023-11-14 at 21.41.27_948d8773.jpg
Armstrong
Admin
10 months ago
Reply to  Luis

That will look great when done! Use the Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kits while pressure washing for prep. Stain with any of the Armstrong colors in a semi-transparent.

Marcos Gouvea
Marcos Gouvea
11 months ago

Can I use semi-solid stain for an interior job? If so, can I apply polyurethane or lacquer over the stain?

Armstrong
Admin
11 months ago
Reply to  Marcos Gouvea

No, and no. It is exterior only and can never be top coated with a poly.

Joan Bonnar
Joan Bonnar
11 months ago

I used Armstrong-Clarks redwood tone transparent stain and am now looking for a sealant. What should I use? Oil? Water? etc.

Armstrong
Admin
11 months ago
Reply to  Joan Bonnar

Hello, it is not possible to apply a sealer over the AC (or any wood stain brand). It will peel if you attempt this.

Jeremy
Jeremy
1 year ago

I used rustic brown to stain my front steps a month or two ago. I finally got around to doing the back deck, but the stain is going on a lot darker now. The difference is clearly visible when looking at it from the street. I’m not sure if it is because I didn’t stir it enough and the pigment settled to the bottom of the can when doing the front or if the pigment is more concentrated now as I am getting to the bottom of the can. I bought three cans in total and mixed them all in a 5 gallon pail before starting in an effort to have an even color throughout. It’s a great product, but I’m a little disappointed that the color doesn’t match. Since the front steps are fully dried now, would it be ok to back over it with a light coat to darken it up a bit?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeremy

Pigment can settle so you do need to mix it while working. You can add a light coat to darken it if needed.

Jeremy
Jeremy
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Ok, great. Thanks

Kenneth silvia
Kenneth silvia
1 year ago

I stained my deck with Clark last year but it faded and water is not beading up. Can I just scrub with Dawn and restrain with the same color?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Kenneth silvia

Yes.

Megan
Megan
1 year ago

I’ve read all directions, prepped and ready to stain tomorrow, but I am having trouble determining how I will know if I should apply a second coat. I’ve read in the below comments that your advice was to only apply a second coat if the wood can fully absorb it, and to test this in one spot before proceeding. And to be careful not to overapply. Can you please describe in more detail what I am looking for to determine if I should apply a second coat? I was hoping to do wet-on-wet so I can get it all done in one day, so how do I test if the “wet” wood can fully absorb a second coat? For example, should it all absorb in a test section within so many minutes? What would it look like if I should not do the second coat? Thanks much – just want to do it right!! 🙂

IMG_4920.JPG
Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Megan

Your wood looks dried out so just go ahead and apply the 2 coats we on wet.

Megan
Megan
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Ok, will do. Thanks much!!

Eric
Eric
1 year ago

Any special prep required for new wood other than that it is clean and dry? It has been installed for two weeks and rained on several times but otherwise brand new cedar.

Armstrong
Admin
Eric
Eric
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Fantastic–thanks–so I can put my cedar down now out here for the rainy PNW winter, and then prep/clean it in July and stain it then?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Eric

Yes.

Eric
Eric
1 year ago

What are minimum temps required for staining? I’m looking at high of 60 and low of 47 in next couple of days. Ok to stain?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Eric

Temps are good.

Ian
Ian
1 year ago

Temperatures in 2 days will be around 86 degrees and nighttime lows around 65-58 degrees. Are we ok to stain in those temperatures?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian

Yes!

Ian McAllister
Ian McAllister
1 year ago

We have followed all the instructions/directions and unexpectedly there was a light rain last night. The wood was 100% dry previous to this and we had planned to stain today. Should we wait, and if so for how long after the last light rainfall?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian McAllister

Wait 48 hours after rain or prep for the wood to dry before staining.

Ian McAllister
Ian McAllister
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Thank you!

Michelle
Michelle
1 year ago

I just stained my deck with AC semi-solid and noticed some drip marks and lighter areas when it dried. Would it be alright for me to do one more coat?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Michelle

You do not want ot over apply as it may have issues then with fully curing.

Michelle
Michelle
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Ok thanks! How long do I need to wait before cleaning, brightening, and staining it again? It gets full sun.

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Michelle

Every 2-3 years.

Michelle
Michelle
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Ok thanks so much!

David
David
1 year ago

I have a 4-level, 600 sf, cumaru deck. I want to prep and stain the deck in sections. What precautions should I take (if any) to protect each of the finished sections while prepping the adjacent section with the RAD clean and brighten kit?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  David

Do not prep in sections. Prep it all at once. You can stain in scetions as long as you have distinct cutoff points.

David
David
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Thanks. What is the maximum time you can wait between prepping and staining? I’ve already prepped one section and will be out of town for about 3 weeks before I can prep the rest of the deck.

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  David

2 weeks is max. You will need to redo prep.

David
David
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

I’m not sure I can finish the prep for all of my deck including the steps, hand rails, balusters and vertical siding in two weeks. I will try, but (back to my original question) if I need to finish a section to meet the 2 week timeline, what if I were to cover that section with a heavy polyethylene plastic tarp and tape the plastic where it meets the finished section to keep any prep compound from getting on it? Thanks for your help.

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  David

You could try that but easier to just do all the prep at once. It is not as hard as you think it might be.

Melissa Love
Melissa Love
1 year ago

Should we stain our logs after re-chinking or before? I don’t want the chinking to pick up color, but will it adhere properly due to the many oils?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Melissa Love

Stain first.

Melissa Love
Melissa Love
1 year ago
Reply to  Armstrong

Thank you! How long should we wait for the oil to dry? We will be using Perma Chink. Their literature recommends 2 months!

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Melissa Love

24-36 hours.

Sarah
Sarah
1 year ago

I have put 2 coats on my very old never stained pressure treated pine deck. It still looks dry after 72 hours. Can I add a third coat?

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Sarah

No. More is not better and could lead to drying and curing issues.

Jay Liao
Jay Liao
1 year ago

After staining , it started raining after one hour. What should I do?😓

Armstrong
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Liao

Nothing you can do now. Just wait until the rain water dries off to assess.

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