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.
Questions on Staining? Ask Below!
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??
That varies on the porosity of the wood so hard to say. To be safe, do one now and one in Spring if needed.
What if rain is in the forecast? How many days prior to rain can semi transparent stain be applied?
AC can take a rain about 12 hours after application.
I am wondering what product you would recommend for this heavily weathered cedar siding?
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.
Can I use semi-solid stain for an interior job? If so, can I apply polyurethane or lacquer over the stain?
No, and no. It is exterior only and can never be top coated with a poly.
I used Armstrong-Clarks redwood tone transparent stain and am now looking for a sealant. What should I use? Oil? Water? etc.
Hello, it is not possible to apply a sealer over the AC (or any wood stain brand). It will peel if you attempt this.
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?
Pigment can settle so you do need to mix it while working. You can add a light coat to darken it if needed.
Ok, great. Thanks
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?
Yes.
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!! 🙂
Your wood looks dried out so just go ahead and apply the 2 coats we on wet.
Ok, will do. Thanks much!!
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.
See this about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
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?
Yes.
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?
Temps are good.
Temperatures in 2 days will be around 86 degrees and nighttime lows around 65-58 degrees. Are we ok to stain in those temperatures?
Yes!
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?
Wait 48 hours after rain or prep for the wood to dry before staining.
Thank you!
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?
You do not want ot over apply as it may have issues then with fully curing.
Ok thanks! How long do I need to wait before cleaning, brightening, and staining it again? It gets full sun.
Every 2-3 years.
Ok thanks so much!
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?
Do not prep in sections. Prep it all at once. You can stain in scetions as long as you have distinct cutoff points.
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.
2 weeks is max. You will need to redo prep.
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.
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.
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?
Stain first.
Thank you! How long should we wait for the oil to dry? We will be using Perma Chink. Their literature recommends 2 months!
24-36 hours.
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?
No. More is not better and could lead to drying and curing issues.
After staining , it started raining after one hour. What should I do?😓
Nothing you can do now. Just wait until the rain water dries off to assess.
I am staining my mom’s deck. It is 22 year old pressure treated decking. It was last stained with Cabot semi transparent oil stain 3 years ago. It was a high VOC stain they no longer sell in Michigan . I have power washed the deck, removing all dirt, mildew an 75%of the old stain. Can I apply A and C semi transparent stain over the remaining old stain?
No, it has to come off 100%. Post some pics for prep tips.
We recently constructed a backyard pergola built of smooth con hart redwood. The lumber was still wet when constructed. How long should we wait before staining it with your semi transparent stain?
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
I have a new installation of Batu mahogany. I purchased amber semi-transparent stain based on dome recommendations I saw online. There are some wax sealed ends that did not get cut off when laid. Should I sand the topside of those ends before staining? What grit do you recommend and follow up after sanding to open grain again?
The sealer will have to come off before staining but you cannot spot sand. That would lead to uneven stain absorption. 60-80 grit.
Got the deck stained today. Newly stained so still pretty shiny. The wood is new Batu Indonesian Mahogany. I used Amber colored semi transparent. Railings are on the way.
Looks good!
Can I use Anderson Clark oil based deck stain over Cabot water based deck stain over redwood?
No, you have to no matter what, remove the Cabot stain fully when switching stain brands.
How long between coats?
You can do it wet on wet or you can add a second coat when the first coat is fully dry.
How long until fully dry? 75° F day 54°F overnight tomorrow expected to be 78°F finished up at dusk.
How will I know if it needs another coat? Redwood
wanted to add the picture for reference
😂
Only apply a second coat if the wood can fully absorb another coat. You can test spot this. It can take 4-24 hours to dry.
What grit sandpaper to use before staining?
Sanding is not the best way to prep. We can help with prep tips but we would need to see pics posted and have some history about the current condition.
New construction green board decking has dried for 2 years.
This was installed recently or 2 years ago? It looks brand new.
2 years ago
Sorry to question again as it does not look like this has weathered outside after installation of the wood for 2 years. If so it would have grayed/oxidized. Unless it is covered with a roof? If the wood was “seasoned indoors” and then recently installed, that would not count as proper weathering. We just want to make sure you do not prematurely stain:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Feeling very discouraged with semi-transparent Chestnut stain that I just put on year old deck. Since the Chestnut stain that I put on in October 2022 didn’t last well, I cleaned and brightened the deck and railings with Restore-a-deck early this month. The cleaner actually washed away the remainder of the October staining (that I was surprise since I was using the Restore-a-deck cleaner and not the stripper).
When it was thoroughly dry (5% max on my moisture meter), I restained again using a new can of the semi transparent stain. I constantly stirred it, but there always seemed to be pigments that showed on the cedar deck boards (this happened in October, too). See photo. Is this what always happens with the Chestnut color?
Secondly, I worked hard not to over-apply the stain. It has now been 48 hours. As the heat from the sun (84 degrees today) hits the deck boards, they begin to glisten and the oil seems to be rising to the top of the surface. It’s not a ‘puddle’, but I can leave a fingerprint on the surface. Once the sun is no longer directly hitting a board, there no longer seems to be a problem. Is this a sign of over application? Should I be wiping with mineral spirits on a cloth?
The dark spots on your wood is not stain pigment but rather imperfections of your wood itself. The stain is enhancing the imperfections. It does not look over applied but it can take a few days or longer to fully cure. Also, a good rain would help wash away any oily resdue as well.
What kind of brush do I need to apply Armstrong stain to my outdoor pergola?
Stain pads are better. https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/brushes-pads-sprayers
Previous owner had used spar varnish on cedar deck. Going to sand it off, with great pains! If sanding means the cedar wont accept the Armstrong oil very well, should we do another step or only pressure wash before staining? Should we try two coats of stain?
Sand not finer than 60-80 grit. Once done, use the Restore A Deck Kit for final prep and only 1 coat of the AC stain.
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Hi…how long does the stain take to dry and when can I put the patio furniture back?
4-12 hours to dry. 24-48 hours for furntiture.
Thunderstorms last night after I applied stain. Water pooling on wood now and obvious pigment on top of wood. Should I wipe it with rags now or wait the full 24 hours?
Either way is okay.
We live in Wyoming and have a deck 20 years old. Some of the boards had to be replaced with new wood – it was cut last summer. Should we wait 1 year after installation of the new boards to stain them, or is it sufficient that they have been air dried 1 year after being cut?
See here for new wood tips: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
It starts to weather after install, not cut.
My pergola is being sanded today. It was cleaned two days ago but it rained yesterday morning. How long after sanding do I need to wait before staining?
You need to clean after sanding to open up the wood pores. Wait 48 hours after to stain.
We used your mahogany wood stain on year-aged new mahogany 3 years ago. We have to recoat but the original finish is worn in places and appears to need sanding in places to even it out. Also, we would like to go with a lighter color, as the mahogany was too dark for us. What do you suggest we do? I need to order supplies soon, and not sure if sanding is the way to go.
Do not sand. Use this kit to remove:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
Stain after with the Amber color.
There are a number of items at this link. Use the Restore A Deck Stripper and Brightener?
Sorry wrong link: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
The deck looked good after stripping and brightening – a little blotchy but seemed ok. When the amber was applied, some sections came out amber, some came out dark, close to the original mahogany. Can I mix some amber and mahogany together and apply over the light sections to bring the coloring closer?
No. It is not possible to mix and then spot apply and have it all blend.
I’m considering using your product on a new deck. Reading your application instructions it says it can be applied with a sprayer, roller or brush. If using a sprayer use a roller to even out the stain. Reading some of your responses to questions from others I’m confused as to whether this method is acceptable.
It cannot be pump sprayed but you can use an airless sprayer. As for a roller, it is much better to use a stain pad or brush as rollers can splatter.
Greetings. I have Western Red Cedar siding on my house that is at least 15 years old and rough side out. A contractor cleaned it with Jomax and lightly pressure washed it. I ca’t tell for sure if was ever stained. Water does not bead up but is mostly absorbed. Is there an easy test to make sure no stain is present? I plan to apply 1 coat of your semi-transparent stain. Thanks
It looks good to stain.
Looks great. Thanks
Last summer we put in a cedar deck. In late September / early October, we stained it with semi-transparent Chestnut AC wood stain. Wood was prepped as required prior to finishing (sanded, cleaned with Restore-a-deck brightener). Both daytime and night time temps were within proper range and we checked the moisture level of the wood using a moisture meter reader. Now the deck looks like the attached photos. The color is even coming off I gently scrub off the bird poop from the deck boards. Thoughts on why this happened? I worked hard to not over-apply the stain. Could I have sanded too much?
It needs to be redone. Does this mean that I need to strip the deck back down to bare wood with the Restore-a-deck stripper or can I just use the brightener?
It is okay for the rest of the year. next Spring, redo the RAD Cleaner and Brightener prep and only aopply 1 coat to ensure the AC stain fully soaks into the wood grain.
Why do your think the stain didn’t take?
Probably due to the power sanding. You do not want your wood too smooth. It needs to be porous.
Do you recommend using a coarser grade of sand paper to “rough up the wood”before restaining?
Sanding is not the proper way to prep as it can close the wood pores. Strip and brighten or Clean and Brighten.
1.Can a marine grade finish be applied over your product ?
2 since western cedar is an VERY soft wood, can I use a prestain conditioner to even out the color ?
1. No you cannot ever top coat a deck stain, it will peel.
2. No, it will repel the stain and hinder its ability to penetrate properly.
I stained my deck yesterday in Mahagony and wood(mahogany) looks dry. I walked on it and my feet turned slightly orange and very slightly oily. wanted to do a second coat to even color. Please advise.
You cannot. Only one coat for Mahogany wood. It is too dense to accept another coat.
I will be staining my deck soon with AC semi-solid stain. I’m confused about whether to use a roller, staining brush, or stain pad to apply it. I have a combination of new and old wood on my deck. New wood is pine. Not sure but I think that the old wood is pine as well.
I have read that the stain pads can come off or tear so I’m wondering if I should go with one of the other options?
No roller. Use a stain pad or brush: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/brushes-pads-sprayers
How long should I let the first coat dry before adding a second coat. I’m using your semi-solid stain. Very happy so far!
See tips here: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/armstrong-clark-staining-instructions
Ive read those instructions. So, I assume I can do a second coat anytime after the first coat is dry? Next week?
Yes but be careful of applying too much. More is not always better when it comes to deck stains.
Thanks! Our deck is looking great but we want a second coat.
Wondering if we can apply the stain if our nighttime temps are in the mid to high 40’s and daytime temps are 60-70’s? Trying to find a non rainy window of opportunity here in Oregon. Thank you.
Yes, you can.
So I read that this can be applied in hot sun and any temperature. Since I live in Phoenix does that still apply? Not sure if I can get to my staining project (a very weathered previously stained pergola roof) before summer and wonder if I would be better off waiting until the fall in that case.
Yes, it is fine for AZ.
Two years ago I used the semi-solid mountain cedar on my deck railings and semi-transparent cedar on the deck flooring. I would like to treat the deck flooring again this year, but with the semi-solid, as we prefer the darker color. I have about half a gallon of the semi-transparent left over from two years ago. Can I mix that with a couple of gallons of the semi-solid to avoid throwing it away?
The shelf life of an opened container is 12 months so most likely it is not good anymore.
Thanks for your reply.
hi – how long would you guess it takes to dry one coat of the transparent stain in about 50 degree temperatures? and how can i tell when its dry enough to install (thin redwood siding for a shed)
You should not pre-stain new smooth wood. It has to weather and be prepped: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
thanks. I already stained one side, uh oh. at this point, am i better off to stain the other side, or install the stained side to face inside-facing of the shed, and let the outside-facing side of the siding weather. this is quite thin tongue and groove redwood.
It is not best to test all sides, only the exposed wood is needed. It actually can hinder the wood to stain all sides as it will not allow the wood to breathe.
I have redwood siding with 3 coats of Sikens Cetol. What prep-work should I do to stain with your product?
It has to come all off. Post pics for advice.
Thanks for the quick response. Please provide suggestions on options to remove the Sikens.
Post pics of your siding for advice on this.
It will not blend if you just stain over it. Remove the spilled areas first.
What is the lowest temperature that your stain can be applied on vertical wood siding? And what is the lowest overnight allowable temperature while drying?
50s for applying. Cannot drop below 40s at night.
Deck has been prepped and has dried for around 40hrs. Temperatures running between low 50s and upper 60s under mostly cloudy skies. Rain is expected around 12hrs after I finish staining. Am I good to go or should I wait?
You should be fine.
I know that I’ve seen the answer to this question before, but I can’t find it in the thread.
70% chance of rain tomorrow beginning at 5:00 a.m. But, today is ideal conditions for staining. Is it okay to stain today if I quit by 3:00? Or, is that too risky?
It should be fine but depends on the temps and how much sun you have after finishing.
I’m sad that this cedar table top that I made and stained was water marks on it. The water was able to penetrate the cover that I had on it. Is it possible to restore the original look? I imagine I’d have to clean and re-stain again?
You would have to sand off the coating and the water stains fully.
Thanks. Would RAD cleaner and brightener also work?
No.
Can your solid base stain be applied over semi transparent stain?
As long as it is clean and the old stain is not peeling.
stained our new redwood pergola boards before installation. Pergola has been up 2 months in dry weather (90-100 degrees some days. After light rain our concrete pavers under pergola are badly stained. Any tips on stain removal from pavers and how to keep this from happening next time it rains.
Sounds like you did not follow new wood directions: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
You will need to strip it off and brighen the wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
Let it weather properly, clean and brighten after, and then apply one coat of the AC Stains.
Try a graffiti remover for cleaning the pavers.
I’ve been using your stain for years w/o a problem. Kiln dried redwood, sanded w/80 grit to clean, stained with paint pad and wiped dry immediately. Let sit 2-3 days before install. Wood is dry to the touch and rag is clean and stain free when wood is wiped. Tried to attach a picture from iphone but site would not accept it.
You did not weather and prep as directed. Does not matter if kiln dried, still has to weather and be prepped correctly. Also, you cannot back-wipe AC stains right away as that remove the curing oils before they have a chance to separate and dry. This leaves your stain “upside down” with only the non-drying oils and this is why it ran off.
What do you suggest I do now? Light pressure wash to remove oils?
Hi. Our first response answered this. Thanks