Armstrong Clark is a penetrating oil based stain that will soak deep into the wood grain offering protection from UV graying and water. The advantages to a penetrating deck stain is that they will not peel but rather fade over the years. The key though is proper prep before applying your AC especially if your wood is new.
New “smooth” wood should not be stained right away with Armstrong Clark. A few things need to happen first:
- The wood should dry out in the climate
- Exposed layers of wood cells should oxidize slightly
- Mill glaze needs to be removed
- Prep after waiting will remove both oxidation and mill glaze
New Decks and Armstrong Clark Stain Tips
The best advice is to not stain your new smooth wood too soon after install but follow these steps:
- Install wood and let sit outside for 3-4 months or more if using a transparent or semi-transparent color. If using a semi-solid color, you should wait 12 months.
- Once the wood has been exposed, use the Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kit for prep.
- Let the wood dry for 2 or more days after prep.
- Apply 1 coat of the Armstrong Clark Stain. Do not over apply.
To maintain your new coat of AC you will most likely need to a light coat in 12-24 months to just the floors or horizontals surfaces. In the future, you will need to reapply AC every 2-3 years for most scenarios or as needed based on your particular traffic and weather.
Important Note: Rough Sawn cut wood can be stained right after install as long as the wood is clean and dry.
If you have a question on prepping your need wood or deck, feel free to ask below.
We just installed new fence – one side is smooth (our side) and the other side is rough. I see that I have to wait 3-4 months for the smooth side to weather to stain it. However the rough is dry and can be stained anytime. Do you recommend to stain the rough side first and can i do it without cleaning and brightening? Or would it be better to stain both sides at same time e.g. so color doesn’t leak through or wood is protected at same time or maybe some other reason? There is a 1/8″ gap between the fench panels. I’m planning to use transparent or semi transparent
No, prep and stain all at once in 3-4 months. It will bleed through so you cannot do one side at a time.
Does both sides need to be prep and stained if done later?
No, just the exposed side.
Both sides are exposed.
If it is exposed then prep and stain.
We have glulam stairs for our concrete deck. They are east facing so only get morning to mid morning sun. We are in Eastern Washington State, so have all four seasons. Do we need to wait to stain them?
Yes.
Hello,
I’m getting a new cedar GARAGE DOOR . The owner of the garage door company and my contractor both said to stain it first BEFORE it is installed. The owner of the garage door company also recommended staining, sanding, and re-staining multiple times.
However, I plan on staining it an Armstrong Clark semi-transparent stain.
Where I live, the Summers will be in the 50s and it’s very foggy.
Should I follow the instructions above, have it installed, wait 3-4 months, clean & brighten, and then stain?
Or can I stain it now? If I stain it now, do I need to also clean and brighten it? (I know all the comments say to do this for decks, but not sure if garage doors are different)
I’d like the wood to look at nice as possible, but it also doesn’t need to be perfect. This is part of a much larger project and I just need this to be done.
A picture of 1 of the 4 panels is attached.
Thank you,
Bill
Yes, follow the directions here fo new wood, not what your builder states.
Thank you for the prompt reply! Some follow up questions / comments:
The wood needs to weather outside fully exposed and then prepped.
Thanks for the prompt reply! This site in amazing.
I ran this buy the dealer and builder. The dealer hit me with: “I’ve been doing this 25 years and everyone stains them before they are installed. It’s difficult to get into all the crevices once they are installed”.
Follow up questions:
OR
Thank you,
Bill
Just leave outside and prep and stain when ready,
Hi my mahogany flooring on my porch with a roof was just installed back in March. It already has some water stains, but I intended to let it weather for 12 months. Will the Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kit remove these water stains? I’m planning to use the Hardwood/Ipe Stain in either Amber or Mahogany.
You probably will need to sand all the wood to get those stains are deep in the wood grain. Prep with the Cleaner and Brightener after.
Hello, you’ve helped me this past month and answered a couple of my questions, and I really thank you for getting back to me so quickly. After using the deck cleaner, we got a week straight of rain. Its finally been dry out for 6 days and im ready to stain using your mohagany deck stain. Today suddenly says 24% chance of light showers in the afternoon. Would it be a bad idea to do it, even though it’s 12 amd gorgeous?
Also, wondering what would be the best way to make the plugs, for the holes in my IPE decking, match the wood it’s going into a little more? It’s important to my client, and i’m just not confident whether or not the mohagany stain will blend that or not? Thank you for your time
Hard to say with the weather. As for the plugs, never use wood filler on a deck as the stain will not tint the wood filler so it blends.
Can I apply your stain if the temps are 55 during the day but drop down to low 40’s at night? or should I wait until the low is above 50?
Yes, that is okay.
I am working with RAD, preparing to strip my pine deck of Behr semi-transparent crap. I am planning on using their Paint and Stain remover, per their recommendation. Part of my deck is steps I flipped last fall, so that I could stain the bottoms, that had never been stained. Additionally, I have replaced 8-10 deck boards with treated lumber, all installed last fall. Lastly, I am totally replacing the railings with pressure treated pine and aluminum balusters. I am drying the PT pine in a DIY kiln to remove moisture.
So, given all of that, is it possible for me to use your semi-solid stains? Or, can I use the hardwood stains?? Please advise. Oh, also, RAD says that I do not need a cleaner/brightener after using their paint/stain stripper……
Thanks
To be able to use the Semi-solid colors, new wood needs to season for 1 year. The hardwood colors are designed for hardwoods but can be used on all other wood types. The RAD Paint Strip does not need to be neutralized with a Brightener. The new wood and flipped wood do need to be cleaned and brightened. We would suggest to Strip first and then use the Cleaner and Brightener Kit on all wood to ensure an even porosity of the wood when done.
do the hardwood colors also require a year for the new wood??????
3-4 months as the article explains above.
We installed new IPE decking last Fall. The contractor stained it shortly thereafter with disregard to directions. It’s now Spring and I’ve fully sanded the deck so that it looks the way it did after install. I took a mild dish soap a lightly scrubbed the deck before spraying it all off. I let it dry for well over 24 hours. Can I now go ahead and stain it without any additional prep work?
No, you should use the RAD cleaner to open the pores of wood so the stain can soak in correctly. Sanding closes the wood pores:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-wood-cleaner
Thank you, I went ahead and used deck cleaner on the IPE decking with a spray pump yesterday. I want to double check if I can go ahead and stain now without using a brightner, and roughly how long should you wait for the deck to dry after cleaning it? Thank you
You should be good to stain. Wait 48 hours.
Hello. I am in Iowa. We installed a 14×12 pressure treated wood deck (not sure what kind of wood it is) 1 year 8 months ago (August 2021) . I have done nothing to it since it was installed. Do I need to sand the deck? then do the Restore a Deck cleaner + Brightener Kit. Thank You!
Clean and brighten the wood. No need to sand it.
I am in Massachusetts. I installed a new(12×32) cedar deck last(2022) fall. From what I have read here I can now stain as soon as it stays above 50 at night. I would use the Restore-a-deck cleaner/brightener. We would choose a semi-transparent cedar stain, either ArmstrongClark or Restore-a-deck. I am most interested in durability, ease of application and maintenance of the stain.
Which stain would be best for our climate?
Best method of application for the cleaner and stain?
Best guess for quantity of stain?
Would I need to use the cleaner/brightener for the maintenance coat?
Thanks.
Both stains are excellent and will last the same. Use a sprayer to apply prep. Pressure wash off. Stain pads or brushes for prep. All directions are on site for more info for each product.
Hello again. You helped me out about a year ago with a new cedar deck that had spent almost nine months in the raw; we stained it with Armstrong semi-transparent cedar stain. Prepped it with Restore-a-Deck cleaner and brightener before applying the stain.Attached are photos of what it looks like after a Chicago winter. When the weather is right, what process should we follow before applying a fresh coat of stain? Thank you!
Prep with the cleaner and brighener and recoat.
Thank you. Do you think the stain will last longer this year? The first coat didn’t even make it a full year.
It is normal for new decks to need a recoat after the first year. Going forward, you should get 2 or more years.
So for recoating after the first yr with a new deck, I would still need to need to wash and brighten, correct?
Correct.
If I am using kiln dried wood for a pergola- do I still have to wait a year to use the semi solid stain?
Yes, and prep after.
I have a pressure treated deck with cedar wall panels that was completed in December 2022. When can (should) I apply the semi-transparent stain for the best results? I live in southeastern Virginia – Chesapeake/Virginia Beach area.
4-12 months after weathering and then prep. The article above explains the prep.
My contractor stained with Armstrong Clark a month after installation. The rustic brown semi transparent color seems to have already faded a little in the 3 weeks after staining. What should I do for best results?
Remove, weathering, then clean again for prep. Just one coat of stain for new wood.
I am replacing a deck with Western Red Cedar that is kiln dried. It’s December in the PNW. Just want to be sure that I should NOT do anything to seal/stain this kiln dried wood for the recommended time and let it soak up the rain???? By the way, I used your advice and stain on the cedar siding of my house after it had been on it for 20 years. Lots and lots of prep but looks brand new still 10 years after staining. Really impressed with your stain and knowledge.
Wait until Spring to prep and stain. Thanks!
What should I use to clean the deck before applying the light coat after 12-24 months on the floors and horizontal surfaces? Semi-trans Cedar.
Use this: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-wood-cleaner
I took some 30 plus year old redwood planks and sanded off all the old paint and stain. Can I just apply the sequoia semi solid stain or do I need to do anything special?
Use this for final prep.
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
If it is already very clean and freshly sanded…why do I need to prep it? What will happen if I just apply the stain on the beautiful wood?
Sanding is not the proper way to prep as it closes the wood pores. Cleaning and brightening after opens up the wood pores so the stain can absorb properly.
Also, you are not getting out all of the old stain fully and you should prep after to remove more.
Thank you ?
I thought the semi solid would cover up any weird coloring.
I bought my semi-transparent rustic brown stain last May 2021. I have not stained the deck yet. Can i still use the stain??
Yes, mix well as the pigment does settle.
Was hoping that would be your response! Thanks so much!
I’m having a 48-foot-long Western Red Cedar privacy fence installed this week. Would like to preserve natural cedar color. Should I wait until spring to stain? We live in Wisconsin so there will be snow and ice in next few months.
Yes, wait until Spring to prep and stain.
We have a pine fence that was installed earlier this year. No finish on it. Contractor said wait 3-4 months to let the wood cure. Do we need to wait 12 months to use a semi-solid stain?
Yes.
The contractor wants me to do stain and sealing this year, decks done last month. There will be a lot of snow and ice this winter, but your recommendation is to wait, what should I do?
Wait.
How do I know if the redwood of my new deck is rough sawn, or is smooth?
99% of decking is smooth.
See my post 05/25/22. Please review 1st. This is Shel. I decided not to go forward with staining until next May’23. Then, I can stain the whole deck at once…This summer I light sanded the deck to remove some residual stain marks and wood imperfections. Now, before staining next May, I presume I should redo the prep RAD cleaner/brightener over the entire deck before staining with my A/C semi-solid. Is this correct? Thank you.
Correct.
We purchased our KDAT red cedar wood the first week of August and stored it in our garage. We finished building the deck floor three weeks. We just finished installing the railing and balusters. Everything has been sanded. We’d like to stain with Armstrong-Clark semi-transparent stain before the Pacific Northwest rains arrive. We have purchased the RAD product. Questions:
1. Can I apply the RAD this week or would it be better to wait a bit longer? We would prefer not to let the deck winter ‘as is’. There is a large oak tree near the deck that will soon be dropping leaves that will create tannin stains. And, with the rain comes mildew.
2. Do I have to also use the cleaner and brightener on the balusters given that it is a vertical surface? Can I just lightly spray RAD on them since it is clean wood.
3. I know that I need to wet down and cover the plants prior to using RAD. Do I also need to protect the house?
4. The deck gets intense sun in the late afternoon. Will the AC semi-transparent natural oak hold its color or do you recommend opting for chestnut brown? (I read that another customer had issues with the natural oak and sun)
1. 1-2 months after installation for KDAT.
2. Yes all wood needs to be prepped. You cannot skip this.
3. No but rinse overspray.
4. Natural Oak and Chestnut will last the stain.
How do you clean up over spray on painted siding?
Try Goof Off but test spot first to make sure it does not harm the paint.
KD cedar sat stacked for several months prior to installing. Does that count toward the 12mo wait to stain or is it 12 months of UV and weather exposure?
It has to be installed and then weathered fully exposed.
in summer 2020 I installed a new red cedar pergola/deck, As far as I can tell I went thru the new deck prep very carefully and 12 months after install I used the clean/brightener and then applies 1 coat of AC semi transparent stain. less than 1 year after applying the stain, the entire area became very black and awful looking. I assumed this was some kind of oxidation and I recently (summer 2022) applied the step 1 cleaner and it 100% removed all the stain, it now looks like it did when it was new, no stain at all. what did I do wrong?
The prep products should only be used when recoating, not for general cleaning.
Sand off the current stain and then use the Mahogany color.
Thank you. Are you referring to the Mahogany color for Hardwoods?
Yes.
We have a Brazilian Mahoney Greenhouse window that needs refinishing/staining. See attached photos. What type of stain do you recommend for this type of wood? Thank you.
Can I use your stain or which stain would you recommend for a teak outdoor bench? This bench (photo attached) was previously stained with Sikkens Cetol DEK FInish about 12 years ago. Thank you, Gail gmcd52@verizon.net
Fully remove the Sikkens and then you can use of the AC Hardwood colors: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/wood-and-decking-stains/hardwood-and-ipe-stain
Thank you for you prompt helpful response. Are there any other color choices for this type of AC Hardwood stains besides Mahogany, Amber and Black Walnut?
There are not. What you have on there currently is close to a Mahogany. Amber would be a little less red.
Thank you again for your prompt response. Can you offer any advice on how to remove the Sikkens? Is sanding the only option or could it be powerwashed?
Use this kit while pressure washing: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
I finished my deck at the end of June. All KDAT lumber. How long should I wait before using the semi solid stains specifically?
Not sure if the 1-3 month rule on KDAT is only for semi-transparent stains as for non-kdat lumber semi solid has a much longer weathering time listed.
Will my wood deteriorate terribly faster if I did let it weather a winter here in Minnesota before staining either way? I plan to keep it clear of snow.
You need 12 months for the semi-solid colors and then this to prep: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Your wood will be fine and snow is not going to harm it.
Hi there,
New cedar fence, 3 weeks old. Can I stain in in a couple of months with semi trans cedar ? Do I need to prep it before ?
thanks
yves
No, you cannot stain it yet. 3 or more months. Please read the article above that explains the wait and prep.
New Kiln Dried PT Pine pool deck been outside for 60 days and in full sun all day installed for 30 days. Seems like it’s absorbing the water well on most places and getting a lot of cracking starting. Can I stain yet ?
1-3 months for KDAT weathering and then clean and brighten for prep with this kit: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
I have KDAT deck boards still to be installed. About half of deck is covered. Should I wait a bit and do a prep after install or can I stain soon after install? I’m planning on using the black walnut semi transparent.
With KDAT wood, wait 1-2 months, prep with the Restore A Deck Kit, then apply one coat of the black walnut.
I have a hardwood (walnut I think) garage door I need to stain, door is 10 years old. Prior owner used a water based stain that’s peeling off. I will strip off the old stain and lightly sand to remove the stain. How do I prep before applying hardwood-type black walnut stain?
Post some pics in the comments for prep help.
Here are pics
You probably cannot strip it fully off. Use this kit while pressure washing: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
With both additives: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper/restore-a-deck-stripper-additives
After it is dry, sand off the rest that cannot be stripped.
Just to be clear, first I use the stripper plus both additives delivered through a pressure washer spray. Next sand off any remaining old stain. Next brightener and then stain?
You apply the stripper with the additives with a pump sprayer and then pressure wash it off after dwell time. You cannot use a pressure washer to apply the stripper.
The rest is correct.
Brightener is applied with pump sprayer too?
Correct.
Hi, guys…..I installed new cedar decking (floor, stairs, and railings) in fall of 2020 on an existing deck and waited until summer of 2021, then cleaned with Restore A Deck and used your stain exactly per your directions. Beautiful! This summer of 2022, tho, I’m not sure how to proceed. The deck boards are now very dark in color (after our Minnesota winter) even after pressure washing. I plan to clean and stain again this summer. Should I use Restore-A-Deck stripper first this time and then brightener, to get all of this dark coloring off? Could some of this still be glazing that I need to work harder to get removed this time? Thanks, and BTW I’m telling others about how happy I am with your products and advice! With gratitude, Sue Powell
That looks like dirt on your deck. Use the Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener kit for prep while pressure washing.
Getting a new redwood deck installed, we get snow likely in October. How long should we wait to stain the deck? Thanks in advance.
Hi,
The above article explains all this. Thanks!
Our deck is 30 + yrs… Three years ago I used the AC semi solid after Restore A Deck/Brightener. I just finished replacing some boards which needed to go. This deck is all cedar. I have now about 10 % new cedar and 90% old…
I will be using AC semi solid again. I realize that I have to wait a year on the new 10%. I would like the old 90% to be recoated now and next Spring overcoat the whole surface. In using the cleaner/brightener, is there any harm in using it over the new sections and leaving them unstained? Or, should I protect the new wood from getting cleaner/brightener on it at this time?
No issues getting the prep on the new wood.
That’s good. Thank you
My new deck is being installed using Selkirk Brand Western Red Cedar. Can the Armstrong Clark Hardwood Colors Amber or Mahoghany (made for use on IPE) be used on softwood such as cedar?
If so, what success have users had with the product? Or, are the semi-transparent regular stains more preferrable on cedar?
The AC Amber and Mahogany can be used on any wood type.
I purchased a 5 gallon pail of mahogany for my new ipe deck last August (9 months ago) I kept it indoors over the winter so it wouldn’t get too cold. Should it still be good? What should I look for if it isn’t good anymore?
It should be fine to use but make sure to mix well as the pigment can settle.
What should I look for to know if it might be bad? It is still factory sealed
Clumping or skinning.
How long is the wait to stain after it rains
48 hours.
Do you recommend filling any of the major cracks in my 18 year old redwood deck boards?
No, and the filler would not blend with the AC stains, looking very blotchy.
We just installed a pine kdat deck in South Florida. The manufacturer (yellawood) indicates that we do not have to wait to stain and protect. We are planning to lightly sand the deck before treating the wood. We really like the natural color of the wood-so 2 questions:
1) Should we wait to finish the wood and 2) which one of your products would you recommend for a more transparant finish but good protection – this is S. Florida.
They are incorrect. For KDAT, wait 1-2 months to weather and then prep with this kit: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Do not sand. Lighter colors will fade faster than richer colors. Natural is the lightest and will last about 18-24 months. Go to semi-transparent colors for a little longer life.
Hello! We had a cedar deck built last summer (2021). We stained it right away with water based stain–wrong move on our part! We are redoing the deck this year. We have pressure washed it and sanding the entire deck. Do we need to wait 3 to 4 months for the new sanding wood to be exposed? Or can we clean, use brightener and stain right away? Thank you SO much for your guidance!
Sand with grit no finer than 80. We would then clean and brighten and apply one coat of the AC
Thank you-Will the semi solid be enough coverage for all the other imperfections in the wood or do I have to do solid which I know Armstrong doesn’t have
Hard to say as you cannot cover the wood 100% with a semi-solid. The grain still shows through somewhat.
Old porch with semi transparent stain (10 yrs) one new step (recent repair) another step (5 yrs old) Pros want to use a solid stain. Can I use your semi solid stain and do I have to wait because of the one new step? House & porch over 15yrs old
You have to wait for new wood to weather.
Hello. we have a cedar deck that was installed in October 2022. If it ever stops raining we plan to apply its first coat of stain, Armstrong semi-transparent cedar. Other than making sure the deck is clean and dry, is there anything we need to do to prepare it? Is it necessary to apply the restore-a deck, or is it ok to just go ahead and apply the stain directly on the 6-month-old deck?
Yes, you need to follow the directions in the above article.
OK, thanks. I do not see detailed instructions for applying the RAD products, but will I be able to do all of the prep WITHOUT a power washer?
Yes but much easier and more effective to use a pressure washer.
Hello. It’s finally spring and we see a few days in a row that it will NOT rain. Yesterday afternoon we applied the Restore a Deck cleaner and then the brightener. We think we followed the instructions carefully (scrubbing, rinsing). This morning, about 15 hours after finishing, the wood on some boards looks a little whitish and we wonder if perhaps we did not rinse enough, or if it is simply the wood fibers raised up in some spots. Attached is a photo. If it appears to you that some process was not done properly, what is our solution? If it is raised wood fibers, are we safe to go ahead and stain? Thank you!
That is fuzzies that can happen from graying/oxidation removal during the cleaning. They typically do not show when stained but if you want, they are easily buffed off with a floor buffer and buffing pad.
Thank you. You might be surprised to know I do not have a floor buffer…would a very fine sandpaper applied by hand do the trick? Or should we just go for the staining and see what happens?
You can rent a buffer if you want from Home Depot. The pads look like the attached. Much easier and better for the wood than sandpaper. You can also just stain.
We just had our cedar trees milled (rough sawn) a week ago. Are we ok to start staining immediately?
If rough sawn you can do it as long as the wood is clean and dry.
I have a new pressure treated deck that was installed 1 year ago. The deck boards have a whitish grey color from the sun but are otherwise clean. Will the step 1 and brushing remove the mill glaze everywhere or is there some step I am supposed to do before doing step 1 and 2 with the restore a deck products?
Use the Step 1 Cleaner while pressure washing and then the Step 2 Brightener after. You cannot remove the white oxidation by just brushing on the Cleaner
I have fire treated western cedar deck boards, purchased a few months ago from WescoCedar and shipped to us here in Prescott, AZ, altitude ~ 5800 feet with a daily freeze-thaw cycle most of the winter. The fire treated boards will be used as the deck surface for a covered deck. Do we need to stain all sides of the boards or just the top? And would all of the stains, including the “hardwoods and softwoods” stains, be suitable?
Just the exposed wood after weathering and prep. Any color that you like will work.