Make Restoring Your Exterior Wood …Easy!
Our kit provides enough product to clean and then brighten an average 25’x12′ deck with rails and 3 steps (600-800 total sq.feet). For, a fence this package will clean and then brighten both sides of 50 feet of fence.
You will receive 1 container of RAD Step 1 Wood Cleaner and 1 container of RAD Step 2 Wood Brightener.
Leftover product can be used to clean concrete, house siding, lawn furniture, and awnings. (Do not use over grass, clean furniture on a hard surface)
RAD STEP 1 WOOD DECK CLEANER DESCRIPTION
Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner is a powdered concentrate that is mixed with water. It safely cleans and restores the natural beauty of exterior wood. This product also cleans weathered composite lumber, removing mold, mildew, and algae along with the silver-gray color that can develop over time. Restores all wood surfaces to their original appearance Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner will not harm wood fibers, pets, grass, or most plants. Restore-a-Deck Step 1 Wood Cleaner is not a stain stripper or remover of old stains. Please see Restore-A-Deck Stripper Kit if you are trying to remove a semi-transparent stain.
*This product is Step 1 Cleaner of the Restore A Deck system.
RAD STEP 2 WOOD BRIGHTENER DESCRIPTION
Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener is a biodegradable, powdered concentrate that is mixed with water to brighten and restore the natural beauty of all species of exterior wood. This product excels at brightening, removing rust stains, and tannin stains caused by fallen leaves. Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener is a safe, product that will not only brighten but neutralize the surface of the wood, creating an ideal surface that is ready to be stained.
*This product is step 2 Wood Brightener of the Restore A Deck system.
RAD CLEANER AND BRIGHTENER ADVANTAGES
- #1 Rated Wood Deck Stain Cleaner and Wood Brightener
- RAD Wood Cleaner is designed specifically for all Exterior Wood and Composite Decking
- RAD Wood Cleaner Preps new wood, weathered wood, and maintenance coats
- RAD Wood Brightener neutralizes stain strippers
- RAD Wood Brightener brightens and restores wood surfaces
- RAD Wood Brightener restore pH balance of wood
- Powdered formulas makes 5 liquid gallons when mixed
- Extremely cost effective. When mixed, the cost is less than $7 a gallon
- Eco-Safe formulas
- Safe to use on all exterior wood surfaces, not just decks
I was going to use this product on my 2yo redwood covered deck but on a visit to Home Depot for something else, the paint guy told me cleaners like this “somewhat remove the color of the wood” and he recommended only power washing and staining instead. Is this true?
No, it is not true. Home Depot paint guys in reality know very little about deck prep and deck stains.
Will the cleaner and brightener combo remove the mill stamps from my year old PT deck or do I need to sand them off prior to cleaning and brightening?
Sometimes they come off and sometimes they do not. You might have sand to get them off.
I have a deck that has PT flooring, rails are Cedar. I have used AC Chestnut semitransparent previously. Great product! Been using it for about 8 years now. Humid MidAtlantic conditions, I get a lot of mildew. After about 2 years stain is solid dark brown. I washed entire deck and railings with home made cleaning solution OxyClean-Borax-Dawn and lightly power washed. thorough rinsing afterwards. All came clean. I do have patches of old stain here and there. Purchased the RAD stain stripper/brightener kit intending on removing all old stain and final cleaning. I will be doing some sanding on the Cedar components prior to finishing Any suggestions? Thanks!
No need to sand as that closes the wood pores. Might want to try this after the stain cures to help ward off the mildew.
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/rad-guard-mildew-algae-cleaner-preventer
what if it rains during the 48 hour waiting period, can I still apply the stain??
No. It has to dry for 48 hours after prep or rain to apply the AC stains.
New cedar deck installed in June. Weathered for 3+ months. Cleaned and brightened with the RAD kit yesterday and as it is drying I am seeing the dreaded fuzzies and furring. Page 3 of this brochure from Armstrong Clark says they should be removed with 60 grit sanding. https://www.armclark.com/downloads/2019/How-To_&_Informational_Guide_(print_friendly_layout)_low_res_photo.pdf Does this mean I need to lightly sand the entire deck after it’s dry and prior to stain? I was under the understanding that the RAD kit eliminated the need for sanding. Please confirm, photos attached. Thanks, John
See this for tips as to what to do and why it happens: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/wood-fuzzies-furring-on-deck
new mahogany deck ready for first stain, should I use just the cleaner? or cleaner and brightener?
Both.
Hello,
Will I be able to remove the existing stain from this railing with RAD stripper with booster? Or will it need to be sanded off before applying AC semi-solid stain? I have also included some photos where I have sanded off the stain to test a few samples.
Thanks!
When using both the Gel and the Booster with the Stripper, you should be able to get most or all off. You can spot sand if needed after and the Brightener is last.
Thank you!
Thank you
Hi,
if I used your semi- solid stain previously- can I use the cleaner and Brightener ? And then go ahead and stain again?
also what is your delivery time to Southern California?
Regards,
Carol
Yes, use the cleaner and brightener for prep. shipping to CA, takes about 4-5 days.
Do I need to clean grill related grease stains with a separate product prior to using the cleaner or will the cleaner address that as well? Thanks
Grease stains from a grill if deep in the wood will not come out with a cleaner. You would have to sand it out if deep. surface stains probably will come off.
My second story deck is about 350 square feet and we stripped the previous stain off with a DYI product then I saw the furring and hand sanded much of the deck. This was all before I decided to use your stain. If I put on the cleaner, do I still have to scrub it in then power wash it off or can I just let it sit awhile or mop it then wash it off? With the brightener can I just let it sit then wash it off? By the way, I have a sliding glass door underneath the deck. Any special precautions?
Apply the cleaner and then lightly pressure wash off. Apply the brightener after and then rinse that after 10-15 minutes.
No worries about the sliding glass door underneath?
Just make sure to rinse well when done to remove all the soap suds, dirt, etc.
I did sierra redwood semitransparent for half a fence – looks great. A friend used the balance of the stain for the rest trying to help while I was away. Did not mix or thin. It is extremely dark – practically solid brown. It has been on the wood for 4-5 days. Is there any way to “lighten it” a bit?
I have iron coated pickets, will RAD damage the finish on the pickets?
It should not but always test spot first.
I have a 10-month-old redwood deck that has never been sanded, cleaned, or stained. I live in California at 2200 ft elevations. It gets very hot in the summer and exposed to direct sun (up to 110 F), and can get snow in the wintertime.
I bought your Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Britner kit and Transparent Redwood Tone stain. I did a test and sanding with 80 grit plus Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Britner worked best to clean the redwood boards.
The issue I am facing is that I don’t have enough time to do both, sanding and cleaning/brightening before it starts raining on Sunday night (in 4 days). I am thinking to sand the boards and stain, and use the Restore-A-Deck kit next summer when I will stain again. What do you think?
No. Do all the prep and then stain after the rain. 48 hours after. Rain does not harm prep.
Thank you. How long can I wait after prepping (sanding, cleaner, brightener)? It might rain for 2-3 weeks straight.
Stain within 2 weeks is best otherwise you may need to reclean lightly.
Thanks again for the quick reply. What do you mean by reclean lightly?
Light pressure wash, maybe brighten as well.
Last question: we are on a well with water saturated with iron and other minerals. Should I wash with our treaded water? We have a salt base softener and house filter
You should be fine with the well water.
I used the treated water yesterday. Should I wash the deck again with the well water?
No need.
I used armstrong-clark stain on my pressure-treated deck when it was new about 10 years ago. I bought another can of it last year and want to re-coat the deck. Should i use the stripper or just the cleaner before staining? And am I right to assume the brightener is just for bare wood? The deck has no loose old stain, it’s just dirty. thank you.
Cleaner and then brightener is the proper way.
Hello! I am planning to prep my deck with the rad cleaner and brightener this weekend. If it rains before I can stain is that ok as long as I wait the 48 hours for it to be completely dry?Thanks!
Yes, that is fine.
I’m preparing to restain deck. Original coat was Armstrong and recasting with same stain. I have the restore deck cleaner but not brightener. Do I need to do both or is the cleaner enough?
Best to use both as the Brightener neutralizes the Cleaner.
Do I need need this before staining new wood for first time? I have new wood deck which was kept un-stained for 3 months. I have to clean that deck before staining. So wanted to know is it safe for new wood?. Please advise. thanks
Yes, you need this for new wood prep.
Is Gemini restore a deck the same as what you sell here?
Different label.
Would this strip/prep Brazilian hardwood previously coated with Cetol SRD? Looking to stain it with Armstrong Mahogany.
You would want this kit:https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
What would be the process for cleaning and staining a newly built pressure-treated wood front porch flooring? The porch is covered but the house is south-facing. Also, when it rains, about 3 feet of the porch flooring perimeter still gets wet. Thank you.
See her about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Do I need to use cleaner and brightener for a maintenance coat after two years if there is no sign of degradation to the original AC semi transparent stain? Or would just a mild soap and water clean prior to a recoat be sufficient? The maintenance video you provide shows a preparation for a failing deck surface not a maintenance coat, in my humble opinion.
Clean and brighten is the proper way to prep when recoating.
Do I need to use the RAD Brightener before reapplying stain to a weathered deck after 4+ years?
You need to clean and brighten, not just brighten.
Will the cleaner or brightener react with aluminum? I have aluminum rails on my dock that I don’t want discolored. Thanks.
Typically never an issue but always test spot first to be certain as they are not all made the same way.
Can you mix less than 5 gallons at a time? I need only a gallon of mix for a small project. What would be the ratios?
Yes. 7-8 oz per gallon of water.
Does stripper, brightener or stain affect plants or stain natural stone or concrete unit paving stones?
Cover plants. Does not harm stone or pavers.
So any drips onto the stone or concrete can be washed off? Even the stain will wash off?
Sorry, you have to cover all when staining. The prep will not harm the stone or bricks.
Can you premix the cleaner hours or even days/weeks before? The cleaner often does not dissolve completely and if I can just premix it and let it sit for a long while maybe it will dissolve better. But I wasn;t sure if the cleaner stays potent if it is mixed and not used for hours/days.
The Cleaner has to be used within 4-6 hours after mixing with water.
Hi there, We stained our fence last year with AC semi-transparent Cedar. It’s held up great but I’d like to go darker in the future (likely AC semi-transparent Sierra Redwood). Can we just use the Cleaner and Brightener and then use the new stain color or do we have to do more prep for it to look even?Thanks!
Use the stripper and brightener kit.
Hello I have a 20 year old cedar deck, The handrails were stripped, pressure washed, then sanded with 60 grit orbital sander. Do I need to still use both a cleaner & brightener? Either ? I attached a picture of the progress with handrail sanded and part yet to be sanded. And if using brightener, can I wait a week to stain as I will be out of town or don’t brighten until i can stain within 48 hours?
I intend on using cedar semi-transparent
Thanks
Clean and brighten all after the sanding is done. Let dry for 48 hours to stain. Stain within 2 weeks.
should i use the stripper mixed with booster additive to prep an old deck stained with a solid stain that is almost gone because its pealing or should i sand it down and use cleaner/brightener after sanding instead?
Strippers will not remove solid stains. You will have to power sand to remove.
How long after you use the restore a deck can you stain?
48 hours.
I just spar varnishec posts on our deck. I’ve ordered the restore a deck cleaner and brightener for the flooring. Wi.l this prep products harm the varnish on the posts?
No, they will not.
I stripped my IPE deck last year. Can I just clean it with the cleaner and brightness and then re stay it or do I need to strip it down all the way and re stain it?
Clean and brighten is correct when using the same stain and color.
If you have access to the underside of an elevated néw deck , is it a good idea to stain it when you first stain the upper, exposed side?
No need or advantage.
Do I need to strip my railing stained with water base stain before covering with Armstrong semi solid stain? It is not peeling! Can I just use the restore cleaning kit?
You will have to remove previous coatings before switching brands of stain.
I have 2 questions. Is it absolutely necessary to use a pressure washer when cleaning and brightening the deck or will a garden hose be okay? I plan to stain and reseal the decking and horizontal rail pieces only, which is going to make it impossible to keep the cleaner and brightener off the vertical ballasts. Is that going to effect the stain and sealer on the ballasts if I don’t scrub them?
Best to pressure wash. You may need to touch up the verticals in a few spots.
My decking is cedar stained with Armstrong Clarke and the skirt is PTW with a darker stain. Would I be able to use this deck stripper, without it stripping away the stain on the skirt? I only want to clean the decking, as it now has black residue.. I don’t want the stain to come off on the skirt.
You cannot just strip the floor and not have it harm the stain on the outside skirt. You can clean the floor and the cleaner should not harm the stain on the skirt.
Sirs,
You will have to remove the Behr fully and that will consist of heavy power sanding. Once fully sanded off, you would use the Restore Kit for final prep: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
How cool can it be outside and still use the stain on my deck? Is it too cold yet this fall?
50 or above.
Does it have to remain above 50 degrees 24/7 for consecutive days or just while you are applying the stain?
It can drop cooler after applying but not below freezing while the stain is wet.
what should i use to apply Restore deck cleaner
Pump sprayer and then pressure wash off.
The best wY to apply Armstrong-Clark stain
An exterior stain pad or brush: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/armstrong-clark-staining-instructions
Will Restore -A-Deck Stripper Brightener kit remove water marks from unfinished Ipe? Newly installed deck will “age in” a few months before applying Armstrong Clark Hardwood/Ipe Stain. It will get some rain during that time.
Use the cleaner and brightener kit after weathering the new wood and to restore the color.
I have a new deck that was installed using Port Orford cedar. It was completed 8 weeks ago. The wood was kiln-dried prior to installation. Do you still recommend waiting 3-4 months, or can it be prepped/stained sooner?
If kiln-dried you can prep and stain after about 2 months.
I have stained the vertical boards but held off on the deck boards. I was concerned that some of the boards were still showing fibers. I re-cleaned and brightened a couple boards and there continues to be fuzzy spots. Is it okay to stain or is there something else I should be doing to address this?
You should be okay to stain.
I have a new Alaska yellow cedar deck. The installer told me to wait a month before treating or staining it. It has started to show black spot he’s that look like mold as it has been sitting over the past few weeks. Parts of the decking have larger, darker black splotches. Should I use Restore a Deck Cleaner and brightener before using semi-transparent Stain.? Thanks
You cannot stain it yet. See here for new wood prep and stain tips: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
The directions for Restore-A-Deck call for rinsing the deck for 20-30 minutes to remove all the suds after using the Brightener . Is it really calling for standing there for up to 30 minutes spraying water all over this small deck? That sounds like way-overkill.
Yes, you need to rinse well for 20-30 minutes to remove all suds.
Last year we applied transparent cedar tone on our new wood siding. It still looks beautiful but we installed a darker color gable accent and would like the cedartone darkened to more closely match. Can we just apply a new transparent color on top of the existing one?
You need to prep first with the RAD Cleaner/Brightener Kit.
I’ve used semi-solid stain on our deck. I wantt to use the RAD and AC products when re-applying the stain for maintenance purposes ever 2-3 years. Can a simple deck cleaner be used during the in-between years just for simple cleaning or should I still use RAD products?
You cannot use a deck cleaner for simple cleaning between. Too aggressive. Just use warm water and some dish soap.
I have a similar situation, as I stained the new deck 2 years ago and want to reapply, do I need a pressure washer to clean prior to applying a new coat, or is simple hose attachment sufficient using water and soap?
Use a pressure washer with this kit.
Best product to use to clean rough sawn cedar inside screen porch. Need to clean before I reapply spar urethane. The product you suggest is it compatible with maintenance free decking, I don’t want it to discolor or bleach out the composite decking.
The RAD Cleaner will work.
I just recently purchased a 100 year old barn with Worn red paint, hoping to find a dark Protective stain that doesn’t require me to sand the entire barn! Please help
I am sorry but you cannot stain over a paint. You would have to remove it all first.
Mandy, it looks like much of the paint on your barn is already removed. You may be able to have it power washed to remove the residual but if not done properly, the power washer can scar your wood. Media blasting is also another way to remove paint but will definitely be more expensive.
If I use the RAD cleaner and brightener on the tall posts, will they have to be stained afterwards? They don’t seem like they have ever been stained, but I may be mistaken. Thank you.
Yes, you should stain them.