Tips & Techniques
Spring is just around the corner, and as a “do-it-yourself” homeowner your decks, patios, outdoor furniture, pergolas, and fences are key to enjoying your great outdoors! Here at TWP, we want to help maximize your outdoor enjoyment as well as protect this investment for you!
With our “TWP Tips & Techniques” series we offer you insights and resources to make your outdoor space look incredible, plus prolong its life and usability with our complete line of superior exterior wood stains and restoration products.
Enhance the beauty of your GREAT OUTDOORS with TWP!
Customizing & Protecting
TWP already has a variety of beautiful colors, but they aren’t for every project. For a more unique look, we have discovered ways of getting the colors just right for your D.I.Y. home improvement projects.
The TWP 100, 200, and 1500 series come in a wide variety of premixed colors to instantly add beauty and depth to any outdoor wooden substrate. These product lines, however, are premixed, and can only be tweaked slightly by mixing colors of the same series together. This will work for all colors except for prairie gray and cape cod grey, they should only be intermixed with each other. We do not recommend the addition of colorants to the TWP 100, 200, or 1500 series.
The recent addition of the TWP 99 “Semi-Solid” base has given our customers the flexibility of having custom colors blended by their paint stores using pre-approved colorants. We currently have a color palette of 30 colors, but the possibilities are endless!
TWP & Previously Stained Surfaces
TWP is NOT compatible with another manufacturer’s stain or paint. Any previous stain or paint must be completely removed before using TWP.
Previously stained surfaces must be stripped, cleaned and brightened before using TWP. New wood should age (6 months for cedar and redwood, 12 months for pressure treated) before any staining is done. Old wood (like new wood after aging) should be cleaned and brightened before staining. Drying of the wood for at least 2 days is required before using TWP.
A surface that has been stained with TWP can be recoated, but the frequency that you reapply greatly depends on the exposure. Generally, color fades first (12-24 months depending upon stain color) and this is an excellent guide to know when to recoat. The water repellency and resistance to wood rot is still working, but color can fade, and needs regular maintenance. Make sure the wood is clean, and dry, then re-apply TWP.
Applying TWP In Different Seasons
Whether you like the spring or fall, TWP will protect your exterior wood surfaces year-round! But when is the best season for the application process? Well, that all depends on the weather. Luckily, the temperature range that TWP can be applied in is broad and can be applied in anyone’s temperature comfort zone, with no changes to the application process. Temperatures that are commonly deemed uncomfortable, also have adverse effects on drying time.
We recommend the stain application take place when the temperature is around 80°, but may be applied as cold as 50°, or as warm as 85°, please note that the colder it is, the slower TWP will dry, and if you apply TWP when it is too warm, the stain will “flash” (dry quickly on the surface) and not soak into the wood. When this happens, TWP will not last long.
Plan Around Inclement Weather
Depending upon the period between application and rainfall, the rain can turn TWP into a gooey mess or it will turn the stain white (moisture under the film). If the stain becomes a gooey mess, it will need to be stripped off and re-stained. If there is a white haze, usually when the wood is exposed to the sun and begins to dry out the surface, the white haze will disappear. Speeding the dry with a leaf-blower is helpful. If the haze doesn’t go away after 2-3 days of dry weather, then TWP is remaining on the surface and should be stripped off and re-stained.
Different Series Of TWP
As spring quickly approaches, so do the perfect conditions to get out of the house and enjoy your great outdoors. Along with the urge to be outside more often, the spring also brings the desire to make your homes exterior match the beautiful season. The perfect conditions for the application of TWP are just the start, but the real question now is, which product should you as a D.I.Y. home improver use? Well this will depend on several things:
- Location of project (some states have VOC rules that will dictate 300, 1500, 200 or WS)
- Nature of project – what are you wanting to preserve?
- Desired outcome of project – what do you want the end result to look like?
How Long Does TWP Take To Dry?
As the weather gets warmer, restoring your deck takes less time! On an average spring or summer day, after the application of TWP, the TWP series WS, 100 Pro-Series and 1500 should be dry enough to walk on after 12-18 hours. These ideal conditions are not the only conditions TWP will dry in however, but colder temperatures slow down the drying process while warm temperatures speed up the drying process.
If applying TWP indoors, although not recommended, the dry time will be similar as long as the house is properly ventilated. The fungicide in TWP smells really strong and when used inside it can smell for weeks, if not months. If you choose to do it anyway, you must find a way to ventilate the structure rigorously, exchanging the air inside several times a day for several days to reduce the odor from the fungicide.
Applying TWP
When it comes to TWP, the method of applying is all about your preference and skill. The only exception is our 300 Series, which should be brushed, but all series can be applied with a brush, roller staining pad, or by spray application. A preferred method is using a “pump-up garden sprayer” to apply TWP and back brush to work the stain into the wood. If you choose to spray, you must take precautions to cover anything that is nearby as overspray will drift and settle on anything nearby.
Previously stained surfaces must be stripped, cleaned and brightened before using TWP. New wood should age before any staining is done. Old wood should be cleaned and brightened before staining. Drying of the wood for at least 2 days is required before using TWP.
Once the wood is ready, mix your TWP thoroughly. As stated above, TWP can be applied with a brush, pump sprayer or a roller. Once you begin to apply TWP, saturate the surface of the wood, but don’t let puddles form. Any excess that does not penetrate the the woods surface should be wiped off, otherwise it might cause premature failure. If needed apply two coats, but don’t wait for the first one too dry, TWP is to be applied “wet on wet.” The idea is to apply as much as the wood can absorb. Any material that has not penetrated after one hour should be removed. With proper care and preparation, having a beautiful deck or fence is as easy as prep, apply, and dry!
TWP 1500 Series & TWP 100 Pro-Series
When deciding which line of TWP to buy, you might be wondering what each series is used for. Well depending on the project, the series most widely used is the TWP 100 Pro Series. It is the most purchased and versatile of the TWP lines, but it can’t be used in every state due to certain V.O.C. regulations.
100 Pro-Series has a V.O.C. of 550 grams/liter. Certain states now require lower V.O.C. limits in wood preservatives (350 gram/liter). TWP 1500 Series is the same base formulation as 100 Pro-Series with minor formulation changes to comply with the state regulations.
TWP 1500 Series can be used in all 50 states. Both lines are designed for the same uses and perform the same. The decision to use TWP 1500 Series should be based on the need to meet your state regulations. Click here to see the listing of LOW V.O.C. States.
There are some colors only available in the TWP 1500 Series. If you choose one of these colors you can order them no matter which state you live in. Please note that most retailers stocking 100 Pro-Series do not stock TWP 1500 Series.