The Armstrong Clark 2019 Contest Results can be seen here: 2019 Armstrong Clark Stain Contest
The ArmstrongClarkStain.com 2020 Spring/Summer Restoration Contest is closed!
Thanks to all the entered this year. Excellent job to all and we appreciate you entering our ArmstrongClarkStain.com staining contest for 2020!
We will contact the winners via their orders.
First Place
Jessica (Page 2)
First Place = $500 + 5 Gallon Pail of AC Stain
Second Place
Matt (Page 1)
Second Place = $350 + 3 Gallons of AC Stain
Third Place
Fred Shenkman (Page 3)
Third Place = $200 + 2 Gallons of Ac Stain
Sorry for all that did not win the prizes. We were extremely impressed with all the feedback and entries this year!
Armstrong 2020 Clark Stain Contest Details
- All Armstrong Clark Stain and Prep products must be purchased first from this online retail site (ArmstrongClarkStain.com) between January 1st – Sept. 14th, 2020.
- The deadline for entry is Sept. 30th, 2020.
- The winner will be decided by October 15th, 2020 by our team.
Contestant winners will receive
- First Place = $500 + 5 Gallon Pail of Armstrong Clark Stain of your choice!
- Second Place = $350 + 3 Gallons of Armstrong Clark Stain of your choice!
- Third Place:= $200 + 2 Gallons of Armstrong Clark Stain of your choice!
How To Enter Contest
- Enter by Sept. 30th, 2020.
- In the comment section below, post a short description of your deck/wood staining project, the products used to prep, and the Armstrong Clark Stain and Color used. Examples of wood projects that can be entered: Decks, Fences, Wood Side Homes, Log Cabins, etc.
- Add 2 before prepping pictures of the wood that was restored (no more/less). You can still enter if you do not have the before pictures. Decks, wood fences, wood homes, etc are allowed.
- 2 after staining pictures must be included (no more/less).
- If having trouble uploading the pictures, please make your picture(s) size smaller (below 1 MB).
Any questions or issues posting, please ask in the comment area.
We look forward to all Armstrong Clark Stain entries!
*Disclaimer: All products must be purchased from ArmstrongClarkStain.com. The contest is not open to products purchased from other online dealers or from physical retail stores.
Extra photo that didn’t upload.
Extra photos.
My ipe deck is about 20 years old and hadn’t been restained in at least 5 years! Living in Seattle WA we get a lot of rain and bad weather, and the deck was covered in a thick layer of grime and algae. I did a lot of research to find a hardwood deck stain and cleaning kit that would be long lasting and look great – I chose Armstrong Clark Hardwood/Ipe Stain in Amber and Restore-A-Deck Kit.
I started by pressure washing the whole deck to take off the grime (see photo). It helped a lot but left streaky marks, so scrubbed with Restore-A-Deck bleach solution to thoroughly clean the wood. The deck handrails were especially coarse (due to the age of the deck) so I gave them a light sand by hand. Next I applied the Restore-A-Deck brightener to prepare the wood to accept the stain – This was an easy process with a mop and sponge. After drying for a day or two, I applied Armstrong Clark Hardwood/Ipe Stain with a brush starting with the railings first.
I was surprised how well the prepared wood soaked up the stain, and I could tell it was penetrating deep into the grain. My deck is about 300sq/ft (plus railings) and I used about 1.5 gallons in total. This was more than I expected and the older wood really sucked up the stain. My advice would be to get more of this stain than you think you’ll need and don’t forget include the square footage of any railings. After applying the stain I left for 24 hours, touched up any areas requiring more stain, and wiped down any excess areas.
Because this deck started in bad shape it took a lot of effect to rejuvenate and I wanted to use a high quality cleaning and stain product. I’m very happy with the quality of Armstrong Clark and will definitely be using it again on my deck, and recommending to friends and family!
Good Deeds Oainting & Renovating Inc. Photos Mike Checko 2020 contest entry for back to back win!
Hello!
We have searched our region for the perfect home to enter in the 2020 Armstrong Clark stain contest. We are proud to defend our last years 1st place win with this beautiful home in East Greenwich R.I. We chose between Armstrong Clark’s natural and cedar semi -transparent stain after a full powerwash. We went with the rich cedar color. We hope you will agree this meticulously done job is worthy of another 1st place win for Good Deeds Painting and Renovating Inc. Thank You for having us. 🙂
Love the stain color, allows for the trim to shine bright naturally.
Love the look of the natural wood, looks elegant! Great work!
Awesome choice, it looks better than brand new!
Really professional stain job. Just beautiful.
After a few weekends spent on the prep work, I finally finished my deck stain project a few days ago. We followed all the instructions beginning with the Restore a Deck Cleaner and Brightener and then we stained the deck and walls with the Hardwood Stain (semi transparent amber). Like so many of the people who have already commented, the final product draws the wow factor from everyone that sees it and the neighbours loved it so much, I also did their side of the deck wall as well. So now everyone is happy! Wood was never stained before so that probably helped and was at least 2 years old so the before shot shows the dull silver colour that it was. After shots highlight the rich hues of the mahogany floor section and wonderful grain in the cedar wall sections.
We moved into our new house a year ago. The big selling point for us was the large deck. After a year we really noticed the stain wearing out. To our surprise the previous owners left behind Restore a Deck Cleaner and Brightener. Also most of a 5 gallon pail of AC Semi Transparent cedar stain. SCORE!!. I applied the cleaner while my oldest son pressure washed. Then my youngest applied the Brightener with a spin mop. We were amazed at the results. People thought it looked already finished. Unfortunately we got 2 weeks of on and off rain, but when it finally cleared up for 2 days, I applied the stain in 1 afternoon. Roller on then back brushed a few boards at a time. The result was impressive. Everyone on Facebook wanted to know what I used. It was a hit. Thanks for a great product and the online support and help I received.
i actually have two projects, both using A-C stains:
1. a refinished of a 10 year-old front yard deck
2. a complete re-build of an over-the-bedroom deck
do i make these two entries or combine them?
thanks
john
One entry per person.
This year we refinished our 25 year old deck. It previously had a semi solid stain on it that was peeling really bad after two years. I used the restore a deck stripper/brightener, it removed most of the old stain but I still had bit of sanding to do. I wound up replacing a few deck boards. I used armstrong clark semi transparent in chestnut, it blended the new cedar with the old great. The stain went on very good and soaked into the wood. The finished picture is after three months of weathering and a large dog running on it all of the time. It still looks great.
This year we restored a 20 year old pressure treated pine deck which had been (badly) covered in a semi-solid stain and had spent many years peeling away. We sanded away the old stain over the course of several months, cleaned/brightened with restore-a-deck then finished with AC Transparent Cedar Tone. It’s fantastic! The deck glows in the sunlight and has completely changed the way we use the garden. So we’re really happy with the entire AC process, it was definitely worth all the work.
I also wanted to add that alongside the excellent product, the aspect of your service that made our experience was the advice that you all provided on this forum. It meant that we felt 100% comfortable in what we needed to do and it felt that you were as invested in the process as we were – it’s a great community! Sitting and looking at the deck now, it’s completely transformed the garden and our space. So competition aside, thanks also for the help and support.
2 years ago we built a screened in porch. I spent a LOT of time researching products and chose AC. We used AC natural stain on the inside and redwood stain on the outside. This year the horizontal exterior surfaces had become really dirty, so I bought the Restore a Deck Kit. You can see the dirty handrail half dirty and half clean. That stuff was magic! I didn’t even power wash, just sponged on, let it sit, and hosed off. Stairs and railing only took a couple hours. Next day I re-stained again with the redwood stain. I’m a lifer! These products are excellent. No weird smells, beautiful appearance and protection. Thanks AC.
For my deck and roof project I used local (Nelson BC) western red cedar 5/4 decking deck & rough cedar post/beams. The roof rafters were local spruce to handle the snow load . I used the AC cedar-tone
translucent stain for all the wood. One 5 gal. can did it all & was a joy to use!
And the forth picture.
Our house is sided with cedar plywood, in need of a new finish. Used Restore-A-Deck stripper and brightener to prepare surface. Wife and Granddaughter chose Cedar for the color. Applied Armstrong-Clark semi-solid stain with roller and back brush. This stain goes on easy with minimal splatter from the roller. Was able to mix a small amount of stain with the filler when making repairs. And I have to agree with the ladies – I love the color.
Wanted to show some love to my 20+ year old IPE deck. Researched the brand and got a lot of recommendations. Easy to use and work with. Love the results!!
Here is fourth picture that did not come through. Stain was applied with natural bristle brush. We are here in central Indiana.
I build this deck 20 years ago and the last time stain was applied was 10 years ago. A few cleanings in between but no stain. Because of settling near the foundation, the deck needed to be taken apart to create good drainage away from the foundation. Original CCA wood was reused, all old screws removed and replaced with new. Stripped old stain off with RAD, with gel additives. Completely stunned with how this product removed the old stain. Power washed and then used RAD brightener and let dry for two days in August. The best drying weather with low humidity. Stained with Semi-transparent Amber. Looks fabulous. I was originally hoping that this wood was last another 5 years, but after staining, it looks like with periodic cleaning and restaining, this deck will easily last another 10-15 years. Cannot be more happy with the results.
I had a deck that was about 12 years old and had never been stained. I used the Restore-A-Deck kit and the Semi-Transparent color Rustic Brown. Before doing the deck project, I had thought that I had waited too long to save the deck and would need to apply a coating or at least a semi-solid. After watching a video online, I thought that I would give the Restore-A-Deck kit a try before staining. I probably will not win this contest anyway, so I am going to include my before, after Restore-A-Deck, and after staining photos. Thank you Armstrong Clark, you saved my deck!
Attached are before and after pictures of the shutters I stained on my house with your Semi Trans Rustin Brown Stain. I waited one year to allow the treated pine to cure and then cleaned, power washed and stained the shutters. The stain was very easy to apply with a stain paintbrush. I am very pleased with the way it turned out. The rich natural colors in the stain brought out the beautiful highlights and character of the pine wood. The stained shutters gave the house a finished look it needed so badly and now everything blends beautifully with the landscaping. I’ve gotten multiple thumbs up from neighbors and friends alike and shared your info with them. Thanks so much for your great product.
Attached are before and after pictures of the shutters I stained on my house with your Semi Trans Rustin Brown Stain. I waited one year to allow the treated pine to cure and then cleaned, power washed and stained the shutters. The stain was very easy to apply with a stain paintbrush. I am very pleased with the way it turned out. The rich natural colors in the stain brought out the beautiful highlights and character of the pine wood. The stained shutters gave the house a finished look it needed so badly and now everything blends beautifully with the landscaping. I’ve gotten multiple thumbs up from neighbors and friends alike and shared your info with them. Thanks so much for your great product.
Our deck build completed July 2019 with pressure treated pine boards. Per this site I waited 12 months for boards to weather. This summer 2020 I prepped them with RAD cleaner and brightener, and applied one coat of AC semi transparent in chestnut. I previously asked the site/comments to suggest a brownish color that best includes a reddish hue when applied to the yellow pine boards, and chestnut was suggested. Came out exactly as I had hoped! Thanks AC!
Our deck was three years young.. and I researched all stains in North America and went with Armstrong/Clark! Even though I live in Canada! It was alittle more expensive with the exchange and ground freight BUT worth Every cent! We purchased a 5 gallon drum of rustic brown! We’ve had so many compliments Thanks Armstrong/Clark for being available in Canada! Cheers!
Had an all cedar deck that hadn’t been stained in at least 15 years. Sanded entire deck including benches, then used Armstrong Clark RAD Cleaner and Brightener before applying Semi Transparent stain in Chestnut. Beautiful result! One coat wonder! Even had enough left over for 2 smaller decks for the same customer. Look forward to using Armstrong Clark more in the future.
My 4th picture didn’t come through? Will add now.
I inherited an Ipe wood patio table with 6 chairs. It had been out in the weather for years. I chose Armstrong-Clark wood stain in Mahogany to refresh the patio set. I wanted a very good finish so sanded table and chairs which required about 8 hours of sanding total, well worth the effort so that new finish would not reveal old flaws. Applied Mahogany stain as directed and “tadaaa” new patio set. Now it will only need yearly cost. It has weathered beautifully!!
I wasn’t planning on entering this contest because I didn’t think the finished product would look nice enough. About halfway through staining my fence, I changed my mind. Armstrong -Clark Rustic Brown Semi-Transparent stain was giving my old fence a nice facelift! I used Mold Armor to remove mold before staining. Except for a few spots, the entire fence needed only one coat of stain, which helped cut costs and time spent working. The gate is newer but the rest of the fence is 14 years old.
The last two photos re not in the right order of course!
Full deck restoration still waiting for my stain sample box to arrive….. to be continued
Project:Boston, MA
Mahogany deck railings and support. Used AC-Mahogany stain. Light 200 grit hand sand all the way around. Product went on well and was easily absorbed by the wood with little run off. Water was beading off nicely next day after rain. Will do rest of Mahogany now. Hope the results last for a few years. Very happy so far.
Project: Deck, Pergola, Waterfall stairs, and Shed. we used semi-transparent Cedar Armstrong and Clark because we have found it is longer lasting and a better value than the competitors. We have been in the business for over 30 years and do lots of woodwork. Here at Calvin Craig Landscaping in Pleasant Hill, CA, we don’t want to use any other product.
We have a huge rooftop terrasse in IPE wood (+/- 1500 square feet!), so when it comes to staining it, we want what is BEST !
After trying several different companies, we found Armstrong Clark Stains. They are the EASIEST to apply and the best LONG TERM result !
We prepped the wood as recommended and we used the Semi-Trans Amber Hardwood/IPE Stain. Now we can enjoy the summer !!!
Thanks Armstrong Clark !
My wife and I wanted to extend the life of the cedar lap siding on our 200 y/o farmhouse that we purchased 2 years ago. After replacing some warped boards, I prepped the siding with Wash Safe Cedar Wash, gently power-washing and scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush. After drying, I applied 30 Seconds Outdoor Cleaner, spraying clean with a garden hose after 2 minutes elapsed. We tested 3 Armstrong Clark samples and agreed on a Transparent Natural tone to preserve the character of the wood. The stain was applied using a sprayer and back-brushing. We are very pleased with the results and have recommended Armstrong Clark products to friends and family.
Re-posting to add resized pictures of before and after….Pacific Northwest 10 year old cedar deck restoration to from weather worn to amazing, better than new, beautiful condition. Previous non-Armstrong/Clark stain failed after only 1 year. I emailed my size of deck and questions to AC and got great support and guidance! Then ordered 3 samples that helped me decide best color and chose the semi-transparent cedar. Then ordered the combo kit of Restore-A-Deck cleaner and brightener and 5 gallons of the semi-transparent cedar stain. All delivered in good order. Followed the directions to prep, then brighten, let dry then applied stain 1st coat and followed with wet on wet second coat. Had perfect weather conditions and stain dried and cured to a beautiful, resilient, even finish that looks like it will easily last 2-3 years. Clean up was easy too. Thank you AC for all your help, your great products and ability to sample and for having a contest for showing off our projects! Hope I win so I can share the experience and products with friends and family!
Pacific Northwest 10 year old cedar deck restoration to from weather worn to amazing, better than new, beautiful condition. Previous non-Armstrong/Clark stain failed after only 1 year. I emailed my size of deck and questions to AC and got great support and guidance! Then ordered 3 samples that helped me decide best color and chose the semi-transparent cedar. Then ordered the combo kit of Restore-A-Deck cleaner and brightener and 5 gallons of the semi-transparent cedar stain. All delivered in good order. Followed the directions to prep, then brighten, let dry then applied stain 1st coat and followed with wet on wet second coat. Had perfect weather conditions and stain dried and cured to a beautiful, resilient, even finish that looks like it will easily last 2-3 years. Clean up was easy too. Thank you AC for all your help, your great products and ability to sample and for having a contest for showing off our projects! Hope I win so I can share the experience and products with friends and family!
All pine wood deck I added onto last year with another 192 square feet of deck and a pergola. Prep was Restore-a-Deck cleaner and Restore-a-Deck brightener. Railing was Restore-a Deck solid stain and the floor boards were Armstrong-Clark, Driftwood Gray. Stain was applied with a sprayer and back brushed.
Can semi-solid stain be used on seating areas or will it stain clothes?
The semi-solid colors are not suggested for areas that you would sit on.
I purchased my first ever home last year. There was this large, 2-level wooden deck that came with the house, but it was painted this gross brown color. The deck had obviously never been maintained and the paint was peeling and cracking, and where the wood was visible, it was a dark grey color. Because of the COVID layoffs, I suddenly had some time on my hands and decided to sand the entire deck myself. To my great shock, the wood underneath was a beautiful nearly pristine redwood! I asked my friends and looked online to find the best reviewed semi-transparent oil-based stain and Armstrong Clark was my choice. Sanding took me roughly 150 hours, after which i let the wood be “exposed” for 4 weeks before applying the Cedar colored Semi-transparent Armstrong Clark Stain. I honestly couldn’t be happier with the results. I think my home value just went up and my neighbors have all commented on how nice it looks!
I have an Ipe deck that is 20 years old and have stained it 3 times in the past with Cabot mahogany stain. The process has always been dreadful doing in the heat and very little open time to work.
The only prep i did for this latest application was power wash as most of the deck had lost the color and turned grey. What stain was left on got coated over nicely. I used the Armstrong-Clark Mahogany wood stain and it looks great! It was also easy to work with. The after pic is after 2 months. I am a professional woodworker and very picky about the finished that i use on my projects.
I have a mahogany deck (I’m pretty sure at least) in Connecticut that has had 9 years of stain since we’ve lived here, at least. Cabot and arborcoat are 2 that I know were used in the past. I power washed and used the RAD stripper and brightener and followed up with board by board sanding, as I wanted all prior stuff off and the stripper alone didn’t achieve. The deck gets full sun all day. After sanding and letting it see no moisture for days, I applied Armstrong Clark hardwood stain in amber with a brush. The results have wowed me and I feel a huge sense of relief to have saved my deck from inferior stains that did nothing to enhance the woods natural beauty. I’m strangely excited to just clean, brighten and stain subsequent springs without questioning products and a ridiculous amount of sweat equity. I thank Armstrong Clark for their products and quick reply to questions.
I have a new deck that was put on home. All pine wood. I have decided to do a two toned look. For all prep work I used restore a deck cleaner and restore a deck brightener with a pressure washer. For railing I used Restore
a deck solid stain (bright White) and used Armstrong-Clark ( Driftwood Gray)on all deck boards. Stain was applied with a brush and roller. Very happy with the final result.
Our 500 sq. ft. treated pine wraparound deck was in need of much TLC. The deck is 15 years old, had been stained 4 times and painted once. The summer Michigan sun bears down on the South facing side with little to no shade. I used the RAD Stripper, followed by the brightener and was amazed at how good it looked already. I ordered 2 stain samples and chose the Armstrong Clark Hardwood Amber shade. After a few days of drying, I applied the stain with a deck stain brush. Couldn’t be happier with the color and ease of application. I still can’t believe this is my old deck!
Fred Shenkman. Have approx the 700 sq ft, I2 year old IPE deck previously stained with Penn pennofine. Used RAD stripper and brightener then stained 3days latter. After 1 day used push broom with cotton cloths to take any residual stain off. Looks great!!
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Fred, that looks amazing.
Thanks
Fred, great job! Which stain did you use?
Mahogany
Fred Shenkman. Have approx the 700 sq ft, I2 year old IPE deck previously stained with Penn pennofine. Used RAD stripper and brightener then stained 3days latter. After 1 day used push broom with cotton cloths to take any residual stain off. Looks great!!
I have a large wrap around mahogany porch on my Queen Ann Victorian. I used the Armstrong Clark RAD stripper, brightener, then the mahogany stain on the ceiling, knee walls, and porch decking. The process was pretty straight forward and the stain went on easy. What a transformation, very excited about how it turned out.
I recently purchased a home with a mahogany deck. The before picture shows a very inconsistent and varying finish. I used the RAD stripper and brightener to remove all finish. I used the Armstrong Clark Semi-Transparent Mahogany stain. The rain beads beautifully after staining!
Before picture with uneven finish.
After ignoring my approx. 400 sf mahogany porch for a couple of years, I stripped it and stained with AC Amber. I used the RAD stripper and brightener and did some light sanding with 80 grit. I’m very happy with the results and have already received a number of compliments.
COVID-19 project while teleworking: Re-staining of Pine Fence in the Sandhills of North Carolina. Fence was installed in NOV 2017 and stained with Semi-Trans Cedar in Spring 2018. There was some fading occurring on the west side of fence due to the Sun. Ordered a 5-gallon bucket and got to work. End result was a richer, more even spread. Happy with results.
…additional images
Since 2004, each spring we’d apply a rosewood penetrating oil to our massaranduba deck. Inevitably, the deck would darken, resulting in arduous stripping and sanding. This year, we wanted a change, and selected Armstrong Clark hardwood mahogany after some favorable results posted on deck forums. First, I used Woolrich HD-80 heavy duty stripper, followed by a brightener/pH neutralizer with oxalic acid. Later, it was touched up with 60-grit sandpaper. With a warm, dry forecast, I went to work. After stirring the stain thoroughly with a mixing paddle, I rolled and back-rolled the stain, using about 3 gallons for 650 sq. ft. It went on easily. Stepping on thick towel rags to prevent footprints, I back-brushed the deck about an hour later. The next day, the deck was thoroughly rag wiped. Two days later, rains came, and we never witnessed water sheeting to that degree. My wife even went out later to squeegee the deck! (See image 072 for sheeting). Image 141 shows the dry deck. If you look close, one board on the top right was wiped prematurely, as a test. I’ll reapply AC stain to that board shortly. Overall, we couldn’t be more pleased. We’ll use the deck next week for a private commencement service for our son’s college graduation. And we’ll continue using Armstrong Clark stain for the foreseeable future. Thank you for an outstanding product.
Frank Pogoda
Steve Wills here from Folly Beach, SC. Attached are the before and after pictures of the shutters I stained on my house with your Semi Trans Rustin Brown Stain. I waited one year to allow the treated pine to cure and then cleaned, power washed and stained the shutters. I couldn’t be more pleased with the way it turned out. The rich natural colors in the stain brought out the beautiful highlights and character of the wood. The stained shutters and steps gave the house that finished look it needed so badly and now everything blends beautifully with the landscaping. I’ve gotten multiple thumbs up from neighbors and friends alike. Thanks so much for the great product and your help.
Sincerely,
Steve Wills
Restored and Stained the wood deck on the back of the house. It had been 4 years since the deck was last stained using a transparent Cedar stain from Armstong-Clark. We decided to go a little darker this time for better protection and longer coverage. We used Restore-a-Deck to prep and Armstong-Clark Simi-Solid Sequoia to stain.