The Armstrong Clark Stain Photo Album
Armstrong Clark Wood Stains comes in 16 different color choices. Armstrong Clark penetrates into the wood grain while “enhancing” the natural color tones of your wood.
Very Important: We do not guarantee final colors due to age and species of the wood, and how wood is prepared, affects the final color of an applied stain. Please use an Armstrong Clark Sample can to test for color and absorption on your wood before beginning application. Please wait 48 to 72 hours after applying the sample before viewing for the final color.
Final Armstrong Clark color will vary based on:
- Type of Wood
- Age of Wood
- Prepping of Wood
- Application method
Any Questions on Armstrong Clark Colors? Ask in the Comments below.
Armstrong Clark Stain Photo Gallery
There are over 100 pictures of all Armstrong Clark stain colors. Descriptions of stain colors are below each picture.
Colors are listed in the same order as Color Chart.
If you have used the Armstrong Clark Stains, we would love to see your photos!
Please add them in the comment area below
Using rustic brown on pine for patio tabletop. Can I put a polyurethane on top?
No, you can never top coat a deck stain. It will peel.
You can never COAT a deck (poly or acrylic) after using a penetrating oil. All “topcoats” fail anyway; they chip, flake or just fail. Do it right: oil. There are many options if you want to put something over oil, but poly would be a disaster.
Would like to achieve a grey/brown tree bark color for my cedar deck. I’m thinking of combining the Driftwood Grey with either the Rustic Brown or Black Walnut. Will these stains mix properly? Have you ever seen someone create this tree bark color before? Thanks!
Yes, you can mix them. No, never seen anyone mix them before.
Hi! I live in Québec, Canada. I would like to stain a three-year-old treated pine wood deck, which has never been stained. I wonder what type of wood stain and preparation is recommended. I like the Cedar color in your choice of colors.
Use this for prep: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Any color that you like will work.
Thank you very much for the quick reply!
I wonder which of the two products I need for treated pine wood? The Armstrong Clark Stein or the Armstrong Clark Harwood/IPE Stein? Thanks again!
You can use any of the colors that you like for treated pine wood.
I’m asking about the difference between Armstrong Clark Stein and Armstrong Clark Harwood/IPE Stein. Which of the two is better on treated pine wood?
There are only colors designed for Hardwoods but they also can be used on regular wood like pine. They hardwood colors are not different formulas.
I have just built a swinging bed using Alaskan White Cedar that will be on a deck outside. Beautiful wood that I would like to protect and keep as natural as possible. Do you recommend your product for this project?
Yes but wait 3 months to weather and then prep with the RAD Cleaner and Brightener.
The white cedar has been kiln dry and will be under a covered porch. I would like to preserve the color it has now. Knowing that, is your advice the same?
Yes.
Hi folks, Are the Transparent Colors and Semi-Transparent Colors compatible with Hardwood / IPE Colors for the purpose on my blending them on site and applying them to obtain a modified color result ?
Yes, you can do this.
I just applied the semi transparent rustic brown to an already dried out deck. It is a beautiful color and it went on evenly. The boards are still very dried out. I’d like to put an oil based clear coat on top. Is that ok to do?
No, you cannot add a top coat over the AC.
Can I add another coat of the AC rustic brown to soak into the boards? If yes, will it make it darker?
No, more is not better. Do another coat next Spring if needed.
I have a cedar deck that I would like to keep as natural looking as possible. what stain do you suggest?
The lightest tint is the natural tone.
My 8 year old desk only has 3 year old Thompsons water seal on it. Can I just sand it and then use TWP or do I have to use all the chemical stuff to strip?
Strip and brighten for prep. Sanding will not work.
We have an untreated cedar deck and want to preserve the grey will the colour driftwood work ? We are told that any stain on cedar will turn it back to beigebrown .
Yes, it would.
Hello. I live in Minnesota and have a 13-year old cedar deck that gets strong direct sunlight. I have tried several stains on the deck over the years, but none have have been very good after two winters, but maybe that is to be expected. I am planning to try your stain this year and am trying to decide between the transparent and semi-transparent stains. Is a semi-transparent stain more likely to peel than a transparent stain? Also, which of those two stain types would make preparation for restaining easier in the coming years? Thank you!
A semi-transparent is not more likely to peel. Both are easy to clean and recoat. The semi-transparent will have better UV protection. Make sure to remove all previous coating first.
We have a treated pine deck and railing. My husband has stained it one time and I plan to strip and clean before restaining as it was not done correctly first time and was peeling right away.
My question is, which stain is best for treated pine in Northern Michigan weather? Solid or semi transparent? Looking for a darker wood look.
Semi-transparent. Make sure to remove the old stain but stripping and possibly sanding as well.
Would rustic brown go with the Oxford Brown? My hope is that applying a semi-solid to deck rails would last longer and not peel. Is that correct?
It would not last any longer to the railings. The colors are not the same.
The semi-solid does not last longer than the semi-transparent? I was going for a 2-tone look and hoping the colors would complement each other.
No, not on railings. They will last the same.
I have a redwood patio table that I stripped and sanded all the old stain off of and now I want to stain/protect it. What product do you recommend and recommendations on color?
Try the Redwood Tone.
10 year old deck. Tried numerous products before. The 3 step process took us 5 days to do it correctly but it was well worth it. No other stain has been able to achieve these results. The decks look almost new. Thank you for this product.
I like it. What color is this?
Sierra Redwood.
For pressure treated deck, other than the issue of semi-solid vs semi-transparent, how does the black walnut color compare with oxford brown? Which one is darker vs lighter, either have any warm/red undertones, different depths of brown, etc? Thanks!
Black Walnut is darker while Oxford has some reddish tones:
deckstainhelp.com suggested that I use your semi-solid stain on my deck. I will strip/brighten to remove/prep the old semi-transparent stain and then plan to use your product on my lower quality mahogany deck. Here is a picture of my deck that I stained last year and the color just didn’t hold. I live in NY. Was hoping you concur. What is your best guess for closet color to the Redwood I used from Wolman F&P ?? Thank you!
For mahogany wood you would need one of the 3 hardwood colors. Look at the Mahogany color. Semi-solids will not work for hardwoods. Wood is too dense.
Can I use the semi solid Expresso on a Mahogany deck?
No. No semi solids for hardwood decks.
I asked the same question and the response was “no”…
Here is finished siding,and decking is going to be matched to dark stain for sidind.Continued from last post
Cedar siding brand new,need the color to match the darker brown,which shade of brow do you think would work? My deck is a lighter solid cedar look and will be matching whatever brown on siding to the deck,with your water based stain as am not going to sand it all the way down
Rustic Brown would be closest in color.
How much better is the semi solid versus the semi transparent for Arizona sun? Which is easiest to maintain?
Maintenance is the same but you will get slightly better UV protection with the semi-solid.
We have a 15 year old redwood deck in Colorado (lots of sun) that will be power washed and sanded to remove any previous product. We want to use a gray stain but are unsure how your Driftwood would look on redwood. Your thoughts?
it would be fine for older redwood.
Will it show a lot of the wood grain or only some of it? We have a gray composite deck on the other side of the house and I’m trying to get as close to that look as possible. I’m unsure between a semi-transparent and a semi solid. Thanks for your quick response!
The gray only comes in a semi-transparent color.
Thank you. I neglected to mention that we added onto an already existing deck that has redwood stain. We are powerwashing but will need to cover that color on the old part. Any color suggestions, given that?
You cannot apply the AC stain over a different brand of stain. You would have to remove it by stripping and or sanding.
Hello! What kind of your stain would you recommend for a beach cottage deck near the Atlantic Ocean in Connecticut (Long Island Sound really)? It is pressure-treated lumber and I only need to stain the walking area – rails are poly. Thank you!
Any of the semi-transparent or semi-solid colors will work best.
What color stain should I use on this Mahogany deck. I live in NJ and I’m told you are top of the line stain. Enclosed is the oof my deck. I will need 2 5 gallons..
Use one of the hardwood colors. There are three: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/wood-and-decking-stains/hardwood-and-ipe-stain
I tried placing an order. Can someone please contact me at. …Sincerely, Joe Toth
We are not offering phone support during the pandemic. Just online questions. Ordering online works.
Can you use the IPE’s on pressure treated decks?
You can use the hardwood colors on other wood types. They will not look the same on PTP as they will on IPE wood.
How long would I expect natural tone to last on a fence?
2-3 years. Semi-transparent colors will last 3-6 years.
Also, I am located in New Jersey.
I have a Cedar swing set that I need to restain. What is the best color you would reccomend? It is in the sun all day long.
Any color you like will work. That is your preference.
My deck is 15-18 years old. We had it resanded and stained about 8 years ago. We have been maintaining it; however, living in the northeast we’ve endured many harsh winters. The person that is going to be powerwashing and staining my deck said that they have to use a solid stain. Which product would I order from you?
Sorry but Armstrong Clark does not come in a solid stain.
I have a new deck and wonder how often do you have to restain using 2 coats of transparent cedar tone?
See here about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Can your Stain be used on a Salt water dock?
Yes it can!
I have a 4 month old dock pressure treated pine. Full sun in Georgia. If I put semi trans rustic brown on now. After the 1 yr mark…when I would need to reapply, could I clean and the coat over with the semi solid expresso? I’m aiming to get as much uv protection as I can without going to a full solid and hoping to keep the maintenance ease of a semi trans stain. Also, if I can go with the semi solid espresso after the 1 year mark and it is time to reapply in 2 or 3 years can I just clean and reapply the expresso again? Thanks
If you are switching from Rustic Brown to Espresso it would be best to strip and brighten for prep. Very easy to do. When recoating with the same color down the road, you would clean and brighten for the prep.
Do you have a recommendation for an additive or product that works well with or over your oil based wood stains for the stairs coming off the deck.
Not sure what you mean? You cannot apply a sealer or coating over the AC stains or any deck stain for that matter.
I’m wanting to put non-skid on stairs. Is it ok to apply a non-skid product over the oiled wood? We had added sand to paint on our last house for a ramp, but this product is different and we are starting with new cedar so want to do it right.
You cannot add a non-skid additive into the AC stains nor can a paint or stain of a different type be applied over the AC stains.
I plan on using Sierra Redwood for my deck. What color would you recommend for the skirt, (lattice) that would compliment the Sierra Redwood?
Use the same Sierra Redwood color as you use for the deck.
Agree. We used Sierra on both deck and skirt (vertical T & G). Looks nice and lots of compliments
For a multi toned deck, would semi-transparent cedar and amber go well together or do they have a different finish/sheen? We have a mixed pressure treated pine / cedar deck. Thank you!
You would not get much of a two-toned look between Amber and Semi-Cedar as they are too close in color. You would need a darker contrast or semi-solid color.
Thank you! Is there a difference in their sheens?
AC stains do not have a shine as they are penetrating matte coatings.
No pics of Semi-Solid Espresso?
No, but we do have samples for testing: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/samples
I have used your deck stain in semi solid oxford brown since 2014. We need to touch up stain this spring. I was told by someone at your company that I can apply a transparent natural tone over the oxford brown semi solid stain to help with the over oxidizing…what I mean is deck is low to ground so stain does not oxidize completely and gets on shoes, etc. How soon after touching up semi solid can I apply transparent stain?
A week or two later.
What is the best for kiln water pressure treated deck that is newly installed? I would also like to tint it from the green or make it greener.
Hello,
AC stains do not come in a green tint nor can any of the AC stains be tinted. As for new kiln-dried wood, any of the stain colors we have will work. Let the new kiln dried weather for 1-2 months and then prep with the Restore A Deck Kit:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Follow up question : would the “transparent natural tone” that you sell, maintain the color of the redwood or do I need to order the “redwood tone”? I will appreciate your help.
Natural is tinted so yes it will have UV protection but take into consideration that this is the lightest tint. Darker or richer colors and tones will always provide longer UV protection.
I have a new redwood deck. I like the current natural color of the wood. What should I use in order to maintain the color as much as possible while protecting.
thank you
See here about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
As for color to use, that is your preference but it must be tinted if you want UV protection from graying.
I am looking to buy a 19 Y.O. log cabin and the logs have greyed. How would one bring a warm wood color back to them? Also, are your products suitable for indoor use? Thank you.
Prep first with this kit: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Once the gray is removed, you can use any color that you would like. Might want to get some samples to test as well: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/samples
Ouside use only.
Maybe even the semi-solid black walnut.
You can use the Balck Walnut color for the cedar for a darker brown color. Rustic Brown would be a medium brown.
I have a cedar deck that was stained with ready seal. The ready seal has almost worn off, but the deck has not grayed. I am stripping and brightening it. I am thinking of using a Clark’s semi-transparent or should I use the stain for hardwoods? Any color suggestions if I want a medium to dark brown? The deck mostly full sun, snd I am in Texas where it gets really hot.
I have a newly built deck in October with a glulam beam I believe is pressure treated pine. I would like to sand it down, then clean and brighten it. At this point should I wait and let it weather first and then sand, clean, brighten and stain in the spring or is alright to work on it now (1 month old) weather permitting? Also, any particular stain you would recommend? I want to try and keep the wood grain visible but with a hint of color – maybe the natural cedar tone or amber.
See this about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Wait until Spring. Try Amber color.
I have a clear yellow cedar siding. Looking for a goldy red colour. What do you recommend, amber or cedar? The yellow cedar i have is quite bright
Try Amber.
i need to stain a massarandubba floor in a shopping mall. it has 4 floors i will do the 3rd floor. will the cleaner and the brightner affect the 2nd floor when i am washing the floors and will it affect the bricks on the 1st floor?
The Cleaner and Brightener are for outside use. We would not suggest using them in a mall.
Post pic didn’t upload
Just bought a new house and deck was looking pretty rough. I think she just might have some life left in her! Just found your product and am very satisfied so far, cedar boards with Cedar semi-transparent.
I have a barn that needs cleaning and staining. I think it’s mostly redwood but not sure because it’s so worn. I’d like the wood to show through but need long-term protection. What’s the best process and product/color for reviving and protecting the wood?
Prep with this and pressure washing: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Stain with any color that you like in the AC. Mabe a Sierra Redwood.
Debating about oxford brown or black walnut. The Oxford brown is a semi solid . Does the black walnut hold up as well as the semi solid
You will get a little better UV protection with a semi-solid.