Choosing Armstrong Clark Oil Based Wood Stains will ensure lasting beauty and protection for all your exterior wood surfaces. Backed by five generations of experience in oil-based coatings and cutting edge technology, Armstrong Clark Wood Stains will not only meet your wood protection needs but far exceed them.
Determine the square footage area of the surface you plan to stain. On decks be sure not only to measure the floor but also railings, spindles, steps and all areas that you are planning to stain. Armstrong-Clark Deck and Siding Stains will cover approximately 150-200 sq. ft. per gallon depending on age and wood porosity.
The Armstrong Clark Staining Instructions
Armstrong Clark Deck and Siding Stains come in many different colors and tones. Keep in mind that the actual color results can vary depending on the type, age, condition, and porosity of the wood. Color samples are available if needed.
Prior to using any of the Armstrong Clark Wood Stains it is important to prepare the wood surface properly so the stain will perform as expected. See the RAD Wood Cleaner or Stain Stripper products for properly cleaning the wood surface prior to staining.
Allow the wood surface to dry 1-2 days after it has been cleaned and prepped. Be sure no rain is expected on the day of staining and for 3-4 hours after application so the stain can cure properly.
To apply Armstrong Clark Deck Stain you can use a roller, brush, stain pad, or airless sprayer. Mix the stain thoroughly prior to use. Unlike other stains, Armstrong Deck Stain can be applied in direct sunlight and on hot days. If the first application of stain penetrates within 30 minutes another coat can be applied for added protection.
If applying by sprayer, use a roller or brush to go over the sprayed areas for a more even appearance. After 24 hours use a dry rag to remove any remaining puddles or glossy areas.
Armstrong Clark Wood Stain is environmentally friendly and does not contain an offensive odor. It is easy to apply and very user-friendly. Enhancing the appearance of your deck and giving it lasting protection is the best investment you can make and Armstrong Clark Oil Based Wood Stains makes it easy.
Need Help with Materials Needed? Ask Below with your sq footage.
How to Calculate Square Footage
Deck Sq. Footage
Flooring Length x width =?
Railing Length x height =?
Steps Width x Depth x #of Steps =?
Add up all 3 for the Total Sq. footage.
Fence Sq. Footage
Length x height =?
Multiply x 2 for both sides = Total Sq. Footage
Coverage Rate for AC Stains
The specified coverage rate for Armstrong Clark is 150-250 square feet per gallon for the first coat. Second will apply at 200-300 per gallon. This averages to about 100-125 sq. feet per gallon for 2 coats wet on wet. From this, and from measuring the surface you can calculate how much stain you need. For more aged wood you could easily factor in some extra stain. On newer wood that is still smooth and dense, you probably are not going to use as much.
Note: Hardwood Decking spreads about twice as far. 300-400 sq feet per gallon and only 1 coat.
For maintenance coats you are not going to use near as much stain as you did initially staining bare wood. There are just way too many variables to know the exact coverage rate. There is really no way of knowing exactly how much stain you will need. It is better to buy more than you need than to not have enough. You can always save left over stain for next time. Armstrong Clark has a shelf life of 1 year if opened and 3 years unopened as long as the can is properly resealed.
Exactly what is back brushing? I stripped, neutralized (the prep) and stained my IPE deck with AC Amber twice now in the past two weeks and each time it does not seem to cure properly…after several days its oily, slick and then when it rains it appears the stain is washing away ..its blotchy, and I can see oily rainbows in the puddles so obviously it did not cure. The first time I called AC and we determined I did not wait the proper 48 hrs after the prep work so the IPE likely had not dried. I repeated the entire process again this past weekend…waited 48 hrs after the prep, stained on Monday and today (Thursday) it rained and the same happened again… i figured as much since it was oily and slick all week..even after wiping several times. Now I am wondering if my issue is really back brushing? I primarily used a pad to apply the AC and I did go in the direction of the wood, but to apply an even coating I did go back and forth over the boards with the pad and a brush to get in between the board. I don’ want to strip it again…too many chemicals in such a short time. Is there anything I can do to clean it up and make it look halfway decent or just wait til next year?
The issue is over-applying. You can apply 1 coat to IPE wood. You may need to remove all and start over if it doe snot cure correctly. No other way to fix.
I did not apply a second on top of the first. In my first attempt it did not take so i did the entire process again .. stripped, neutralize, stain. It didn’t take again.
It is still being over applied though. At this point you should take some mineral spirits and rags and wipe down to remove the access stain. Make sure and saturate all oily rags in water and lay flat to dry outside.
[reposting here so the reply is chronological order] so after using the mineral spirits ..is there anything, other than a full redo, that I can do to touch up the blotchy boards until I try again next year? also please explain what back brushing is and if it is completely forbidden with this product.?
Back brushing if you do it too soon will remove the curing oils from the wood as it dries leaving the non-curing oils at the surface. This could result in stickiness, unevenness, and rub off. I would not suggest doing anything else until next year.
just to clarify. When initially applying AC with a pad or brush you should only move the pad or brush forward but never backward? Just wanted to clarify because many other products I have used encourage back brushing. Thanks for all your support.
Just apply evenly with the grain of the wood. You can go back and forth while applying but do not back wipe off the stain.
so after using the mineral spirits ..is there anything, other than a full redo, that I can do to touch up the blotchy boards until I try again next year? also please explain what back brushing is and if it is completely forbidden with this product.?
I’m writing looking for guidance about how to absolutely get two coats of AC semi-solid Sequoia stain on our deck without the end result being a sticky mess we can’t walk on.
Here’s the background:
Two weekends ago we used the RAD stripper and cleaner/brightener on our well-worn (30-year-old?) 400 sf pressure-treated lumber deck. Tomorrow morning once the rain quits we’ll finish sanding some of the fuzzies from my powerwashing and then will give it one more cleaner/brightener treatment, then stain this Sunday if the forecast for 48 hours of no rain holds.
We used your online calculator for the amount of AC semi-solid Sequoia stain (deck, railings, stairs, etc.). Because our deck historically has been thirsty, we went one gallon beyond the suggested two-coat six-gallon allowance.
We’d like your advice on how to apply the first coat so that we absolutely can get the second coat on it, and not wind up with the sticky residue others have reported when they overapplied. Our options would be brush, roller, pad, or sprayer (the Chapin Clean-and-Seal sprayer with several tips sold on the RAD website).
Based on what I’ve read, I’m thinking we should apply at least the first coat extremely sparingly, and that doing so with a bristle brush might give me the most control. My aim is to get sufficient absorption within 30 minutes to permit a second coat. But I also could try a pad or a lighter-nap roller, or possibly even the sprayer if its most open tip can accommodate AC semi-solid.
And then there’s the question of the second coat itself. There again should I apply super sparingly, or can I apply more generously?
Lots of uncertainty! What would you counsel?
You should only apply one coat of the semi-solid to the deck since you sanded. If you apply too much then you will have issues with it curing correctly. You cannot spray the semi-solid. Just one good coat now using a stain pad or brush.
Interesting. I haven’t sanded the main deck yet, but was going to do that tomorrow morning after some hours of drying.
If I refrained from sanding the deck to remove the fuzzies from my earlier powerwashing, then how instead would you answer my questions above about the reasoning process, tools, and manner of applying the first and second coats? Our goal is to make project as protective and lasting as possible.
The only time you would need to apply 2 coats of the semi-solid wood would be to old and dried out wood. More stain does not equal longer life of the stain. You would be better off doing 1 coat now and then another light as needed down the road in a couple of years.
Bearing in mind that this afternoon we had a wind and rain storm (I’ll blow off the leaves and then use cleaner/brightener tomorrow morning after tonight’s forecast rain), would you say these show the wood to be old and dried-out enough to make two coats preferrable? As I’d mentioned, it’s probably a good 30 years old.
Just do the one coat.
Okay. Thank you for all your guidance! We truly appreciate it.
Hello! We just stripped, brightened (with RAD products) and stained our 12-year-old Ipe porch with A-C Black Walnut wood stain. We applied one coat, per the instructions. My painter suggested that we apply another coat of the wood stain in the late fall, before our harsh winter. We live in the Rock Mountains at 8000′, the porch is partially covered. Do you agree? Or can you tell me what maintenance looks like moving forward? Many thanks!
No, just clean and recoat in the Spring. IPE needs to be redone annually.
Thank you for your response. For clarification, when you say, “Clean”, do you mean with the RAD “Cleaner” and then apply another coat of A-C Hardwood Ipe Wood Stain every spring? Thanks.
Correct.
How long do I need to wait to stain a new deck? It is pressure treated deck board..
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
What would you suggest for my farmer’s porch? Our ceiling is knotty pine (and I love the natural color is it but want to protect it). The deck boards I was told is all mahogoney but as you can see, we recently replaced a few boards. I tried the water test on the new boards (water did not soak in) but the old boards sucked up the water in no time. Do I just stain the old boards at this point as we had them powerwashed about 2 weeks ago?
I know for sure I don’t want anything solid, I don’t mind the contrasting colors of the deck but I’d like to add protection. Also, what can you tell me about Timber Oil? My fiance has it in his head that is the best product to use right now but I think this looks good. What are the major differences
Thanks!
For mahogany, you need one of the hardwood colors: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/wood-and-decking-stains/hardwood-and-ipe-stain
Best to let the new wood weather and then prep and stain all later in the Summer.
Timber Oil is not designed for hardwoods.
I think Amber would be nice, but my fiance likes mahogony. Mahogony may be too
red for my liking ,though BF is afraid Amber may be too yellow ??
Also, what do you recommend for the Knotty Pine ceiling of the farmer’s porch? It doesn’t get any sun, we want to protect it, and love it’s natural beauty.
Try Natural for the ceiling. I like Amber for the Mahogany.
Can I apply natural oak over steps that had another stain on them, but now has been lightly sanded?
No, previous coatings need to be fully removed first.
I am building a new cypress fence that I plan to stain in Espresso. I have a couple of questions. Do I really have to wait a year before staining? What is the downside if I don’t wait that long? The fence boards will be installed horizontally with a 3/8″ gap between each board. Do I need to ease the edges of the boards for them to accept stain properly? Coming straight off the saw, the edges are currently pretty sharp.
Yes, you have to wait. It will not dry and cure correctly if you do not. No need to do anything to edges. The only way to seal this sooner is if the wood is rough sawn cut.
we applied the driftwood semi transparent stain to our new deck that had aged for several months before staining. it came out beautifully except because of all of the rain we have had the past couple weeks, our dog has been tracking mud prints on the deck. it wouldnt come off just by simply spraying with hose so i looked online to see how i could remove without damaging stain and it said to use baking soda. I did that and used a brush and scrubbed gently and it removed the stain! what should i have done differently? and can we do touchup spots again with our remaining stain?
Try to touch up the spots. Use soapy water with a car wash brush next time.
ok thank you for the feedback! we will do!
OK, so do I take the lid off and if so how or do I use the pour spout to mix?
You can pry up the tabs on the lid and remove it completely to mix.
how do I mix the stain?
Stir stick or a paint mixer for a drill.
I’m getting ready to use apply your semi solid stain my deck and I want to make sure apply it correctly using a brush or pad.
1. when apply the stain do i apply in in only one direction of can i brush back brush it to even out the quantity of the stain and the let it dry ?
Just apply it evenly with a deck stain pad going with the board directions. Do not back brush.
Applying Armstrong on IPE – Just want to confirm I have the right steps (nervous)
1- Strip with Restore a Deck
2- Brighten with Retstore adeck
3- Stain with a Stain brush with grain on wood – Where I’m confused – After 24 hrs do I wipe off any excess stain or let it cure/oils penetrate longer? Or do I leave it for 48 hrs before doing anything??
Steps are correct. Just apply one coat and let it dry. If needed, after 24 hours you can wipe off excess stain. Saturate any oil rags in water and lay flat to dry outside and away from the house.
I put one coat of semi natural on a 180 square foot deck made of plywood (1 1/8” thick). Should I put another coat on after it dries?
No, just one coat.
how many coats are required on an IPE Deck for best results? 1 or 2? If the answer is 2, how much time between the first and second coat?
Just one coat.
I stained a 1500 sq/ft section one afternoon and the remaining 500 sq/ft the next morning, all in great weather. I’m having trouble getting the two sections to blend nicely, IE; I can clearly see where one ended and has an overlap…any suggestions to have a better finished look?
Sorry but no.
Just ordered Armstrong Clark for IPE in Amber. Have about 400 sq ft of deck mostly 5/4″ deck boards. What is the best application method ..brush, or cloth? I don’t want to use a roller because I like to get between the boards. If brush ..is natural fiber the way to go and do you have a specific brush that served you well? If cloth or pad, what type , specifically one that will not leave fibers behind.
After application am I suppose to wipe excess (like other stains)?
Just one coat or do you recommend two coats?
Thanks
Stain pad or brush. It does not matter on the fibers. Do not back wipe right away. You can after 1-2 hours if needed. One coat for hardwoods.
how can i tell if i need another coat once its dried? I was not present during application so I’m not sure if it took more than 30 mins to soak in or not. Is there another “test” i can do?
Used the semi-trans cedar stain.
It is more visual. If it looks good then leave it alone. More is not always better.
How much AC Hardwood Amber will I need for 75’ mahogany 2×4” top and bottom railings with mahogany balusters as fill (posts are painted)?
Total sq footage?
Planning on staining my fence over the weekend. Saw here to wait 48 hours after rain fall in order to apply. Seems self explanatory, but my sprinklers hit the fence in the morning. Should I turn them off for two days?
Yes.
And fine to turn them on to normal operation the following day?
Yes.
Hello, we had 2 of our decks stained with AC semi-solid about 3 years ago and ever since there’s been residue on our shoes after walking on it. Decks are basically unusable.
What is the normal cause of this? Bad prep, application, or something else? It was applied by a sprayer and 2 coats.. How to fix as well?
Over applied. Best to lightly clean and apply one coat of Stain with Natural Tint. It should look in the residue.
Stain with Natural Tint. Does that mean no color? Also should it be water or oil based? A product recommendation would be appreciated. Apologies, I’m not entirely stain “literate.” Also, when you say lightly clean, would you be able to specify the method and what to clean with?
Natural is lightly tinted. AC is only oil-based. Use AC in Natural. Other brands will not work over the AC. Lightly clean with a pressure washer and soap.
2 part question: 1. Did the covered part of the deck yesterday and it looks great. Used 3″ bristle brush then wiped off all excess right after. I worked to eliminate any glossy areas, 24 hours later when I wipe is still get some on a soft cotton cloth (See Pic). Is some of that normal or should I continue to wipe down all boards? 2. Thoughts about brush vs. roller if I am going to wipe down each board anyway? I thought I could speed the process up a bit.
You are not supposed to back wipe it right away. By doing this you remove the curing oils from the no drying oils and that is an issue with drying. You might want to contact the number on the container for more help.
Thanks somehow I got turned on this process I called the company on the can and they advised to reapply a light coat and wait 24 hours.
Will buy airless sprayer, either 1/2 hp or 5/8 hp, to put Rustic Brown semi-transparent on a fence. From what I’ve read, tip sizes of 15/1k inch or 17/1k inch COULD work, but the smaller tip may be too small for this stain. You know your stains best — what do you recommend? I’d like to be sure because the 1/2 hp sprayer I’m considering won’t support 15/1k tips, while the bigger sprayer will but is $65 more.
Get the better one.
And use a 17/1k tip?
Yes. That should work.
the deck is cleaned and ready to go but it did rain yesterday, the deck will get full sun this morning with a high of 6 and I put a fan on it and I dried it with a towel when I woke. It already looks dry, assume I can start staining today??
48 hours after a rain is needed.
forgot to mention its ironwoods super dense. Does that make a difference? seems bone dry.
No, still need to wait.
Living in Knoxville …. heck it might be August before I see 2 days without rain :).
I stained Ipe with you hardwood semi transparent sain and the Ipe in flat in sheen. Should it be semi gloss or satin? Can I apply a coating on top to make the outdoor deck have a satin sheen?
larry
No, you cannot have a shiny finish on a deck, it will blister and peel. You cannot apply another coating over the AC stain.
Recommended airless tip size for the softwood stain application on vertical sections (Pergola)?
It doesn’t matter. Just use a wide fan tip.
Mahogany deck. Sanded to bare wood and stained three years ago with amber semi-stain. One year ago, stained again with amber semi-stain on top of existing stain (no sanding or treatment was done). Should I stain again THIS year or wait a year? If I do stain again, should I give the wood a light sanding (not down to bare wood, but to perhaps remove some of the surface) prior to applying one coat of the amber semi-stain?
Wait a year if it looks good. Use this kit for prep over sanding: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
We have a mahogany deck 12 years old. Planning on professional sanding. We have picked the amber semi stain. Can we apply the product right away. And do we need 2 coats?
What grit paper did they sand with?
I’d the estimated coverage per gallon for 1 or two coats? How many gallons would I need for an old cedar deck 500+ ft²?
One coat. About 4-5 gallons for two coats on 500 sq. feet.
I need to stain the floor of my deck. It’s suppose rain late afternoon. Can I go ahead and stain or should I wait.
Wait.
APPLYING TO A FENCE, HOW LONG BEFORE SECOND COAT SHOULD BE APPLIED AFTER FIRST?
20-60 minutes: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/armstrong-clark-staining-instructions
Can I stain when the temperature is around 50 degrees?
55 is the minimum temp suggested.
Here is the other Picture that didn’t load.
Looks like dirt is on top of the wood. You will need to clean and reapply one coat. Use this for prep: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
So You are telling me the stain didn’t fail and this is what will need to be done every year??
That is not a stain failure but something laying on top of the stain. No deck stain can prevent dirt buildup.
I stained my deck last August. This was a new build. I live in the PNW. The cedar was Weathered and roughly sanded. What when wrong??
I have a red cedar shed, just built last week. Should I wait a month or more to stain it?
See this for tips: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
can I simply use polyurethane on a red cedar shed?
No, it will blister, peel, attract mildew, will not provide any UV protection, and will ruin the wood.
Can this product (specifically Espresso) be used on Extira exterior grade mdf?
Sorry but no.
I’m re-finishing a deck (applying after appropriate prep). It says to apply when 50 degrees or warmer. Does it have to remain 50-degree plus overnight? If not, is there a minimum overnight temperature to avoid?
It cannot drop below freezing (32) overnight.
After removing existing finish on my 30 year old pressure treated deck and going through the cleaning and brightening step then applying your semi solid deck stain ( if the stain is absorbed quickly ? ) how long should I wait to apply a second coat ?
You will only need 1 coat for the semi-solid stain colors.
Used untreated kiln dried pine on exterior barn doors. Do I still have to wait since wood is kiln dried? If so, the inside facing wood will not be exposed to weather during the wait period. How will it accept the stain? Also, can I use a conditioner with your stain to even out the finish?
Yes, wait about 1-2 months and then prep. You cannot use a conditioner. Thanks
Greetings. Just ordered the semi solid Woodland stain. Haven’t used an oil based stain in awhile here in FL. Am going to roll-on. Is there a particular nap roller that is best to use for applying this oil based stain? Thanks.
Do not roll it on. Use an exterior stain pad or brush for the best results. Rolling splatters and does not allow deep penetration into the wood grain.
OK, thank you for the tip
So, I applied the semi-transparent stain when the redwood was dry and temp about 50, 3:00pm. Not quite dry by dark, (4:30ish) then a snowstorm decides to dump 3 inches overnight. Is the process ruined or just let it dryout?
Hard to tell until the snow dries off the wood and you can take a look.
How do you open the gallon can that has a plastic strip?
The plastic ring pops off first. Just pry it inwards with your finger or a pliers.
how long after brightener can you apply stain
48 hours after any prep.
I prepped and stained my huge deck last fall. It was old dry wood and soaked up the stain like crazy. Looks much better and have been very happy with your product. I probably should have put another coat on right then but winter came fast and it was a huge project. Anyway, I feel like it could use a second coat. What are the prep directions for a second coat after it’s been sitting for a year? Thanks!
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/how-to-apply-a-maintenace-coat-of-armstrong-clark
I’m in NC. What temperature is too cold to stain a deck?
Not below 55 degrees.
Can Semi-transparent stain be applied if evening temperature is near 40 degrees?
Yes.
I purchased 5 gallons of Chestnut Semi-Transparent stain. The information on the stain container states, “A second coat can be applied “wet-on-wet” for extra protection ONLY IF the first coat absorbs into the wood within 60 minutes. The second coat can be applied “wet-on-dry””. However, when we spoke on the phone, you indicated that this product cannot be applied “wet-on-dry”. Can you please clarify and explain why I cannot apply the stain “wet-on-dry”? Thanks
AC can be applied either way as long as the wood is absorbent enough to take another coat.
Sorry, not enough info. I have waited 3 months, wood is dry, cleaned and brightened and I am using cedar semi transparent.
One last question, (btw the railings look fantastic!!!), I have new pressure treated #1 wood on my deck. I noticed in some cases you suggest no roller. Should I stay away from a roller and just use brush or pad?
Yes, stain pad or brush. No roller.
Cleaned and brightened large deck and it took us 3 days to do railings and balusters. Now we will have to order more stain as 5 gallons was not nearly enough. Will we have to re-clean and brighten deck before getting new stain? It has not rained and deck looks very clean now.
As long as you stain within 2 weeks or so of the prep, you should be fine