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.
Just did my 500+ sq Tigerwood deck yesterday for the second time using AC semi transparent mahogany. AC stain just a great product, I’m extremely happy with the results. I have question for this time: I started staining the deck around noon, finished at about 8PM. But being in CA Bay area last night a heavy fog rolled in, in the morning I saw the portion that were late stained has a layer of wet pigment, my question is: should I just rug them off or using brush to light apply another thin layer? Attached tree picture below: one is dried, 2 are problematic.
Wipe it down with rags and then soak your rags in water when done.
We used a Sherman Williams water based product on our fence a few years ago which has flaked in a few areas crappy product, refuse to use again). We want to refinish with your oil based product (we used this at our cabin and loved it). What is necessary to prepare the fence to switch from water based to oil based?
Reply back with some pictures for prep help.
The panels are in pretty good shape (no flaking) but you’ll see areas on the side of top plate where the existing water-based stain has flaked off. The stain on the top side of the top plate is essentially gone. You’ll also see a few new treated posts that were installed over the winter due to storms. Hopefully this gives you enough.
The AC cannot go over this coating so it will need to be removed fully first. Unfortunately, it cannot be stripped off fully based on the pictures so you will have to sand to remove it fully.
With the CA wildfires, air conditions aren’t great, and there is even light ash falling periodically. Realizing that this isn’t a paint finish, can I go ahead and knock my project out, or do I need to wait for the ash to stop completely? I am using semi-trans oil on a deck that I prepped yesterday (when there wasn’t any ash).
It should be fine as long as the ash is off the deck and it does not fall on it while it is drying.
Your prompt reply is awesome! Thanks!
By the way, what does one do with the application tools (brush/pad/roller) between coats? Or are disposables (roller/pad) the way to go?
Disposable stain pads or brushes. Rollers do not work that well.
can this be applied over clear penetrating epoxy sealer on new wood? I can put the CPES on after if need be, but then I’ll have to apply varnish to protect the CPES I apply on my Cypress fencing from UV light.
No. A deck stain can not be applied over a sealer. It will peel.
I just prepped and cleaned my treated pine deck and then it rained. Can I just let the deck dry again then stain away?
Yes, wait 48 hours after rain.
Used brush to apply AC rustic brown semi-trans “maintenance coat” on PT pine deck (original coat was applied last July). Deck was cleaned and nice and dry before applying stain. Three days later, after mid/upper 80s temps with some humidity but no rain, I can see a little residue on a smooth white cloth if I rub the deck hard. It’s not as dark as the stain – it’s very faint. I guess it could even be surface dirt that accumulated over three days since staining. Or maybe even oil residue combined with a little surface dirt. The deck is not glossy and has no puddles or wet spots. The stain seemed to penetrate well – everything looked dry an hour after applying.
This is the second time I’ve used the same stain, so I’m confident I’m not over-applying based on the results I got the first time I used it (I used less than 3 gallons this time to cover 780 sq ft). What am I seeing? Is it “normal”? Will it go away completely with time – a few more days or a week? Should I wipe it down or just let it be?
Thanks!
It probably has not fully cured yet. Give it more time or feel free to wipe down the floors with rags and mineral spirits. If you do this, soak all rags in water when you are done.
I assume it’s ok to put furniture back on it and walk on it while I wait for full cure?
If I decide to wipe with rags, will turpentine work or does it have to be mineral spirits?
Yes on furniture. Turpentine should work as well.
Thanks. How many days after staining with one coat is “normal” for full cure? I assume a little residue like I’m seeing after 3 days isn’t unusual?
It can take up to a week as it varies based on the amount of coats, wood porosity, etc.
First question: I did a deck cleaner followed immediately by deck brightener. It’s been a few weeks and it’s rained. Is it still ok to apply stain if only a few weeks have passed? Will I need to clean/brighten one more time before staining?
Second question: I’ve seen a few videos on Youtube that recommend using an applicator pad, not a roller. Can I use an applicator pad for deck boards with the AC product? Will that give me good/great results? Thanks!
You should lightly clean the deck again since it has been more than 2 weeks. Do not use a roller, use a stain pad or brush for best results.
Thanks for the speedy answers! If I “lightly clean” does this mean taking a lint free cloth over it or rinsing with a garden hose, then let it dry prior to stain application?
No, give it a light pressure wash.
Forgot to post the photos…
Yesterday I posted my good looking deck after 24 hours of application. Now it is about 55 hours, and it seems that the areas that were heavily treated with Armstrong transparent Redwood tone stain, start to burn from inside??? The nuts in the wood became dark black and some can be scraped out, as carbon. Should I spray water on it or call the fire department? Thank you very much.
It is not possible for it to burn but applying water to it will not harm the stain.
Thank you very much for the good advice. On day 3, the black nuts in the wood, turned into light gray, and I assume as time passes, it will blend in more with the wood color. I did not spray water on it, as you assured me that it will not start to burn. Thanks again!
I used many times the redwood tone transparent stain with great success. This year I hired a company to do it for me. They used the RAD cleaner, brightener and transparent redwood tone stain. They used brushes for application, in a very thorough manner. After 24 hours the wood is still greasy to touch. Should they apply a second coat? I am asking this because when I used to do it, I always needed a second coat. Would it help or harm if the second coat was added. Until now they used 5 gallons of stain on a 1000 square feet area. I still have 2 gallons left. The railings are dry to touch. Thank you in advance for your advice.
More is not always better. Just let it dry out. You can always add a light coat in 12-24 months if needed.
I plan to brush on semi transparent rustic brown, how to do so to avoid over applying. I see many comments that say stain is still picking up after application even after weeks. What do you suggest to ensure applying the ‘just right’ amount?
Any best brush to use for deck (not doing side rails)?Thank you
AC is very easy to apply and doe not get overlap lines. Just use an exterior stain pad for the floors and a brush as needed. Apply only as much as the wood allows the stain to fully soak in. More is not better when it comes to penetrating deck stains.
I have a 20+ year old IPE deck thats not been treated, only pressure washed every 3-4 years. The railings and spindles are cracked and split. Our deck guy recommended Armstrong Clark Mahogany positive dry. Is there a product called positive dry? He also recommended sanding the rails and posts, should I do that before or after the cleaning, prepping, and pressure washing?
There is nothing called “positive dry”/ Do not sand, just prep with this kit and then stain: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
I have some cedar Muskoka chairs. Is it OK to use the stain on the furniture?
Yes, but not the semi-solid colors.
Can I apply semi-solid stain on top of the semi-transparent stain application? If so do i need to strip off the older stain first?
Strip and then brighten would be best so the semi-solid can fully soak into the wood grain.
I prepped my deck by using deck cleaner followed by brightener. It is going to be close to 100 degrees F tomorrow. Do I still need to wait two days before I apply the stain? If I need to wait the full two days, were are expecting a lot of rain at that point. And right after the rain, I will be unavailable for about two weeks. Can I apply the stain three weeks after the prep, or do I need to redo some of the prep?
Thanks
Yes, you should wait 48 hours after prep. You should redo prep if longer than two weeks. Light wash and brighten.
Curious, why redo prep after two weeks, why wouldn’t 3 or 4 weeks be okay? My deck is 500 sq feet and to light wash and brighten properly ( in 5 sections, keeping it wet for a 20 minute wait, then thorough rinse) it would take 6 hours to complete. Is this the same process you are referring to when suggesting. ‘light wash and brighten’?
Fingers crossed that my stain order arrives next week :)
The wood will get dirty again the exposed wood cells will oxidize. You can redo the wash and brighten this deck in an hour if needed. Do it all at once, not in 5 sections.
Oops only one photo sent, here is the colour request for matching semi transparent stain that I have on railings. At this time, I would stain deck floor only. Thank you!
Amber color.
Oh, I wasn’t considering Amber because it wasn’t on the semi transparent list. But I can see the colour is similar. The deck is 30 years plus in some areas. In the choice of Amber were you also considering the wear on the deck and how a semi transparent would look verses a semi solid?Appreciate your input. Already spent tons of hours preparing it want to get it right.
Also, I live in Canada and would have it shipped, anyway to estimate shipping cost through purolator?
Amber would give you the closest look to your rails. For shipping costs, add products to cart and enter your full address.
Thank you!In your opinion which semi transparent colour would compliment the side railings rather than match, i was thinking rustic brown?
Sure Rustic Brown would work. Natural Oak as well.
Sanded and stripped still needs brightener on deck floor, want to use AC semi transparent on floor, railings still in good shape. What would you suggest as best match with railings, know it won’t be perfect. Don’t want to use previous product. Thank you!
We finished using the first can of mahogany stain, the second can was not as well stirred and the 2nd half of the deck has a line with the second can not as dark. Can you use a paint brush to lessen the visibility of the line?
No, you would have to redo all to even it out.
Applied coat of Cedar semi-transparent 2 weeks ago. Because we ran out of stain we didn’t apply a prompt 2nd coat. Is it now too late to apply a second coat?
You can apply another coat now as long as the wood is still pourpus.
Hi, I stained a large cedar gate a year ago on the north side of my house. I live in Oregon so things on the north side can become mossy/moldy/etc. due to the rain and lack of constant sunlight. The gate has acquired some light mold on the face but the stain looks good still. What would you suggest I use to clean the mold off but still retain the stain?
Soapy water or a product called Wet and Forget. No bleach or anything too harsh.
Thank you for not only the incredibly quick answer but that you do this every single day (looking at the time stamps). That is excellent customer service.
You are welcome!
Considering the use of AC Deck Stain on 1″x 8′ x 8′ on natural black bamboo fencing in about a year. The fencing will be installed this month without any treatments. Any guidance on using AC Deck Stain annually or bi-annually for the care and maintenance of bamboo? Gratefully.
I am sorry but a penetrating stain like AC will not work on bamboo.
Hi, I just finished staining my deck with your semi-transparent stain. How long do I need to wait until I can put furniture back on it and use it. Temperature was about 75 degrees in the late afternoon.Thanks.
1-2 days. Just make sure it is fully dry.
Thanks
best way to stir a 5 gallon bucket?
Remove the lid and use a 5 gallon paddle mixer on your drill.
I applied the AC Hardwood Mahogany stain on an covered Ipe dec, that had never been stained previously. After 2 1/2 days the stain still rubs off when I wipe my fingers across it. Any ideas?
Over applied and has not cured yet. Try wiping it down with rags and mineral spirits. Soak any oil rags in water when done. Layh flat to dry outside.
I have a hardwood deck of which I applied AC Amber last year, however it has since faded, and so if I want to reapply the exact same stain do I just need to clean prior to re-staining?
Yes, that is correct.
How soon after the stain dries can we put on an outdoor rug?
24-48 hours.
What’s method would work for putting on a second coat using a brush? Do two or three boards and then go back to the first one. Would stepping or kneeling on one of the boards just stained ruin the finish?
You can step on your first coat 20-60 minutes after being applied. Do not step in your second coat.
I have a 20 year old deck that had an old seconds stain on that has worn off. The deck is solid. I pressure washed and sanded and cleaned The deck before applying a sample of semi transparent natural oak, I waited half an hour and apply the second coat just in a 1 ft.² area. It is very flat there is no shine to it. Is that how it is supposed to look?
Flat with no shine.
Anything I can add on top of the stain to make it a have a little sheen?
No, doing that means it will peel. You can never have a shiny coating for a deck surface.
How long should I wait prior to applying a 2nd coat of the Ntaural Oak semi transparent stain ?
20-60 minutes after the first coat is best.
Try giving a good rinse with a pressure washer from 1-2 feet away after lightly mopping on some warm water with dish soap. Just water rinse.
You cannot back wipe the AC stain right away as that removes the curing oils. If you do this, it needs to be done 1-2 hours after applying. This is most likely what happened.
I carefully removed the excess oil in specific areas with a rag, but this doesn’t explain why the whole area exposed to heavy rain removed the stain and produced the black spots (mildew?). Sounds more like I missed a step or didn’t properly prep the deck prior to staining?
That could happen if it rained before it had a chance to fully cure.
Yes, I made sure to perform the cleaning and staining in Mid October and California rainy season started in December, so plenty of time to dry/cure. We had 3-4 days of heavy rain I wonder if that did it?
Possibly but there is only one reason rain can wash off stain, and that is if the curing oils were removed by wiping or it was over applied to point that it could not fully dry.
Sounds like perhaps it was overapplied since i carefully removed certain areas that were puddling. If I want to re-apply the same stain do I need to strip and clean?
Correct.
I used IPE oil on my deck last year. I am looking to use your stain do I just use cleaner or do I need to strip it.
Strip and then Brighten: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
What can cause a slippery surface after preping, brightening and staining
Over application or improper prep.
I have prepped my deck with restore a deck product in order to restain this summer. It’s been 3 years since I stained it with AC. Some areas of the deck are almost bare wood while others have residual stain on them. How can I get an even look with this years AC cedar stain application? Thanks.
Strip and brighten for prep with the RAD Stripper kit
Do you have water based stain? Are the prices in Canadian dollars?
Oil based only. Prices are USD.
I just applied the Sierra red stain on our deck and am very happy with the results. Stain didn’t dry within 30 minutes, so I didn’t apply a second coat. We live in a very high maintenance, damp area surrounded by trees that stain our deck and concrete requiring yearly power washing. should I apply another coat of stain and, if so, when is the optimal time to do it?Kim Calderone
No need to apply another coat now. Just apply as needed next year or the year after.
Our ipe deck was last stained about 5 years ago and all of the old TWP stain had worn or was washed off. The wood is atleast 15 years old. We cleaned, brightened, let it dry 72 hours, then stained it in amber. The color dried blotchy. I am guessing that we had some “fur/fuzzies” on the deck that wasn’t noticeable while it was unfinished, they only showed up a few hours after the stain was drying. We have the 2nd 5 gallon bucket on order to finish the other half of the deck and plan on using a defurring tool to the unfinished portion to prevent the blotchiness.
Is there a way to correct this on the sections that were already stained? The color also dried much darker than the samples, which is fine, but unexpected, is that normal for older wood? (2nd picture). Thanks!
Try a test board with a very light coat to see who it dries and evens out the color. If good, then do the same to all.
Did you weather and prep your new wood? https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
You can wipe off the excess stain now with rags and mineral spirits. Make sure to saturate all oily rags in water and lay flat to dry outside when done.
Yes, deck was fully cured prior to staining and was professionally sanded. If we don’t wipe down, will it eventually dry, or will we need to wipe it to take the excess off?
Sanding is actually not a good idea prior to deck staining is it smooths the wood to smooth, hindering the stains ability to fully soak in.
Wiping will not harm it and will help it to cure
Updating to inform that the company who stained came back and wiped everything down and it was nearly cured the next day. Problem solved. Also curious about the recommendation NOT to sand, as several of our local contractors and deck staining experts said sanding is the way to go, especially on new wood (instead of pressure washing).
Sanding closes the pores of the wood.
I WANT TO USE THE RUSTIC BROWN SEMI-TRANSPARENT STAIN (POSSIBLY THE OXFORD SEMI-SOLID, TOO) ON MY DECK. I’M ADJOINING A TREX LIGHT BROWN DECK. MY QUESTION IS…CAN I USE THE STAIN ON THE TREX DECK as well, SO THE COLORS ARE THE SAME?
Sorry but no, the stains are not designed for composite wood.
Yes, give the wood a good wash down to see if that helps.
Used transparent cedar tone on deck and it looks great. can a second coat be applied in some areas 4-6 days after first coat. In other words, can you apply this product wet on dry?
This varies on who porous the wood is. More is not always better and can lead to curing issues. Test a spot or board and see who it dries before applying to all wood.
I have semi transparent cedar paint left in the can about half can left. What do I do with it. Will it last another year?
See here for shelf life: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/shelf-life-of-armstrong-clark-stain
I just stained my treated pine deck with the semi solid and the stain soaked in more on some of the deck boards so it kinda looks uneven. Can I put another coat on just those boards or should I just wait until it’s time to restain the entire deck?
Also what do ya’ll recommend for preparing the wood to restain when its time.
Best to just wait. Prep with this when time: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Would I just need to use the cleaner?
Both.
I have had my stain sitting in the can since September do I have to shake it or is stirring it enough before I use it?
Shake or get a paint mixer that attaches to your drill. You can get those at any hardware store.
I seem to be reading conflicting info around this website. After stripping and brightening/cleaning, do I have to wait 1-2 DAYS or only 1-2 HOURS? The page I’m writing this on says days, but I’ve read elsewhere on this site that one benefit of Armstrong Clark is that you don’t have to wait days. Which is it? Specifically for a strippped/cleaned pressure treated deck and a semi-solid stain.
After stripping and brightening you always have to wait 48 hours to stain. There is nothing on this site that says you can stain 1-2 hours after prep while using the AC stain. Maybe you were looking at a different stain brand?
Hi – my apologies, you’re correct, it’s not stated anywhere on this website. The source of my confusion is that I’ve already purchased (from this website) the “restore a deck” stripper and brightener products, in conjunction with 3 samples of Armstrong Clark stain.
The prep products can be used for prepping for any brand of stain.
Prep work done (RAD stripped and brightener with power washing) and it looks great already! Unfortunately now the weather says we have 5 full days of rain ahead.. does the rain have to stop for a certain number of days before staining can begin?
48 hours.
The site under Staining instructions says 1-2 days after prep…not 48 hours. So am I ok just waiting 24 hours?
48 hours is correct.
We’re getting ready to stain our redwood deck with semi-transparent light oak. Noticing that there are several holes on the wood, and some hollows where the wood chips feel loose and can be picked off. What is the best way to clean and prep these holes/hollows? Is it necessary to fill the holes?
Wood filler will not work on a deck and will not stain to blend. You may need to replace those boards if they are really bad, otherwise just leave as is. It is not a big deal unless the wood is rotting.
I have an outdoor dining table with IPE wood top. I will be treating it for the first time since purchase. Do I need to prep first? Also, will the Armstrong IPE Stain keep the original color of the wood the same? I don’t want the wood color to change too much. Is there a transparent stain I can use? Finally, do I need to stain the underside of the table as well since its exposed?
See this about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
so I waited almost a year before applying stain to deck (in Florida). Wood has obviously shrunk since install. Whats the best way to get stain down the edges? I used a staining pad but can’t get pad far enough down the crevices to cover. The edges are pretty glaringly uncovered in many locations. Any advice?
Using a thin brush is your only option.
Does a clear coat or sealer need to be applied after stain?
No, you can never clear coat over top of a deck stain, it will peel. There are many colors: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/wood-and-decking-stains
They applied the stain over a primer now the stain doesn’t seem to penetrate and is very uneven.
You cannot apply a stain like AC over a primer. They will have to sand all stain and primer off to fix this.
Thanks.
You cannot paint over it, it will not take. You have to remove it to fix.
Can we just wipe off the excess and let it dry over a month or so?
No, that will not work. You have to remove all down to the bare wood to fix this. No other way.