Armstrong Clark Stain Samples
Here is how our sample program works:
- Pick as many colors as you would like by placing a check next to each then click “Add to Cart”. Color swatches at bottom of the page.
- Samples are N/C but we charge $10 each to cover our shipping costs.
- Once you decide to purchase a stain from our site, you can use the money you spent towards the purchase of a 5 Gallon Pail of Stain!
- Maximum $15 discount per customer/household. Instructions on how to get a credit will be included with your samples.
*Sample program cannot be combined with any promotional discount coupons!
How To Claim Sample Credit
- Enter your sample order number into the “Comment Area” during checkout. The sample credit will be issued after the order for the 5-gallon pail is placed. Typically the next business day and will post to your Credit card or Pay Pal account within 3-8 business days.
Available Armstrong Clark Wood Stain Color Samples
Transparent Cedar Tone, Transparent Natural Tone, Transparent Redwood Tone, Amber, Mahogany, Semi-Trans Black Walnut, Semi-Trans Cedar, Semi-Trans Chestnut, Semi-Trans Driftwood Gray, Semi-Trans Natural Oak, Semi-Trans Rustic Brown, Semi-Trans Sierra Redwood, Semi-Solid Espresso, Semi-Solid Mtn. Cedar, Semi-Solid Oxford, Semi-Solid Sequoia, Semi-Solid Woodland Brown
I recently bought a house with a deck that has not been maintained well and is currently grey. Should I use one of the semi solid stains or would I be able to use the Mahogany hardwood stain? I read somewhere that your semi solid stains were best for old wood but I love the Mahogany color.
You can use any of the colors that you want after proper prep:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Make sure to test the colors as they will vary based on wood type and age of the wood.
Covering about 1500 sf of new fencing.
about how much product would I need?
thanks!
About 10-15 gallons for two coats.
Covering about 1500 sf of new horizontal slat redwood fence, rough texture wood common con.
put in 3 weeks ago. Dry climate. Full sun. Clean fresh fence.
can i proceed with a semi-transparent stain without the clean and prep steps?
about how much product would I need for 1500 sf of coverage?
one coat sufficient?
on horizontal pickets do I roll on horizontally with the grain or is traditional up and down okay?
Would you recommend a roller for the big parts/
6 “ picket boards ? Brush for posts and finer detail?
spongy fluffy roller or tighter fibers?
acrylic or natural fibers on brushes rollers?
thanks!
If rough sawn you can stain now as long as wood is dry. Probably will need two coats. Go with grain. Not a roller. Stain pads and brushes.
Thanks for speedy reply.
how long to dry in between coats ?
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/armstrong-clark-staining-instructions
Hi….we had a new deck built and completed 11/1/2021. Trex deck on horizontal including stair treads, and pressure treated pine on all verticals, rails and bench. We have waited long enough for staining (in TN). Do I need to pressure wash the verticals and bench with the RAD? How do I know how much stain to order for the verticals and bench?
See here about new wood.
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
as for how much product, we would need a total sq footage of all wood added up that is to be stained.
No, you cannot use the 30 Second Cleaner for prep and it will not strip/remove a previous stain and is a very poor performing product as well if you read the reviews. You need to use a stripper and then brighten to remove the Cabot.
The RAD Stripper/Brightener Kit is EXTREMELY INEXPENSIVE for a kit and is cheaper than any other product on the market that is comparable for the price and quantity you receive.
Can you apply two coats of Armstrong Clark stain, one week apart, to get a darker color and to provide more protection? I stainedd two sample test boards, one with semi-transparent Cedar and one with semi-transparent Natural Oak, and the sample boards don’t have the desired color. I’m thinking two coats would also provide more protection.
Yes but make sure you do not overapply.
I JUST ORDERED A SAMPLE OF OXFORD BROWN. THE AD PICTURE SHOWS 3 SMALL CANS. IS THAT WHAT I’M GOING TO RECEIVE?
One.
I just read on your tip sheet that a newly installed fence should not be stained until 3-4 months. Is the correct?
Yes.
Gazebo pic
Another pic
We have a new fence and would like to match it with our gazebo. Both are cedar and neither has been stained. Which stain would you suggest to match the two and maintain it’s natural beauty.
Any color you like will work since they are both unstained. See here about new wood tips: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
New construction home with wood fence that wraps around the property; fence has been there since July. Can I stain with “Hardwoods & Softwoods” colors? Also, what two colors can I combine to achieve the closest to an off black? I know I cannot use semi-solids because the wood is less than a year old.
You can stain it with any color that you like. The darkest color is Black Walnut. Nothing would be blacker and you cannot mix it blacker.
“You can stain it with any color that you like.”Meaning I can use semi-solid as well? Correct me if I am incorrect. It’s a plain ole wooden fence, typical new construction track home type.
You have to follow the new wood tips: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Do your stains require sealer on top?
No and you cannot apply a sealer on top of a deck stain like the AC.
My mahogany decking fence was beautiful but a significant portion has a long southern exposure year round and the initial Cabot’s Australian Timber oil did not last 6 months. It is now streaked with gray, natural and black ash drips from rain. What can be done to weatherproof the fence and retain natural grain look with a neutral tone, slightly amber like it was originally?
Use this for prep to remove the Cabot:https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
Stain with the AC in Amber color.
Hi there, trying to find a semitransparent or transparent stain with no yellow or orange hue, or very less of these colors? Prefer a lighter color. Any suggestions and help is truly appreciated!
All lighter colors will have a yellow hue. It is not possible to have a light brown with no yellow when you apply to exterior wood. You can do a medium brown like Rustic Brown or Natual Oak.
We are building a new house and have rough cut cedar wrapped around some posts we want to stain. Do we need to do any prep on them prior to staining?
No need if rough sawn cut as long as it clean and dry.
Hello. Two questions if I may: 1/ What size (fl oz) are the samples? 2/ Does an open gallon container of the stain, if properly sealed, last or will it become unusable in 6 – 9 months? I have a couple of small pieces to stain that probably require only a quart of stain, although i intend to reapply in the future. Thanks
1. 2-3 oz.2. Shelf life is about 12 months after being opened and properly resealed.
I applied one coat of rustic brown semi transparent stain yesterday in sunny 80 degree conditions, looked fantastic. Stain had soaked into wood, and then 6-8 hours later thunderstorm rolled in. This morning all looks good with water beaded but wondering should I remove standing water puddles in some manner? Supposed to rain again later in day too. Thank you!Lynn
No, it is fine.
I have log cabin with wrap around porch – approximately 1800 sq ft. It is 16 years old – was initially stained/sealed with Cabot ATO – I have restained a couple of times since then with different product. In all areas where the deck receive little to no sun, the original ATO still look decent but needs recoating. Can I use your product on top of the ATO or should I completely strip and start over. Looking for direction.
You will need to fully remove the prior coatings first.
We have a an IPE deck and we have used Cabot Timber Oil in the past. We are looking for an oil that it closest in color to the honey teak of Cabot. What would you suggest? Also, will this oil last longer / penetrate deeper than Cabot?
Amber would be closest. Your wood type (IPE) requires annual application due to the extreme density of the wood. Nothing will last longer
We just built a rough cut pine barn we are up in the air on what type of stain to use solid or transparent and would we need 2 applications
Two coats applied wet on wet. Any color that you like will work.
We have a 7 year old tigerwood deck that we are refinishing and we live in Colorado. Should we use the Semi-transparent stain? We like the look of the wood when it is wet so is Amber a good choice?
You will need one of the hardwood colors:https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/wood-and-decking-stains/hardwood-and-ipe-stain
Amber is closest to a wet look.
I have replaced all my deck boards and rails using treated lumber (pine) throughout the past few months.I ordered a few samples and I like the Oxford Brown stain.Now I am ready to stain my deck. How many coats of stain should I plan on putting on my deck for this initial staining?
See here about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Our painter stained our cedar fence with semi transparent natural oak and it is beautiful. However, some of the stain dripped onto the concrete pavers in the courtyard leaving large oil stains. What method and/or product works best to remove them? Thanks!
Use a graffiti remover cleaner and pressure washing.
I have a 20 plus year cedar deck and I used the Cabot cleaner and brightener on it. I have decided not to use their product to stain it. I would like a rich cedar/oak color without it being too brown or orange. I also don’t want it too light or too dark. What color and type of stain do you suggest would be best on it. I would like something that would last longer and was trending toward the semi-transparent but was unsure of the amber color on cedar and if it was a semi-transparent stain. The Natural looked too light and so did some of the cedar. I’m not sure if there is a difference between the cedar transparent and semi-transparent cedar. Since I won’t be staining immediately as I’m trying to figure out the color would I need to re-apply brightener or cleaner before staining.
Best to get samples to see how it looks on your wood as all will vary based on the wood and the age of the wood.
Do you have any suggestions of which sample color I should order?
Try Natural Oak, Rustic Brown, Amber, etc.
I live in eastern Ontario and have a white cedar deck. I am seeking advice on stains with durability as I have 4 very active Siberian Huskies that leap on and off the deck, causing previous years stain to wear off in high traffic areas and requiring re-application every spring. Thanks.
You will need to fully remove the current stain. Once done, use the AC in a semi-transparent color.
Stripped & brightened using RADs products. 3 year old cedar deck. Some boards have black that doesn’t budge as you can see on top rail & lower rail. What causes this? Also cedar tone or semi transparent cedar, which do you recommend for good cedar look?
Looks like deep internal discoloration. Not sure what the cause is. The Cedar Semi would give better UV protection.
Can you use the transparent stain on a hardwood deck?
No. Only the 3 Hardwood colors of Amber, Mahogany, and Black Walnut.
What stain would you recommend using for a douglas fir deck that we would like to have the appearance of weathered wood? We live in a beach environment
The Driftwood gray color.
Do you recommend waiting a few months before applying the stain? Will the wood continue to weather naturally with driftwood gray stain on it? We like the look of plain weathered wood and don’t really want it to look “painted” per se.
If new wood, see here: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Can I use the darker Black Walnut to better blend a older Mahogany porch planking with new planking on a bottom stair tread?
New and old wood will not blend the first time stain, does not matter the color. The new wood is less absorbent so it will stain lighter.
Which of the sample stains are for IPE? Thank you!
Mahogany, Amber and Black Walnut are colors that can be used on IPE. They can also be used on other wood types.
thanks
If I strip my redwood furniture can I use semi transparent stain and will it rub off
Yes, you can use it on furniture.
Do you ship to Colorado?
Yes, we do.
HelloThree questions about semi-transparent natural oak stain.Does a new deck require sanding?Apply stain with brush or roller? Wipe surface after stain applied? Thanks Rob
See here about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Use a stain pad, one coat, do not back wipe.
Hello. I have our contractor stain a floating deck and fence. We used Sierra Redwood but we wanted the floating deck to have a darker hue due to high traffi. So the supplier (Devine Paint in Napa, CA) added some pigment to darken the Sierra Redwood. The problem is that the pigment was added to all ALL the Sierra Redwood order. So the contractor applied the dark version to the fence as well. While fence still looks good, that was not the intention. I wanted the original Sierra Redwood without the added darkener on the fence. Is there a way to lighten it after it was applied? Or will it fade a little over time?
It is not possible to lighten, it will fade slightly over time.
Hi there. I have an IPE deck that I need to re-stain as it is southern facing, but has a roof, so only part of the deck is constantly exposed to the sun – the other part is in the shade. Two questions: Would you recommend more than one coat for the parts of the IPE deck exposed to the sun? Also, is there a type of stain (transparent, semi-transparent, hardwoods & softwoods, semi-solid) you would recommend for an IPE deck that is part sun (1/3) part shade?
You can only apply one coat to hardwoods. You will need one of the 3 hardwood colors for this. Amber, Mahognay, or Black Walnut.
Thank you
Do you ship to Canada?
Yes.
What is the best stain for mahogany in your line. My deck was stained with a regular stain abs it looks terrible, didn’t take. Having it redone need to order samples.
Hello, you will need one of the three hardwood colors: Amber, Mahogany, Black Walnut
How many coats are needed. My deck was stained with the wrong stain . You can see that it didn’t get into the wood.
The current stain will need to be removed 100% first. Just one coat of stain. Use this kit for prep:
It is time to re-stain my deck and redwood furniture–black walnut was used on the deck and railings–and sequoia on the furniture and yes it does rub off–if i reuse those same colors how do i avoid the rub off, is there a clear i can put on or do i stripe the furniture back down–Thanks
You should never use a semi-solid color on furniture. Best to strip it down and use a semi-transparent or transparent color. You cannot apply a coating over teh AC.
A description of the transparent stains says ‘Not recommended higher elevations’. What qualifies as a high elevation there? I live at ~4500 feet.
Sorry, but where are you seeing this? Elevation does not matter.
In the small picture under Description and Reviews.
Sorry. Misunderstood. Higher UV or elevation leads to quicker fading. You can still use the transparent colors but they will fade faster than a semi-transparent will.
I see. Would it be feasible to do a 1:1 mix of transparent:semi-transparent to get more UV protection than transparent but less pigment than the semi-transparent?
You can mix colors if you like.
I stained my cedar deck last spring. With winter I always have a wear path by spring. Do I need to do the entire restore a deck process again this spring before I stunning again. Also. New cedar fence last storing. I would like to keep it looking that color or close and not grey. What would be the best stain and what is the best process.
Yes, clean and brighten the deck for prep. Samd with the fence. Natural color is the lightest tint.
Is either Amber or Black Walnut considered a semi-solid color?
Hi Earl,
My question is not regarding the wood (IPE) but the Amber and Black Walnut stains. I don’t know which category they fall under (e.g. 3 mos. or 12 mos.) ?
12 months is only for semi-solid colors. Amber and Black Walnut are not semi-solids.
What is the waiting time to prep and stain a new IPE deck in either Amber or Black Walnut?
See here about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
I am trying to stain the king plank on a Chris Craft boat, which is mahogany. It needs to be the cedar tone in the end and will have 10-15 coats of clear gloss varnish on top. Will your stain be this color when applied to Mahogany, and take marine varnish on top. Thanks for the help.
You cannot clear coat with a varnish over the AC stains, it will peel. It is also not possible to make mahogany wood look like cedar wood in color.
Hi. What are best practices to bring a 20+ yr PT deck back o life. Almost all boards
Please send some pictures for prep help.
Hi, first picture shows a sample can of semi-solid Oxford Brown and its result on a 4×4 redwood post; second picture compares the post to a darker brown on a window frame. Do you have any suggestions as to whether you have a color that would come closer to the window frame color? Thanks!
Try Espresso.
We are using your Mountain Cedar and Oxford Brown on our house. Can you advise for stair treads if there is any difference in durability between these two stains? Thank you.
No difference.
Do Armstrong stains come in a spray can
They do not.
Our pine deck is 21 years old. We applied a deck resurfacer 3 years ago and the product was peeling and looking poorly. After over one week of sanding daily using a pad, belt and drum sander, we are ready to stain.
We live in San Antonio, Texas. This 200 sq. feet deck gets morning to early afternoon sun, it has benches and two set of 3 steps, with all floor boards cut to diagonal ends. We used 50 and 40 grit sandpaper and stripping wheels improved which removed almost all of the resurfacer and.
Would you recommend semi-transparent stain? If so, which one would look more like a golden oak color? Would it be Natural Oak or would it be Cedar? What about Amber (Under Hard or Softwood) as a possibility. What would you recommend?
You will need to remove 100% if you want to use any of the AC stains. Once that is done, try the Amber color.