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
reply test
Will this stain work well in an air sprayer?
Yes.
The deck is 12’x20’ with 126 rails, end caps, bannisters steps and flooring. Will I need 5 gallons of stain if I use airless sprayer for smaller areas except flooring?
Depending on the color and coats applied, you will need about 3-5 gallons.
I finished preparing deck for stain one week ago. Since then our drought has changed to misty rain every day or so. Will I have to clean all the wood again if this wet weather continues for another week?
As long as you stain within a couple of weeks or so of prep, you should be okay.
Is it necessary to strain AC semi-solid stain? Airless Sprayer directions state this several rimes.
You should not have to.
Rain continues and once a week we get two sunny days where the wood is not dry enough to stain until the end of the second day. This week the prediction is only two dry days and will be the third week since I used cleaner and brightener. Will I have to use both again when we finally get a dry week?
Just the brightener. Apply and rinse well with water.
We’re about a month from the second or third time I applied the brightener. Rain every few days. What will happen if I start applying the stain to the dry wood without brightening again then waiting for 48 more hours? We have a forecast of 4-5 days of sun and 70 degrees.
It may not take correctly. Brighten now and stain two days later. It can take a rain within 12 hours after applying.
Hello, I have been reading reviews about your products and I could use help for my specific concerns regarding my deck. We have a 30 year old red oak deck that is in pretty good condition, however, we did have some rotting woods planks that we had to have replaced. We were ill advised and originally told we couldn’t get replacement boards in red wood and ended up replacing boards with pressurized treated wood. We’ve only power washed at this point, but plan to use RAD strip and brightener before staining the deck. With the wood types being and looking so vastly different, would a dark-semi solid work for them to look like the same colors when stained? Or, are we going to need a solid stain?
Hello, the new wood and old wood will not match even if you have gotten the same wood type. New wood will be lighter since it is less absorbent. New wood also has to weather for 3+ months and 12 months if using a semi-solid color, which would blend better. AC does not come in a solid color stain.
I would appreciate it if someone at Armstrong Clark would identify the color used on these decks. Thanks so much, in advance! they were taken from the collection of about 162 Armstrong Clark posted customer samples.
See here: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/armstrong-clark-photo-album
I have a 10 Year Brazilian Mahogany covered deck. Do you recommend power washing? Also would you use the “mahogany” stain or another rec?
Prep with this and any of the 3 hardwood colors: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Hi my customer’s deck was done last year with Armstrong-Clark wood stain (Cedar semi-transparent). The fences and flowers pots still look good but the deck’s color is fade out. Do I need to do the preparation kit 1 and 2 and than stain again and will it last more than a year?
Yes, prep again and apply one coat. Typically lasts about 2 years.
Do you still need to use wood conditioner prior to staining for pine?
You always have to prep before applying a stain. How to prep depends on the current condition.
The wood is pressure treated.
Hi…we are looking for advice. We live in Illinois with harsh winters. Our deck is about 20 years old, but boards have been replaced and it is in great condition. My husband has sanded down the deck and we are ready to stain. There are places where you can still see the old stain, so we are thinking about a semi-solid. Is that a good decision and will your product hold up in tough Chicago winters?
The old coating will need to come off. Feel free to send a picture.
Pics added
I had my cedar deck stained with chestnut semi transparent. The railing are old wood and boxes are new. Both were allowed to season for 4 months before staining. We knew that the colors would be slightly off, but didn’t imagine that they would be this different. The boxes really look orangish like a cedar tone. The thought process now is to go over the boxes with a darker stain like rustic brown or sierra redwood. Again, we know that they won’t match perfectly but the boxes don’t really look like the chestnut. Thoughts? I ordered a couple of samples to try them out on a scrap piece.
You could try the Rustic Brown to “brown” the color.
I bought color samples and planning on purchasing 10 one gallon cans will I be able to get credit for samples purchase when not getting 5 gallon pails?
No, just 5-gallon pails.
I have a new deck 1067 sqft including stairs, wood is combo of larch and fir not treated. Only the top and sides of each board will be done with Armstrong semi trans stain the underside and some old some new joists will be done with another water based stain that I have left from another job. Will five gal. be enough of AC to do it with two coats? Also, will the all in one deck cleaner/ brightener on the market do for the prep. like Behr that says will remove mill glaze? Will the cedar color be close to the color chart on that type of wood? Thanks
See this about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Only one coat. You will need about 5-7 gallons. Do not use Behr for prep. The color will not be the same for your wood type. Close but not the same.
Before ordering multiple samples I would like to narrow down the options. We are wanting to stain a south facing older cedar deck, but since the wood siding on the house is greenish grey ( Maibec, gargoyle) we want to avoid reds. I like the rustic brown but in one of the responses to comments you mention that it has red tones. Can you suggest 2-3 options please?
Rustic Brown does not typically show red tomes on most wood types. Look at that as one. Also, try Natural Oak and Black Walnut for other brown colors.
Pine pressure treated wood deck in NE Georgia. Which stains are best for our hot summer after I strip the deck?
Any of the Ac colors will work. Your preference on the color. Most use semi-transparent colors.
Hi,
1. Are the 3 stain for hardwoods & softwoods a semi solid? I have PT pine = soft, would the color vary lighter or darker on my wood, Amber is very nice.
2. I’m all about UV protection in semi-solids but LOVE the rustic brown
Any advise? Nothing too red or orange please. Thank you, Yes I have looked at every picture and I will order samples, just need a starting point.
I know 2 very different questions.
1. The hardwood stains are semi-transparent.
2. If you want a semi-solid brown color, try the Espresso.
Trying to match an HOA mandated color from the Home Depot titled Tugboat. It is a medium brown with a touch of green. Any thoughts? I’d love to purchase a high quality stain such as yours.
Sorry but no. AC cannot be color matched and we do not have a brown with a green tint.
We purchased four samples and then placed our order in last month. We did not receive a credit on any samples. Can you credit our charge card? We used rustic brown on 5 year old cedar previously stained with the Armstrong Clark transparent. The previous coat only lasted two years. We are hoping rustic brown keeps the grey away longer. The greying is really only dirt which power washes off.
Max credit is $15 and we issued that today for you. Thanks!
Hi, I ,like the look of the new wood we have put down for our deck. It is just a light cedar pressure treated lumber. to preserve that look show I use the transparent natural tone? Thanks
The Natural tone is tinted so it will look similar to a wet look. You must have the stain tinted if you want UV protection from graying. The more tint you have in the stain, the longer it will last. See this about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
This is the deck right after a rain.Its been stripped and washed. Do you have anything that I can use to create the same look (without it raining)?
Look at Natural Tone or Cedar Tone.
I’d like to get as close to possible to black for a PT deck skirt/apron. Would the semi-solid black walnut get me there? Would I need at least 2 coats? Thanks!
It would be the closest but it is not a straight “black” color. Color will also vary based on the age of the wood. How many coats varies on the age as well.
We want to stain our redwood deck with AC semi-transparent. How would you mix your Sierra Redwood color to be less red. My neighbor did his deck with it and its too red for what we are looking for. Looking for more of the Redwood Tone (shown in transparent color) look, but we want pigment for UV protection. Also, just to make sure, the Hardwood/IPE colors are Semi-Transparent right? Not Semi-solid or Clear?
You cannot lessen the tone of the SR and still have the semi-transparent UV protection. If you tone it down to the color of the Transparent Redwood, you will have the UV protection of the Transparent Redwood. The Hardwood color can be used on all wood types but have the UV protection of a semi-transparent.
So the Hardwood/IPE Transparent stains have the same (or more?) UV protection but less pigment than the Semi-Transparents? And do the Transparents for Hardwood/IPE have the same water and mildew protection?
Thanks.
No. They are semi-transparent in color and pigment. You are reading more into this then there is.
Oh. Hardwood Transparent = Semi-Transparent. Got it. I should have known that.
I have a new cedar deck that I will stain in Sept after 3 months of weathering. It has already greyed, which I like, significantly due to full south exposure. If I apply a clear sealer, is this enough to protect the cedar? Will cedar continue to grey due to the UV light hitting the wood through the sealer indefinitely or will there be a time when the greying eventually stops? Is it best to just use a semi-transparent driftwood stain instead of a clear sealer?
I have sienna PT steps running down from the deck to the ground. To keep both the cedar and PT wood consistent in colour, do you agree that it would be best to use a semi-transparent driftwood stain instead of a clear sealer for everything?
Also, does the driftwood as shown in your sample section above look that white washed?
Armstrong does not come in a Clear. Best to try some samples to test the Driftwood Gray color on your wood. Different wood types will stain slightly different.
Will the semi-transparent stains looked different depending on how weathered the cedar is? That is, more weathered and gray will look different than new cedar?
Final color always varies based on the wood type and age. The prep will remove the gray on older wood.
I have a porch made of pressure treated pine that is about 15 years old. It was previously stained several times with Thompson’s Waterseal cedar finish. I have stripped and cleaned the deck part of the porch but I am leaving the railing and pickets as is (see photos). They are still in good condition and would be way to much work to strip. I would like to find a color for the deck that matches fairly closely the rails and pickets. I would like to order some samples but I’m not sure where to even start and with them being $8 each do not want to order more than I need to. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.
Look at Rustic Brown and Oxford Brown.
Those colors appear very brown. The stain I’m trying to match has a lot of orange in it. So if I order several samples I will only get credit on the 5 gallon purchase for $15 even if I buy 4 samples at $32?
Your stain is more brown with a hint of red. It is not orange. You could also look at Sequoia.
$15 is the max credit.
This is the color I previously used. It really does appear quite orange.
what is the most popular/most sold color in the semi-transparent stain?
Cedar semi-transparent.
We area looking for color options for IPE, but we haven’t built the project yet. So we are wondering can we order some small wood pieces that have been stained in different colors?
We sell samples of the stain, not the wood pieces.
Where can I buy product in Oregon?
Hello,
We are an online dealer for the AC and can ship this directly to you in 4-5 business days.
A PS question:
which of your stain colors do you suggest I sample to get these looks on a clear redwood fence?
thabk you!!!
See here about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
As for colors, try some samples to test: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/samples
We ship to your area.
Hello,
a few questions:
any retailers local to Los Angeles?
Which of your stains best for a clear redwood fence that could get Lots of sun, and on occasion heavy rain? and can I stain right away, or do I need for the wood to weather. If so, for how long?
thank you!
We live in Iowa cold winters, hot sun and humidity, how many years will the semi transparent last before we have to stain it again. We have pine log siding on our house that is 10years old. We powerwashed and bleached it. Now ready to restain.
For exterior pine logs, about 3-6 years. Longevity is directly related to UV exposure. All previous coatings must be removed first.
Yes we have done already removed all layers. When we restain with Armstrong semi- translucent how many years will it last before we have to re-stain
For exterior pine logs, about 3-6 years. Longevity is directly related to UV exposure.
are custom mixed colors available?
We do not custom mix colors.
Hi, we are looking for darker stain for the Alaskan yellow cedar( AYC) So far with other brands, AYC seems difficult to stain. It’s causing uneven red hue with bloched appreance.. Can we use the stain in interiors around the bathroom. Thanks
Sorry but no, this will not work for interior wood.
I just saw this thread and wanted to ask clarification for my project which is currently unfinished white pine paneling and I want it to match my covered deck ceiling. I hoped that because of it being “non-toxic” and having “low VOC’s” that it would be able to be used on interior surfaces…or is it not recommended for my situation either?
You can use it on the deck ceiling but it is not suggested for any interior wood that is in the house.
I really like the look of the semi solid oxford brown- a new cedar fence installed 6 weeks ago fencing running horizontal. Any concerns with this color south facing and east facing in Denver, CO suburbs. Thanks!
No issues with this. It will look great!
We have just replaced the top of our dock in Georgia with pressure treated pine. The old top was drained with Armstrong’s driftwood color and was very hot in summer. Are there colors that will protect the dock but be less hot under foot?
Lighter tints seem to retain less heat but if in full sun all day, it can still get hot under foot.
Is the black walnut stain the same color as the twp 1500 BW?
No, they are not.
Sorry if this has been asked before (can’t find question)….My deck has splinters and cracks and small gouges where wood had splintered. Do you carry a stain that fills cracks?
Is shipping free to Canada too?
Thanks,
Mike
Sorry but no, the AC products are penetrating coatings and cannot fill cracks.
Shipping to Canada is not free.
I am trying to decide between the rustic brown and chestnut semi trans stain. They look similar. Does the chestnut have a red undertone?
Yes, the Chestnut has reddish brown while the Rustic more of a medium brown.
We need to stain some new log posts that support the roof above our deck. Can we use your stain for that? I saw in one of the comments that wood needs to breathe and that you don’t recommend completely covering the wood, but we need to find some way to protect the posts from the sun.
Yes, you can use the AC for this. The AC is a penetrating breathable wood stain.
Hi there! I have an old pressure treated pine deck that was painted and I’m sanding down and cleaning, and I’m getting an addition installed (same wood but new). What kind of stain is my best bet so there is not an obvious difference in color between the old and new wood? Thank you/
Please see this about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
After the wait and prep, try any color you like.
What kind of stain is best to use on a pressure-treated wooden deck?
Any of the AC stain colors will work for PTP decking.
To stain two pine Adirondack chairs, how much stain should I account for? If I buy too much, what is the shelf life of the stain?
Just one gallon. Shelf life is 12 months after opened.
We ordered two samples last summer but don’t have the order number and we’re ready to order our stain. Can we still get the cost we paid for the samples deducted from our order and if so how?
Here you go:
2KAX021297, Confirmed order by Tari Stordahl
Does Semi Transparent last longer or have more staying power than semi solid? Can’t decide between the two cedar products. Our deck is almost 20 years old and has full sun exposure and regular heavy winter snows.
The semi-solid would give a little better UV protection. That is the only difference.
i have a 2 wide steps (about 10 ft wide) with a landing at the top (about 8X5) made from IPE. I have let it gray over the last few years. I have cleaned the wood but there are still some spots where the old stain is visible (mostly on the vertical posts). The hand rails and steps/landing are grayed. Can I use a stain to give it color or do I need to do something else before staining it.
You should strip and remove the old stain first. Brighten all wood after for the final prep. Use this kit:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
If I have splintered wood and cracks, do I need to use a wood filler first? If so what kind? Also I have sanded it the best I can but there are still gaps or deep crevices from removing deck over. I have pressure washed it also.
Wood filler will not work on exterior wood. Nothing you can do to fill this and best to just leave the cracks alone. Go ahead and stain.
What type and color stain best for cedar fences
Any color you like will work for a fence. Does not matter. Most use semi-transparent colors.
May be a dumb question, but the “natural tone” stain has no color? i.e. the color will be whatever the underlying woods natural color is? I have an IPE deck and want to seal to protect from UV weathering of the color, but also want just the natural color of the IPE. I am not looking to change the color of the IPE just prevent it from fading to grey.
Natural is lightly tinted and has color. It is impossible to not change the color and prevent graying at the same time. The color tint is what gives the UV protection from graying. So if you want to prevent graying, you must have a tinted stain and that will enhance/change the natural grain of the wood.
I can’t decide what stain to choose. I have American redwood which has some lighter and darker tones in it. If I pick a semi-transparent stain will it make the deck look like the color in the picture?
Hello, final colors on your deck will vary based on the type of wood, age of wood, application, etc so it will not look exactly the same as the sample chart above. Please try a few samples that you are considering on your wood so you will be able to determine what works best.
In the Semi Solid I would like a dark charcol color, almost black, can the Oxford Brown or Sequoia be furhter tintied at a local paint shop to get them darker?
Sorry but no they cannot.
In December, I purchased exterior furniture made from oak wine barrels (chairs, benches, and table). The vendor applied a stain that has rapidly faded as it has been exposed to the wet weather … obviously, the wrong stain. Would your product be able to successfully penetrate oak to provide appropriate protection?
As long as you prep correctly and you fully remove the previous coating, the AC should work. Just one coat of the stain. Being a hardwood, oak will need reapplication every 1-2 years, depending on the weather and UV exposure.