I bought a 5 gallon drum of TWP deck stain in the "rustic" color a couple years ago. I need to re-finish, but would like something less red-toned, more of a medium-light brown. We would need the 500 series now, since we are in Vermont. Can you recommend a color for us? Would it be the California redwood, or light cedar? And can you give me a sense of how much of the red color is likely to show through the new finish?

Would the Defy deck cleaner and brightener product be a good one to use before we stain?

Thanks for your help.

TWP does not make a color that is medium to light brown. The Cal Red is more of a auburn color and the light cedar is golden/caramel color. The TWP 501 Cedartone might be the best color for you. It is kind of a brownish cedar color.



I strongly suggest that you remove the Rustic TWP with a deck stripper otherwise you will only be enhancing the reddish tones. The Defy Deck Stripper would work great or you could use the Hose-Connect Stripper. Both should be followed by a brightener.

The TWP 200 series is also VOC compliant in your state of Vermont.

Thank you for the information Scott. I am not really able to tell whether the 500 or the 200 would be more appropriate for our use (pressure-treated wood deck in Vermont) - can you give me any guidance on that? And any thoughts on color for the 200, if that is the product to use? The color samples on the website are hard to get a handle on.

I would go with the TWP 500 series as this is the more popular of the two series. The Dark Oak 503 is a dark brown if that would work for you. The TWP 200 series pictures are hard to see. Here is a fan deck. The butternut may work for you in this series.

What are the dark stains on cedar due to? Sometimes such dark stains are found on redwood surfaces as well.

A water repellent must enter into the wood to discharge its duty. If it is put on an existing coating then it might not enter easily.