Once you have learned how to stain a deck, you can refresh its appearance every few years so that your deck stays long … Believe it or not, new decks should not be stained right after they're built. After all, it’s a beautiful day, and you just want to finish the job. You could also try lightly sanding the spots and recoating. How Long Does It Take To Stain A Deck? Tropical hardwood decking is so dense that it doesn’t accept stain very well, but a penetrating option specifically formulated for use on hardwood decking could be considered. If using a stain stripper, ensure it is left on long enough to completely remove old coats of stain. It depends on the weather conditions, but the average drying time for a jet washed wood is 48 hours. Wait to stain the deck until the weather forecast indicates that it will not rain for at least 48 hours. Take your time. An oil-based stain is the best choice if the deck is going to be directly exposed to wind, rain, and sunlight. Softwoods are typically treated with preservative chemicals and are a more economical choice initially though they will need annual maintenance to maximize the life of a softwood deck. Better to wait 3 days or re-coat now and risk it getting rained on? Wooden decks look amazing until the stain starts flaking off and makes them appear quite old, patchy and unmaintained. Tannins can cause the timber’s appearance to look patchy and discolored once coated. A good rule of thumb would be every two to three years, regular maintenance, cleaning , and observation will help support this and maybe take it to the three-year mark, depending on the location of the decking. Then the wood is prone to mold and mildew problems, which could lead to rot and decay. These woods create a stunning, luxurious appearance, but they are expensive and are sometimes hard to source. When a surface is not clean, stains and other finishes have trouble sticking and may end up peeling. If the surface dried enough to touch and the rain was gentle, you may not have too much of a problem, but a good downpour can spoil your handiwork. Old layers of stain need to be stripped off completely before cleaning and the deck being stain-ready. Put first coat on Behr semi transparent. This makes the reapplication of most sealers necessary after only 1 year. Applying stain in the middle of summer, when a deck would be exposed to maximum hours of direct sunlight, might cause your stain to not apply properly. Good luck! The most successful exterior house painting projects rely on several key elements: surface preparation, production selection, skillful application, and the weather. That means staining as soon as possible after your deck is complete to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating on the surface of your deck. Oppositely, if it’s too warm, the stain will dry very quickly and could lead to lap marks or uneven penetration. Some of the most popular choices for decking boards are pressure treated woods or modified wood. read more . To refinish their deck, they needed a durable stain and sealant that would allow them to tackle the project on their own time, rain or shine. It depends on how hard it rained and for how long. According to stain manufacturer Behr Corporation, you should avoid staining a deck for at least 24 to 48 hours after the deck gets wet. Most pressure-treated decking is milled from southern yellow pine and then chemically treated to resist rot, fungus, and wood-boring bugs. Best Answers. How to easily clean and stain a deck using power washer and paint sprayer. My deck in Cincinnati is 10 feet off the ground and has over 200 spindles and many stairs to ground level. How long you need to wait depends on several variables. If the deck is in a high traffic area or provides an access point to the interior of the house, consider how you and others will access the house while the newly-stained deck is drying. Stain, therefore, lasts for a long time if it is appropriately applied. Every Spring we get many 1000's of questions about when to stain a new deck, wood fence, or exterior wood home. PPG Terms of Use | How long does it take for deck stain to dry? Therefore it deteriorates faster. Mornings are the best time of day to stain a deck. Applying a second coat requires some precision in the time that elapses between the first and second. Stains act as sealers but also stain the wood, which makes them more effective at protecting your deck. Previously stained wood may make the new coat of stain take longer to adhere if old stain has not been properly stripped. So, it’s essential that you avoid rainy days for working. Our high-quality, core resin technology allows you to apply stain in high and low temperatures, to damp wood and 8-12 hours before or after rain. Insects and other pests are not attracted to modified wood, and this material does well in any climate. Yes. Otherwise, moisture in the wood will prevent the stain from adhering correctly to the deck. If you are staining a newly-installed deck, you probably don’t need to power wash it. There are one or two probes on the meter that stick into the wood to give you a reading. Finished the second coat of A/C stain on a customer deck late this evening then about an hour or so later it rained enough to wet about my home deck about 80% then stopped. Temperature and humidity can have major effects on how your stain dries. Stain cured under wet, sunny or otherwise unsuitable conditions may become contaminated, discolored, or develop mold. This will no doubt depend on your experience, the size of the deck, and the tools you have available for use. This varies based on stain brand and type. How long you need to wait depends on several variables. It also pays to factor in the drying time between a first and second coat and of course, how long it is likely to take to apply the stain. They are also quite mildewing and mold resistant. These different options will provide different results and will require variations in handling. The length of time needed to ensure a stain is dry before using the area cannot be easily answered without first outlining the number of variables in the equation. Most wood stains are oil-based and therefore will not bond well to a wet surface. The product says to avoid direct sunlight when applying. After this, wash it again with the hose. I had my semi-solid cabots oil get rained on about 12 hours after & it looks fine. With Olympic Maximum's Weather-Ready™ Application, you don’t have to reschedule or wait around for optimal weather. Start by heavily coating the open end-grain of the boards. Pressure-treated wood used for decking has chemicals forced into it to prevent insect damage … Do you have new deck that you left to weather for 6-12 months? Believe it or not some stains can be applied onto a damp (not soaking wet) deck. I'm going to be putting Cabot ATO on my cedar deck this week, and its a hot one (upper 80s, low 90s). Try to get a period of about 3 dry days, 2 before you stain and one after or cover the area with tarps after you stain if you know it will rain again soon. Curing is the time taken for the stain to settle into the surface of the wood, dry fully, and set its final color. Also are 3 coats better protection than two? I like Deckscapes from SW but I know Sikkens is great stuff too. The product says to avoid direct sunlight when applying. This week was all clear weather, however, rain was moved up in the forecast giving the stain about 36 full hours of dry, sunny weather before 1/2 day of “scattered thunderstorms” and then another clear day to follow. Ginger. Although it seems obvious, remember that this second coat will be the one that stands out the most, so you want to have a smooth finish. Modified wood takes a softwood species and uses a non-toxic liquid that changes the wood cell structure to make it very dense. Surely not here in New England! To refinish their deck, they needed a durable stain and sealant that would allow them to tackle the project on their own time, rain or shine. Otherwise, moisture in the wood will prevent the stain from adhering correctly to the deck. Decking stain differs from paint in a significant way: Stain soaks into the bare wood’s pores to become part of the top layers of wood. As a general rule, 48 hours is sufficient drying time for a newly washed deck. It is not a good idea to apply deck stain in full sun but wait until the sun has passed over your deck. If the deck is in a high traffic area or provides an access point to the interior of the house, consider how you and others will access the house while the newly-stained deck is drying. Oil stains are easier to apply, penetrate the wood grain, and require less work when you reapply them. The mill glaze and high moisture content of the wood will prevent the stain … If you do not let the deck dry sufficiently before staining, you will trap moisture in the wood underneath the new coat of stain. A good rule of thumb is to lightly touch the portion that has been stained. This is called leaching. This article offers New Deck Staining Tips. When you apply stain to any outdoor structure, you will need to add a second coat. Lv 6. Staining already stained wood. Learning how to stain a deck begins with scheduling. Try applying stain in an inconspicuous spot to see if it fixes the rain damage. Click here to see more. I can avoid it by doing early morning or late evening. Then brush 2—3 boards at a time, from one end to the other in long, smooth strokes. Additionally, they hoped to enjoy their refinished deck with family and friends as soon as possible. Stain a half stained deck. My deck in Cincinnati is 10 feet off the ground and has over 200 spindles and many stairs to ground level. In the past, it was reccomended to let your treated deck "weather" for one year before staining it. For the best results, wait to paint your new deck until the moisture level is down to 15 percent. If you live in a dry climate then you do not have to wait long. And this could continue to drop a bit over the next month or two. If applied to wet woods, the stain will be thin and will eventually wash off after a few sizable rains. If it hasn't rained after you built your deck then stain it. One way to measure if the deck is dry enough for staining is by using a moisture meter to measure the amount of moisture in the wood. It might be difficult to wait to stain the deck, but it will prevent hours of extra work. Additionally, before staining, the wood should be allowed to air dry for 24-48 hours after it has been cleaned. The choice of stain will also be influenced by the preference for an oil-based or water-based stain. If the deck you intend to stain is covered in a previous coating of paint or stain, certain steps should be taken to achieve a new protective, even layer. The stain had 8 hours to soak into the boards, so you should be fine. A: Staining a deck doesn't take as long as you may think. How to Fix a Muddy Backyard Dog Trail: 5 Ways! 0. How long after rain to stain deck? Some preparations for deck staining also require you to clean the area, so naturally, you will have a wet deck after washing as the best cleaning occurs with the use of a power-wash. The weather is one thing we cannot control, but it does pay to listen to the forecasts and perhaps err on the side of caution when undertaking to stain your deck. A few tips before you get started staining your deck. If it rains on one of the days afterwards, you’ll have to wait again, but it will be worth it. Try posting a question. If it’s too wet or cold, the drying time for stains can easily double. For some regions, this could mean waiting several months until you can stain the deck. Most deck stain brands will warn against the application of their product within 12-24 hours of rain being forecast. Some stains can handle rain shortly after being applied better than others. Therefore, next you need to clean your deck before you can stain it, using the deck cleaner of your choice. Your knees will thank you if you use a brush with a long handle. If the conditions are not right, however, it can take significantly longer. This can cause the stain to dry quicker than it can penetrate the wood and may result in an uneven appearance or inconsistent coloring. Well, you must be aware at this point that a stain should take between 1-2 hours to dry to touch. Some stains cannot be sold legally because of varying state laws. I did one coat of Behring premium solid deck stain yesterday but forecast is now 50 percent rain with in 12 hours. This will help in the removal of old stains, dirt and anything else that may be stuck to the surface. If you've used water to clean your deck or log home, you'll need to let the wood dry completely before applying any stain. When applying an additional coat of deck stain, you should think about the end product. It is best to leave the deck for as long as you can, but at least wait 12-24 hours and test the deck with bare feet first. Also, after staining, how long does it have to dry before ... Defy cannot be applied to damp wood. The typical deck can be stained in a matter of a couple hours given the right circumstances. Why wait? Looking for staining tips or color suggestions? The kind of weather the outdoor deck will be exposed to also plays a factor in determining the best stain-base for your project. No matter the season, rain or shine, refinish your deck on your own time. On new decks, apply only one coat of oil-based deck finishes. If the water pools on the wood surface, the need for exterior stain is less urgent. From a purely technical perspective, the process that occurs through staining is more a curing process than an actual drying process. If you are located in a high rainfall area, it is sometimes a matter of taking the opportunity to stain in a shorter dry period than would be ideally expected or preferred. 0 0. Sealer does not last as long as stain either, because it only stays on the surface of the wood. This means things are going to dry out and shrink. Best Answers. Wait till it drys completely which would be 1-2 days. The choice between hardwood and softwood is the first thing to consider.
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