How Long To Wait Before Stain New Deck
However here in massachusetts it all depends on what season your deck is being constructed in.
How long to wait before stain new deck. When you buy treated lumber at the store you ll notice that your hands get damp after loading it all into the back of your truck or trailer. Every spring we get many 1000 s of questions about when to stain a new deck wood fence or exterior wood home. I would wait 30 60 days before i would treat your deck with stain. If the wood came still wet with preservative allow it to dry about 30 days before applying stain or sealer.
You can stain now as long as it s 48 hours prior to rain 24 48hrs light foot traffic 72hrs before placing furniture on it as long as it s 70 and up its fine higher humidity follow the hour rule on the longer side i have already stained 5 decks this year if you use a roller be sure to back brush what you roll for an even professional look. If you have a pressure treated deck and you thought that it would be low maintenance then think again. Unfortunately this will relate to the irregular use of the word stain in woodworking circles and by manufacturers which can and often does lead to confusion. The best time to stain a new deck is 3 to 12 months after installing it.
In the spring and summer months here in ma. Although it will last about 15 years and that is much longer than untreated wood you can expect to be staining and treating it every other or every 3 years as long as you have it. If you live in a hot sunny state like arizona give it a few weeks and it will more than likely be dry. Wait to stain a new wood deck if water beads up on it.
But preservatives in the wood often require about 30 days. Now if you have a roofed off porch or a gazebo the area that is protected will last much longer between treatments and the vertical surfaces meaning the rails and posts will last a couple years longer between. However if you are planning to apply an opaque deck stain also known as solid deck stain it is recommended to wait one month for some of the natural oils and resins to be extracted by uv rays. This article offers new deck staining tips.
The wood on a new deck needs to dry thoroughly before sealing or staining. This will create a microscopic void that the thicker solid stain will fill and adhere to. So i asked a friend about his experience staining his deck and he advised me to wait a year for it to dry before i stain to avoid any complications due to trapping moisture. Some stain manufacturers suggest you should wait 3 12 months to let the wood dry while others say to stain the deck right away.
The answer can be both just as long as you prep the new wood properly for an application of the stain.