How Long Should Deck Stain Dry Before Rain?

A new deck can be well protected from the weather, or the natural beauty of an existing deck can be restored with staining.

Stain application is essential to get a decent look, but so is drying time. Drying time enables the stain to deeply infiltrate the wood, resulting in a deep, rich appearance and assuring the stain will offer long-lasting protection. 

A deck stain normally takes between 24 and 48 hours to dry before rain, depending on the type of stain, and several environmental conditions, including humidity, temperature, and even the age of the wood.

The deck must remain dry and unoccupied during this crucial phase of the staining procedure. No heavy deck, furniture, or foot movement should be present.

With so many kinds of deck stains available, figuring out whether it’s safe to use the deck again might be a little mysterious, causing one to question how long deck stains take to dry.

In this article, we’ll examine deck stains in-depth to establish how long the most popular strains take to dry and to explain how the type of decking, the environment, and other variables may affect that drying time.

Recognizing Wood Stains

A wood stain aids in shielding the wood from moisture and the harsh sun. Additionally, it lessens the likelihood of the wood shattering as it dries out.

Sealers, such as varnish, do not protect against moisture like wood stains; rather, they are meant to prevent the wood from deteriorating from sun damage.

As opposed to painting, staining is more like curing the wood. Consider it a technique to prepare your deck for the severe weather it will experience all year.

Curing enables the stain to penetrate the wood’s exterior layer and bring out the wood’s best natural color. It aids in lowering the likelihood of fungus growth while shielding the wood from the elements and degradation.

How Soon Can It Rain After Staining a Deck?

At the very least, you must confirm that there was no rain within the preceding 24 hours and the following 24 to 48 hours when the deck is completely dry.

Before beginning, ensure you know how long the deck stain takes to dry. Make sure the deck is completely dry first. 

Remember that it must not rain for 24 hours before applying the stain and for 24 hours following the completion of the staining process.

It’s time to transform your deck, assuming it is dry and aching for stain. The stain can be applied with a pad, an excellent brush, or a paint roller.

When applying the stain, take your time and remember that more isn’t always better. In addition to rain, you should avoid starting your job in direct sunlight once you get going.

Please don’t neglect the cracks when applying the stain; spread it evenly throughout the deck boards. 

Only a limited quantity of stain may be absorbed by wood components. After applying the stain, quickly clean your deck (do not wash) to prevent a sticky mess. If staining an older deck, you should apply a second layer.

How Do You Repair A Deck After Rain Poured Over A Wet Stain?

The weather can occasionally be too erratic when it rained on after your deck was recently stained.  The following are some methods you might try to take to solve the issue:

• If it’s only drizzling rain, there might not be enough moisture to soak into the wood and affect the stain.
• Wait until the pouring water stops and the deck dries before determining whether the rain harmed the stain. When it rains heavily, look for compartments, scars, or white patches since these are indications that the rainwater has harmed the stain.
• Examine the labels on the stain to determine whether the stain will survive dampness and water even if it hasn’t completely dried. 
• You can recoat a tiny area to see if it restores the flaws if you find any. Another choice is to remove the scars by washing them with a pressure washer while using a wood cleaner. If not, you’ll have to start over by sanding the wood or stripping the stain.

What Will Happen If You Stain Your Deck and It Rains?

All of your hard work could be undone if it abruptly starts to rain. Your recently stained deck’s appearance will be impacted by wet wood. For at least 1 to 2 days after getting wet from rain, manufacturers advise against staining a deck.

In this scenario, the wood’s wetness prevents the stain from effectively adhering to the deck.

Due to a lack of adhesion, the final layer is thinner and more susceptible to washing away during subsequent downpours. Decks made of wood deteriorate easily from the elements.

Although there are better options than staining a damp deck, you might not have a choice, or it might rain before your stain can dry.

Since deck stain penetrates the pores of bare wood, it differs greatly from painting in this regard. The stain is applied to all of the top layers during this process.

The paint won’t seep into the layers below; it will remain on the top. When stained properly and without any indication of rain for at least 48 hours, it lasts very long.

Rain can obliterate a deck with stains. If it starts to rain after you’ve applied your stain, you should be aware of the following.

Appearance

For the stain to set, it must dry for several hours. It must dry properly for a few days before outdoor furniture can be returned to the deck.

If it rains within 48 hours of the stain, the water will soak into the wood’s pores and attempt to remove the stain.

The surface will then have a splotchy tone rather than being homogeneous. The stain may peel and flake away if it rains soon after you apply it. Otherwise, this should only happen if your stain has been cured for less than 48 hours.

Blotchy Stains

Sand the deck to remove the flaking or peeling stain and refinish it if it comes off due to rain.

If the damage is superficial and the deck stain appears okay aside from a few flaws, you can add stain to the lighter areas to match the rest of the deck.

If no rain is predicted, wait until the deck is fully dry before touching up or repairing the stain.

How Important Is Drying Time for Stains?

Drying time is essential for the wood stain to have a high-quality finish. A stain penetrates the wood as it dries, which impacts the stain’s color consistency and ability to adhere to the deck boards.

Hence preventing interruptions during the drying process is crucial. 

Most stains may withstand rain for a maximum of twelve hours without the wetness having an adverse effect. When no rain is expected for at least the following 24 hours, it is best to begin a restaining job.

Even though you might be tempted to take a chance, remember that rain might destroy deck stains that haven’t had time to dry properly, requiring you to sand them down and repeat the entire procedure.

In addition to rain, bringing a deck into use too soon can damage the stain by leaving traces of people and furniture, such as persistent footprints and marks.

Factors Affecting Deck Stain Drying Time

While the instructions on the package may give you a decent idea of how long the decking stain will take to cure, other factors, such as weather, sun exposure, and wood age, can also affect drying time.

It is important to understand the factors that impact the stain. Below are some factors that influence the stains drying time: 

Temperature

Most deck stain manufacturers offer various application temperatures, usually between 50 and 90 degrees

Anywhere in the middle may be appropriate for applying the stain, although drying durations will change depending on the temperature. Stains generally dry faster in hotter weather and more slowly in cooler weather. 

Stay within the stain’s recommended temperature range, as eager as you may be to refinish the deck.

Under 50 degrees may cause a deck stain to never fully dry, leaving a sticky substance that needs to be scraped off and reapplied.

Too-hot circumstances may prevent the stain from penetrating the wood completely before it dries, leaving it with an inconsistent tint.

Humidity

The moisture in the air will likely impact how efficiently the process takes place and, consequently, how quickly the stain dries. Deck stain dries by releasing the moisture in it into the air.

Remember that the low-end time manufacturers’ list on their packaging is based on a 40% relative humidity level. So the dry period will be prolonged even at 50 to 60 percent humidity levels.

In general, deck stain should be applied while the relative humidity ranges from 40 to 70 percent. A longer drying time may significantly impact its shine if the humidity is higher.

High humidity could prevent the wood stain from drying, necessitating removal and starting over.

UV Radiation

Most producers advise against applying the colorant in direct sunlight in their directions for use. Wait for an overcast day to apply the stain if the deck is not near any trees or other sources of shade.

It is due to the potential harm that UV rays from the sun can do to the stain’s adherence to the wood and the consistency of its color across the deck. Sunlight will hasten the drying process of a stain.

Applying wood stain on a hot day in direct sunshine may dry before the timber has had time to absorb it properly, giving the surface an uneven, patchy appearance.

Deck Material

Most people will tell you to wait up to six months to a year until staining your new deck. It is because the wood is too young to absorb stain fully. The moisture level of new wood is still quite high.

The chemicals added to treated lumber to protect it from the outdoors are mostly to blame. There is a limit to how much moisture the wood’s fibers can absorb, much like a sponge.

So, compared to older, much dryer wood, young wood has a tougher difficulty absorbing the stain. 

If the new deck is stained, it will take longer for the stain to dry and penetrate the wood fibers. Ensure the wood has dried completely before applying stain; this is another smart move.

After it has rained, give the wood a few days to completely dry out so the stain can adhere to it better.

Quantity of Stain Used

One surefire technique to increase the drying time is to apply wood stain excessively. Applying too much deck stain can saturate the wood’s fibers while using too little stain can change how black the stain is.

Stain cannot penetrate saturated wood because it has nowhere else to go. As a result, the stain may settle on top of the wood’s surface, where it may dry and produce irregularities in the deck’s color. 

Type of Deck Stain

Drying durations will differ whether you’re using an oil- or water-based stain. Water-based stains cure far more quickly than paint, in 2 to 4 hours, and may withstand rain without harming the surface as soon as they are dry to the touch.

It makes applying simpler because you won’t have to be concerned that a severe rainstorm may undo all your hard work. The majority of water-based stains can be removed from furniture after 24 hours.

Oil-based stains require more time to cure, just like paint. Depending on the brand, the drying time for an oil-based deck stain might range from 4 hours to 24 hours.

Most oil-based stains can withstand rain after 12 hours without the stain being washed off.

An oil-based wood stain may require up to three days to fully cure before it is suitable for furniture and foot traffic use.

A brief dry period can be useful but also present difficulties. A wet edge must be used to apply the stain.  Because of the short drying time, you are under pressure to apply the stain before the edge dries.  

Ideal Condition For Stained Deck

It is very important to understand the ideal condition for an evenly stained deck to protect it from damage caused by water temperature. Below are the following conditions to consider before staining:

• Before applying stain to your deck’s wood must be in immaculate condition. The following conditions will enable you to stain your deck like a pro:
• The deck needs to be dry and clean before staining. To get the wetness out of the wood after washing the deck, let it dry for at least 24 to 48 hours. When stains are dried on wet wood, the water is trapped inside, causing the timber to rot from the inside out. 
• Since wood absorbs stain best when it is dry and cool, the ideal staining temperature is eighty degrees Fahrenheit, or twenty-six degrees Celsius.
• If there are 1 to 2 days in a row with no danger of rain, that is the optimum time to stain.
• The wood’s moisture content should be at most 12% to 15%. The deck needs to dry out further if not lie in this range.

Things To Avoid When Staining a Deck

We made many mistakes when doing staining jobs. That’s why it is crucial to understand every detail about staining. Before staining there are many things to avoid.

Here are some things to keep away from while picking a stain and applying it for the finest outcomes:

• Avoid using light stains on previously stained decks with a deeper color.
• Avoid staining the deck in the sun. The stain will dry more quickly, and you won’t get to apply the second application properly.
• Too much covering will cause the wood’s surface to flake and peel.
• If the weather indicates that it will rain in the afternoon, don’t try to stain your deck. The stain will need enough time to dry completely despite your efforts.

How Can Deck Stain Dry More Quickly?

Increasing the circulation around the deck by utilizing a huge fan to move the air over the deck is one approach to shorten the drying time.

It allows fresh air to enter, which can gather and remove the water vapor condensing off the deck, hastening the process.

Be careful while setting up the fan because it can also blast debris into the air, which may fall on and attach to the wet stain.

Using a space heater as a cannon to spray warm air across the deck’s surface is a more radical approach.

Warm air accelerates the drying process by speeding up the evaporation of the stain’s compounds and moisture.

Utilizing too much heat might cause the wood staining to flash dry before it can properly penetrate the wood surface, so use caution when using this technique.

While there are many techniques to alter the environment around the stained wood to shorten the drying time for indoor applications, it is more difficult to shorten the drying time for a deck because of its outdoor location.

There are only so many other techniques to shorten the drying time besides, according to the instructions above, while applying deck stain. There are some tricks, though. 

An oil-based wood stain may require up to three days to fully cure before it is suitable for furniture and foot traffic use. A brief dry period can be useful but also present difficulties. A wet edge must be used to apply the stain. 

How Long Should You Wait in Between Stain Coats?

Many conventional stains advise against adding a second coat until the first coat has completely dried.

For other stains advise applying the second stain within 2 hours for a water-based stain and 6 hours for an oil-based stain. It will enable you to do the entire project in a single day.

An oil-based wood stain should be applied in additional coats before it completely dries. An oil-based stain efficiently seals the wood after drying, preventing the penetration of any further stains.

As a result, the second coat will dry on top of it, and as it dries, it will gradually flake off.

Since a second coat of stain is strongly advised to achieve complete coverage, it’s critical to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations to apply the stain within the appropriate time frame.

But given the aforementioned meteorological conditions, even instructions may need to be more accurate. The touch test can be used if you need clarification.

When the first coat is prepared for the second coat, it should feel sticky but not damp.

Conclusion

Deck staining is similar to cooking. To get the best effects from staining and allow the wood to be in its ideal state, the appropriate timing, amount of stain, and patience are required.

To ensure that your new deck stain has had enough time to dry out and cure before being exposed to rain, pedestrian traffic, and deck furniture, give it the appropriate time to dry. 

Most deck stains cure in between 24 and 48 hours, with dry times reducing in hot weather, cool weather, and high humidity.

Waiting for the advised period is essential for the best results and ensuring that the deck stain will protect your deck for many years.

We hoped that this article would make it simpler for you to keep in mind the crucial details of your staining endeavor.

Share this article with your friends before the rain starts damaging their decks if you enjoyed using these instructions to stain your deck.