When To Stain A New Deck: Ultimate Deck Staining Guide

Water damages a wood deck’s surface, whether from heavy rain or a lot of snow. If your deck stain is resistant to rainwater, it still provides the wood with an effective barrier.

Otherwise, it’s time to dye again. Therefore, it’s essential to know when to paint a new deck.

The best time to paint your deck can be easily determined. You only need to consider the deck’s age, the weather, and the kind of deck paint you plan to use.

Its components will degrade if you leave it unattended for too long, leading to an unstable surface with visible bolts and wood susceptible to splinters.

Knowing when and how to stain a deck effectively will extend its life and make outdoor gatherings a stress-free and tranquil way to appreciate the summer. Here, we’ll review some expert advice and methods for successfully finishing the job.

When Should A New Deck Be Stain?

When you should stain a deck is dependent on the weather conditions. Due to the raised temperatures in the summer, the stain may fade too quickly, making it difficult for the coating to penetrate the wood properly.

Apply pigment when the surrounding air and wooden surfaces are between 50 and 90 °F. Avoid doing this in the bright glare.

If rain is predicted within another 24 to 48 hours, avoid applying the stain. When the weather is mild and pleasant, staining your deck is the ideal time of year to do it.

Extreme heat or sunlight may ruin your deck staining attempts. Under direct sunshine, the deck might dry out too quickly and leave wet stains. 

If no rainy days are on the schedule and the temperature won’t rise above 80 or 85 degrees Fahrenheit, consider staining your deck. If you do this, you will allow the elements to work for you rather than against you.

Your new deck needs to be well-maintained and able to withstand the potentially harmful effects of nature. Due to the sun, rain, frost, or even the breeze, your deck may look old and worn out.

Staining your deck can make it more durable and restore the look of the building. When time and conditions permit, staining your deck is the best choice.

The size of your cards will determine how long it takes you. Finally, you ought to make reservations for at least two days.

If you want to clean your deck or fully fix any wood, it might take an extra day or two. The wood’s pores are still wet in the early spring, making it difficult for the stain to be easily absorbed, which could result in flaking or splitting. 

Also Read: How Do I Know If My Deck Is Dry Enough to Stain?

How Long Should You Let a New Deck Dry Before Staining It? 

Letting a new deck dry before staining is essential. However, the kind of wood your deck is constructed of will determine the ideal time to stain it.

• If the wood used to build your deck is brand-new and smooth, you should wait at least two months before staining it.
• As long as the wood is dry and clean, rough-sawn wood can be stained immediately. If you’re not sure that you’re using rough-sawn wood, ask any professional to confirm the type.
• It will take one to two months before you can color kiln-dried and KDAT wood.

Best Time To Stain  Your Deck

A deck needs to be stained every two to three years to maintain its fantastic appearance and increase the life of the wood.

Getting a uniform look and overall color deck will be challenging if not all the wood is stained simultaneously. If some areas of the stain wear off even more rapidly than others, the entire deck should be retracted. 

The color difference may be minor or not annoying to some homeowners. If so, the horizontal surfaces may be stained, typically showing wear and tear the quickest.

Choose an oil-based stain to help the wood absorb the paint and help it withstand water.

Another factor to consider is the grade of the wood you are staining. Wood can collect moisture in different ways, whether treated or more modern.

Depending on the temperature of the wood, an extremely old deck may be less dense than a soft-treated, newer deck and thus receive more stain.

Older decks should typically only be used in weather above 50 degrees, warm and comfortable around 80 degrees. Also, suppose the deck is old, and the woodwork is damaged or falling apart.

In that case, you should consider using a deck cleaner rather than a stain. Deck floor cleaner fills in the gaps in the wood and creates a coating all around the real wood of the deck.

How Often Do I Need to Stain My Deck?

It will help if you fix your deck as soon as it begins to peel, blister, or fracture. However, it is best to stay away from using paint on decks.

Paint is great for finishing walls as well as other vertical surfaces. No matter how well-cured the wood is, it will continue to expand and contract at different rates. 

It rips off more often than stains because this process can occasionally outpace the paint on the wood.

Another element that affects paint’s poor performance as a deck finish is that decks’ horizontal surfaces are constantly exposed to the weather and progressively deteriorate over time.

If your deck has already been coated, annual maintenance should include a light polish and paint over any peeling paint.

See Also: How Often You Should Stain Your Deck?

How to Stain a New Deck?

The dimensions of your deck will determine how much work you’ll need to spend on this job. The majority can be dyed in a single weekend, plus a couple of days for drying.

Plan to stain your deck when it’s dry outside and between 50 and 90 degrees. Prevent staining your deck in full sunlight because the stain requires some time to be incorporated into the wood before it dries completely.

Prepare the Deck

You must prepare the deck’s surface before adding any stains or paint. Use an orbital or belt sander to sand the deck while moving against the wood grain. Sweep the deck thoroughly to get rid of any wood dust.

Make an amount of deck cleaner as directed by the maker. Use a hard brush to clean it after applying it. To clean the surface completely, make sure that you scrub in the opposite direction of the wood grain.

Depending on how dirty your deck is, you might have to perform this procedure several times to clean the wood.

Power Cleanse the Surface

Use a power washer to wash off the detergent after you’ve cleaned your deck. Be cautious to stay within the wood when using the fan or 40-degree nozzle.

The strong, direct water pressure may harm the top of the deck. Allow the deck to dry fully; this may require 12 to 24 hours.

Tip: Rent a power washer from your neighborhood home improvement shop if you still need to own one. A yard hose with a sprayer on the jet spray setting can also be used.

Related: Oil Vs Water-Based Deck Stain: What’s Best To Use?

Apply Stain To The Deck

When the deck is fully dry, use painter’s tape to cover the siding of your house next to the deck in protection, then use a roller to spread stain or paint.

Strive to keep your work free of blobs and lines. Stain small, 3-foot-square areas, then stop rolling and go over the area with a large paintbrush. 

By doing this, drips and pools are removed, and a more organic brushstroke is produced. Apply the stain, making it careful to follow the wood’s grain.

Tip: Collaborate with a helper to simplify the staining procedure. While the other person brushes, have one person rub on the stain.

Stain the Remaining Parts

Deck railings, spindles, steps, skirt boards, and all the remaining deck components can be stained using a smaller paintbrush.

Pay careful attention to the board edges to avoid painting against the grain. 48 hours should pass before stepping on the stain.

Sealing your Stained Deck is Optional

Most top-notch outdoor stains incorporate a sealer that provides waterproofing protection with pigment. Apply a clear sealant to the stained deck if you use a basic stain that doesn’t offer water or UV protection.

Apply one thin coat of stain after allowing the area to dry for at least 48 hours.

How Soon Should I Stain My New Deck According to The Season?

The ideal times for staining your deck are in the spring or autumn. Even if you reside in a moderate climate, you should avoid the temperature extremes that both winter and summer present.

But there are many other factors to take into account as well. Over time, direct UV radiation is also very bad for wood. 

Your stain may only apply correctly if you apply it during the summertime when a deck is subjected to the most hours of direct sunlight.

Most stains require a cool environment and a dry time, such as rain, to properly penetrate the wood. Also, while staining in the autumn may be ideal, problems could arise if a wet stain is exposed to falling leaves.

Expert Advice on New Deck Staining

When staining a new deck there are some things to consider. It is very important to take some advice from professionals in order to protect your deck lifespan by making any mistakes.

Here’s how to preserve your new deck’s aesthetic value.

Check The Weather

Whether or not you can stain your deck on a weekend of your choice depends largely on the weather. Any temperature or humidity that deviates from the ideal conditions specified on the can prevent the wood stain from applying correctly. 

We advise against staining a deck until it has been dry for a full day and will remain dry for 24 hours unless you use a staining product that can be used on wet wood.

Additionally, the outside temperature shouldn’t be “too hot” or “too cold” for the stain to adhere to the wood correctly.

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Cleanup the Area Before Staining

The wood needs to be clean and free of stains for the color to adhere properly. Put on a safety helmet to protect your airways from dust as you first sand the splintered areas.

After sweeping the deck, use a putty knife to clean between the boards.  A deck cleaner should be used to sanitize the wood. 

You could also use a high-pressure washer instead, but if you do that, keep the fact that it requires the wood two to three days to cure.

It is because, up until 2004, many decks were made from wood that had received pressure-treated CCA (chromated metal arsenate) treatment to ward off rot and insects.

Arsenic, a poison, is released into the air and the ground when this wood is sanded.

Employ the Correct Brushes

Synthetic brushes work best for adding a water-based stain to the wood. On the other hand, because they are hollow and can lose their rigidity, natural bristles may grow limp as they collect water in the finish.

Use a nap that is no more than 14 inches in length. It enables the application of a stain in a thin coating that adheres to wood without building up.

Pick the Appropriate Wood Stain

Your choice will be influenced by the type of stain on your deck because each type has benefits. Once the material has been stained with a solid stain, it cannot be painted with a semi-transparent or clear stain.

Solid stains prevent clear or semi-transparent stains from penetrating the wood by obstructing the pores. But a strong pigment can cover up any blemish.

Employ Light Finishes

If you intend to use more than one gallon of stain for your project, combine them first to guarantee a consistent color. Next, stain several planks at once with long, fluid strokes.

After putting solid stains in thin layers, apply semi-transparent or clear sealants in even thinner applications. 

By doing this, pools are prevented from drying and failing to permeate the wood, causing the stain to peel off. No matter the type of stain, apply two layers to ensure no missed areas and to get a more even finish.

You May Also Find Helpful: Waterproofing Under The Deck: The Most Effective Solutions

Why Is New Deck Stain Needed Again?

Staining your new deck again will undoubtedly protect it from the elements, that security won’t last forever. Most people stain their decking to prevent weather harm and bring out the color and beauty of the wood.

Without stain, the wood can deteriorate in the sun, allowing moisture to penetrate the pores. It weakens and deteriorates your flooring over time, making it unsightly.  The following factors could wear down or harm your decking:

Humidity and Water

Wood decks are susceptible to deterioration if they come into regular touch with rainwater and outdoor humidity. The excessive moisture makes the wood fibers in your deck swell and holds a lot of moisture. Wood with high moisture content creates the ideal setting for unsightly mildew and mold that can result in a rotting deck.

UV and Heat

On the other hand, UV rays and unusually hot or dry conditions can also be harmful. Your wood decking material will crack, shift, and twist due to frequent high and dry temps.

UV rays can seriously harm the external finish of your wood deck by drying out the wood’s natural oils (such as cedar) or preservatives in treated wood, which cause the color to fade to a dull grey.

Snow and Ice

Removing snow and ice can result in significant wear and tear on the finish of your new deck due to the scraping action.

By taking the necessary precautions to keep your deck free of snow accumulation that calls for hard scraping and avoiding leaks or wetness on the deck’s surface that leads to ice buildup, you can minimize these effects. 

If you must shovel, be gentle when clearing the surface of your deck of ice and snow, and attempt to move your shovel in the direction of the decking pattern.

Pests

The wood under your deck may become a food source or a place for nesting for termites, paper wasps, and other insects.

They deface your deck’s look in addition to annoying your family and possibly endangering the safety of your house.

Mold and Mildew in the Wood Pores

Mold and mildew in the wood pores may worsen allergies, ruin the appearance of your deck, and even cause the wood to rot when your deck boards get contaminated with mold and mildew.

If you don’t eliminate or replace the planks, mold can eventually dissolve wood, ruining your deck.  

Other Factors to Consider When Staining

Applying too much stain is a typical error made by many deck proprietors. It is most certainly not always better to have more stains. Keep in mind that your wood needs to breathe even after staining.

Except when using wax or epoxy, it is acceptable that you will never have completely waterproof flooring with water beading off.

If you use too much stain, dampness will get trapped inside the wood, causing it to rot. Your wood will develop fungus, which will start to eat it from the inside out.

Never sand new wood, closing the pores and causing the chemicals to become confined in the wood will result in various issues when you apply a stain or sealer.

Although old wood can be sanded, it is preferable to use wood stripper products, followed by a cleanser, brightener, and stain. 

You’ll be astounded at how brand-new your worn-out deck can appear after thoroughly cleaning and applying these products.

Never presume that a covered deck will keep you safe from the elements. Wood can be severely damaged by fluctuating temps and humidity. Thanks to the stain, your covered deck’s timber will age more slowly.

What Is the Best Stain to Apply To a New Deck Wood Stain?

There are mainly two types of wood stain you can use to stain your deck.

They both are common and effective for wood staining. Knowing the difference between them is essential in order to choose the best stain for your new deck.

Water-Based vs Oil-Based Stain

The majority of external stains are either water- or oil-based in composition. Both will shield your deck from the elements. Still, there are some key variations to consider when selecting one.

spots made of oil

Oil-based stains penetrate your deck’s wood fibers and pores to build up several levels of protection on the surface. An oil-based stain through penetration results in an incredibly resilient and long-lasting finish. 

Oil-based stain’s penetrative action and absorption into the wood provide a very even, thoroughly absorbed finish. When applied properly, an oil-based stain has excellent durability, aesthetic attractiveness, and overall finish.

However, applying oil-based stains is more labor-intensive, results in a more challenging cleanup (requiring mineral spirits or paint thinners), and produces toxic, flammable, and corrosive vapors. (VOCs).

spots made of water

Your wood deck’s exterior finish can be easily maintained and protected with water-based stains. A water-based stain’s major selling points are:

• It’s easy to use.
• The simplicity of cleanup.
• Lack of toxic smell.
• Environmental friendliness.

Instead of acting as a penetrating lubricant, water-based stains more closely resemble a surface coating. Water-based stains dry more quickly and are typically less sensitive to environmental shifts outside.

Additionally, a wider variety of colors with different intensities is available in water-based stains and more solid, opaque colors.

How to Determine If a Deck Needs Staining

Deck stains are made to add visual appeal while keeping moisture out of your wood. Pouring a little water on the wood and examining the area is the simplest test to determine whether you need to reapply the color.

Your deck is still safe if you see that the water beads up and flows off the surface. Look into deck stains if the water absorbs the wood.

What is The Ideal Time to Stain a Deck?

The ideal times to apply deck stains are in the last weeks of spring and early autumn when the weather is relatively warm and dry. You want to wait for days that are warm and humid.

Find a moment when it won’t rain for two days before and after the deck treatment by checking the weather.

When Should a Deck be Dry Enough to Stain?

Ideally, it would help if you cleaned your deck after rainy weather, let it dry for a few days, and then stained it.

You can buy deck cleaner to wash the deck wood and eliminate any grime or microorganisms hiding inside the pores.

Before using the deck cleanser, spray your deck down and do it again. Before applying your deck stain, let it settle. 

Conclusion

Staining or maintaining a deck might seem like a straightforward DIY job, but it might be harder and take longer than you think.

While staining a deck can be finished in a few days, following the correct washing, planning, and application methods is essential to ensure a lovely, even appearance. 

If you do this, the stain will last longer, and you won’t need to re-stain the deck in a year. Take your time with the planning process.

The frequency will change, though, based on the weather, the type of wood you used to construct your deck, and the stain you applied. Additionally, be sure to organize your resources well in preparation.