This Is the Best Time to Stain Your Deck

Staining your deck offers protection that adds years to its lifespan, enhances its usability, and improves its appearance. But when is the best time to stain a deck? While it’s obvious you shouldn’t stain your deck while it’s raining, factors such as humidity, wind, and temperature can also affect the stain’s application, absorption, and drying times. This guide explains the best time to stain your deck to make the process easier and ensure lasting results.

Determining the Best Time to Stain Your Deck

The best time to stain a deck is in late spring or early fall, as these seasons offer mild temperatures and predictable weather conditions. However, you may encounter these conditions at different times of the year, depending on your location. Several factors affect the best time to stain your deck.

Rather than looking for a specific date on the calendar to stain your deck, plan on knocking out the project when the following conditions apply.

Temperature

Stains and sealants work best when applied within a specific temperature window. If it is scorching hot outside or the surface you are staining is hot from the sun, the stain might dry too rapidly, compromising the finish and future protection. Conversely, if it is cold outside, the stain can take too long to dry, which can compromise the quality and the finish.

Most manufacturers specify a temperature window of 50°F–90°F for stain application. For best results, consult the manufacturer’s label for your specific stain to determine the ideal temperature window for application.

Weather

While you obviously shouldn’t stain your deck on a rainy day, plan to stain it on a dry day that’s followed by several days with no rain in the forecast. Even rain falling on a newly stained surface that hasn’t had ample time to cure properly can affect the end result by washing off the wet stain, causing a blotchy effect, and compromising the stain’s performance.

Most manufacturers and experts agree that you should look for a period of at least 48 hours of dry weather, with 72 hours being preferred if humidity levels are high.

Humidity

Even if there’s no rain in the forecast, excess humidity can prevent proper absorption and alter the stain’s drying process, while low humidity can cause premature drying. Most stains provide a specific humidity window alongside the temperature window guides, which typically ranges from 40% to 70% humidity. If the humidity is likely to fall outside this range, plan to stain your deck on a different day.

Wind

Staining your deck on a windy day presents several problems that can affect the results. First, wind can affect the drying process, which could compromise the finish’s longevity. Second, wind can blow dust, leaves, sticks, and other debris onto your wet stain, leaving a mess that is nearly impossible to clean up.

Deck Staining Tips

When temperatures are mild, conditions are dry, and there is no wind in the forecast, follow these staining tips to ensure the best results when staining your deck.

• Deep-clean the deck. Blowing the sticks and leaves off your deck may make it look cleaner, but it’s not clean enough for staining. The best way to remove algae, dirt, mildew, and other debris from your deck is with a pressure washer, but be careful not to gouge the wood by getting too close. For stubborn grime, a deck cleaner product and a stiff brush can be effective.
• Let it dry thoroughly. Wood that hasn’t been stained or sealed in a while soaks up water like a sponge and can take a considerable amount of time to dry thoroughly. However, the wood should be completely dry before you apply stain, which can take several days to achieve.
  
• Test your stain beforehand. Once you’ve decided on a stain color, test it in an inconspicuous spot before applying it to the whole deck. Deck stains can look different once applied and dried than they do on the label.
• Apply several thin coats. Unless your stain’s instruction label specifies otherwise, applying several thin coats of stain rather than drenching the surface with stain will yield the best absorption and most even finish.
• Let the stain dry before use. For best results, refrain from using your deck for at least 48 hours after staining it to ensure the stain has ample time to dry.