How do I know if my deck is dry enough to stain?
Short of getting fancy and using a moisture meter
to measure the level of moisture in the wood (which you can do if you feel up for it), just give the deck a few days to air out without rainfall.
How soon can I stain my deck after pressure washing?
As a general rule, you should wait
at least 24 hours
to stain a deck after power washing. You want the deck to be completely dry before you put any sort or coating on top. If you don’t, you’ll trap the water underneath the stain and the finish will look blotchy and uneven.
How long after pressure washing a deck can you stain it?
After a deck has been power washed it will have some retained moisture within the wood. It’s important to let the wood dry thoroughly so none of the water that soaked into the wood gets trapped under the stain. In perfect drying conditions,
48 hours
is enough for the wood to get to where it needs to be before staining.
How long after cleaning deck Can I stain?
As a general rule,
48 hours
is sufficient drying time for a newly washed deck. But this also assumes optimal drying conditions, such as a sun-facing deck. If you are on the shadow side of the home where little to no sunlight reaches, wait at least 72 hours before applying any stain or sealer.
Should you pressure wash deck before staining?
There is a common misconception that just pressure washing a deck prior to staining is all you need to do in order to prep your deck for stain. Pressure washing can help, but if you want your stain to last, using
a good deck cleaner and brightener on the deck prior
to pressure washing will provide you the best result.
Will pressure washing remove deck stain?
Pressure washing is a quick way to remove a deck finish, but it requires some care so as not to damage the deck. A
pressure setting of 1500 psi should be strong enough to clean
away deck stain. Hold the sprayer about 3 inches off the surface and move the sprayer as you work in the same direction as the grain.
How many coats of stain should you put on a deck?
The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much deck stain as the wood can absorb. Typically this will be
2 coats
, unless your dealing with extremely dense hardwoods which may only be able to absorb 1 coat of wood stain.
How long must a deck dry before staining?
In perfect drying conditions,
48 hours
is enough for the wood to get to where it needs to be before staining. Decks that don’t get much sun should be given an extra day to dry out. If after a day or two the wood still looks wet or there are soft spots, give it more time to dry out.
How many dry days do you need to stain a deck?
When to Stain your Deck
You will want to set aside a
minimum of two days
, including drying time. If your deck needs to be power washed, or if the boards on the deck need replacing, you may want to set aside another extra couple of days.
How do you know when treated wood is ready to stain?
Best way to tell if the pressure treated lumber is dry is to test the dryness by sprinkling the wood’s surface with water. If the water beads up, the wood is too wet and you need to wait before applying a finish.
If the water soaks into the wood
, then it’s dry and ready for stain or paint.
What happens if it rains on a freshly stained deck?
If it rains within 48 hours after you apply the stain,
the water will soak into the wood pores and try to displace the stain
. This will result in a splotchy surface rather than an even tone. If it rains right after you apply the stain, the stain will peel and flake off.
Can you pressure wash and stain a deck in the same day?
DPI Pressure Washing recommends
you wait 72 hours following cleaning to stain your deck
. If it rains on one of the days afterwards, you’ll have to wait again, but it will be worth it.
Do I need to remove old stain before restaining a deck?
Removing the old stain before reapplying a new coat isn’t always necessary. If you are applying the same color and brand to the wood,
you shouldn’t have to strip
the old stain. Using a quality deck cleaner should be all you have to do before reapplying the same stain.
Should you pressure wash your deck?
For cleaning a wooden deck, you’ll be best served by using the lowest pressure setting that’s still effective. For soft woods like cedar or pine, this is usually about
500 to 600 psi
. For harder woods, it can go up to 1200 to 1500 psi. … Never get closer than 12 inches from the deck unless you’re using low pressure.
How much does it cost to powerwash and stain a deck?
The average cost to power wash, stain, and seal a deck is
$1.57 to $4.04 per square foot
. A 12×12 deck costs $226 to $582 to stain when paying someone, or $59 to $176 to stain it yourself. A gallon of stain costs $20 to $50, which covers 200 to 300 square feet.
