How long after staining a deck can it rain

Allow your stain up to at least 24 hours to dry before putting the furniture on the deck. Staining can be costly if you factor in time as well as financial resources. However, in the end, you realize that it gives you so much that the costs and time involved are almost insignificant. Here are some of the essential aspects of staining:. This way, you shall ensure that your structure remains in the top condition as if it were new.

The deck stains are available in various colors, giving you so much flexibility in color choice; if you are looking for something natural, you will find them easily.

If you have never painted your deck, you should know it is the hardest thing to do if you choose between painting and staining. Staining provides the faster and easier option of the two. What you will love about staining, unlike painting, is that the application of stain over your surfaces does not necessarily require that you apply a primer. What does this mean?

Considering that you will have to undergo priming processes, you will save a lot of time, making the process almost half what you shall have done in the case of painting. Therefore, it is a lot easier to conduct regular maintenance on your deck if you choose to stain it instead of painting.

Additionally, deck stains offer protection against the UV rays in the exterior environment, unlike paints. How does that happen? Staining protects your deck from the infestation of insects, such as termites, which eat away your structure. Additionally, water repellent deck stains prevent your structure from moisture.

So with the right stain and applied in the right way, you will protect your wood from damaging elements. Rain is not suitable for a new stain, so if you happen to stain your deck at it rains immediately or a few; however, before your formula dries, you are likely to have to redo your work because rainwater can damage the freshly stained deck.

The level of damage largely depends on the intensity of the rain. As I have stated at the beginning of this article, you need to do yourself a favor of staining your wooden deck at least 48 hours before it rains. That way, your structure will stay safe from the damage that usually occurs to decks when it rains on them before the formula dries. I hope that you have read this post and found it helpful with your quest to understand how long your deck needs to dry before it rains the following staining.

If you have a question, opinion, or suggestion, kindly share it with me in the comments section below! Skip to content Staining is not just any other day to day job as it involves money and personal time. Table of Contents. Different strains also have varying drying times; you could be using one that takes longer to dry. So what do you do if the rain does come soon after you staining? If the rain defies the forecast, you will be able to do little during the rainfall.

It is not like you could roll up the deck and put it inside your house for shelter. Your option will be to wait until it stops raining, then assess the damage. Ensure you wait until the deck has dried, and then take a closer look at the affected wood. An intense downpour will likely leave more severe damage than a drizzle. However, the latter may sometimes not hurt your freshly stained woodwork, in which case you will not need to do anything about the situation.

On the other hand, a rainstorm will most likely affect the deck. Also, some stain brands can be more resilient to rainfall soon after application than others, so the choice of stain you used will also make a difference in this regard. In any case, what you do next will depend on the extent of damage, as you will see from your assessment.

If the coat is flaking off or peeling, the chances are that the rain hit it too soon after application. Unfortunately, you cannot mend this kind of damaged coat.

Instead, you will have to sand it down and strip it from your deck, then go over the entire process again. If you can only see a few imperfections around the place, the damage is minimal and merely cosmetic. You can mend this damage by applying a second layer of the same stain to the affected areas. The first thing to do is read the label on the stain container for instructions on applying an additional coat of the stain. Also, you will want to wait for the deck to be completely dry before attempting to apply the correcting layer of stain.

Do not apply stain if the forecast indicates rain before 24 to 48 hours. Once the situation has satisfied these conditions, start applying the stain in an inconspicuous area before touching up the entire deck. While doing this touchup, keep in mind that oil-based stains will need more time to absorb the wood.

In some cases, you will have to wash the wood with a pressure washer to strip the damaged layer before recoating it. Now, there are instances where your newly stained deck may not be dry enough to weather the sting of rainfall even after the recommended 48 hours. It is important to know these instances to tell when your deck stain will take longer to cure; plan your woodworking project accordingly. If you look at the labels on different deck stains, you will notice different recommended drying times.

This is because the products used to make different wood stains behave differently, making some stains cure sooner than others.

Unlike oil paint or stain, water-based stains are one group of deck stains that will take less time to cure and prepare for the rains.

The water in these stains can evaporate much quicker and leave the deck dry in a matter of hours after application. If you paint or stain your deck with an oil-based product, you can expect it to take more time to prepare for use and rainfall.

This is because these stains are denser and generally take longer to dry compared to water-based stains. For this reason, it is a good idea to check and pay attention to the type of stain you intend to use. Make this decision as part of your planning process. Notice that the drying process that stain undergoes technically involves the stain settling into the wood grain and not drying away.

For this process to happen, the pores inside the wood need to be open to accommodate the stain. Unfortunately, moisture tends to occupy much of these pores when the wood is new, leaving little room for the stain to enter during the curing process. Therefore, when you paint or stain new wood with high moisture content, the stain will struggle to get absorbed into the wood.

Consequently, the stained deck will often take longer to cure, whether using a water-based stain or oil-based. Experts recommend waiting for at least six months before staining a new deck. During this period, the wood will shed off much of its moisture and be in a position to cure better when you finally stain it. Before staining a deck, it is best to allow the wood to air dry for at least 24 to 48 hours.

This is because rainwater has the same effect on the stain as new wood. When it rains, the rainwater seeps into the pores inside the wood. Since wood stain needs the space inside these pores to cure, having rainwater occupy these pores will leave the stain with little room in the wood pores, which may prolong the drying process.

Curing involves stain settling on the wood surface and into its pores, drying thoroughly, and setting its final color. The roomier the pores are, the more seamless this process will be. Wood stain manufacturer Behr Corporation warns against staining a deck too soon after it rains before 48 hours elapse.

According to this company, the dampness in the wood will keep the stain from adhering to the deck correctly. Wood stain essentially cures itself. Stain cured under wet or otherwise unsuitable conditions may become contaminated, discolored, or develop mold. Additionally, before staining, the wood should be allowed to air dry for hours after it has been cleaned. It also pays to factor in the drying time between a first and second coat and of course, how long it is likely to take to apply the stain.

This will no doubt depend on your experience, the size of the deck, and the tools you have available for use. Undercover decks will take longer to dry in certain conditions, so allow for this when planning the project and when to use your deck after staining.

The kind of weather the outdoor deck will be exposed to also plays a factor in determining the best stain-base for your project. An oil-based stain is the best choice if the deck is going to be directly exposed to wind, rain, and sunlight. Deck stains are generally used for preserving and protecting exterior wood.

They provide water repellency, UV protection, reduce fungal growth, and enhance the natural beauty of the wood. If the deck you intend to stain is covered in a previous coating of paint or stain, certain steps should be taken to achieve a new protective, even layer.

Although it may be challenging to establish what the previous layer is, it will help decide whether to choose an oil-based or water-based stain. Stain, therefore, lasts for a long time if it is appropriately applied.

Rain on a newly stained deck can ruin it or, at best, create a lot of extra work. Stain penetrates the wood best when the wood is cool and dry. The key to coating new timber is ensuring the tannins and oils have been removed.

This is called leaching. This can be done through a natural weathering process or by applying commercial timber preparations. This will ensure the final finish of your coating will look amazing and last longer. It is not a good idea to apply deck stain in full sun but wait until the sun has passed over your deck. Wait for the deck slats to cool down before applying the stain. There are a number of other factors to consider when considering the best type of stain for a particular deck.

The age of the wood and type of timber being stained will also be a consideration. Some woods like Cedar, Cypress, and Redwood have a natural resistance to rotting and therefore are better suited to a water-based stain. The choice of stain will also be influenced by the preference for an oil-based or water-based stain. These different options will provide different results and will require variations in handling. Some stains cannot be sold legally because of varying state laws.

When possible, test the stain on an inconspicuous section of the decking. Be careful not to use a light stain if your deck was previously covered with a dark stain. Oil stains are easier to apply, penetrate the wood grain, and require less work when you reapply them. Because they penetrate the wood deeper, they are extremely durable and provide a thicker seal for the deck.

Oil-based stains take longer to cure and cause problems if the newly-stained deck is rained on in the first hours of stain application.