How long must I wait to stain a deck, after it has been power washed?
Question:I have power washed a deck but then it started raining. It has been raining off and on for 3 days, but the weather forecast says that we will have 3-4 days of sunny weather coming soon.
Answers:
After it has finished raining, allow 2 full days of warm days to dry the deck. Be sure it is dry to the touch before applying any stain. 2 days should be sufficient time. After the stain sets in, give it an extra water sealant coat, it will also help in giving your deck some extra longevity. Use a pump spray can for this. Good Luck :)
since deck boards are treated ,rainwater will not soak in. therefore you will be able to stain as soon as the surface is dry. a good warm afternoon is enough. if you wait too long you may find yourself washing it again. i need to stain and seal my deck, too. i'm told a weed sprayer is the way to go. do not use a brush as you will end up with differant shades. looks horrible.
Good hot days, wait at least 48 hours and never start too early in the morning. The due will get the wood wet.
If the boards in the deck are not spaced properly you may need an extra day. The dryer it is the better the stain soaks in. You will need several coats.
You left out one important piece of info. How long ago was the deck put in? Most decks are made from pressure treated wood, and the wood is treated with chemicals. A previous post mentioned that water will not soak in. If water will not absorb NEITHER WILL THE STAIN. Depending on your environment and location of the deck would determine how long you need to let the wood dry (not from the rain, but from the treatment). I would wait anywhere from 6 months to 1 year after a deck has been built to stain it. Otherwise the stain will not hold or work.
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