Staining a new deck.?
Question:I live in the Northern Interior of BC, and face harsh winters. We've just built a 16' x 40' deck out of 2x6 pine, untreated, (MSR 1650 for techies), and have been given various opinions of when to stain. Some say right away, some say wait til next spring, because although the wood is kiln dried, it still holds a lot of moisture. If your an experienced deck builder, what do you say? My better half is chomping at the bit to "get 'er done!' already.
Answers:
Since the deck is not treated you will be sorry if you wait. Since it is kiln dried you must wait for no rain for at least 5 days. Kiln dried Wood only holds moisture if it has been exposed to moisture. Listen to your wife on this. The product that you need to use is called TWP (for total wood protection). It is a stain and a sealer combined. Otherwise you need to stain once, then seal twice.
Wait a year until you stain, the wood really needs to be dried-out, we had ours built last summer and this summer used Thompson's water seal. The wood will crack and split, and you are best waiting until its done so when you stain it, its ready to go.
if it is wood that is not pressure treated but kilin dried you can stain it now
Wait 6 months or you'll be building another deck. Yes, it has moisture, it has to evaporate so your deck boards settle in. Wait 6 months.
Because it is not treated, I would stain it now. Even if you want to wait, at least do the underside. You don't want the wood to get to much drier than it already is. Remember, the more pigment, the better and longer lasting the coating. good luck.
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