When do you stain a deck

Wait months and the prep and stain all then. TWP and AC would be great choices. I am replacing pieces of wood in a old deck, after I pressure wash, how long should I wait to put the wood brightener on? Just before I prime and stain or after I pressure wash? I also have already purchased a primer because this part of the deck receives all of the elements opposed to the rest of the deck, is this recommended?

You brighten right away after using the cleaner. Primers should never be used for deck stains. I live in Phoenix and am replacing old broken wood gate planks with new cedar fence pickets from a big box Home Improvement store.

Everything I'm reading says to install the fence first, wait until the wood dries, then stain. Well I sprayed one of these planks and the water soaked right in. I'm so confused! Is the wood dry or not? Should I stain them now, before installing, or wait? If I wait, how long do I wait? If the wood is rough sawn then you can stain now. If not, install, weather the wood, prep, and then stain.

Thank you, that's very helpful! How do I know if it is rough sawn- do I just ask the employees at the store? Sometimes 3 people give you 4 answers there Our cedar deck has been left untreated for two and a half years. We had been advised to build with cedar so as to avoid needing to apply any stain. But now we understand that was probably bad advice. Would our best plan be to first sand with 60 grit, then apply brightener, then wait until fully dry and finally apply oil-based stain?

You will need to use a deck cleaner and then a wood brightener. OK thanks for helping. I have one follow up question - Should the application of cleaner and then stain be done before or after the sanding, or do you recommend not sanding at all?

Typically, you do not sand but if you do, sand lightly after. We stained the new wood deck with semi transparent Cabot stain. A week later black mildew spots appeared under the stain not on top of it. What happened? The deck was about 1 week old before it was stained. How can we fix the mildew , it seems to be spreading all over the deck. Only way to fix is remove the Cabot and start over.

Total square footage is about One Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and brightener prep kit and about gallons of stain. I am building a deck with Garapa wood Brazilian hardwood in the spring. I live in Michigan. When should I stain the deck? Do I need to clean or sand prior to staining? Wait 3 months after it is installed, then prep prior to staining. No need to sand. I really appreciate your advice. Should I stain or seal the underside of the deck boards before deck installation?

No need to stain the undersides. We do not suggest any of those brands. I see many of your recommendations to wait until spring to stain a new deck - especially if living in a cold area as I do Boston, MA. It goes on quickly and you can usually do it in the morning. Since it is transparent, it is hard to mess up in terms of looks. Stains absorb into the wood and last at least 5 times as long as sealers, if not longer if applied correctly.

Of course, staining is going to cost you more, but you pay for what you get. Finally, never apply a sealer over a stained deck. Both were formulated to work with raw wood, so mixing them will negate their ability to protect your wood. Can you stain a new deck? The best time to stain a new deck is 3 to 12 months after installing it.

Pressure-treated lumber is treated with liquid chemicals. Picture a cup of water filled half full. Apply the same principle to your pressure-treated wood. You need time and exposure to allow that wood to dry out. Ironically, the longer you leave your new wood unprotected, the better prepared it is to be stained and, thus, protected.

Let the deck dry out for up to twelve months before staining. Wait at least three months. It depends on your weather and the amount of sunlight your deck gets. If you live in a sunny, warmer area, then your deck will dry much faster than it would in, say, the rainy Pacific Northwest.

It is possible to stain your deck too soon. Pressure-treated lumber comes with more initial moisture than cedar because the treating process involves lots of moisture. Your deck is dry enough to stain when you can test a bit of stain on a piece of your decking and see if that stain beads at the top of the wood.

If it does, then wait a few more weeks. If the stain penetrates your decking, then you can stain your cedar or pressure treated deck.

Spring or fall are the best times to stain your deck. You want to avoid the temperature extremes that summer and winter offer, even if you live in a moderate climate. But temperature is not the only consideration. Direct UV light is also extremely harmful to wood over time.

Applying stain in the middle of summer, when a deck would be exposed to maximum hours of direct sunlight, might cause your stain to not apply properly.

Most stains need a mild temperature and a period in which there is no moisture — rain — so that it can penetrate the wood properly. Thankfully, it's also a backyard idea that won't break the bank. Whether you're installing a new DIY floating deck or re-sealing your existing deck to keep it safe and attractive, decks are an integral part of backyard living. But staining them doesn't have to be daunting. The hardest part aside from all that elbow grease is working alongside Mother Nature to ensure your wood isn't damp and will have a day or so afterward to dry.

Read on for the answers to the most-asked deck-staining questions. And when you're done, pair your newly stained deck with these low-maintenance bushes and shrubs for a yard that'll be the envy of the neighborhood in no time.

First, clean the deck appropriately, especially if it's been a few years since your last staining. You want to avoid using a pressure-washer because it could damage the boards. Instead, use your hose to spray any dirt off the deck. Then let it dry thoroughly.

Next, sand any spots that need to be smoothed, and sweep away the dust. Tape up any spots you don't want to get stain on using painter's tape. Apply your stain using a natural bristled brush going with the grain of the wood.