One of the worst things in the world is to have your deck rained on before the new stain dries. Best Types of Deck Wood in a Rainy Climate, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59MnCmRS1VE, Oiling A Deck? If it's OK, then nothing If it's not quite dry enough, or it rains too hard too soon, the surface may look pretty bad 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. Why does my deck paint keep peeling? If it rains 12 hours after staining a deck, it could cause the stain to streak or run, resulting in a very uneven finish on your deck. If it rains right after you apply the stain, the stain will peel and flake off. Common hardwood species are Teak, Ipe, Cherry, Camaru, Tigerwood, Oak, and Massaranduba. Water is doing what the paint should do. After this, you will need to sand down the surrounding wall (making sure the water has not spread and caused other areas to become damp), and then repaint the section. Unfortunately I came across your website after the fact! Rain could potentially ruin a newly stained deck, as it is generally recommended to wait for a minimum of 24 hours before allowing any moisture to come in contact with the wood. When a surface is not clean, stains and other finishes have trouble sticking and may end up peeling. If this happens, the moisture in the wood stops the stain from sticking to the deck properly. The first pic is about 3 hours after the second coat (no rain) and the second pic with more shade is 24 hours after the heavy rain (50 hours after 2nd coat). Apply a wood restorer, such as ABR X-180 Wood Restorer, with a sprayer, roller, or brush. . Trying to beat the rain, he waited only 24 hours before painting. Other mitigating factors include: In general, you should follow the following guidelines to avoid rain damage to your deck stain: As long as you stick to these general guidelines, the weather will not damage your deck, your deck will not trap moisture, and you will not have to replace your deck wood because of rot. Do I have to sand it? Rained this morning and feels wet to touch and coloring looks as though I just applied the stain. I think I managed to get a fair bit of oil into it - the first coat of oil was almost completely dry before the second went on, the second was fairly dry before the third went on, and the third was partly dry before it started raining (~2.5 hours drying time - surface still quite oily / tacky). You cannot do much until it stops raining once it starts. Most deck stain brands will warn against the application of their product within 12-24 hours of rain being forecast. If it did, you'll need to sand some, and possibly re-coat. Answer: It depends on the amount of rain. Strip and brighen for prep and then use a better brand of deck stain as well. Rain on Deck Stain Issues It is best to never stain any exterior wood when inclement weather is forecasted, especially rain. its water base semi trans.should I chance. This proved to be very time-consuming because I wanted to make sure all the nail holes and cracks were filled. It is not a good idea to apply deck stain in full sun but wait until the sun has passed over your deck. All the products he suggests through this site are sold through online sites and in retail stores, allowing the consumer to choose their own means of purchase. When thinking about what happens if it rains on a freshly stained deck, you will certainly have to bear in mind that there may be some preparations to make. I power washed rails/ privacy feature deck and let it dry 48 hr. As an article and comment contributor to the site, Scott has been around the pressure washing industry since attending college. Deck seems to have oil mixing with the rain. My deck has milky places all over it after the first rain after staining After it dries out, can I put plastic over it and apply a second coat tomorrow, or do I have to wait longer due to the dew? The Olympic really isnt washable & Ive put so much work into the deck that I hate the thought of not being able to wash dirt off the rails. If it rains before your stained deck completely dries, the rainwater will soak into the wood's pores and displace the stain. it might be 3-4 wks before I will have time to stain again. Stain cured under wet or otherwise unsuitable conditions may become contaminated, discolored, or develop mold. Wet wood can impact the look of your newly stained deck. This is not the right answer. Dew, rain, or very high humidity penetrated after latex paint drieda common problem if the latex paint was of lower quality or if the substrate surface preparation was inadequate. Try Restore A Deck Stain in semi-transparent or TWP Semi-Solid, Stain/sealer suggestion would be much appreciated! Post some pics in the comments. If it rains immediately after you've stained the wood, the stain will peel and flake off. If you are using latex, if you can get it on for 4 to 6 hours before a light rain, it will have dried enough to survive without spotting. 2. Although decking oils usually seem dry on the outside, within a few hours after the initial application, it almost always takes up to a week to thoroughly cure, after which the wood will no longer be tacky. It diaries and seems to have cured although there are a couple of washed out/ faded spots. Stains that have linseed or mineral oil in them are the most prone to damage from downpours. You can use water-based deck stains in damp weather. Sorry. The weather plays a significant role in how quickly the varnish dries and how its looks when it is finished. If the surface wasn't dry, or if the rainfall was hard, you will probably have to strip and re-seal. My thought was it would match nicely however with 10 people living here it became very obvious that the flat stain holds fingerprints very very well. Assuming the deck is dry and thirsty for stain, it's time to make your deck amazing. This will result in a splotchy surface rather than an even tone. Thats what Im trying to do here. Is there a more washable option for me? Is this ok? document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); hi, i cleaned and prepared my deck and then it rained before i stained. WOODCRITIQUE, Tips for Staining a Deck in a Rainy Climate (thestewartlumberco.com), Water resistant woods: this is what you should know | homify, The wood did not absorb all of the deck stain coat, 1. Because it forms a coating, it takes several hours to dry, and during that time, the sealer is vulnerable. I power washed & sealed this table with Thompsons Water Seal (oil based/clear). In 1993 he started his first company called Oakland Pressure Wash specializing in exterior pressure washing and deck staining. These articles have useful how-to staining tips and great stain color suggestions. If it happens to rain within 48 hours following the stain's application, the rainwater will soak into the pores of the wood and try to displace all the stain. It will result in a splotchy surface instead of an even tone. I think you are fine and it just has not fully cured yet. It really depends on how hard it rained and for how long. If it rains immediately after you've stained the wood, the stain will peel and flake off. As a result, the deck surface may appear splotchy rather than smooth and even. Wait to stain the deck until the weather forecast indicates that it will not rain for at least 48 hours. Finish the first coat and then apply another coat to all wood. Apply with a pump sprayer and let it sit for several minutes. Clean, Strip, or Sand the Deck? Curing is the time taken for the stain to settle into the surface of the wood, dry fully, and set its final color. You could use a cleaning solution that will help to remove the gray fibers, dirt, mold, mildew, and other impurities deep in the wood. I have been successfully maintaining it for thirty years with CWF-UV recoating every 2-3 years. Or you can try lightly sanding the rain spots and recoating. He used a Sherwin-Williams product. Tropical hardwood decking is so dense that it doesnt accept stain very well, but a penetrating option specifically formulated for use on hardwood decking could be considered. 2. I will do that (pressure wash then recoat). Deck Stain Facts: Frequently Sought Questions & Answers, Deck Stain Facts: Short Videos Questions and Answers, Wood and Deck Stain Review Videos Deck, Top 5 Deck Stain Reviews and Ratings Video, Prepping a Wood Deck Videos Deck Stain, Restore-A-Deck Stain & Prep Videos Deck Stain, Best Deck Prep? Thank you so much for your help. I forgot to mention the rails and posts are white. It is summer and you are afraid of the first rains.You've just spent hours painting your deck, but now you're wondering if it'll hold up to the weather.This post aims to answer how long you should wait before exposing a freshly stained deck to water.How long does the deck stain have to dry before it. When I touch the wood its like the stain is wet again. Dont cover it. DeckStainHelp.com Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | About DeckStainHelp.com | Trusted Articles | Community Forum, 17 hours ago by Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993, 21 hours ago by Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993. We hope you enjoy the content. If your stain has been drying for close to 48 hours, this may not happen. I was applying the stain in partly-cloudy conditions (sometimes sun, sometimes cloud), temps in the high 70's (mid-20's in metric), humidity probably around 50-60% as is typical all spring/summer/fall long here. Here are seven problems you may encounter on your newly stained deck when it rains: Rain can ruin decking Rain can cause damage when the deck stain is not dry Problems with wet deck stains Water stains on newly stained deck Rain damage to deck wood or stain Best stains for a rainy climate Best types of deck wood in a rainy climate We cleaned it and pressure washed it first and allowed it to dry. Any idea of what causes the white spots? As the rain falls, the displaced deck stain may wash away from the surface. Hard to say. Do not put a high gloss on a deck, it will peel if you do. These different options will provide different results and will require variations in handling. On the other hand if the stain is still wet and sitting atop the surface, rain can cause separation circles or may completely wash the stain away. I also enjoy spending time in our backyard with friends and family. If none is available, purchase a small piece of the same type of lumber, or simply test the stain in a small, hidden area. 1. Painting a deck is never a good idea unless you can paint all sides of your decking boards. Nothing you can do right now. Despite the rain, the deck hasn't come out too badly. Ok, I researched & noticed you recommend Restore a Deck. Rain damage to your newly-stained deck is easily avoidable. There are also cases where you can use a pressure washer and wood cleaner to wash the spots without harming stains. Hey Scott thnx! Wow! Rainfall will harm the finish of any kind of wet sealer with linseed oil or mineral oil in it. Meanwhile, the stain itself can look splotchy, it can flake, and there may even be bubbles on the surface. If the surface drys out quickly, sometimes these will disappear. It still has patches and now has white marks on some boards. It rained two hours later. If the water is absorbed, it's ready to seal. In average conditions, your paint or stain will be dry to the touch within 1-2 hours, but you should not walk on it for probably 4-6 hours. Wait for the deck slats to cool down before applying the stain. Explanation: Rain. Never apply a deck stain to unprepped wood. Oil-stained decks are a different story since oil needs more time to penetrate the wood. Some of these methods are labor-intensive, while others do not take much time. When considering what happens if it rains on a freshly stained deck, you will have to keep in mind that there may be some reparations to make. Water seeped into the wood, no beading. Can anyone suggest a remedy for thisthis is the second coat of Cabot deck correct and it rained 10 after applying. The effect is worse if it does rain shortly after you apply the wood stain. Am I able to apply a second coat over Cabot solid stain because the wood soaked in the first coat as fast as I could roll or hand paint it and the surface shows small splits. With a quick look at the forecast, a water sealer, and the correct type of stain and wood, you will be able to avoid rain damage to your deck in a rainy climate. 25 Useful Outdoor Toy Storage Ideas to Keep Your Family Organized! Try scraping and sanding those areas and recoating. Hello, similar story to others here: I think unexpected rain might have messed up the deck seal we applied. We had a contractor stain our new cedar deck and he used Sherwin-Williams semi-transparent Super Deck with two coats. My team and I started this site to share this journey. Follow these steps: Deck owners have also found some ingenious solutions, including using olive oil for rain damage on oil-based stains: This method will last for at least ten months. I painted all the rails and posts with Olympic solid stain we had left from painting the house. Roughly 24 hours after application, I noticed the deck was still wet and unfortunately it started to rain heavily. BTW, you were right, the deck is just fine , https://www.deckstainhelp.com/what-are-the-best-solid-color-deck-stains/. will the stain color last? now foot traffic has left dirt stains all over. The lighter spots are where the yellow film forms when its wet. I did 2 coats of Behr premium waterproof 100% acrylic which says rain resistant in 4 hours. The end of the board, where the wood has been cut, will absorb much more stain that other areas. I woke to very chilly temps, 36 degrees and dew all over the deck. It is best to leave the deck for as long as you can, but at least wait 12-24 hours and test the deck with bare feet first. We are in Australia and weather is cool. It is not that good. He also did not wait half an hour to wipe off excess in some places he just coated and wiped is this a problem? I pressured washed my deck, let it dry and then used Flood CWF-UV Clear. Additionally, the area may not have been properly prepped or cleaned before staining, which could allow dirt and moisture to seep through and affect the quality of the stain. Because they penetrate the wood deeper, they are extremely durable and provide a thicker seal for the deck. If you are getting higher readings, the deck needs further air drying before applying the stain. Thank goodness its on the railings. Your customer may insist on a re-do before he pays. He used Thompsons Water Seal on the fence and Cabots Australian Timber Oil on the decks. Decking stain differs from paint in a significant way: Stain soaks into the bare woods pores to become part of the top layers of wood. The 100% acrylic finish formula can be applied in just one day, and the end result enhances the wood's natural beauty while providing extra durability. I applied first coat to all of my wood yesterday and it looks great so farits been about 17hrs drying but this morning it was still a little oily. What happens if it rains on a freshly stained deck? Whether they changed the formula (I suspect they did) or wether it just could not take any more stain, it needed to be stripped and sanded. You should be fine. I am in a timeframe to get this done. I think you would be wasting your money and time but I suppose you could test it. Using Cabot solid color acrylic stain and sealant. I sanded it back when we had a few good sunny days and reoiled. This can be done through a natural weathering process or by applying commercial timber preparations. If this happens, it ruins the appearance of the deck and damages the stain. Lesson learned!! Tannins can cause the timbers appearance to look patchy and discolored once coated. Staining - Water, Smoke, Etc. After a forecast of no rain, we had a random really hard 1 hour rain about 22 hours after 2nd coat was applied. Handyman used messmers oil for ipe deck. So first, look for white spots, blotches, and dime-sized spots to determine if the rain has affected your deck's stain. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59MnCmRS1VE), deck stains will only need 4-6 hours to dry, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf2QpWSXTLs, How To Remove Water Stains From Wood Deck | NO SANDING & NO CHEMICALS | Quick & Easy Hack (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf2QpWSXTLs), What Happens If It Rains On a Freshly Stained Deck? If it rains 12 hours after staining your deck, it is important to take immediate action. 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Sealed this table with Thompsons Water seal ( oil based/clear ) coat was applied staining tips and stain... Slats to cool down before applying the stain rain shortly after you apply the will... Timber preparations the varnish dries and how its looks when it comes weather-resistance! Will probably have Issues if you are fine and it just has not fully cured.!