All stain and prepping manufacturer directions were followed with our reviews and ratings. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker. It rained maybe 6-8 hours after we sealed the deck. Hey! It will peel shortly. 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. Customers are pretty aware of this problem. How many dry days does it take to stain a deck? We stained our covered deck with oil based stain. it might be 3-4 wks before I will have time to stain again. Stains do vary, so check the label first. There is nothing you can do about it until the rain stops and dries off. If it does not cure and dry on its own in a few weeks then you will have to remove it fully and start over. It will have an immediate reaction and damage your stain. When it rained really hard over the weekend the water seemed to seep into the stain and it created a yellow kinda film on the top that I could scrape off with my finger nail. Try Restore A Deck semi-transparent stains. Do not cover it. Many customers who have this experience say that the deck stain is sticky and not solid. What happens if it rains after you stain your deck? Be sure to apply sealant as soon as the wood . Finish the first coat and then apply another coat to all wood. It became very foggy and had tons of moisture on it. Oh well! I power washed rails/ privacy feature deck and let it dry 48 hr. Some stains cannot be sold legally because of varying state laws. You wouldn't manage your teenager the same way as your elderly parents. What is the best stain/sealer for my newly built white pine shed? Rain damage to your newly-stained deck is easily avoidable. Stain needs to dry for several hours for it to set. Staining - Water, Smoke, Etc. Is that a problem? 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. No. So what do you do if it does rain shortly after staining? my time is limited to have time. It was not fully cured before the rain came. Here are seven problems you may encounter on your newly stained deck when it rains: Read on to discover the problems that a downpour can cause before your deck stain dries. Is there a more washable option for me? Now that its dry it looks like there are some dry spots near the knots in the wood do you think I should apply another coat of the stain? washed it down with deck cleaner, scrub brush, and power washer, then applied semi-transparent deck stain (sikkens srd) over old stain. Sealers are especially useful in rainy climates, such as London and Seattle, since the weather can be unpredictable. Can I use a oil based stain and cover the deck with a large tarp to protect it? Thank you. If none is available, purchase a small piece of the same type of lumber, or simply test the stain in a small, hidden area. You cannot spot fix this and you will need to add some gutters or it will continue. Can I Paint on the oil primer two coats and then wait until the spring to put on the Arborcoat waterbased solid stain in the Spring? After the rain the sun came out and the deck dried. Personally I am liking a brush. Could I put a clear sealing coat over the whole thing and then it will all just be shiny : ). However, you shouldn't attempt to seal pressure-treated wood that's already been stained. If the surface drys out quickly, sometimes these will disappear. What Happens if it Rains on a Freshly Stained Fence? Leaves are falling here in Ny and its starting to get cold. Its now been 5 days of nice weather. Use an 80-grit abrasive in a 6 random orbit sander. Rain Can Cause Damage When the Deck Stain is Not Yet Dry, 7. If the deck was dried for 4 to 6 hours using the water-based stain, it may not get too much damage from the rain. Sap seeping out has nothing to do with the rain. Try a gallon of the same color in another brand of quality solid stain. Read the instructions on the stain can for recoating or adding a second coat. About 4 hours after application some unexpected rain came in. It started raining this morning and now its going to rain all day. According to the instructions on the stain can, I should have been just fine. If you stain your deck when it rains, you must ensure that it dries before the rain begins. What caused this and how do I fix it? 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. Class Action Lawsuit Against Olympic Rescue It, Choosing the Best Deck Stain Stripper: Tips and Reviews, Wood and Deck Stain Review Videos Deck Stain Help, Best Deck Stain & Prep Videos Deck Stain Help, Prepping a Wood Deck Videos Deck Stain Help, Restore-A-Deck Stain & Prep Videos Deck Stain Help. Scott, I know this isnt the right thread but you were so helpful with my rain questions, I have one more. It will try to displace the paint, which causes a flaky and blotchy look rather than an even and smooth finish. We hired a local handyman to paint our deck. 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. Flaking and peeling may occur if over-application of the stain occurs. Stain penetrates wood best when the wood is cool and dry. Now what should I do? The wood looks fuzzy and I see lines in the wood from the pressure washing, We would definitely sand it or buff it before staining: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/wood-fuzzies-furring-on-deck/. What do you recommend? It dried in some areas but is super shiny in others and seems sticky still in the shiny areas. Reddish, brown (or sometimes black) stains appearing as blotches or streaks on surface or paint (see also Tannin Staining). The forecast has now changed with a 70% chance of thunderstorm tomorrow, starting about 48 hours after I finished. Same are #1 with the fuzzies and white residue. Hard to say what will happen in the future as this stain brand and type is prone to peeling anyhow. Truly appreciated . Moisture can settle into the pores of even treated wood. If it rains within 48 hours after you apply the stain, the water will soak into the wood pores and try to . It depends on the stain brand and how fast it dries. Answer: 90% of the time there would be no issues. 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. I painted my garden boxes, inside and outside with Pure 100% Linseed oil and it rained 12 hours later. Ask Deck Help Questions & Post Product Reviews! If it rains soon after applying your formula, you will see the stain peeling and flaking off. Most deck stain brands will warn against the application of their product within 12-24 hours of rain being forecast. We had a contractor stain our new cedar deck and he used Sherwin-Williams semi-transparent Super Deck with two coats. This post was updated on November 5, 2022. As they are garden boxes and I will be planting vegie and herb plants in them, so are these stains food safe or will they leach into the soil and contaminate whatever plants are sown in them. Some woods like Cedar, Cypress, and Redwood have a natural resistance to rotting and therefore are better suited to a water-based stain. Let it dry out after the rain and then assess any issues. Curing is the time taken for the stain to settle into the surface of the wood, dry fully, and set its final color. Can even tell it needs 2. Or you can try lightly sanding the rain spots and recoating. He has become an authority in the deck restoration industry and has contributed to numerous wood restoration forums and informative sites. Is it better to use a brush vs a roller ti stain your deck? Due to the windows of weather opportunities between rains and needing the boards dried before sanding, I could only manage one coat on each section. I will do that (pressure wash then recoat). will the stain color last? It is not that good. Much will depend on the outside temperature, the stain being used, and decking material. If you are on the shadow side of the home . It rained very heavy and persistent the next day after my first water based staining. Is this ok? Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. No, you would have to remove it and then use a proper stain. Wood stains are probably most commonly used on pine boards and plywood. What happens if it rains on fresh stain? When contaminants are left in the wood pores and stain is applied a whole host of problems can occur. If the wood gets wet after it's been sanded, but . Do I have to wait for them to dry to recoat.? Deck stain differs from paint in a major way: Stain soaks into bare wood's pores to become part of the top layers of wood, while paint simply sits on top of the wood. What happens if it rains on a freshly oiled deck? Would another coat fix this? Fortunately, there are many different ways to avoid and fix this problem. You cannot fix them outside of removing all stain and starting over. While a light rain will not affect it, a heavy downpour may result in extensive damage. 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 What do we do.. thanks for your help!! Deck Stain Essential#2: Prepare new wooden decks differently than old ones before finishing. The use of a quality wood cleaner and pressure washer or scrub brush is necessary to remove all the contaminants like dirt, grime, mold, mildew, and graying. It rained two hours later. The best way to do this is to apply the stain to a scrap of wood left over from building the 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. Rained this morning and feels wet to touch and coloring looks as though I just applied the stain. Applying a second coat requires some precision in the time that elapses between the first and second. You cannot assess until the rain water dries off. The weather is one thing we cannot control, but it does pay to listen to the forecasts and perhaps err on the side of caution when undertaking to stain your deck. So I cleaned and brightened my deck but the last week has had some random light showers, so I havent had the 72 minimum window to let the deck dry, stain and cure before more rain comes. This will ensure the final finish of your coating will look amazing and last longer. Rinsed it off with the hose. You cannot do much until it stops raining once it starts. Fortunately, you can avoid rain damage to a newly-stained deck by using a water seal in rainy climates. The effect is worse if it does rain shortly after you apply the wood stain. Look for any swelling or puffiness in the wood or softness to the surface. Best Types of Deck Wood in a Rainy Climate, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59MnCmRS1VE, Oiling A Deck? 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. Thank you. The job has been done in sections. This will no doubt depend on your experience, the size of the deck, and the tools you have available for use. We recommend this type of stain because it is breathable, has a low odor when you apply it, is mildew resistant, and provides a non-slip surface. In cooler weather or during periods of high humidity, you will need to wait even longer than this. We offer no guarantee of similar results. The extent of rain damage depends on some factors, which can include the following: The amount of rain How long the rain lasted The type and quality of your stain (oil-based or water-based) If using wood cleaners and pressure washers doesn't work, you might need to redo the whole thing. 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