Benefits of Water Popping. When water is added to the wood before staining it reopens the pores in the grain. It makes hardwood floors porous again so that hardwood flooring can be properly stained and finished. This process has many benefits.
The wood must be clean, dry and free of contaminants. If you try to apply stain or sealer over damp or dirty wood, then there won't be proper adhesion. Make sure there is no mildew as well. To achieve this, use a wood cleaner and thoroughly wash your deck.
To physically prepare wood for staining, you'll need to fill any nail holes with wood filler, sand the wood, prep any exposed edges, remove the remaining sawdust, and stir the stain.
No matter the type of wood, we always recommend waiting 24-48 hours after rainfall or cleaning to make sure the structure is dry prior to staining.
The technique of wetting the wood down before staining is called “popping” the grain. What it does is open the pores of the wood to allow it to take the stain evenly and deeply. When you water pop wood, you won't have to do multiple coats of stain either.
Using a lint free rag is the best way to apply wood stain because it is great for controlling the amount of stain that is applied and for removing any excess stain. Also, the rag leaves a beautiful, even, and brush stroke free finish. It also can easily be thrown out once finished.
Why does oak go black? Oak timber naturally contains Tannins. These are a natural chemical that provide the protective waterproof quality oak is famed for. Being acidic, they can react with iron and water to produce chemicals that stain the wood.
no. Most wood stains are oil-based and therefore will not bond well to a wet surface. If applied to wet woods, the stain will be thin and will eventually wash off after a few sizable rains. Certain water-based stains will be more effective but will produce inferior results when compared with stain applied to dry wood.
Applying Stain
First, ensure the deck is completely dry. Remember, no rain 24 hours before you apply stain and no rain 24 hours after the staining project.
Depending on your project, you will not need to remove old stain before restaining. If you want to darken the stain on your wood project, then removing the existing stain is not necessary!
Sadolin Wet Wood Decking Stain
Our unique formulation enabling application of decking stain to wet and dry wood, so no need to wait for your decking to dry after jet washing or considering the unpredictable UK weather, you can protect your decking at all times.
Yes! Rough-sawn lumber is a bit more difficult to stain than smooth-textured wood, but it does not have to be an overwhelming task. Just make sure to choose a wood stain that is designed specifically for porous woods: Stay away from hardwood stains and film-forming-type stains.
Things You Should Know
Water-based stains usually take 4 to 6 hours to dry, while oil and gel-based stains can take up to 12 to 24 hours. Stain dries the best in warm, dry areas that get great airflow. Hardwoods like oak and maple usually dry faster from staining than softwoods like pine and fir.
If you stain your deck in the summer, make sure you do it out of the direct sunlight. Applying a deck stain in direct sun will cause the stain to dry to quickly and can result in premature stain failure. In the summer, stain your deck in the morning or evening so the deck surface isn't too hot.
Because stain requires a dry deck for a secure application, a week of dry fall weather is ideal for staining your deck than in summer or spring humidity. More specifically, the moderate temperatures of early fall are optimal for staining, as the later fall weeks may bring colder days that are too chilly for your stain.
Most stains can be applied from about 50° F to 90° F — but many people don't realize this range refers to the temperature of the wood surface, not the air. A day that's 70°F and sunny can push deck surface temperatures above 90°F leading to application challenges and shortened open times.
Stain can take anywhere from two to 24 hours to dry. It can take one to seven days for stain to fully cure. Drying times vary based on the type of wood and stain. Water-based stains take less time to dry than oil-based stains.
No. If rain is forecasted, it's worth holding off treating your deck until you know it's going to be dry for a few days. Stains and oils penetrate wood best when it's cool and dry. If it rains within 48 hours of applying a treatment, the water will soak into the wood, and try and displace the stain.
If you applied the stain correctly, and it still remained tacky, it could be due to rainy weather or high humidity. Give it a few more days to see if it improves.
Wood Stain Drying Time
Depending on the type of stain you are using, most stains are dry and cured within 24 hours to 48 hours. After that time, it's safe for additional coats or to apply polyurethane or the sealer of your choice.
When using the air-drying method, you can expect oak firewood to take about six to 24 months to fully cure. If your oak firewood is still green and has a high moisture content of about 70% to 80%, allowing it to air dry for six months to two years should result in a moisture content of 20% or lower.
The simple answer to this is yes, wood flooring will change colour over the years. Wood is a natural product and changes in colour will occur due to the wood's reaction to the environment. A dark wood such as walnut will lighten and a lighter wood species like oak, will darken.