If you try to stain new wood too soon, the stain won't take. The wood needs to be porous so that the stain can soak in and reflect the color that you chose. If the stain doesn't take, the color will fade in the sun and wash out in the rain.
Before you apply stain, wait 4-8 weeks after your new deck is built. Start your project by sweeping away any leaves or other debris.
This process can take many months depending on your deck's sun exposure and the weather patterns after construction is complete. Without waiting for the wood to dry, stain and sealant would not penetrate the wood properly, diminishing its ability to protect the wood from weather damage.
Waiting for the pressure-treated material to dry is not just a general suggestion. The exposed wood pores will reject the stain application if you don't adhere to the recommended drying time. It often happens because the chemicals aren't fully processed yet.
You will want to wait a few days before you start staining – at least 24 hours is recommended, but you can also try the sprinkle test mentioned above. You'll definitely want to make sure the lumber is dry before staining. Freshly treated lumber will not absorb stain like it should unless it has had time.
If you stain pressure-treated wood too soon, the stain will be unable to fully penetrate the wood, and you will not get the protective benefits of the stain. What is the best stain for pressure-treated wood? An oil-based stain is the best for pressure-treated wood.
As soon as the wood is porous enough to accept the stain, paint or sealant, it is ready for application. Typically, treated wood will dry and be ready for finishing 60 days after installation.
When first applied, window tint may appear darker than anticipated. However, as it cures and dries the film will lighten slightly. If after some time your tint still looks wet with no prospect of drying or curing in sight, do not hesitate to reach out to a professional tinting shop for assistance.
But it's much more efficient to “bury” the raised grain with another coat of finish. Then sand it smooth after it has dried. Stains lighten as they dry, then return to their damp color when a finish is applied.
If a second coat is applied, it builds the thickness and two things happen. First, the sealer or top coat cannot penetrate through the stain to grab the wood fiber. This causes the second issue, the bond now relies on the strength of the stain to bond the surface coats to the wood.
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!
Let the New Deck Dry and Weather for 3-12 Months:
The most common suggestion by the manufacturer. New wood is suggested to dry since it has a high moisture content. This reduces the stain's ability to penetrate. The wood will dry and turn gray from the exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays.
One more thing that you need to consider is the quality and type of wood. If the wood is oily such as cedar/redwood. Then you should consider going for an oil-based stain because it goes well with that type of wood. Also, the wood from pressure-treated pine goes well with water deck stains.
On average, wood stain takes about 24 to 72 hours to fully dry and cure, though you can typically add a second coat after about four hours.
The longer a stain is left untreated, the less likely it is to be removed. When a spill first occurs, it sits on the surface of the fabric, but over time, that spill can start to react with the fabric causing the fabric to actually change colors.
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.
Apply a second coat of stain after the first has dried fully. This will usually produce a slightly darker coloring with the excess wiped off. Substitute a glaze or gel stain for the liquid stain. Glazes and gel stains usually contain a higher ratio of pigment to vehicle.
Similarly, you should always check a wet garment to see if the stain is gone before putting it in the dryer. The heat of the dryer can set the stain and make it permanent.
Steel wool and mineral spirits can lighten your wood stain by a small amount if you don't need to adjust the color much. Otherwise, if you have stain in the can that's too dark, you can dilute it to change the color before applying it.
No, the sticky stains will not dry after some time, which is why it is important to wipe off the excess wood stain. If you don't, your work will end up sticky because the stain did not dry properly. You will have to use mineral spirits, more stain, or sandpaper to fix the mess.
Resist the urge to run it under the hot tap. “Don't add hot or even warm water to a stain, as this can end up having the opposite effect of setting it permanently, particularly if the stain is protein-based, like milk or blood,” says Verity. “Always use cold water for the safest result, but avoid over-wetting it.
We always recommend two coats of stain for any wood project, but you should only apply as much stain as the wood can absorb. Extremely dense hardwoods may only be able to absorb one coat of wood stain.
The best deck stain for pressure treated lumber is a semi-transparent penetrating deck stain like TWP, Armstrong Clark, or Restore-A-Deck. Pressure treated deck boards are dense making penetration of deck stains difficult.
Benefits of Deck Stain vs. Paint. If the deck is made with pressure-treated woods, the stain will adhere better than paint. If pressure-treated woods are used, stain seeps into the deck, becoming a part of the deck rather than an added layer, which means that it won't chip, crack or flake.
All wood, except manufactured products like composite wood — even pressure-treated lumber — need to be sanded and stained. If you want it to last, you have to put in the time and some elbow grease.