August 14, 2010
While springtime and early summer is the best time to stain your deck. it’s still better to stain now rather than in late September. Whether you’re going with a solid color stain or semitransparent tint from a great brand such as Cabots, Sikkens or Penofin, at least the product will dry properly during this time of year. We recommend Anderson Paint Company for excellent selection and pricing on all those products, and use Anderson frequently. Cold humidity – while not affecting most house painting projects – is slightly detrimental for decks.
The combination of temperature and moisture can slow drying times, especially on surfaces that absorb higher levels of morning dew. Staining can be done in late September – Elysium stained an entire condo complex several years ago to great success – but you should take the following precautions:
1. Don’t stain when rain is pending. Unlike trim or siding on houses, decks get hit with water directly. If the deck’s surface isn’t completely dry, your new stain could run slightly if hit with raindrops before fully curing.
2. Don’t walk on the deck within 72 hours of staining. While normally we would suggest 24-48, high humidity and low temperatures may make the deck more vulnerable to foot traffic. Small animals and falling twigs are far more gentle, so they shouldn’t be much of a concern.
3. Feel the deck with your palm before staining. We always do this, but for do-it-yourselfers or to test a questionable handyman you may have hired, do the palm test. 75% of the time, wood that is colder on some spots means those spots have water that hasn’t fully dried out from the wood. By checking for uneven temperatures, you can determine where water hasn’t fully dried out of; these areas shouldn’t be stained immediately. Note that if the entire deck feels slightly cool and it hasn’t rained within the last 24 hours, this is just likely caused from shade or low heat absorption by the wood itself. (Or, of course, it’s night time or very early morning.)
Good luck, and happy staining!
Painting Contractor Wisdom, Professional House Painter Advice | 1 comment
The combination of temperature and moisture can slow drying times, especially on surfaces that absorb higher levels of morning dew. Staining can be done in late September