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I recently had to have some repairs done to my wooden deck mainly the steps. Now I have to stain them and I was always under the impression that you had to wait 4 to 6 weeks to do so. When the contractor left he said with the wood he just used it would be better to wait 6 to 8 weeks.
I live on the East coast and figured I wouldn't be able to get it done before winter because it would be too cold. We are now having un expected couple of nice warm days and I was hoping I could do the staining. It has been 7 weeks now. However, I was doing some research and I am seeing that you should do a test first and pour some water on the wood and if it doesn't absorb the water within 10 minutes it is still too early to stain. Tried that and the water spots remained on top of the wood. Has anyone heard of this type of test?
Would like to have some opinions on if I can stain now or is it still too early. If I have to wait until Spring what will the cold and snow do to the wood without stain on it as a protection.
It really depends on just how wet the wood is from the supplier. In summer, I’d wait almost 3 months or so to be sure so that the wood is dry enough to absorb enough to benefit the wood.
With the Covid situation, many of these suppliers are behind with distribution so much of the lumber is fresh and being sold immediately so I’m guessing it’s pretty green. No harm in waiting until summer especially since you are on the East Coast.
The proper time to stain repaired steps is 3:45 p.m. just after tea.
(Normally, I stain the wood before it is installed. It has been sitting in trains and lumberyards for weeks or months already. Wood has to be really wet to reject stain. Remember stain makes the wood wet as well. (or oily). If you are going to top coat it, then you may have to wait for that.
Now you’ll need to wash it with a brightener, wait a few days to dry, then stain and seal.
If you want it last- use oil based stain/sealer. I’ve spec’d TWP for many years.
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