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Staining and refinishing are important for the deck’s durability. In fact, staining the decks can protect it from damaging elements. That being said, the temperature can play a huge role in the staining of your deck.
Normally, it’s better to always work at moderate temperatures for staining the wood. No one wants to work in cold and harsh weather. Apart from that, many don’t even know whether staining in cold weather is damaging the desk or not.
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Can You Stain A Deck In Cold Weather?
Do not stain a wood deck in cold weather where the temperature is below 50 degrees. The ideal temperature to stain wood at is 68 degrees, but any temperature within the range of 50 degrees to 90 degrees will work. Cold weather increases the stain’s viscosity and hinders drying.
Cold Weather Staining Problems
Staining in cold weather has problems. The biggest of those problems is the slow drying of the stains. That’s why the people living in colder areas prefer to stain during the day, rather than at night.
1. Staining Process Slows Down
Working in colder climates slows down the process of staining. But, why does this happen?
Well, it’s mainly because the stains depend on the process of evaporation to cure properly. And on colder climates, the evaporation takes place slower than warm climates.
As a result, the stains don’t cure properly. And even if they cure, they take a lot of time. Moreover, this doesn’t let the staining of the deck be as effective as you want it to.
2. Slow Drying Process
The stains need to be completely dried and sealed in place to be effective. But, why is that an issue?
Well, if the stains aren’t dried enough, they won’t protect your deck from harsh external elements. So, it’s important if they’re dried completely and sealed through.
But, the colder climates don’t let them dry completely. At times, the drying process slows down a lot than usual in the colder climates. As a result, staining a deck becomes ineffective.
Apart from this, the wood remains wet all the time if you stain it in cold weather. As a result, it damages the wood’s quality too.
On the other hand, if the stains take a lot of time to dry, you’ll have to wait before coating that area again. Well, this can be time-consuming and annoying.
3. Difficulties in Finishing
Finishing is important in painting and staining. And yes, it’s hard to apply any sort of finishing to the staining in the woods.
But, why is that?
Apart from the difficulties of working, the colder air causes water to become cloudy. And this causes the whole staining process to be difficult to finish.
Also, these cloudy or gloomy water-based stains don’t dry quickly. Moreover, they take even more time to set properly in place. So, you’ll need a lot of patience to apply the finishing in colder weather.
4. Stain Performance Deteriorates
Yes, you heard me right. It’s crucial that your stain is performing well in the woods. If you apply high-quality stains on your decks, it’ll last longer than usual. Moreover, other objects can’t harm them easily.
But, if you stain in cold weather, it’ll hinder the performance of the stain. This is because the stain needs to set properly in the woods. And the freezing climate can cause the stain to never set completely. As a result, proper staining can never happen.
Ideal Weather Conditions for Staining
If you can consider some things before staining, it’ll be great for your decks. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t matter if you’re staining in summer or winter, these factors are applicable for all.
1. Temperature
So, what is the temperature range to stain a deck? The best temperature to stain a deck is 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit. A 68 degree temperature is ideal.
If you’re going above or below this temperature range, you’ll face difficulties. So, it’s better to maintain this range before staining your deck.
2. Humidity
Lower humidity will help the stain dry faster and more even. Higher humidity is not ideal for applying stain. Look for a dry, clear day to apply your stain.
3. Season
Summer is the best season for staining the deck. But, be careful about the temperature as it can be really hot. Otherwise, the sun and the lower humidity causes a better drying process for the stains.
4. No Rain or Snow
Before starting the staining process, always check the forecasts. This is mainly because rain or snow can completely ruin your work.
As a matter of fact, the rain will never allow your stains to set on the deck. So, it’s essential that you avoid rainy and snowy days for working.
5. Time of Day
Mornings are the best time of day to stain a deck. But, why is that you may ask? And is there a problem with staining at night?
Well, if you start working in the night, the following problems may occur.
- The temperature drops at night.
- Condensation occurs.
- No sunlight for the drying of the stains.
This is why you should always choose the mornings. Also, the benefits of choosing the mornings are:
- No direct sunlight.
- Shade for the stains.
- The sun provides a better drying process.
How to Stain a Deck in Cold Weather
Yes, I know that it’s not ideal to stain the deck in colder climates. But, if you live in a cold area and don’t have any other option left, you’ll have to continue with the work.
This is because you can’t give up on your deck and you’ll have to stain it for future protection. But, staining in high humidity isn’t an easy task.
Don’t worry. If you can follow my guidelines correctly, you’ll do the work in the right manner. So, let’s begin.
Tools Needed
Yes, you’ll need a set of tools for the job. But these are ordinary tools and you won’t require much to purchase them. Let’s take a look at what you need:
- Deck boss 4′ stain brush
- Foam brush set
- 30′ spray gun
- Hammer
- Electric pressure washer
- A vacuum cleaner
- Cleaner
- Fresh Cloth
- Gloves
- Water-based stain
After you’re done managing the tools and making all the necessary preparations, let’s begin:
Step 1: Use a Vacuum Cleaner & Normal Cleaner
Start by using the vacuum cleaner. It’ll remove all the dust and debris that you may have on the deck. Plus it’s essential that you work in a clean environment. After this, take your cleaner and apply it to a brush.
Following this, brush the surface of your deck to clean out any residue or debris.
Step 2: Use a Pressure Washer
When you’re working on a colder climate, it’s essential that you look out for ice-forming. And, why is that?
Well, if you wash the deck and ice forms in it then it would do the same when you’ll stain the deck. As a result, your work will be spoiled completely.
So, use an electric pressure washer on the deck and observe if ice is forming or not. If you find ice build ups on specific areas, use a hammer in those areas to break the ice. But, make sure you’re not causing any cracks in deck posts.
On the other hand, the pressure washer will rinse off the cleaner from the deck. After that, wipe it with a cloth.
Step 3: Check Weather Forecast
Keep an eye out for rain or extreme cold weathers ahead. Normally, it’s better to avoid rainy and frosty weather. Warm, dry weather is the best for staining.
In colder climates, these weather circumstances can be hard to find. Look ahead at the 10 day forecast and pick the best day.
Step 4: Apply a Water-Based Stain
Use a water-based stain when staining in colder climates. Work the stain over the top of the deck boards evening, making sure to stain in between the boards as well.
You can also use concrete stain as an alternative. Concrete stains great with colder climates as they dry faster. Plus they speed up the process of evaporation.
However, stay away from oil-based stains as they take a lot of time to try.
Read more in my guide on how to stain wood.
