How Long Should I Wait To Stain A New Pressure Treated Deck
Allow it to dry before staining.
How long should i wait to stain a new pressure treated deck. Keep traffic on the wood to an absolute minimum and avoid putting furniture on it until it is completely dry. Drying can take several months. This leaves the wood. It is important to wait for the wood to dry before sealing a new deck but at the same time you don t want to wait too long.
Since cedar is all natural and chemical free it comes without any enhanced protection. Most fences are built with pressure treated wood. Pressure treated wood has been through a process that applies preservatives into the wood making the wood wet. Some stain manufacturers suggest you should wait 3 12 months to let the wood dry while others say to stain the deck right away.
The pressure treated lumber goes through a process of using a water based solution that carries the treatment of chemicals into the fibers of the wood while under pressure. But today most types of pressure treated wood can be effectively sealed and protected here s how to do it properly so that the sealant adheres to the wood. Staining or sealing a cedar deck has different rules than decks using pressure treated lumber. Whether you have an old deck or a brand new one it s important to regularly apply a stain or sealer so that you can keep your deck looking as good as possible and lasting as long as it should.
Pressure treated wood can turn gray after long exposure to the elements. After the stain has been applied you simply have to wait for it to cure. Premium pressure treated lumber has. But with the new deck the new wood needs a little time to allow the chemicals or the moisture in the wood to evaporate a little bit so that it will receive the stain or sealer in the.
How long should i wait before staining pressure treated lumber. How long should i wait to stain my new deck. Unless the wood is entirely new you ll need to clean the surface free of dirt or mildew before finishing so the wood stain doesn t trap any imperfections. Are you ready to stain your pressure treated wood fence but wondering if you should wait.
You have posts for the frame 4x4s and 2x4s and 1x4s or 1x6s for the pickets. Wash the pressure treated wood with a deck cleaner scrubbing the wood surface with a brush while wet. Pressure treated lumber is notoriously difficult to stain and seal compared with other decking materials which is why some manufacturers actually used to advise against it. It depends on a couple of things the first is the type of pressure treated lumber you use.
The answer can be both just as long as you prep the new wood properly for an application of the stain. Use a pressure washer if the wood has tough stains. Why and when does pressure treated wood turn gray. Therefore you should stain or seal your cedar decking within 2 to 3 months of installing the deck.