How Soon After Pressure Washing My Deck Can I Stain It?

Let’s be honest – it’s hard to maintain a decking. It requires frequent cleaning, re-sealing and staining. Homeowners often undertake these tasks and think they are easy to complete. The next thing they do is turn to the internet and ask for help, seeking answers to questions such as “How do you pressure wash a deck?” or “How long should I wait before staining my decking after power washing it?”. Well, let’s see what does it take to bring an old decking back to life.

So, if you:

• Own a deck in need of freshening up;
• Want to know how soon after pressure washing you can stain it;
• Are curious if you can stain a wet decking,

Then read on! This post will answer your questions.

How to pressure wash a deck before staining

Should you pressure wash a deck before staining it? The simple answer is “Yes, you should”. Yet, it takes more than power washing to prepare a deck for staining. There are a few steps you should take when it comes to re-sealing and staining a power-washed decking:

How to prepare a deck for jet washing?

How to power wash a decking?

If you’ve applied a deck stain stripper and brightener, you can proceed to pressure washing. Remember to use the lowest pressure, or you might damage the wood. You can clean the deck with water only, but some people still prefer to add a mild cleaning detergent. If you decide to use one, make sure you don’t leave puddles of the product, as it may damage or discolour the wood. When you’re done, leave the decking to dry completely.

How soon after pressure washing my deck can I stain it?

After thoroughly removing the old stain and cleaning the decking, all that’s left is to give it a fresh coat of stain. But how long do you have to wait to stain a pressure-washed deck? It depends on the weather conditions, but the average drying time for a jet washed wood is 48 hours. If you want to be extra sure it’s dry enough to stain, you can wait 72 hours before staining.

Always inspect the decking before applying the stain. Check for any damp areas, if the wood surface is puffy or soft to the touch. If your deck is sheltered from the sun, you can always wait another day to be safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know my deck is dry enough to stain?

If you’re curious whether your pressure-washed decking is dry enough to stain, there are two methods to check:

Can you stain a wet deck?

You can, but it’s not recommended. For best results, it’s better to let the wood dry completely.

What will happen if I try to apply stain to a wet deck?

If you stain a deck while it’s still wet from pressure washing, the end result will defer from your expectations. Wood paints are usually pigments mixed in oils, which the wood absorbs. If you apply it on wet surfaces, it won’t be absorbed properly and you will end up with an uneven-looking deck. Also, you’ll be sealing water in the wood which can lead to moss, mould, and mildew problems. Another common problem when staining wet wood is that when it finally dries, the stain cracks and peels and you have to re-do the whole thing.

What temperature should it be to stain a deck?

It shouldn’t be too cold or too hot outside. The perfect weather conditions to stain a deck area are on a dry, warm day. It shouldn’t be windy or humid. The temperature should be between 10° – 35° Celsius. You don’t want to do it while the sun is directly over the decking because the stain will dry too quickly and won’t be absorbed by the wood.

Did you know we offer detergent-free power washing for your deck, patio or pavement? Click the button to find more details.

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Takeaways

• It is not recommended to stain a wet deck.
• You should remove the old stain before pressure washing the decking to ensure the new one has a good surface to stick to.
• Puddles of detergent can damage and discolour the wood.
• Let the deck dry for at least 48-72 hours before staining.
• Staining a wet deck will result in an uneven finish.
• Try to stain your decking on a dry, warm day.

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Do leave a comment below if you feel you need more answers.

Image source: Shutterstock / By Ruth Peterkin