This post was updated on March 1, 2024
Staining Your Deck in the Summer Heat
We here at Deckstainhelp.com appreciate your loyalty. For 2024 and beyond, we are committed to being your go-to source for all things deck staining-related. If you have ever wondered how hot is too hot to stain a deck, read on. We want to hear from you. What time of year do you think is the best time to stain a deck?
Having a wood deck means you are probably familiar with deck care or at least what can happen without regular deck care. To protect the investment of a wood deck the wood needs to be protected with a wood preservative. Unprotected wood will weather quickly. Harsh UV rays will gray a deck in a short time. Additionally, unwanted moisture will begin to warp, crack, and split wood decking causing the need for costly repairs. To preserve and protect the wood for many years a deck needs to have a regular coat of deck stain. Deck stain reflects UV rays, traps out water intrusion, reduces fungal growth, and can even enhance the beautiful nature of the wood.
Many deck owners wonder when the best time of year is for staining a deck. Spring and fall are great times because the air temperatures are perfect for staining. Deck stain should be applied in temperatures between 50-90 degrees. With that said, can you stain your deck in the summer heat? It is possible if that is the time of year you need to do it. There is, however, a few things you will want to avoid.
To stain your deck in the summer heat it is recommended to apply stain while it is cooler. Therefore early morning can be a great time to beat the summer heat, especially if your deck gets a lot of sun during the day. You want to avoid staining a deck in the heat of the day in direct sunlight. This can cause the stain to dry too quickly before it can penetrate properly. Staining first thing in the morning before it gets too hot can help. Just be aware of morning dew that may cause moisture problems. The wood needs to be dry prior to staining.
If dew is a problem you can also do your staining in the evenings once it starts to cool off again. Any time of the day that your deck gets some shade may be an option as well. Also, be cautious of getting overspray on plants and shrubbery in the heat. Cover your landscaping with canvas tarps, not plastic. Plastic will magnify the heat and may damage the shrubbery. Following these simple guidelines will help you stain your deck in the summer heat.
Deck Stain Help & Questions
Stain Reviews & Comparisons
I used Thompson water seal on my deck after sanding ect…it didn’t even last 2 summers ??
What is best way to prepare your cedar for cleaning
I do not understand your question. You do not prep for cleaning. Cleaning is the prep.
To clarify what needs to be done prior to the application of transparent stain for the cedar !
That varies on the current condition: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-deck-prep-clean-strip-or-sand-the-deck/
Ready to stain deck with Defy Extreme again – been 3 years. Ckeaned and brightened. Still see green streaks of algae in some spots. Can not seem to find a 12 hr before rain time span as the stain directions say due to very hot days followed by threats of maybe thunderstorms almost daily. Can get maybe 7 hrs., allowing for dew to dry up., but then really warms up quickly as deck is south facing. There are periods of shade but only in sevtions as sun moves, and hard to stain a whole section continuously without hot sun on some of it. It is a very big deck and spraying not an option, large garden right below it and too big to civet, must do by hand.
How crucial is the 12 hr window ? How hot is too hot ? The air is mid 80’s but deck is hot to walk on. What to do about the algae we can still see embedded? We super scrubbed and i have read that bleach is a bad choice.
6-12 hours should be fine before any rain. Do not stain above 90. The algae may not come out so you can stain over it.
Between afternoon thunderstorms, a deck in full sun during the day, and heavy dew our window for staining our deck is limited. 1) Can we put plastic on the deck to keep dew off so we can stain early in the mornings before sun gets too hot? 2) If we stain late in the evening and then dew falls on the stain will this be a problem?
1, Yes you should be okay with doing this.
2. No issues.
Thanks so much for your help.
We live in central FL and have just added a deck to the back of our home. We obviously have high temps in the summer and the deck faces the West sun with no shade covering at this point. We would love your advice on the best protectant/stain/sealer for the pressure treated wood please.
See this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Thank you!
We had a large deck built for our pool 3 years ago and haven’t stained it yet. It has greyed a little and we are noticing some cracks in the wood. We were told that Cabot Deck Cover is our best bet to fill in the cracks and the little beads make it less slippery. 1) Is this type of stain a good option for our situation? 2) Is this a good brand to work with? 3) Is this type of stain good to use in the fall? Weather has been a bit unpredictable this year in Chicago. We have been dealing with 50 degree temps at night, but looks to be in the 80’s later this week.
1. No. It will peel.
2. There are better brands than Cabot.
3. Look at the Gulf Synthetics if you want a deck resurface coating that actually works.
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
I used Olympic Maximum Clear Waterproofing Sealant to stain my deck and it rained 7 hours after. First question, will it seal moisture or water into wood and cause rotting or mildewing? Second question, do I reseal this year?
Hard to say if an issue or not. Best to test after it dries. If all good, reapply next year.
I have just sanded the old stain (Cetol SRD) off my cedar deck. Now the weather forecast has changed and there is rain for the next several days. How will this affect my deck? How long do I have to let the cedar deck dry before applying a new stain?
After sanding you should do the final prep of cleaning and brightening the wood. This will “open” the wood grain so the stain can soak in better. Rain does not create any issues. Let the wood dry for 2-3 days after the prep before applying a stain.
I stained my deck with Olympic Elite Wenge. It was supposed to be cool but it’s very hot to touch. Any idea what I can do?
Nothing you can do. Sorry.
Which is better for a deck as far as will last longer. Stain or Paint? We have a deck that gets direct sunlight all day and 5 dogs trammel all over it daily. We are trying to find something that will hold up to that.
See this article please: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
I have a 4 year old deck, with pressure treated wood, that we originally stained with Cabot Semi Transparent. We are about to get it power washed and stained again. One company wants to use Sherwin-Williams solid stain, the other Behr solid stain or my choice. There was no peeling with the Cabot, only fading since it has been 4 years. We in in PA, where we get all 4 seasons and direct sun on the deck. I want to choose my own stain, but the price of Cabot is high and it is hard to get. What suggestions do you have? Thanks in advance!
Stay with the Cabot if you had good luck. It is better than the SW or Behr solid stains.
Can you stain a deck when the high is 45 to 50 degrees high and mid to upper 30’s at night. Using Cabot stain.
That may be cutting it close with the temps. What does the Cabot instructions say? Best to follow their advice as it differs from brand to brand.
What is the best stain to use for a slippery deck. I have been looking at Cabot but not sure it this is the best choice.
Slippery? Why would it be slippery? Can you post a picture?
Only slippery in the winter from light ice forming at night. Also, this deck is not in bad shape. We have been using Super Deck oil based stain at least once a year.
Strip and brigthen for prep. Stain with TWP stains.
I have a nearly 2 year old cedar deck that has already been refinished once (a complete sand down and start over) it did not hold up well over the winter. The areas that are not under cover have discolored and there are what appears to be small mold spots. What is under cover looks great. We love in the northwest and see a lot of snow and sun. We used Thompson Water Seal in clear. Do I need to sand it down again before refinishing? Should I be using a different sealer? I would like to keep the color as close to natural as possible, but do not want to go through this every year.
Strip and brighten it and use a semi-transparent stain if you want any UV protection. Clear sealers will not do this. Try the Defy Extreme Stain.