This post was updated on May 1, 2024
Best Deck Staining Temperatures
We here at Deckstainhelp.com appreciate your loyalty. For 2024 and beyond, we are committed to being your go-to source for deck staining tips. Like last year, we recommend you stain your deck when the temperature is between 45-90 degrees and you are sure it will be a few days with no rain.
The Correct Temperatures for Staining Decks
It is important to know the tolerances a new deck stain will allow without hindering its performance. One of the most crucial areas of concern is air temperature. Temperatures need to be in the safe zone while the deck stain is being applied and for 8-12 hours after.
Low Temperatures
According to most deck stain manufacturers, the air temperature should be no lower than 45 degrees while being applied. This is only an average. Some deck stains need to be applied when the temperature is at least 60 degrees. Check the label on the deck stain you are using.
In addition, once the stain is applied the temperature should not drop below freezing for 8-12 hours. This can otherwise hinder the curing process of the stain. Penetrating stains will not cure properly while film-forming deck stain’s adhesion will be jeopardized. This can lead to a lack of stain performance and cause premature failure of the product. If temperatures are forecasted to drop do not stain the deck, if you have already started do not proceed.
High Temperatures
Just as important as low-temperature tolerances are high temperatures. This is especially important while the deck stain is being applied. Do not apply stain in extremely hot temperatures. When it is 90 degrees and above care should be taken if deck staining is necessary.
Try staining in the morning before it gets hot or during a part of the day that your deck is shaded. Never apply deck stain in direct sunlight on a hot day. Staining a deck in the sun and/or on an extremely hot day can cause the stain to flash dry on the surface. This prevents the stain from penetrating properly and will hinder its longevity. Flash drying also causes the stain to appear uneven and blotchy giving you poor results.
Deck staining projects can be costly and labor-intensive. The last thing you want is lackluster results because of the weather. Follow these guidelines for correct temperatures for staining decks so your final results will not be jeopardized.
I stained my deck in direct sunlight(big mistake) now the surface is looks blotchy and bubbly. Amy suggestions on how to fix it without sanding? It a big deck.
No, you will have to remove to properly fix.
Hello,
I live in the tropical southern Caribbean. Built a pine deck with weathered wood in February. Because of supply issues re the pandemic, the only stain available was sherwin williams semi transparent oil based stain. It went on well and water beaded off the surface when it rained. 2 months later the color totally changed. The stain is dark, the wood dark and grayish and the stain was stripping off. Water was soaking into the wood. Last week, the contractor sanded the whole deck with a belt sander and the wood was still dark. He re-stained with the remaining SW stain until I can import something better. Our rainy season has just started. It lasts till November/December. What do you recommend? The photos show when first stained, the deterioration, and after re-staining.
You will need to strip and brighten the wood to remove the SW stain. Do not sand. Once removed, you want a penetrating stain that does not darken. None will be available in your area so you will have to have them shipped in and not sure what or if any of the good brands will ship directly to you in the Caribbean. Try Defy Extreme Stain or the Restore-A-Deck Stains.
BTW, it does not seem you followed directions for new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
Thank you. What do you suggest is the best stripper and brightener? I can ship anything in. Though the wood was not “new wood”. It weathered for 3 weeks when I was looking for stain. Water was soaking straight through. It started cracking and splitting both horizontally and vertical. So much so that we had to replace about 6 boards. They split and peeled back like if you’re opening a sandwich. The contractor recommended that I stain it right away. Only 2 of the replacement boards are new PTP and even those are soaking water easily.
Restore A Deck Stripper/Brighener Kits. Use both RAD Stripper additives. The Booster and the Gel. Splitting is normal for exterior wood and is not a big deal. 3 weeks is not enough time to properly weather new wood.
We’ll be getting heavy rainfall almost everyday/at least 4 days a week from now to September.
Do the prep and stain in Fall is okay.
Thank you.
I’m staining a redwood deck with semi transparent oil stain. Didn’t consider temperature at night when I prepped everything. Lows are in the 20’s but highs are in 60’s. Could I stain in morning after it warms up and then stop around noon to allow for dry time? Large deck all prepped and been tryin to do job for two years!!
It depends on the brand but it cannot drop below freezing before the stain dries.
I plan to stain during the morning when it’s cooler (15-18cekcius). The sun gets around to my dr k around noon and the temperature will be 25 cekcius. Is this too hot?
Depends on the stain brand but not higher than 90f (32c) is the norm.
Is there a deck stain/waterproofer that doesn’t cause the boards to retain heat? The natural wood is easy on bare feet but I’m worried that waterproofing might hold in the heat making the pool deck too hot for bare feet.
No, a sealer or stain cannot prevent the wood from heating up.
My deck dried blotchy. How can I fix it
Depends on the stain brand, type, etc. Pictures would help.
will stain stripper remove stain from between the boards ?
Probably not.
Hi, I want to stain my new exterior mudroom walls today, temp in the low fifties and 38 tonight… possibility of light rain late tomorrow. the walls are protected by the roof overhang… should I go for it?
It depends on the stain brand and type you are using and what they say for a temp range?
It’s Cabot deck stain… says at least 50 degrees for 48 hours
More than likely it will be fine since it does not drop below freezing at night and it is covered.
Thanks! Validation from a pro always feels good :-)!
Welcome!
I completed a project with new redwood railings late this season. Temps are well below freezing each night. 50s as a high for the next few weeks. Trying to protect from heavy snow this winter. Any suggestions?
Wait until Spring: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Hello,
I used RAD cleaner/stripper, and brightener to prep a project for stain. Weve had a day of rain mixed into the 48 drying time, and I’m wondering if I have to repeat any of the steps before applying the stain? Its been apx 4 days since prepping.
Thank you.
No need to prep again as long as you stain within 2 weeks.
I HAVE CLEANED AND SANDED MY DECK AND THEN IT RAINED BEFORE I COULD STAIN IT. DO i HAVE TO START OVER? THANK YOU
No. Just let it dry for 48 hours.
thank you!
Except for Armstrong Clark?
That is what AC says. Heat or high temps do not have any negative impact.
I want to stain my deck, but it’s always full sun. The days are still between 50 and 65 degrees here. Can I stain in full sun with these temperatures ?
Will be using Defy Extreme Cedar
See this:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/applying-a-deck-stain-in-full-sun/
Forgot to say, it is a cedar deck that I just sanded and cleaned and brightened yesterday. Seems dry this morning and a few drops of water sink through the wood in a few seconds.
If I strip a deck in 70 degree weather, then it drops to 47 overnight, Is that okay? Then could I stain the next day and then the following night it’s supposed to be 40 degrees.
Thanks!
Okay as long as it does not drop below freezing.
It’s a Saturday, It’s 70 degrees and also the humidity is at 70 percent can I proceed with staining the deck. Rain is to be on monday
Yes.
I’m thinking about staining my new deck this evening after the deck is shaded by the house. I can’t stain in the morning as most blogs suggest because the deck receives sun from morning until about 6 pm before it begans to receive shade from the house.
The temps at 7 pm tonight are supposed to be 84 degrees with 70% humidity. Tomorrow will get over 90 degrees and we are scheduled for a small amount of rain the following day.
Will this be a good day to stain?
Yes but have you seen this about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Somehow I managed to answer on Helen’s post. I meant never stained new wood. I built the deck last summer. I used TWP’s cleaner and brightner but still have a lot of gray and wood fuzzies. I’m considering sanding the platform to get rid of both before I stain with TWP100
See this for some help on this: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/wood-fuzzies-furring-on-deck/
We have a treated lumber deck that has weathered gray for about 3 years. We live In he tropics, Puerto Rico, where woods decks are not that common. the dreck is gray and has some very dark areas where the AC have leaked on it . I really do not mind the gray but want to protect the deck from further damage. I want to avoid high maintance stain removal in a couple of years. Our deck faces west and gets the hot afternoon sun all year round. To further complicate the selection Process we are in Puerto Rico and some brands are just not available and probably can not be sent. We have Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams, what do you dexperts recommend that I may actually be able to find?
Could you list all the brands that you can buy?
It might take me a few weeks to answer as it is even more complicated, I live on a small island, Vieques, off the coast of Puerto Rico and I will have to go to those places and make a list.Home depot has a selection of Behr products, ready seal and Flood. Benjamin Moore has stores here and offers what ever they make. The biggest lumber yard in PR is affiliated with Ace Hardware and has a huge inventory, I will check them out next visit.
I’m sorry, I meant new wood as never stained. The wood has weathered since last summer. I’ve been told not to sand the deck before I stain it. Is there a reason? I’m using TWP100
This was incredibly helpful. I have a new 6ft cedar fence installed about 7 weeks ago and am ready to stain. However, the temperatures here are upper 90s during the day and upper 70s at night, with very high humidity (70%+ in Eastern Kansas). My fence is shaded at certain times of day, while some is always shade (Lots of trees). A large section is always in the sun. How should I go about staining? Mornings only or wait until it’s cool again?
What brand of stain are you using and what do they suggest for temps?
Behr premium plus semi transparant. looks like it says between 35-90 degrees.
Hello, we have prepped our deck (stripped, brightened, power washed) and plan on staining it tomorrow after 48 hours of drying. However, it is projected to be a high of about 95 degrees by about 1 pm. If we stain early in the morning before it hits 90 will the stain be okay? Also, projected to rain about 24-30 hours after staining. Could we cover the newly stained deck with tarps to prevent damage?
Yes, that will be fine. Do not cover, the rain 24 hours later will not harm anything.
We are scheduled for 4 90 degree days in a row.
The morning is 72 degrees , I can completed the stain around 2 hours before the temp gets above 88 degrees. Took me 10 hard hours to prep. If I decide to wait can I cover the deck with plastic tarps for three days so my deck stays ready for staying when the weather breaks ?
Leave uncovered, no need to tarp. It will be fine to stain within 2 weeks of the prep.
Thanks for the info you provide. High temp today is 55 with 15mph winds. Low tonight 38. No rain forecast for the next 48 hrs. Can I stain my deck today? I’m using Restore a Deck. They recommend above 45 degrees for staining. Not sure about the wind factor though.
Thanks.
You should be fine. Post some pictures when done!
Va want deck painted temperature is 41 or loan won’t go through. What to fo.
Try the Gulf Synthetics Deck Revive: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/gulf-synthetics-deck-revive-review-2015/
If I am worried about a heavy due in the evening after staining with oil based stain in the morning, would covering the deck with plastic tarps pose a problem.
Do not cover. It will hinder the drying. Just leave alone. Dew will not harm it.
i oiled my deck early yesterday we had a heavy dew last night and decking was wet i thought it would not dry right but 12 o clock this dinnertime its looking good very pleased
Did not know this info before staining. Now we have some of those unwanted results of staining in direct sunlight…overlap marks, uneven penetration, “flash drying”, etc. Should we sand and re-do the stain in those areas?
You cannot “spot” fix. Most likely you will need to remove all and start over.
Good info. I just washed my cedar deck for restraining. I plan to stain tomorrow. Temps will be in high 90-107 range this week. Too hot? Should I wait to stain when temps cooler? Thanks!
Yes, too hot.
Thank You so much. Very helpful…I did not know some of this…
Is it ok to apply a semi transparent stain in the afternoon around 6pm if it doesn’t get dark until 9pm?
Sure as long as it does not rain overnight.
Do you have a recommendation on a stain for redwood deck that gets hot (80-90’s) in the summer then snow and low 20’s in the winter.
Defy Extreme Stain.
How long does the deck need to dry after rain, in order to be ideal for application of decking stain?
24-48 hours depending on how much rain.
I want to stain my deck and the high temperatures will be around 25 Celsius but the lows will be around 7 Celsius. Is that ok?
Should be but I do not know celsius very well compared to Fahrenheit 🙂
7 celsius is 45 fahrenheit.
what is Flash Point (Degrees)?
The flash point depends on the stain brand. It is in the SDS sheets.
Wow. This is v helpful.
I am staining some wood duck boxes made of eastern white cedar. I wil be doing it in my open garage in the shade but the outside temperature will be around 90 +/-.
Should I wait or can I go ahead and take care of t his project?
Depends if the wood is smooth or rough sawn? New smooth wood needs to be weathered for a few months and prepped.
I just got done using the RAD cleaner and brightener yesterday on my 1 year old, unfinished, PTP deck. I plan on staining this weekend using a mixture of AC Rustic and AC Ceder Semi. Temperatures will reach 65 degrees during the day, but are expected to drop down to 36 degrees overnight. Should that low temperature overnight be a concern for the performance of the stain? Any insight would be greatly appreciated by this rookie.
No but make sure the stain does not freeze over night if it has not dried fully.