Update 2019 for Staining New Decks
DeckStainHelp.com has become the Internet’s go-to site for all things exterior wood surface restoration related. As before, we recommend you wait 3+ months to stain new wood surfaces to allow the wood to weather, creating an ideal porous surface that will hold the stain better. The waiting period does vary based on the stain brand and type of wood. Our top stains for new wood are the Armstrong Clark and the Restore-A-Deck Wood Stains.
We encourage customer interaction on our site, so feel free to participate in our open discussion.
Over the past year, we have numerous questions asked on the site, but none was asked more than “What stain or prep is needed for my new deck”? There seems to be an opinion among homeowners that is okay to stain new wood right away or even before the deck is installed. This is incorrect for most wood types and stain brands.
In this article, we will cover the required prep and the waiting period needed before applying a stain for the first time.
New Smooth Wood
New Smooth Decking
New smooth decking boards are not porous enough for most stains to be able to penetrate properly. This is mainly due to:
- Mill glaze when cut
- High moisture content
- Chemicals in Pressure Treated Wood
Most wood stains, when applied to new wood will have a very difficult time of penetration into the wood cells. This will result in an uneven application and premature stain failure by quickly fading or peeling. Remember, the deeper the stain soaks into the wood, the longer the life of the stain.
