There are many questions as to when a newly installed deck should be stained. 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 answer can be both just as long as you prep the new wood properly for the application of the stain.
We are going to explain both scenarios and the proper steps to take.
Let the New Deck Dry and Weather for 3-12 Months:
- The most common suggestion by the manufacturer. New wood is suggested to dry since it has a high moisture content. This reduces the stain’s ability to penetrate.
- The wood will dry and turn gray from the exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
- After 3-12 months you would need to apply a wood deck cleaner to remove the gray wood cells. This can be done with scrubbing and or light pressure washing. After cleaning the deck you will need to neutralize the wood deck cleaner with a wood deck brightener.
- Let dry for 24-48 hours then apply your deck stain of choice.
Stain New Deck 1-2 Months after Install.
- Not the most common approach but can be done if you prep properly.
- Apply a wood deck cleaner and thoroughly scrub and or pressure wash lightly. Neutralize with a wood deck brightener. These two steps will remove the mill glaze and “open” the wood pores.
- Apply a deck stain that is “thin” in viscosity. A heavily bodied wood stain will have a hard time penetrating into the new wood. Using a stain similar to The Sealer Store TimberOil will penetrate into the wood.
Do not over-apply a wood deck stain/sealer to a new deck. The excessive stain will not soak into the wood causing the finish to dry on top of the wood. Many manufacturers suggest only one coat on newly installed wood.
For deck staining instructions please read: How To Stain a Deck
If you have any about staining a brand new deck please ask below. All questions are typically answered within a day.
Which will last the longest on a pressure treated deck, stain or paint. Also, can the stain or paint be sprayed on instead of brushed on ?
Use a deck stain, never paint. Look at Armstrong Clark Stains:
https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
or TWP:
https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-stains.htm
We have redwood fence installed about 4 months ago and prefer darker stain as close to black as possible. We live in California in Sacramento county. What stain do you recommend and what is the sq ft coverage for a 5 gallon container? Thank you.
TWP 1504 Black Walnut:
https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-1500-series.htm
I am only replacing 8 boards. Do I need to wait 3 months to stain the whole deck because of those 8 boards.
Yes.
I have a new cedar deck. I had already stained the railing and the stain feels sticky. Was the wood still wet? I thought it was dry after a month in direct sun for 6 to 8 hours. Also what is mill glaze and how to properly remove and prep the rest of the deck after to stain it for the best result.
I am renovating an 18-year-old, 1,200 sq ft deck in Wyoming (elev. 5,800 ft). I am replacing some of the deck boards and all of the railing. I will also reinforce the supports and replace the skirt. The deck is made from pine and some of the wood has had a lot of exposure to the strong sun, arid wind, and heavy snow here. It is coated with a semi-transparent stain that is quite worn across most of the deck. The deck had several dogs living on it so and is quite dirty in places.
I plan to use Restore-A-Deck Cleaner, Stripper, and Brightener, followed by some sanding as needed. Is this the best approach? What would be a good stain for Wyoming?
Hi,
No need for the Cleaner if using the stripper. Strip it all first, sand if needed after Brightener is last.
Thanks! And, which brand of stain souks you recommend?
See here for a great stain option: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
I am installing new red cedar siding. I need to stain it before I sell it in May. How long should I wait to stain it? Do I need to follow the steps in “Stain New Deck 1-2 months after Install”? or is there a different approach to siding than decking?
If the wood is smooth cut, you need to wait about 3 months to prep and stain it.
I’m having a new deck floor installed with treated wood in late Sept / early Oct. We live in iowa and it will be a cold snowy winter to be sure. Should I wait till spring to apply a cleaner and brightner before staining? Or is a cleaner and brightner unnecessary?
Yes, wait until Spring to prep and stain. You have to prep with the cleaner and brightener.
Thanks for the quick response. Much appreciated.
installed new mahogany porch. I was told it’s been in the warehouse a while and is dry and can take stain. I stained a sample with your Armstrong Clark Transparent and is seamed to take. Should I stain now or wait?
You have to install, weather, and the prep. It is not about how dry it is but how porous it is.
So wait how long? Prep? Is there a video on this? Thanks
These questions are answered in the above article. Here is a video as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3swHdLnckV0
We have replaced some new pressure treated boards to our 29 year old deck this July 2021. The new boards are beginning to crack when should I stain these new boards? Also should I clean beforehand?
Hello,
Both of those questions are answered in the above article.
We’ve just put in a new, bare, not pressure treated douglas fir deck. We’re zone 5, meaning winter will soon be upon us. We plan to stain beforehand to protect the wood. It seems from other comments you might advise to wait until spring? Thank you!
Yes, wait until Spring to prep and stain.
Brand new Garapa deck being right now , about a week away from being done . Cooling down here in Ct, Wondering if i should stain it now or wait till spring . Or water based now and oil in the spring if thats possible …
Spring. Cannot do it now.
Build a new deck this past may! I like the natural look but when should I put a finish on it ? What product would you suggest
You can do it now after prep. Use the Restore A Deck Kits for prep:https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
Stain with Armstrong Clark:https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
We had a small deck done last summer so now are ready to stain. If we need to clean it before staining what is the best way and best product to use
The RAD Cleaning products: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
We have just built a new redwood deck with air dried boards. Our contractor wants to stain now (with AC) after sanding, no prep. This sections intro says thats OK, but the answers in the discussion are all to wait. We don’t know whether to overrule our contractor and wait or go with his plan.We are in Northern California, partial shade. Which is best: transparent, semi-trans, or hardwood amber?
You have to wait and prep. Any color that you like will work.
i replaced some of the deck and stairs in august 2020 with pressure treated wood. the older part of the deck has painted stain. what is the best way to get the rest of the paint/stain (see pic) off?
You will need to sand this to remove the solid stain/paint. Strippers will not work on this.
I’ll be using TPW 1500 to stain a pressure treated pine deck after installation last summer, and cleaning/brightening earlier this spring. I just decided to put down a pressure treated pine walkway from the deck along a pond (properly elevated). I would like know the best suggestion, short of letting the new walkway age till the end of the season, that would allow me to stain both the deck and the walkway at the same time.
Yes, let the new wood age and then clean, brighten, and stain all at the same time.
Deck built in sept 2020. Unsure of type of wood as just moved into home. When are we okay to stain?
You can stain now. Make sure to prep first.
I am replacing just the cedar on my 35 yr old dock with new Western Cedar 3/4” x 5.5” x 30” planks … Rough on one side smooth on the other. I obviously am going to use the smooth side up. I will be using 2” x 2” x 10 ft cedar bracing underneath as well. The lumber yard told me the cedar is dried already and can be stained immediately.When I do go to stain it, I want to use a clear product, and I want to use the easiest application method possible.
1. Do you recommend staining it immediately? If not, why? And when should I stain it, and what process and stain should I use?2. If I can stain it immediately, do I need to do any preparations of the cedar, even though it’s brand new? And, which product should I use on the cedar? Thx. Pete.
No, you have to weather and prep. it is not about how dry it is but the porosity and new wood is not porous enugh for new coatings. Also, you must have a stain if you want to prevent UV graying. A clear will not offer any UV protection and will allow the wood to gray naturally in months. Try the Armstrong Clark stains: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
1 more pic here … also forgot to mention… interested in AC rustic brown or TWP dark oak type of semi-transparent stain. Thanks!
Hello, thank you for being this invaluable resource to everyone! New Deck & Awning just went up (April 2021) in a mix of PT Pine (deck posts), Pine (T&G ceiling in deck), and Cedar (Awning Corbels). In north GA.. property gets some partial shade in the day. How long to wait?… Interested in Armstrong Clark and TWP… Should we stain at different times according to different wood? For ex, should cedar and pine be stained soon… and weather / wait on PT pine posts? Thanks!
Wait 3-4 months and the prep and stain all then. TWP and AC would be great choices.
Thanks!
I am replacing pieces of wood in a old deck, after I pressure wash, how long should I wait to put the wood brightener on? Just before I prime and stain or after I pressure wash? I also have already purchased a primer because this part of the deck receives all of the elements opposed to the rest of the deck, is this recommended?
You brighten right away after using the cleaner. Primers should never be used for deck stains.
I live in Phoenix and am replacing old broken wood gate planks with new cedar fence pickets from a big box Home Improvement store. Everything I’m reading says to install the fence first, wait until the wood dries, then stain. I also read that when I spray the wood with water & it soaks in, the wood is dry and I can stain. Well I sprayed one of these planks and the water soaked right in. I’m so confused! Is the wood dry or not? Should I stain them now, before installing, or wait? If I wait, how long do I wait? THANK YOU!
If the wood is rough sawn then you can stain now. If not, install, weather the wood, prep, and then stain.
Thank you, that’s very helpful! How do I know if it is rough sawn- do I just ask the employees at the store? Sometimes 3 people give you 4 answers there…..
Post a picture here.
Here’s some photos!
It is rough sawn wood.
Our cedar deck has been left untreated for two and a half years. (We had been advised to build with cedar so as to avoid needing to apply any stain. But now we understand that was probably bad advice.) Would our best plan be to first sand with 60 grit, then apply brightener, then wait until fully dry and finally apply oil-based stain?
You will need to use a deck cleaner and then a wood brightener. https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
OK thanks for helping. I have one follow up question – Should the application of cleaner and then stain be done before or after the sanding, or do you recommend not sanding at all?
Typically, you do not sand but if you do, sand lightly after.
We stained the new wood deck with semi transparent Cabot stain. A week later black mildew spots appeared under the stain not on top of it. What happened? The deck was about 1 week old before it was stained. How can we fix the mildew , it seems to be spreading all over the deck.
Only way to fix is remove the Cabot and start over.
Total square footage is about 680.
One Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and brightener prep kit and about 4-6 gallons of stain.
I am building a deck with Garapa wood (Brazilian hardwood) in the spring. I live in Michigan. When should I stain the deck? Do I need to clean or sand prior to staining?
Wait 3 months after it is installed, then prep prior to staining. No need to sand.
I really appreciate your advice. As part of this new deck project, I am building a lower level ground deck about 12” off the ground. Should I stain or seal the underside of the deck boards before deck installation? Do you recommend ExoShield, Ipe Oil or WiseCoat products?
No need to stain the undersides. We do not suggest any of those brands. Use Defy Hardwoods: https://www.opwdecks.com/defyhardwood.htm
or Armstrong Clark: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
I see many of your recommendations to wait until spring to stain a new deck – especially if living in a cold area as I do (Boston, MA). My question is does your recommendation change for new mahogany wood deck boards?
No, wait until Spring.
I had a new deck installed in late August and the installer said to wait until next spring to stain. But, he said I should apply a water sealer this year before winter, which I did. Reading your article above, I am now worried that this will inhibit the stain penetration next year. Do you think it will and, if so, are there any steps I can take beyond the prepping mentioned above? Thanks in advance!
You will need to strip off the sealer next Spring before applying a stain.
Thanks. Will the wood cleaner mentioned above do the trick or do I need to use something else?
No, you need to strip and brighten, not clean and brighten. https://www.opwdecks.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.htm
I installed some new deck railings this summer in Minnesota. My father in law says I should stain them before winter. Should i stain them now or wait til next year?
Next Spring. Prep and stain.
Had a deck built a month ago with treated wood in Chicago. When should I stain the deck?
Spring for prep and stain.
I am just finishing up a 20’x32′ pressure treated floating deck. No railings. The deck has picture frame elements incorporated. Not just the perimeter but within the deck itself. We want to stain the frame elements a darker color than the field boards. Is it possible or recommended, to stain the whole thing the light color then go back over the frame elements with the darker color? Or should we mask off the different areas when staining the different colors? Also, how much product do you think we will need? There will eventually be 3 box steps of 8, 10 and 12 feet in length respectively.
Mask off when staining with different colors. As for the amount of product needed, we would need to know the stain brand you will be using from our site and the total sq footage added up.
I am getting ready to stain and seal my deck which I finished building in October, 2020. It is pressure treated SYP. The deck is 32’x20′. There are no railings. There’s are 3 box steps which are 8, 10 and 12 feet respectively. The tread depth is 11″. Which product do you recommend, Armstrong-Clark or TWP? And how much do I need? Also, which prep products do I need and how’s much of each?
We would need a total sq footage added up of all wood for quantity help. Either TWP or AC would work very well.
For me, it’s not a deck, but the frame for screening in a porch. The wood they used is green wood. The person who installed the frame said to paint it right away, but I am a bit worried about it. Can I paint it right away?
No, you cannot.
Hi there, I am redoing a deck and using a mixture of older pressure to treated wood that I have stripped of paint and sanded as well as new wood not pressure treated. Should I still wait until spring to seal with a tinted sealer? Thank you!
Yes. Clean and brighten in Spring and then stain.
We had a rough-cut cedar fence installed late July and haven’t stained yet. We are in MN (so cold, wet weather coming soon). Is it too cold/late to stain it now – is it better to wait until spring? Also, planning to use R-A-D cleaner and brightener first, but really struggling with the stain. Finding mixed reviews on water based or oil based is best for new cedar fences. Durability, mold/mildew, and longevity of color (don’t want to have to re-stain in 9-12 months!) are most important. I know I want semi-transparent because we like the woodgrain (also know the tradeoffs for that in terms of UV protection, etc). Narrowed down to either Restore-A-Deck Cedar color stain or Armstrong-Clark semi-transparent cedar stain. Any suggestions or insight on which is better for our fence, needs, and geographic location? Thank you!
Either of those stains would work very well and last about the same on a fence. 3-6 years.
Thank you! Is timing of staining OK to do now before winter? I read in a few places there was a minimum temperature of like 50F if you were staining. Does oil vs water make a difference for that?
You can stain if over 50 degrees. Does not matter if oil or water-based.
I built a new deck (wood and composite floor) in mid- July 2020. I live in Northern Virginia so we have a long fall, but had intended to have it stained sometime in early November before it snows. I will be hiring a company to stain, and am not confident that they will use a wood brightener on it first. Do you recommend that I wait until Spring? Reading through the above article, it seems like that a brightener is important either way. What is the risk if they stain and do not use a brightener?
You need both a cleaner and a wood brightener. Spring is okay.
I live in Georgia. Had a new deck builted in July with treated wood. When should I stain my deck?
Hi, this is explained in the above article.
thank you for your time.
we just finished a new ground up pressure treated pine deck as of 10-01-2020 we are in the midwest just outside of chicago…cold and wet/snowy winters….leave deck as is and prep/stain in spring??
Spring is correct.
We live in northern Indiana and just had a new pressure treated deck built in May 2020. Should I stain it for the first time now or wait until Spring 2021. Also did I hear you right that I only need to put one coat on since its first time being stained ? Also any recommendation on a good stain ? Also I heard supposed put a seal on first and then stain it . I see some companies selling both together. Lastly how often would you stain it after ? Any help would be much appreciated :)))))
You can stain now or in the Spring. Make sure to clean and brighten for the prep. Stain with TWP or Armstrong Clark stains. One coat.
You never apply a sealer before or after a deck stain. It will not work.
I just replaced some boards. Based on your recommendation, I have to wait until next Spring to apply the stain. What should I be doing to protect the existing (old) boards on the deck?
Just leave as is and prep and stain all in Spring.
Before replacing the boards, I did power wash. Does it makes any difference as far as leaving the old boards as is?
No.
Our new treated lumber deck will be finished next weekend and some of the wood is pretty new. We live in central Indiana and we are starting to experience cooler temps. Our builder said to go ahead and treat it. Is that accurate and what product do we use? I’m so confused.
Wait until Spring to prep and stain.
If our deck is treated wood, do these same rules apply? We built the deck about 6 weeks ago (first week of Aug) using treated lumber. We’re wondering if we should stain it now or in the spring. Note: We live in Montana, so there will be significant moisture and cold in the coming months.
Yes, the wood type does not matter. Do in Spring.
Thanks for your help
Just some additional info on that 3 month old pressure treated deck in Southern New Jersey. The pressure treated wood was #1. Not sure if that makes a difference on drying time. Thanks
Had a pressure treated deck completed almost three months ago. I’m in Southern New Jersey. The weather has been miserably hot for the entire summer. Stretches of 90 degrees plus for weeks on end. Think it’s ok to stain now?
Prep first with a deck cleaner and then a wood brightener and then you can stain: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
I have an old deck that needs some work (clean, stain) . I live in Seattle so it’s almost rain season, can I prep now (remove old stain, sand, etc) and apply stain in the Spring?
You would have to prep again in the Spring if you removed the old coating now. Clean and brighten in Spring.
Will the wood cleaner remove sap/resin as well?
No, it will not remove sap.
What do you recommend for sap?
No cleaner will remove sap. You will have to sand it off.
Thanks! Recommended grit?
60-80.
I have a new cedar deck that has weathered for 3-4 months. It has greyed and has some black staining. Can I just powerwash and scrub this off with a stiff brush or do I need to use a deck cleaner? Trying to stay away from chemicals.
Clean and brighten: https://usetwp.com/retailers/
Second question. I have IPA deck tiles arriving today. I was going to stain those… They say hit it with 60grit first. Should I let these tiles weather first?
Yes, you have to weather and then prep them.
I installed a new redwood deck 1 month ago. I just cleaned and brightened it and was going to give it a light coat of twp 1500.
Do I need to wait for weathering? Could I give it a light coat now? Or is that a bad idea?
TWP wants 4+ months of watching and then prep. You cannot stain it now.
If you stain too soon (I did for a new railing for sure)… What happens?
It looks good now. Does it just not last?
It will fail prematurely and also may not stain evenly and dry blotchy.
This is a great resource! We have a deck that faces west. It gets really strong sun, especially in the afternoon. In past years we tried several different types of stains and sealers. All of them have peeled off after 3-6 months. We followed the instructions when applying them. Two years ago we ended up redoing the floor boards and railings with new pressure treated pine. After some other repairs in the area we now have replace some of the boards, if not all of them.
I have a couple of questions. First, what does staining or painting your deck do? Does it actually protect the wood, or is it only for decorative purposes? Second, what product do you recommend we use if we do paint or stain it? I would do it if it will actually protect the wood. If it doesn’t offer any protection and will likely peel off again then I would rather skip it. Third, how should we deal with it if we only replace some of the boards and have a mix of new and old wood?
thank you for any insight!
You want a penetrating deck stain that soaks into the wood and protects the wood from water and UV damage. This is needed for the longevity of the wood and also to improve the appearance. Look at using TWP stains: https://www.opwdecks.com/twp-stains.htm
or
Armstrong Clark: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm