When Can I Stain My New Pressure Treated Deck

To determine if pressure treated wood is dry enough to stain try the sprinkle test.

When can i stain my new pressure treated deck.

The chemicals used to treat the wood leave moisture behind and depending on the climate it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months until it s dry enough to seal. This is largely dependent on how humid your area is and how your wood was treated. A newly built deck that uses pressurized wood will need time to dry completely before a sealer can be applied. Pressure treated wood is ready to stain when it is no longer retaining the excess moisture from the treatment process.

Sprinkle water on the wood. I would wait 30 60 days before i would treat your deck with stain. The wood on a new deck needs to dry thoroughly before sealing or staining. If the wood came still wet with preservative allow it to dry about 30 days before applying stain or sealer.

The answer can be both just as long as you prep the new wood properly for an application of the stain. New pressure treated wood needs to dry after construction before it can be stained or sealed. In the spring and summer months here in ma. On average you ll want to wait 4 weeks to 6 months to wait before staining the posts.

If you live in a hot sunny state like arizona give it a few weeks and it will more than likely be dry. However here in massachusetts it all depends on what season your deck is being constructed in. When to seal or stain a new wood deck wait to stain a new wood deck if water beads up on it. There are many questions as to when a newly installed deck should be stained.

This process can take many months depending on your deck s sun exposure and the weather patterns after construction is complete. If you have bought premium pressure treated lumber it can be stained as soon as you get it. When you buy treated lumber at the store you ll notice that your hands get damp after loading it all into the back of your truck or trailer. If you re unfamiliar with pressure treated lumber here s some information that will help determine how long it will take it to dry so you can stain your new fence.

It has already been prepared and all the moisture has been removed. Pressure treated wood that contains a water repellant will not absorb a water based stain as well as an oil based exterior stain.