Our easy rule of thumb is; if it is cold enough to wear a sweater it is too cold to apply a water-based finish. Whether you need small repair jobs such as fixing a loose board, or large repair jobs such as re-decking the entire area of the deck, the professionals at DeckMaster will do the job right. You want to apply the stain when the wood surface and air are in the temperature range of 50° – 90°F. Stain protects the surface of the wood through penetration. If it’s too hot outside, specifically above 90 degrees, you run the risk of the stain drying too quickly and causing the stain to improperly penetrate the surface, distribute unevenly, and will appear blotchy. is required. 28. Avoid staining your deck if it’s above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. One issue caused by cold temperatures with water-based topcoats is the development of dimples in the finish called Orange Peel. You want the deck to be clean and dry so that the stain can soak in thoroughly. Ideal Conditions are 70 degrees F and 50-70% humidity. Temperature and weather are very important when applying stain. When the following conditions are present: 80% relative humidity, 21°C / 70°F or above, 21% moisture content of the wood. Try to stain your deck on a cooler day, or start early in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day. If you must apply WATER BASED TOP COATS in cool conditions, add General Finishes Accelerator to speed water evaporation from the finish. GF again suggests moving the piece back into warmer temperature after applying finishes for the 7 days of cure time. Excess moisture has an effect on the stain drying, and wind can blow debris across your deck. You will need to let the stain dry for about 48 hours before you can varnish it. A • Although it is close to the time when you will not want to stain the deck (under 40 degrees overnight), there is something else to consider. Use a wood deck brightener because wood strippers and cleaners can darken the wood. Adding stain to bare or stripped wood can both change the color and highlight the grain pattern of any interior wood. We build custom decks to give you the functionality and design that you want. The hard part entails cleaning and staining the wood. Ideal Conditions are 70 degrees F and 50-70% humidity . Unlike paint, which just sits on top of the wood and can be sanded off, wood stain penetrates into the fibers of the wood like a sponge absorbing water. Step 5: Do the Project. Achieving great results when staining wood is easy if you avoid a few basic mistakes. It is recommend that you have a professional checkup every 2-4 years. 10 degrees is the minimum temperature i have been told The minimum temperature depends on the type of stain you are using. Like the air in your work area, both the wood surface and any wood preparation product you are using should be above 65° F. However, you can … NOTE: We've been asked whether it's OK to paint in a 50* F shop if the paint is stored at a safe temperature beforehand, and the finished piece is moved into a room with a safe temperature to dry. When you’re ready to get started, pick up with Step 1 of this helpful tutorial for staining wood. To ensure this, either choose a cooler day or stain your deck in … To get the best results, it’s important that we find the right day and time to perform the work. The fast dry poly will be a problem. Cold temperatures slow the dry time and affect how quickly the finish will level, harden and cure. Make sure your wood project and wood preparation products are at room temperature before starting. As you can see, anyone can learn how to thin wood stain and obtain even, great looking surfaces. You can warm up the finish by placing the can in hot water for 5 minutes beforehand, and if possible, move the piece back into warmer temperature after applying finishes for the 7 days of cure time. Typically water based formulas require a temp above freezing. For me, the best way to finish even moderately attractive wood is with oil and wax. You need to wash the deck with a wood sealer or stain remover if there’s still residual signs of the old sealer. Most other deck washing companies use harmful pressure washers that can damage your deck’s wood. More, America's Leading Manufacturer of Innovative Water-Based Wood Finishes. Sand with 180-grit until you've removed all the marks left by the 120-grit and the surface appears level. When you stain a deck, it is absorbed into the upper layers of the wood, providing a weatherproof barrier between moisture and UV rays and the interior of the wood. However, we would not choose that in a lot of cases, if you’re working with small flaws in the wood, it can look better to leave the flaws obvious than to try and cover them up – the wood … You can control the shading, to a point, by how long you leave the stain on the wood before wiping up the excess. Why buy a new deck when you can repair your old one for a fraction of the cost? The stain becomes less effective in this case. If you want to use a filler that you can stain to match your wood – it’s best to avoid epoxy wood filler. The trick is to use the right thinner, apply it in small quantities, mix thoroughly, and test the thinned stain until you obtain satisfactory results, all while staying safe. Conversely, if you are working in HOT, DRY climates any WATER BASE finish will dry faster. It is best to stain when the temperature is between 10° C and 27°C. Brush clean. The temperature should be between 50 and 90 degrees … Ensure that you are staining your deck on a dry, warm day. And, it is important to choose a day when no rain is expected for 24 hours. It’s the safe and effective way to clean your wood. Right now for a limited time, we’re offering a, Deck Construction And Repair—The Gift That Keeps On Giving, Deciding Between Wood Or Composite For Your Deck, 7 Deck Construction Tips From The Experts, 3 Reasons To Take Advantage Of Power Washing In The Fall. We look forward to seeing you soon! You can apply to raw wood, or you can apply it over an existing finish. 10 degrees is the minimum temperature i have been told The minimum temperature depends on the type of stain you are using. DeckMaster will be extra cautious to find the right day to stain your deck, but that’s not the only reason why DeckMaster is the right choice for your next deck maintenance job. Apply the stain on top of the pre-stain. Manufacturer Account Custom Coatings Registration Form, COMPARE Paints, Glazes & Pigmented Topcoats, COMPARE Primers, Sanding Sealers & Undercoats, Water Based Paints, Glazes and Pigmented Top Coats, Enduro Ready to Match (RTM) Water Based Stain, Fill Sticks -NEW Assortment Pack of 15 Color Groups, Touch Up Markers - NEW Assortment Pack of 15 Color Groups, Water Based Paints, Pearl Effects & Glazes, High Performance Polyurethane Water Based Topcoat, Fill Stick and Touch Up Marker Assortment Pack. Apply stain only at the proper temperature. Right now for a limited time, we’re offering a $500 credit toward your new deck construction project of $10,000+ when you mention the coupon code “WEB20”. When Is The Best Time For Pressure Washing Your House? We offer 3 maintenance packages that each include our famous DeckMaster™ PressureLess Cleaning System™. Let the deck dry thoroughly before sealing or staining. Refinishing furniture in a space that is below or above the 65-75 degrees F range can lead to problems, and a space below 55 degrees F is definitely too cold. Any other type of bad weather – including rain, wind, or high humidity – can create problems when deck staining. You can apply oil-based finishes in as low as 60 degrees if necessary. Hey, are you new to woodworking and don't know where to begin? It can … After exposure to such winter conditions, the stain can become gritty and develop a “cottage cheese” texture. You may have better luck as far as temperature with the slow drying polyurethane. WARNING: Applying OIL BASED finishes near an open flame or combustible heater is VERY DANGEROUS. As COVID-19 continues to spread, we wanted to share our efforts to protect our customers and team's health. One of the critical factors that DeckMaster will take into consideration before staining your deck is the outside temperature. That is why DeckMaster has developed the PressureLess™ Cleaning System & Preservation System. There are a lot of variables that go into applying stain to the siding: Surface temperature - has the … The ideal temperature range for application is between 50 and 80 degrees. Make sure the finish and the surface of the place you are working on are at room temperature. We have years of experience building decks in a variety of types of wood as well as composite wood (such as Trex). It will be dry to the touch in 12 hours, but should not be re-coated for at least 24 hours. See video tutorial: Tips on Storing Leftover Finishes, America's leading manufacturer of innovative water-based finishes. Typically water based formulas require a temp above freezing. Apply the stain in smooth, even strokes in the direction of the wood grain until you completely cover the surface. If water-based stain has sustained freezing damage, you’ll need to dispose of it. Sanding. Tip: When learning how to stain furniture, remember that a chemical wood stain remover, used to manufacturer's instructions, can extract stain from places the sander can't reach. Make sure you like the color and that the wood reacts well to the stain. Staining at temperatures ranging from 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit usually works, but the optimal temperature is around the mid-70s, not too hot and not too cold. On the flip side of the coin, low temperature are another thing we’ll be sure to avoid. NOTE: We have been asked whether it is OK to paint in a 50 degrees F shop if the paint is stored at a safe temperature beforehand, and the finished piece is moved into a room with a safe temperature to dry. In order to keep it looking its best, regular maintenance (cleaning, sealing, staining, etc.) Wipe off the excess stain from the paintbrush. Any scratches will be enhanced by stain. Here in the Maryland/Virginia area, there’s no better company for deck maintenance than DeckMaster. Of course you will want to make sure to test your stain, either on a piece of scrap wood or a portion of the fence that nobody ever sees. Visit our website or give us a call to learn more and schedule your next appointment. You won't have any issues with the temperature and minwax stain. Avoid high humidity and staining on hot surfaces. Sanding will also help open up the pores of the wood so that they can absorb stain better. Garages are not a good place to store any finish. If it’s too hot outside, specifically above 90 degrees, you run the risk of the stain drying too quickly and causing the stain to improperly penetrate the surface, distribute unevenly, and will appear blotchy. Ideal temperature to store product: 65-75 degrees. Refinishing furniture in a space that is below or above the 65-75 degrees F range can lead to problems, and a space below 55 degrees F is definitely too cold. It is a non-toxic, biodegradable, safe cleaning solution that is applied to your deck in a high volume mist sprayer. The mineral spirit mixes with fumes from kerosene, for example, creating an unsafe environment. This approach might work, but it's risky. Rather than relying on pressure, we rely on our unique revolutionary chemical process to remove old stains and sealers and restore the like-new appearance of the wood. After the fence has been cleaned, dried, and sanded you can … If the temperature is not surpassing 50 degrees, it may be too cold for deck staining. The stain becomes less effective in this case. Apply the stain again to the even, unstained surface for better results. Stains do vary, so check the label first. If it’s too hot, the stain may dry too quickly, potentially causing lap marks and uneven penetration. Dip a clean, dry paint brush or rag into your stain. General Finishes Extender can be added to water based products to increase dry time in those situations. Lastly, do not apply a stain if there is a forecast of rain in the following one to two days, or all your hard work could end up being washed away. I would seal the surface with one coat of shellac (dewaxed only – Seal Coat), before varnishing or using polyurethane, this will prevent the varnish or urethane from re-wetting or lifting the stain which will still be a bit sensitive to mineral spirits at this point. You also want to avoid the direct application of sunlight. High temperatures are a big concern while applying the stain. If you look at the instructions it recommends 77 degrees or more. The colder your space it is, the longer you have to wait between coats. Stain shouldn’t be applied if the thermometer falls below 10° C and if rain is expected within 24 hours after application. Make sure you sand the wood well before applying stain. Try to work in long, even strokes and … If you don’t stain your new deck, it will weather into a gray, rustic look. If you stain a wet deck, you will end up with an uneven finish. Unlike the heat, the cold will delay the stain from drying completely, which can mess up the curing process and adhesion of the stain. What can prevent a coating from penetrating into wood? If you need a new deck built from scratch, DeckMaster is the right team to call. Generally speaking, the temperature needs to be at least 40 degrees. Conclusion. Check the label of your product to find a specific temperature recommendation, because products can vary. Ideal temperature to store product: 65-75 degrees F. Garages are not a good place to store any finish. You can either try to strip the stain from the small section that contains wood filler, or you can remove the stain from the entire piece of wood. Most of … It won’t cause cracking or splintering and even slows the growth of mildew. Owning a wood deck is no small task. Before staining a wood fence, scan the weekly weather forecast and select a day with temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees, low to moderate humidity, and no … Since then, I've never liked to cover wood with any kind of stain. Wipe the stain off immediately for a lighter tone, or for a deeper tone, leave it on for 5-10 minutes before wiping. For most stains, 70 degrees Fahrenheit is the optimum, with the safety range from 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. *What Is the Best Temperature to Apply Wood Finishes? It takes 30 days to fully cure, but you can begin light use within 7-10 days. 27. Here are a few wood-staining techniques you can try using items you might have in your kitchen. In which conditions can mildew grow on wood or the surface of a coating? With the help of DeckMaster, you can restore your deck to like-new condition. *What Is the Best Temperature to Apply Wood Finishes? Since wood is a product of nature, it can vary from tree to tree, even in the same wood species. 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