Can deck stain be applied when the temps are in the 40’s and 50’s as long as it is not forcast to go below 40 degrees within the 24hr period it needs to dry? None of the cans I looked at give any temp specs. I cleaned a deck a week ago then it got into freezing temps. Now it is forecast to be 55 on Monday and a low Mon night of 38 and I’m hoping this is the window I need.
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Replies
Yes they can. Ideally, the temperature should be between 50 and 80 degrees. If it'll be in the 50s, that'll be great. If it's below that, you can still apply it, it'll just take longer to dry.
-T
Edited 11/27/2005 6:19 pm ET by JourneymanCarpenterT
at this point more important than at what lowest temperature can you apply stain is how did you clean the surface? if it was w/ a pressure washer you might look to coating it after warm sunny spring days
is it a warm sunny dry 50 degrees or overcast?ideal for me would be at least five sunny dry days over 65 degrees after cleaning ( and not w/ a pressure washer )
I was thinking the same thing. There could be frozen water in the wood that could really ruin a deck stain job
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I cleaned the deck with a pump sprayer putting on Olympic Deck Cleaner. I was doing this late in the evening right before it got dark. In fact, after I cleaned the deck and rinsed it off with a hose there was ice forming on the deck surfaces, it got that cold on me and I didn't even know it. So I left the deck air dry for the last 9 days. In that time we've had some sharply cold temps, frosts and a dusting of snow that didnt' stay around for but a few hours. I haven't been over yet to see if it is dry, but tonight we had a few small showers so I am thinking I can't treat it tomorrow cuz it'll still be wet from tonights showers. But even then, if it were dry, they're forecasting rain sometime Tuesday, which means the deck won't have 24hrs solid time to dry.
This was a deck job I fell behind on due to other work on my calendar. They paid their deposit back in Oct yet I couldn't get to it right away. Now that I got to cleaning it I"m being optimistic for a warm spell a day or two which is what they're hoping along with me....but with dry weather. If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time. -ME
Mr Willie appears to me your cleaning was right on
from your weather report I'd take some cookies over and your deposit and talk to them about getting to them after the first good week of spring
I think in my prior post I said my ideal would be six days of over 60 - 65 w/ sun - I almost edited that to say my minimum would be that I would not be messing w/ what temp you can apply a certain material w/ unless they are specifically addressing decks ( cedar more porous than ipe etc ) - a flat horizontal exposed surface is very different from a north face of a house which is very different from a south face of a house in this northern hemisphere at this time of yearand yes some will say of course you can - you coulde add some color to the wood by doing it but very little else
If it'll be in the 50s, that'll be great. If it's below that, you can still apply it, it'll just take longer to dry.
You feel pretty sure of this? Not gonna sue you if you're wrong :) I guess I'm asking, have you done this before in low temps, even temps that might've gone below the 50's and observed that the only issue was extended drying time?If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time. -ME
"I was doing this late in the evening right before it got dark. In fact, after I cleaned the deck and rinsed it off with a hose there was ice forming on the deck surfaces, it got that cold on me and I didn't even know it."
I suppose this does complicate things. Otherwise, if it wern't for the rain, you would've been fine.
To answer your question about temperatures, consider some references. . .
PDRA:
I have a brand new deck, built of pressure treated wood. My contractor said to wait until next year before I put anything on it. Should I wait?
No! Even pressure treated wood (PTW) will be adversely affected by sunlight and water. The surface wood fibers will degrade, resulting in graying and splintering. With time more serious damage will likely occur; for instance, cracking and warping. Use a stain that's specially formulated to penetrate the hard surface of new PTW and protect it from the elements, while affording resistance to mildew.
What are the ideal weather conditions for staining?
The air temperature should be between 50 degrees and 85 degrees F. The dew point temperature should be five or more degrees lower than the ambient air. Avoid painting in the sun, too (the sun-warmed surface can be ten to twenty degrees higher than the ambient air). Also, don't stain if it's windy -- the stain will dry too fast.
Try to plan your work so that you are always painting in the shade. Stop at least two hours before sunset (due to the danger of condensation).
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Lowe's:
Apply stain when the weather is agreeable. The best temperature is about 70° F. 50-90° F is the optimum working range. Wait for a day with low humidity and avoid staining in the direct sun.
Stain dries in 24-48 hours depending on house conditions and weather.
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Sherwin-Williams:
Apply stain only at the proper temperature. For most stains, 70 degrees Fahrenheit is the optimum, with the safety range from 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Stains do vary, so check the label first.
Avoid high humidity when applying stain. All finishes, including stains and paint, have trouble drying in moist conditions. Therefore, after a rain storm, let the surface to be stained dry for two to three days.
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America's Master Handyman:
It is very easy for a surface to get too hot or cold to paint. As a general rule, the air temperature for good painting conditions ranges from 55 degrees to 85 degrees. Unfortunately, when applying paint or stain it is the surface temperature, not the air temperature that is important.
Air temperature and surface temperature can be miles apart. If a wood deck or wall is in direct sunlight it may well be 30 to 50 degrees hotter than the air temperature. One sunny day in May the air temperature on our test deck was 55 degrees, but the surface temperature of the wood was over 95 degrees. In other words, it was already too hot to stain successfully.
You just can't lay a thermometer on a surface you are planning to paint, stain or caulk and get a good temperature reading. An infrared laser thermometer makes taking the surface temperature of an object easy. With a good infrared laser thermometer, you can even be standing on the ground and see if the shingles are too hot to work on.
I first ran into the infrared laser thermometer at a kitchen and bath show. The same technology that will tell you if a chicken is done will tell you the temperature of roofing shingles, decks or siding. There are two types of infrared laser thermometers: stick thermometers and pistol-grip thermometers.
Stick thermometers fit in the palm of your hand. Costs for these devices are $50 or lower but they must be held very close to the object for which you require a temperature reading.
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Moisture content, not so much cooler temperatures is what you should be concerned about. Apply a few drops of water to the surface. If it absorbs into the wood, the deck's probably dry enough to stain. If you want to be sure, you can rent or purchase a moisture meter. I'd recommend a moisture content below 20%.
As it turns out, you obviously could'nt apply the stain today. There may however, be several opportunities in the not so distant future. The longer you wait to apply the stain, the more the deck will become damaged by ultraviolet rays.-T