What Is the Best Time to Stain a Deck?

Staining a deck provides glorious new aesthetic options, bringing out the rich colors and textures of the wood’s surface while protecting it from the elements. To get the most bang for your buck, it’s important to stain your deck at the proper time. Namely, you want to avoid bad weather, as moisture will impact the staining and drying process. Keep reading to learn the best time to stain a deck to maximize your ROI-enhancing renovation project. 

Best Time to Stain a Deck

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The ideal weather for deck staining is a long string of moderately warm, dry days. That way, you have nice weather to clean and prep your deck ahead of staining as well as the right conditions for even and efficient drying afterward.  

Late spring and early fall are your best bet to achieve this type of weather, although this depends on your climate. Pay attention to local weather reports and be on the lookout for rain, excessive humidity and hotter-than-average temperatures. The ideal temperature for this project is between 50 F and 90 F, but hitting the center of that range will minimize complications. 

Factors That Affect Deck Staining

There are a number of factors that impact the cost and timing of a deck-staining project.

Climate

The enemies of deck stain are extreme temperatures and high humidity levels. You need a string of days that aren’t excessively hot, cold, or humid. You also need several dry days in a row. With this in mind, the best time to stain a deck is in late spring and early fall. Early spring tends to be too humid, and summer is just too hot, which causes the stain to evaporate quickly. 

Finish Type

The finish on your deck impacts the project's overall cost, as some types are simply more expensive than others. For instance, solid finishes are slightly more expensive than clear finishes. Additionally, it’s highly beneficial to seal the deck after staining it. Sealing a deck costs an average of $940. 

Materials

If you have a wooden deck, you should have no problem applying a stain. However, wood isn’t the only material that can handle a good deck stain. Older and uncapped composite deck boards make perfect candidates for staining, but the same isn’t true of newer composite decks. These newer models feature polymer caps that don’t do well with either paint or stain. 

Time of Day 

Just like local weather conditions and climate, the time of day also impacts deck staining. To ensure the best results, avoid too much direct sunlight by steering away from the middle of the afternoon. Instead, try to complete the job in the morning and in the evening. Of course, in the real world, this isn’t always possible. As long as it’s not too hot, the afternoon still works. 

Worst Time to Stain a Deck

If the best times to stain a deck are late spring and early fall, the worst times to complete this project are, well, every other season. Winter is out, especially if there’s snow on the ground and the weather is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer tends to be too hot and humid, which mucks up the drying process. You could find a string of good days in early spring and late fall, but these times of year tend to see more rainfall. 

The best and worst times to stain a deck depend heavily on where you live. For instance, a late spring day in South Florida will offer vastly different weather conditions than the same day in Seattle. Just remember to look for several dry days in a row that are between 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. When in doubt, contact a local deck staining company for geographically specific information. 

How Often Should You Stain a Deck? 

The general rule of thumb here is to stain a wood deck every 2 to 3 years. Of course, this depends on your local weather conditions, so inspect your deck annually. If you live in an area prone to high humidity or volatile weather, you’ll likely have to stain the deck every 18 months to 2 years. 

Cost to Stain a Deck

Staining a deck costs $550 to $1,250, or an average of $850. The price depends largely on the deck size, which breaks down to $1 to $2.50 per square foot. Other cost factors include the type of stain you choose and the required preparatory work. Before staining a deck, you must remove paint, clear away debris, and sand down misshapen areas. Pros typically wrap these tasks up with the total price of the project. You can save a bit of cash by doing some prep work yourself, like pressure washing your deck or sanding before the pros arrive. 

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Most local deck staining contractors charge around $40 to $70 per hour, so flexing your DIY muscles with this one is tempting. While staining is a DIY-friendly job, you probably won’t save that much money unless you already have the tools to complete the project. You’ll need the stain, which costs $20 to $250, and access to a power washer and sander to complete the preparatory steps. Renting a power washer costs an average of $90 per day, or you can buy one for $100 to $1,500. It’s also worth noting that this is a time-consuming, labor-intensive project, and mistakes can ruin the aesthetics of your deck. In many cases, you’ll want to leave deck staining to an exterior painting pro near you.