Why Do I Need to Wait to Stain My New Deck with TWP

info buttonAfter a new wood deck has been constructed it is important to protect it from the elements. Unprotected wood will be prone to graying, warping, cracking, splitting, and mold/mildew infiltration. Protecting your wood deck is easy with TWP Total Wood Preservative. There is however a waiting period to allow new wood to season prior to stain application.

New wood is commonly called “green” wood. Meaning it has not had time to season or dry. It has a very high moisture content. You may notice the difference in weight of a newer deck board and an older one. The newer one is much heavier due to all the moisture it is holding. As the wood dries it also shrinks. This is noticeable in the gaps between deck boards. They will be tight together after first construction and as the wood shrinks the gaps will become larger.

 

Applying TWP deck stain to a newer deck too soon can result in a failed deck coating. The stain will trap moisture in the wood, which can cause several problems. Mold and mildew can spread quickly underneath the stain eventually leading to rot and decay. The moisture will also keep the wood stain from penetrating properly and may cause it to peel and flake off the surface. TWP wood stain is designed to penetrate deep into the wood for maximum protection. If the wood has too high of moisture content the stain cannot penetrate correctly.

There are some people who believe you have to wait and entire season or 1 year before you can stain new wood. This is normally not true and actually a lot of the wood damage can occur in the first year if the wood is not protected. Most types of wood will be ready to stain within 4-12 months after being erected. All new wood should be prepped with the Gemini Restore Kit before staining. Wait time can vary depending on sun exposure, weather, and temperatures.

For TWP wood deck stain to give you the best results on a new deck, the moisture content of the wood should be 15% or less. This can be easily checked with a moisture meter. If you do not have access to a moisture meter and you have waited several months of hot summer weather, you can do a drop test with water. Sprinkle a few drops of water in several areas of the deck. If the water soaks in right away indicating the wood is dry it is probably okay to stain. If the water does not soak in right away, the wood may still be holding too much moisture.

Be sure your new wood deck has had plenty of dry time before applying TWP deck stain. This will guarantee proper wood penetration giving a naturally enhanced look that will last and perform as expected.

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    TWP Stains · 11/10/2015
    DaveThompson:
    Just installed a new con heart redwood cap on my retaining wall (80 LF) here in Northern California. We are just coming into our rainy season. How long should I wait to stain and what product would you recommend?

    Please see this about new wood:
    http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/

    You will need the 1500 Series.
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    DaveThompson · 11/09/2015
    Just installed a new con heart redwood cap on my retaining wall (80 LF) here in Northern California. We are just coming into our rainy season. How long should I wait to stain and what product would you recommend?
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    TWP Stains · 10/29/2015
    Steve W:
    I just put in a new Covered Porch of Douglas Fir. I live in Central Idaho. I understand that i need to wait to let the wood cure. However, it gets snowy and deep here in the Winter. Should i cover the Porch with Plastic etc.. for the winter and open back up in the spring to prevent Snow getting in and sitting on the wood deck

    No. Just leave alone and prep/stain in spring.
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    Steve W · 10/28/2015
    I just put in a new Covered Porch of Douglas Fir. I live in Central Idaho. I understand that i need to wait to let the wood cure. However, it gets snowy and deep here in the Winter. Should i cover the Porch with Plastic etc.. for the winter and open back up in the spring to prevent Snow getting in and sitting on the wood deck
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    TWP Stains · 10/16/2015
    TRISH:
    What temperature works best. Can you stain in the fall of the year?

    Above 45 degrees. Yes you can stain in the Fall.
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    TRISH · 10/15/2015
    What temperature works best. Can you stain in the fall of the year?
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    TWP Stains · 10/07/2015
    Betsy Hamilton:
    My deck was finished in 4/2015. I thought the wood was wet/green/treated improperly. The GC stood w/ it being cured fine. TWP stain was applied. It's been 4.5 months and the deck is black. I believe the wood was green. Can you look at pictures and advise me? I have photos before staining (that show green wood) and now a mold covered deck. I am meeting w/ my GC this week. Thank you. Betsy Hamilton

    You have to strip it off and start over as you did not wait 4-12 months and most likely did not prep correctly. I would suggest waiting until Spring to do this.
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    Betsy Hamilton · 10/06/2015
    My deck was finished in 4/2015. I thought the wood was wet/green/treated improperly. The GC stood w/ it being cured fine. TWP stain was applied. It's been 4.5 months and the deck is black. I believe the wood was green. Can you look at pictures and advise me? I have photos before staining (that show green wood) and now a mold covered deck. I am meeting w/ my GC this week. Thank you. Betsy Hamilton
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    TWP Stains · 10/06/2015
    CMCannon:
    Does one need to use the cleaner/brightener on verticals? I will be staining a new (6 months old) pressure treated deck with your TWP 1500.

    Yes you do need to prep the verticals and the horizontals.
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    CMCannon · 10/06/2015
    Does one need to use the cleaner/brightener on verticals? I will be staining a new (6 months old) pressure treated deck with your TWP 1500.
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    TWP Stains · 10/05/2015
    Neil Meyer:
    I had a new cedar deck built and completed on September 10, this year. The customer wants a clear stain to maintain its current look. How long should I wait before I stain it? Can I wait till spring and maintain its original look? I live in central Minnesota. Thanks!

    Neil,

    As the article stats, you should wait until Spring and prep with Gemini Restore Kit. Make sure that your customer knows that the Clear will not protect from UV graying. You must have a tint/color in the stain.
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    Neil Meyer · 10/05/2015
    I had a new cedar deck built and completed on September 10, this year. The customer wants a clear stain to maintain its current look. How long should I wait before I stain it? Can I wait till spring and maintain its original look? I live in central Minnesota. Thanks!
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    TWP Stains · 08/23/2015
    D Borden:
    We built a new porch in February 2015 using treated yellow pine wood. We live in Northern Virginia. We are thinking of staining in October 2015. We like the look of yellow pain. What stain would you recommend for the porch and how many coats?

    One coat on new wood. You need to use the 1500 Series for your area. Prep first with the Gemini Restore Kit.
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    D Borden · 08/23/2015
    We built a new porch in February 2015 using treated yellow pine wood. We live in Northern Virginia. We are thinking of staining in October 2015. We like the look of yellow pain. What stain would you recommend for the porch and how many coats?
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    TWP Stains · 08/13/2015
    chuckfitz:
    I just finished prepping a 2000 sq ft, two year old cedar deck. Had to strip off a bad stain, sand, and brighten. Do I have to wait a full 48 hours to start staining after brightening if the wood is already reading less than 15% moisture content after 24 hours in sunny 90 degree day?

    Yes you should wait 48 hours.
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    chuckfitz · 08/13/2015
    I just finished prepping a 2000 sq ft, two year old cedar deck. Had to strip off a bad stain, sand, and brighten. Do I have to wait a full 48 hours to start staining after brightening if the wood is already reading less than 15% moisture content after 24 hours in sunny 90 degree day?
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    TWP Stains · 08/03/2015
    Jim Cousineau:
    We have a new deck that we just stained with TWP. Because of traffic and investment and as we are pleased with the stain results, I would like to apply a clear coat over the stain coat.
    How long should I wait to apply the clear?
    Any reservations or notes?
    Thank you.

    You cannot apply a clear coat sealer over the TWP. Did you read this as well about new wood?:
    http://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Jim Cousineau · 08/03/2015
    We have a new deck that we just stained with TWP. Because of traffic and investment and as we are pleased with the stain results, I would like to apply a clear coat over the stain coat.
    How long should I wait to apply the clear?
    Any reservations or notes?
    Thank you.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    TWP Stains · 08/03/2015
    lalee b.:
    [b]how long do I wait before applying clear coat to a new, rough cut, redwood fence?[/b]

    New rough cut wood can be stained right away as long as the wood is dry. Just one coat on new wood.
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    lalee b. · 08/02/2015
    [b]how long do I wait before applying clear coat to a new, rough cut, redwood fence?[/b]