What happens if you don't stain a pressure treated deck?

Without stain, any type of paint or sealant, rainwater, dew or snow can easily penetrate the decking. The wood will then swell until it dries when it will shrink again. This pattern of swelling and shrinking can cause damage to the wood such as splits, checks, splinters, cracks, and other blemishes.

How long can pressure treated wood last without stain?

While pressure treated poles can stay up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years.

How long will a deck last if you don't stain it?

After 6 months, the wood will start to lose its color and will begin to fade. Ultimately it will fade to grey or silver.

Is it necessary to stain pressure treated wood?

Pressure-treated wood contains preservatives to prevent rot and insect damage, but it remains vulnerable to the sun, wind, moisture and dirt. Learning how to stain pressure treated wood can extend the life and improve the appearance of decks, fencing, picnic tables, retaining walls and other exterior wood projects.

Is it OK not to stain a deck?

Staining a deck will lead to less work in the future. One of the main reasons the professionals don't recommend staining wood decks is because of the amount of time and energy involved. Stains don't generally last more than a year. This means yearly cleaning, staining and, if necessary, sanding of your deck every year.

When to Seal or Stain a New Wood Deck

Can you just seal a deck and not stain it?

A: It's really up to you. Just staining the deck will give you the color you want, although in high-traffic areas the stain could wear away quickly. Many deck companies recommend using a combination stain/sealer product, which is basically a sealer with pigment added.

What happens if you don't stain pressure treated wood?

Without stain, any type of paint or sealant, rainwater, dew or snow can easily penetrate the decking. The wood will then swell until it dries when it will shrink again. This pattern of swelling and shrinking can cause damage to the wood such as splits, checks, splinters, cracks, and other blemishes.

Should you wait a year to stain pressure treated wood?

How long do you have to wait to stain pressure treated wood? Wait until the wood is completely dry. Depending on climate conditions, pressure-treated wood can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

What should never be done with pressure treated wood?

Is it better to stain or paint pressure treated wood?

If the deck is made with pressure-treated woods, the stain will adhere better than paint. If pressure-treated woods are used, stain seeps into the deck, becoming a part of the deck rather than an added layer, which means that it won't chip, crack or flake.

Is it ever too late to stain a deck?

Is It Too Late to Restore Your Deck? If it's been much longer than the recommended three years since you last stained your deck, you might wonder if it's even worth getting back on track. Fortunately, unless your deck is in a total state of disrepair, it's virtually never too late to provide it with a fresh coating.

Can you leave pressure treated wood unpainted?

Yes – you can leave anything unfinished, but it will be just that- unfinished. Even the treated lumber will deteriorate and decay with time (though you could be looking at decades of use still)- and it will happen much faster if it is not sealed with a finisher like stain or paint or water repellant.

Can I stain my deck after 2 years?

As a general rule, your deck should be stained every 2-3 years. This can change, however, if you are in an area of high-humidity or especially volatile weather. The signs to look for when determining if you need deck staining are: The stain color of the wood is wearing off.

What is the life expectancy of a pressure treated deck?

Wooden Decks Made from Pressure-Treated Lumber

So while it will resist a lot of the environmental changes that the weather brings, it might not be the ideal material for everyone. If you maintain and seal your pressure-treated deck, it can last you around 50 years.

Does pressure treated wood still need to be sealed?

Although treated wood is protected against decay and termite attack, the application of a water-repellent sealer to all exposed wood surfaces is recommended upon completion of construction. This sealer will help control surface checking (splitting or cracking) and provide an attractive appearance.

What is the life expectancy of pressure treated wood?

As a whole, the post and lumber specimens indicate an expected durability of over 50 years for creosote-treated wood and over 60 years for wood treated with pentachlorophenol, copper naphthenate, ACZA, or CCA.

What damages pressure treated wood?

Any pressure treated wood rot is usually due to a fungal issue. The fungi that cause this are very small organisms that move into the wood and feed on it over time. This causes the pressure treated wood to decay and soften which then turns into rot. All kinds of fungal issues basically create the same problem: rot.

Why can't you paint pressure treated wood right away?

Pressure treated wood needs time to dry out before it's primed or painted. You can expect 3-4 months before the moisture levels fully go down. If moisture beads up on the surface, it's still too damp. You'll know the treated wood is ready to paint when it absorbs water instead of repelling it.

Is it OK to pressure wash pressure treated wood?

Wash away the dirt with a hose or a very low setting (below 500 psi) on a pressure washer. The impact of water above a 500 psi setting on a pressure washer, as well as bleaches and oxidizers, can damage the wood fibers and are not recommended for deck cleaning.

How late in the year can you stain a deck?

Deck stains should be applied between temperatures above 50 and below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. These last weeks of September, as well as the upcoming weeks of early October, are ideal for completing this maintenance step for your deck. With this, it is also best to apply your deck stain away from direct sunlight.

Can I wait a year to stain my deck?

Some stain manufacturers suggest you should wait 3-12 months to let the wood dry while others say to stain the deck right away. The answer can be both just as long as you prep the new wood properly for the application of the stain.

What happens if you don't clean deck before staining?

Cleaning a deck before you apply stain ensures that the surface is clean (no dust, dirt, wood fibers or grease), dry and free from mildew. When a surface is not clean, stains and other finishes have trouble sticking and may end up peeling.

What happens if you don't seal stain?

Wood is dried-out and dull if you do not apply some sort of sealer. Staining and finishing are two very different things. By applying pigments, a stain is meant to darken or dye wood, but the wood is not preserved by staining.

How can I protect my deck without staining it?

The best preventative measure you can take to protect your wooden deck is to use wood sealant. Clear wood sealants are a great way to maintain the natural beauty and wood grain while still preventing damage from rot, mold, and other weathering.