For long-term preservation, it’s very important to have your new cedar deck stained. An effective way to achieve this goal is through staining.
However, the process isn’t as easy as it may sound and sometimes can get a bit complicated. For instance, you might not know when to stain a new cedar deck. If so, let’s break it down for you!
Generally, most new decks, including cedar wood deck, requires a drying time of at least thirty days before applying stain. Once the deck is dry enough, you can proceed with the staining process. It will help prevent premature aging, warping or rotting of wooden decks.
Now that you know the necessity of staining a cedar deck on time, you must be aware of other factors determining when to stain and when not to. Keep reading to find out!
The Ideal Time To Stain A New Cedar Deck:
When you come across a cedar wood-based deck, it captures your attention, credit to its unique structure, color texture and design. But as time passes, we see it loses its color and design due to continuous exposure to harsh outdoor conditions and catastrophes. When we examine the case of furniture, flooring, fencing, etc., certain factors affect the staining process of a newly installed cedar wood deck.
1.The Role Of Weather:
If we talk about the weather, it’s better to stain cedar wood in temperatures between 90 and 50 degrees F. According to decking experts, the best seasonal time to stain cedar wood is spring because the stain will be dry soon after staining, and the temperature has much to do with it.
Cedar wood is considered the best wood for the deck as its beauty is concerned, and it is a natural repellent to bugs and insects. If we stain it at the right time, the cedar wood deck will remain protected from ultraviolet rays and prevent early damage or decay.
2.Ideal Time Duration:
The time duration required for staining cedar wood is as soon as it gets ready. To figure it out, you need to take a test check by penetrating semi-transparent stains. If the stains absorb, you can get started with the staining. Otherwise, do it later!
Also, if you wait longer for a year, chances are the wood suffers from chipping or cracking, so staining within 2 to 3 months is considered ideal.
Choosing The Best Stain For Cedar Deck:
Cedarwood undoubtedly adds an element of luxury and elegance to your outdoor deck space. However, it is expensive, so you wouldn’t want to see it lose its beauty and glory any time soon.
We have already discussed the importance of staining in deck preservation and the right time for staining. Another crucial aspect to consider is choosing the best stain for the newly installed cedar wood deck, as it will ultimately give you the best possible results.
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Types Of Stains:
Following are the types of stains you can apply on cedar wood-based decks:
Opaque stain: It is a type of stain which contains opaque material or pigment for staining and painting.
Semi-opaque stain: It is a type of stain containing semi-opaque material delicacy in its texture.
Semi-transparent stain: this is another type of stain used in staining cedar wood having a small number of pigments.
Natural or clear stains: are devoid of pigments and provide natural looks. They are clear in their forms and quality.
The best stain for the cedar is water-based. It helps prevent ultraviolet rays and natural radiation so that the stain cannot fade away or lose its quality. There are many advantages of water-based stain; for example, we can easily clean this type of stain or varnish with the help of soap or simply using detergent. If we compare these stains with oily ones, they are easy to remove, and the wood is renewed by going through the process again.
What Are The Necessary Aspects In Staining A New Cedar Deck?
It is a very crucial query to be answered. Sometimes, a staining process that goes wrong can do more harm than good. So, to prevent this from happening, below are a few aspects you need to consider:
Cleaning Beforehand:
Cedar wood requires cleaning and cleansing before staining, so it’s better to prep it before staining. The benefit of conditioning is preventing flaws and smudges on the stain’s surface.
Drying Out Time:
The necessary elements in staining are keeping the wood dry so the water molecules cannot enter and destroy the stain. Secondly, if we reapply the stain, we will get a good finish ultimately.
Uneven Surface:
Sometimes we see our surface is uneven; the major reason is the unclear surface, which has certain reasons- Contaminated wood stain product, insufficient mixing, improper sanding or cleaning of the surface, uneven application of stain.
Sticky Stain Surface:
At times, you may feel that the surface on which the stain is applied is too sticky; in this case, we don’t have to apply more stain. The extra stain makes the surface sticky.
Moreover, we have to avoid a thick quantity of stains. To achieve this, you can use the stain with thinner to lessen its consistency. Also, we need to wipe out extra stains.
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Staining VS Sanding On Cedar Wood:
Before staining cedar wood, we must first sand it. Sanding is an initial process, while staining is a secondary process. Sanding is required to treat a surface before applying stain. It contains cleaning of the surface with varnishes. Staining is a process in which various stains are applied on cedar wood to have a perfect finish.
Period: the period for good cedar staining is 50 years if you have a good staining finish. Generally, you can have it stained after 2 to 3 years.
Wrap-Up:
The best time for staining cedar wood is the spring season.
Moreover, it is better to go for a transparent stain as it is easy to apply and remove. Cedarwood staining requires a dry surface. Firstly we have to perform sanding on cedar wood; secondly, we have to stain it with our choice of color or varnish.
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Cedar wood is good for staining as it requires yearly staining or after two years; the wood lasts for around 50 years. I suggest that cedar wood is best for fencing and furniture-making.
FAQS:
Can You Stain A Cedar Wood Grey?
Yes, you can paint your cedar wood grey. You cannot reserve the process and get the natural look back, so it’s better to stain it with the color of your choice other than grey.
Can You Stain A Cedar Wood White?
You can stain a cedar wood white and easily stain it; plus, there is no need for an extra coating of paint, and there will be no imperfections and smudges on it. So it is better to stain your wood with white color. White color can also give a good finish and is easily removable in case of transparent stain.