How do I take humid weather into considerationg for deck staining?

Question

I want to strip/stain my deck, but it is extremely humid out. How will this affect the deck? Should I measure moisture out before I strip and stain?

Answer 1

The humidity will not cause any effect on your deck except the drying time...then only 2 to 4 hours longer max...depending on what product you use.

Answer 2

It will not effect it as long as it isn't actually raining. Make sure you start and complete well before dew point is reached. If you have to work over a two or more day period, make sure you start late enough so that any moisture that may condense out overnight has dried away.

Answer 3

Humidity may actually make the stripping and sanding easier.  However, humidity will slow the restaining process a bit, but not for too long.  Stain soaks in pretty well, and it is the protective layer you put down, if you elect that, that will take longer to dry in humid weather. You have to keep pets, kids, bugs, etc., off the deck while it dries, and of course, rain or other significant moisture.  A couple of lighter coats of urethane will work better than one heavy coat.  Again, the staining is not a real problem unless the deck is totally moist and the stain cannot actually penetrate to dry wood.  You could also use a large fan if you want the wood or the stain or the urethane coating to dry faster.

Answer 4

No offense, but I think you're overthinking this. I do wonder however, since I live in So. West FL, with a current avg. humidity of well over 80%, though hot and dry at the moment, if your HUMIDITY is so tropical, and do you ever get Sun, on the deck?

   Again, no offense, but I can't imagine staining a deck, BUT I wonder what is your deck coated/ covered with now?

   Certainly to STRIP it may be a labor intensive, tedious task, and your considerations should include, as much wonder about humidity (I guess) as the last time it rained, and how dry the deck will be,, most especially after any efforts to STRIP it.

   Beyond that, any result will also depend on your choice of stain formulation, it's properties, dry/cure time, etc.

Steven Wolf

AKA: The Deck Doc

Just my two "sense"