Is Your Deck Dry Enough to Stain? The Water Drop Test and Moisture Meters
Stain needs to soak into the wood. If the pores are full of water, it sits on top, dries unevenly and peels. Checking that the boards are dry is quick, and it is the step most often skipped.
The water drop test
Sprinkle a few drops of water on several boards, including one in the shade:
- Drops soak in within a minute or so: the wood is dry and open enough to take stain.
- Drops bead up or sit on the surface: the wood is still wet, or an old sealer or mill glaze is blocking it. Wait, or clean and strip the surface first.
Test a few spots, because boards near the house, under planters or in shade dry more slowly.
Using a moisture meter
A pin-type moisture meter gives a number. Many stain makers ask for wood moisture below about 15 percent; check your stain’s label, as some water-based products accept a little more. Push the pins in across the grain and take readings on several boards. Readings are for the species setting on the meter, so choose the closest wood type.
How long to wait
| Situation | Typical wait before staining |
|---|---|
| After a light shower, sunny and breezy | About 1 to 2 days |
| After heavy rain or a week of wet weather | 2 to 3 dry days or more |
| After pressure washing or a deck cleaner | At least 1 to 2 dry days (follow the cleaner’s label) |
| New pressure-treated lumber | Often several weeks to a few months, until it passes the drop test |
| New kiln-dried or KDAT lumber | Often much sooner; follow the lumber and stain labels |
Shade, humidity and cool nights all add time. The drop test or meter reading is more reliable than a count of days.
After the wood is dry
- Stain when the air and the deck surface are within the label’s range, often around 50 to 90 °F.
- Avoid direct midday sun on dark boards, which can flash-dry the stain and leave lap marks. Work in the shade as it moves across the deck.
- Leave enough dry time before rain or dew. Many stains need roughly 12 to 48 hours; the label gives the figure.
Our deck staining forecast looks for dry days before and after the job, and our pressure washing forecast helps you plan the cleaning day ahead of it.
Check the forecast for your project
Enter your ZIP code on the project forecast to see which of the next 7 days fit, hour by hour.
A DIY Day is an independent site. Figures above are typical label ranges; always follow the instructions on the product you use. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.