My neighbor said my deck stain job was a waste of time and I'm still thinking about it

I spent a full weekend last month re-staining my back deck. I did the whole thing, power washed it, let it dry for two days, and used three gallons of that solid color stain from Behr. I was pretty proud of it. Then my neighbor, Frank, who's a retired contractor, came over. He looked at it for a minute and said, 'You know, with that pressure-treated pine, that stain's just gonna peel in a year. You should've just let it gray out.' It happened right there in my backyard. He wasn't mean about it, but it stuck with me. Now I'm looking at the deck every day waiting for it to fail. Was he just being a know-it-all, or did I really mess up by not using a clear sealant on new wood? Has anyone else had a project where advice from someone with more experience totally shook your confidence?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonb9213d ago

Wait, you let it dry for TWO DAYS? That's the part that gets me. I'm no contractor, but even I know wood needs way longer than that to dry out after a power wash, especially if you want stain to stick. Frank might be right about the peeling (sorry), but honestly, he should have told you that before you started, not after you put in all that work. What a gut punch.

elliotadams12d ago

Yeah, Simonb92 is mostly right about the drying time. Two days is way too short. But it's not just about the wood feeling dry on top. The moisture gets deep in there. Needs like a solid week of good sun, maybe more if it's humid. Frank really dropped the ball not saying that upfront. Makes the whole peeling thing feel like a setup. Total waste of a weekend.

milaprice5d ago

My deck last year dried in three days and the stain is fine. Maybe it's the brand Frank uses.