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Parent Category: Defy Stain Reviews, Articles, How-To Tips

Weather Tips for Defy Application

When applying Defy Wood Stains to any exterior wood surface your results will depend on several factors. Defy is an easy to apply user friendly wood stain that enhances the wood’s natural beauty and gives superior protection from the elements. One factor that can effect the final staining results with Defy is weather.

 

Always check your local forecast before starting a wood staining project. Temperature and moisture level can have a negative effect on the newly applied stain if they are not ideal. Defy Deck Stain should be applied in temperatures of 60-80 degrees. The temperature should not dip below freezing for 8 hours after application.

Try not to apply Defy Wood Stain in direct sunlight or on extremely hot days. This can cause the stain to dry quicker than it can penetrate the wood and may result in an uneven appearance or inconsistent coloring.

Before staining with Defy Stain the wood needs to be dry. If it has gotten wet due to being cleaned or by rain it is best to allow the wood to dry for a minimum of 24 hours before staining. This wait time can vary depending on the wood’s age, porosity, and sun exposure.

To check for adequate dryness before staining do a water drop test. Put some water drops on the wood in several locations. If the water absorbs into the wood quickly it is most likely ready to be stained. If the water does not seem to absorb in you should wait another day before staining. Only apply Defy Stain when it is not going to rain within 12 hours of application.

Defy needs to penetrate and dry properly before getting wet. Plan your stain application for a couple of dry warm days and keep an eye on the forecast and you should not have any problems. When applied correctly and weather isn’t a factor, Defy wood and deck stains will give you years of protection and lasting beauty.

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  • We will reply to your comment shortly.
    Pat Rotondi · 06/19/2020
    How much time can pass between cleaning and brightening before stain can be applied? Having a hard time getting a week long forecast free of rain.
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    Peter Sloat · 06/02/2020
    It started drizzling during application of the DEFY Extreme Light Walnut stain. Is there anything that we can do? Will the drops left on the surface cause the stain to fail? We have covered a large portion of the deck with our awning to keep further rain from getting on the freshly stained deck.
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      thesealerstore · 06/02/2020
      Wait until the rain dries off the wood to assess. If it looks okay then no issues.
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    Russ · 05/22/2020
    I'm confused by the dry times for both pre and post staining. You have said it can be applied when the wood is slightly damp (since it's water based), but also say to wait 24 hours after rain or cleaning to let dry before applying. Also, after staining, how long does it have to dry before the next rain is likely? I have read dry-to-touch within 2-6 hours, wait 24 hours for heavy traffic, but does that mean it's ok to apply if rain isn't expected for 6 or more hours? I'm in a damp Spring climate and finding 3-4 consecutive days of completely dry weather can be a problem. Thank you.
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      thesealerstore · 05/22/2020
      Defy cannot be applied to damp wood. 48 hours after rain or prep to stain and then at least 6 hours before rain can hit the newly stained deck.
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    thesealerstore · 06/16/2017
    Susan Mcintosh:
    It rained last night. We want to strip our deck today. How dry must the deck be? We are using your Defy products.

    Wait 24-48 hours after a rain.
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    Susan Mcintosh · 06/16/2017
    It rained last night. We want to strip our deck today. How dry must the deck be? We are using your Defy products.
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    opwdecks · 07/09/2016
    Rich:
    Applied defy hardwood ..one coat..to my ipie deck.....was warm and dry time seemed good..2.5 hours later a rain came through..not real heavy but more then a drizzle..

    How will I know if the stain was not effective...thx Rich

    You can tell after the rain water dries off. If it looks good and dried evenly, then leave alone. If blotchy, you may need to strip and start over.
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    Rich · 07/08/2016
    Applied defy hardwood ..one coat..to my ipie deck.....was warm and dry time seemed good..2.5 hours later a rain came through..not real heavy but more then a drizzle..

    How will I know if the stain was not effective...thx Rich
  • We will reply to your comment shortly.
    opwdecks · 04/15/2015
    Susan Popelka:
    We applied Defy Extreme to a new cedar deck last summer. We let the deck sit for 3 months before applying stain, then followed your instructions using products to clean and brighten and open the pores. Unfortunately it started raining 10 minutes after staining. We applied one coat. We are getting ready to try again and the stain is completely missing in places. It appears to be peeling in some areas. How do we handle staining this year? Clean and brighten and apply 2 coats? I hope we don't have to strip it.

    You will have to strip and start over. Use the wood brightener after the stripping.
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    Susan Popelka · 04/14/2015
    We applied Defy Extreme to a new cedar deck last summer. We let the deck sit for 3 months before applying stain, then followed your instructions using products to clean and brighten and open the pores. Unfortunately it started raining 10 minutes after staining. We applied one coat. We are getting ready to try again and the stain is completely missing in places. It appears to be peeling in some areas. How do we handle staining this year? Clean and brighten and apply 2 coats? I hope we don't have to strip it.
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    opwdecks · 09/25/2014
    nancy smith:
    I recently used the Defy extreme on my cedar deck. It looks beautiful, but now that the rains are here I am noticing that some of the wood is darker like the water is getting into the wood. Is this normal? I did 2 coats just as instructed. If this is normal is it still protected from mildew and sun?

    Yes that is normal as Defy will not stop water 100%. You do not want this as you need the wood to allow moisture to escape.
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    nancy smith · 09/25/2014
    I recently used the Defy extreme on my cedar deck. It looks beautiful, but now that the rains are here I am noticing that some of the wood is darker like the water is getting into the wood. Is this normal? I did 2 coats just as instructed. If this is normal is it still protected from mildew and sun?