It’s important to finish typical pressure-treated wood as soon as possible after completion of a deck in order to protect it.
Splash some water on the deck boards. If it beads up, the wood isn’t quite ready to be sealed. Wait several days and test it again. When the water absorbs into the wood, it’s ready to seal or stain.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
People who are building pressure treated wood decks for their outdoor living space often want to know how long they have to wait before they seal or stain them. It’s important to finish typical pressure treated wood as soon as possible after completion of a deck in order to protect it.
In the past, people waited up to 6 months before finishing projects but that’s no longer necessary with newer treatments like micronized copper. The new rule of thumb is 30 days, but your project could be ready in less time depending on factors like weather conditions and how long the material was in the lumber yard before you purchased it.
The best course of action is to test the surface yourself. Splash some water on the deck boards. If it beads up, the wood isn’t quite ready to be sealed. Wait several days and test it again. When the water absorbs into the wood, it’s ready to seal or stain.