How long do I have to wait before staining or painting a new pressure-treated deck?

In the past, the rule of thumb was to wait until the green color faded away. Recent studies have shown that waiting the six to 12 months necessary for this to happen allows the wood to deteriorate too much. To adequately protect treated wood from the harmful effects of rain, snow, mildew and the sun's ultraviolet rays, the wood should be allowed to thoroughly dry first. Then if the wood will accept a finish, coat it with a toner or a clear, semi transparent, or solid stain. Q: About a year ago, I cleaned and refinished a pressure-treated deck with a clear water repellent. It looked like new when I finished the job, but a few weeks ago I noticed it had turned gray again. What went wrong? A: You probably didn't provide the wood with any protection from the damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Clear water repellents do a great job of protecting wood from damage caused by water, but they usually don't provide any UV protection. Wood that is not protected from UV rays can ...  more

In the past, the rule of thumb was to wait until the green color faded away. Recent studies have shown that waiting the six to 12 months necessary for this to happen allows the wood to deteriorate too much. To adequately protect treated wood from the harmful effects of rain, snow, mildew and the sun's ultraviolet rays, the wood should be allowed to thoroughly dry first. Then if the wood will accept a finish, coat it with one of the Sherwin-Williams DeckScapes systems.  more