Are Nashville Summers Too Hot for Deck Revamping? Best Times to Stain or Paint Your Deck

It’s been another scorching summer in the U.S. Nashville, TN is certainly no stranger to summer heat, with temperatures approaching and exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (especially in the middle of the season). These high temperatures aren’t so bad if you’ve got a functional air conditioning unit or pool. When it comes to tackling home projects like deck staining or painting, however, the oppressive heat can make things uncomfortable, if not downright impossible. As summer winds down, however, there may be some remaining items on your to-do list that can’t wait much longer. If a deck revamp is one such item and you won’t have time to get it done after summer, you may have a problem.

The central question on your mind may be this: are summers in Nashville and surrounding areas simply too hot for deck revamping? Putting aside your personal tolerance to heat, temperatures exceeding 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit can prevent a deck staining/painting project from panning out. Unfortunately, though, a short and sweet answer won’t suffice here. Instead, let’s explore the best times to apply deck stain or paint to your Tennessee property.

When Should You Stain a Deck?

Stick to Early and Late Summer

While summer on average is the hottest season of the year, temperatures can fluctuate a bit as the season progresses. Both early and late summer in Nashville, for instance, tend to experience highs in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 60s. The middle of summer (i.e., late June to early August) is where temperatures reach their peak, as mentioned earlier. If you’re going to coat your deck during summertime, then plan to get it done towards the beginning or end of summer, and don’t bother attempting this project in July. If you already missed the early summer deadline for deck revamping, there’s still time to coat your deck before summer comes to an end. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule -- not every day in mid-summer will exceed 90 degrees, even in Nashville. You might find a string of days in July that linger between 70 and 85 degrees, in which case deck staining/painting is still on the table.

Start in the Morning

Whether you schedule your project for early, mid, or late summer, the sooner you start on a given day, the better. For one thing, temperatures are cooler in the morning and gradually warm up as the sun rises higher in the sky. Additionally, getting an early start will afford you more daylight. While deck staining only takes a few hours to complete on average, giving yourself more time is never a bad idea. The only downside of starting first thing in the morning is that you’ll often encounter morning dew, which can interfere with wood deck paint and stain. Of course, if you plan on washing your deck and coating it on the same day, some moisture in the morning won’t be an issue (since you’ll be blasting it with water regardless). Either way, make sure your deck is completely dry before beginning the coating process.

Choose a Dry but Cloudy Day

Speaking of moisture, you certainly don’t want to apply deck paint and stain if rain is in the forecast. At the same time, however, it’s best to avoid direct sunlight if possible, as strong UV rays can cause your deck coatings to dry too quickly. In other words, you want to aim for a day that features some cloud cover but doesn’t threaten to rain on your parade. While Nashville, TN receives more rain during the year compared to the national average, the heaviest rains tend to occur in April and during spring more broadly. This means that you should have plenty of rain-free days during summer to coat your deck.

Avoid Windy Days, Too

Watch out for wind while you’re at it. Fortunately, you won’t encounter as many windy days during summer as you will during the spring and fall. Still, summer gusts can make spray applications difficult (if you plan on spraying your deck with paint) and fling debris such as leaves and twigs toward your deck as you attempt to coat it.

The More Humid, the Longer to Dry

If you’re wondering, “how long does deck paint take to dry?” the answer depends on several factors, such as the coating’s thickness and composition, outdoor temperature (as previously mentioned, high temperatures speed up the drying process), and last but not least, relative humidity. When the air’s moisture content is high, deck coatings take a longer time to dry. This extended drying duration may be problematic for two reasons: 1) you might be on a strict timeline, and 2) drying too slowly can hinder the success of a stain or paint job. As such, days with lower humidity levels are optimal for deck revamping.

Why Hire Nashville Deck Staining Pros?

With so many environmental factors at play, tackling a deck revamp on your own may seem like a tall order. Hiring reputable deck staining services will give you peace of mind and ensure the best results. At Nash Painting, we aren’t just familiar with what Nashville summers have to offer -- we also know how to handle any potential problems and schedule our services in accordance with the weather. No matter the time of year or time of day, our team will get the job done quickly and correctly.

The Verdict

So, are Nashville summers too hot for exterior deck stain or paint application? By now it should be clear that the dog days of summer in Nashville are sometimes less than optimal for such a project. That said, you’ll find many days during the summer that are perfectly viable for deck improvements and coatings. Ultimately, you want to shoot for a day that’s above 50 degrees, below 90 degrees, partly cloudy with no chance of rain, and not too humid or windy. If you can check off all these boxes, you should have a relatively easy time coating your deck. And for the best results, hire pros like Nash Painting. We’ve served countless homes and businesses across Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, TN. To learn more about us, our services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!