My deck stain job in Denver last month turned into a sticky mess

I used a cheap stain from the hardware store and applied it when the weather said 70 degrees, but it never fully dried and now it's tacky. My buddy told me to try mineral spirits and a light sanding, but I'm worried about making it worse. Has anyone fixed a sticky stain job without stripping the whole deck?

2 comments

2 Comments

walker.robert2d ago

Sticky mess" used to make me think it was just bad stain, but weather matters way more.

the_lucas2d ago

Weather can ruin a project you thought was done right. I've seen good stain turn into a gummy mess because someone applied it on a humid day. It's a tough lesson to learn the hard way.