Can You Lay Deck Boards in the Rain? (Everything You Need To Know)

Have you been waiting to build your deck, but the weather just won’t seem to cooperate and give you a good sunny day to do it? One common question that is asked is whether or not you can lay deck boards in the rain.

In this blog post, we will explore this topic and help you understand the best way to approach installing your deck in wet weather conditions.

Answer To The Question Can Deck Boards Be Laid In the Rain:

Deck boards can be laid in the rain, but there may be some precautions depending on the material used and the heaviness of the precipitation. Composite decking does not absorb water so there is no disadvantage to laying those down in the rain. Wood boards may prove a little trickier, but they can still be laid in the rain.

In this article, we will review the possible outcomes of laying deck boards in the rain, whether or not you should lay wet boards for your deck if you can lay pressure treat wood deck boards in the rain, and what kind of rainy conditions are acceptable for installing decking.

What Will Happen If I Lay Deck Boards in the Rain?

Composite deck boards are made of material, usually a plastic mixture, that is water repellent so rain should not have an impact on the laying of deck boards. For hardwood deck boards, there are a few factors to consider, although you can still lay them in the rain.

Wood will absorb water but as long as the percentage of stored water in the wood is less than 20% to 30%, you should not have any issues laying the boards. If the rain is very heavy or occurs during a time of the year when there are regular freezing and thawing cycles, you may want to wait for a sunny day.

Wood will expand when it’s wet and even more so when the temperature drops below freezing as ice forms. You also want to note if the staining of the hardwood had fully dried. Installing wood deck boards in the rain may cause spots in the staining if it hasn’t been allowed to dry completely.

Can I Lay Wet Deck Boards?

Composite deck boards are only wet on the outside as they repel water. Installing wet composite deck boards is not an issue and it only takes the swipe of a towel to dry them off before installation.

Hardwood deck boards will absorb and retain water, however. You can lay wet boards, but it is advisable to make sure they are less than 30% saturated. By laying wet deck boards, you are increasing your chances of problems in the future.

Wet deck boards invite mold, fungi, and mildew growth. They can also significantly warp and buckle over time as wood shrinks when it dries. Your best bet is to use dry wood to build your deck.

Purchase wood that has been kiln-dried or allow your wood to dry out in a well-ventilated and sheltered area. Use a moisture meter to ensure your wood is less than 30% saturated before laying it for your deck installation.

Can I Lay Pressure Treated Wood Deck Boards in the Rain?

Pressure-treated wood decking boards offer extra protection for your deck, so they are more durable to be laid in the rain. However, their treatment is mainly to prevent rotting and insect infestation. Treating wood does not make it waterproof.

Pressure-treated wood will still absorb water causing the expansion and shrinkage of the boards as it retains moisture and subsequently dries out. The chemicals used in the treatment of the wood will not leach out due to rain, so there should be no worry about that.

To prevent issues that could eventually arise from laying your pressure-treated deck board, consider sealing it before laying down the boards. This will reduce the amount of water absorbed if you lay them in the rain and thus reduce the chances of damage resulting from water exposure.

In general, treat pressure-treated wood decking the same as other wood decking and take the necessary precautions when laying the boards down in the rain.

What Rainy Conditions Are Acceptable for Laying Down Decking?

You can lay deck boards in the rain, but you must use caution as rain can add extra work for your deck installation. A light rain especially during late spring, summer, and early fall are perfectly good conditions for laying deck boards. The weather might be preferable to the beating sun of a really hot day.

Try to avoid laying deck boards down in the rain if the precipitation is moderate to severely heavy, especially if such conditions are going to last for the next few days or weeks. Extreme amounts of rain exposure can cause saturation of the wood which will make it vulnerable to warping and buckling.

Laying deck boards down in the rain in the wintertime is also inadvisable. With constant freezing and thawing, the water retained in the wood deck boards from precipitation will expand and shrink even more drastically than simply the cycle of wetting and drying out. Ice within the boards may even cause them to splinter, crack, or warp irreparably.

Composite decking has no restrictions on weather conditions when it comes to deck installation. Although it may not be pleasant to lay down any type of decking in driving rain or under torrential downpours.

Conclusion

Laying down deck boards is not a difficult task but can be time-consuming. Waiting for a good weather day to install your deck may not be feasible so it’s important to know if the rain will prevent you from laying down the deck boards.

For composite decking, there is no issue with laying boards down in the rain as they are water repellent, and the rain will not have a significant effect on the decking itself. For hardwood decking, it’s important to consider how heavy the precipitation is, the season in which you are working, and the saturation of the wood.

Wood deck boards that are at least 30% saturated are not in a good condition to use for decking. Using dry wood will help prevent rotting, splintering, and warping all associated with the impacts of water retained within the wood.

If you found this blog post helpful, please share it with your friends and family on social media.

Also, take a look at our other most recent blog posts below:

Can You Lay Deck Boards in the Rain? (Everything You Need To Know)