The best months for staining a deck or fence in the Tampa area are October through May. Summer afternoons bring near-daily storms, and stain applied to damp wood or hit by rain before it cures will blotch, peel or simply wash off. In the dry season we can wash the wood, let it dry for a day or two, and stain with confidence.
Wood moisture is the hidden factor. After pressure washing, boards need time to dry below roughly fifteen percent moisture before stain will penetrate. A cheap moisture meter tells the truth; so does a few drops of water on the surface. If they bead instead of soaking in, the wood is not ready, or the old finish needs to come off first.
For Florida decks, penetrating oil-based and hybrid stains do well because they soak into the wood instead of forming a film that can peel. Semi-transparent stains show the grain and are the easiest to maintain. Solid stains and deck paints hide older, grayed boards but require more prep when it is time to recoat.
Fences follow the same rules, with one addition: sprinklers. A fence that gets hit by irrigation every morning will gray and mildew fastest on that side, so adjust sprinkler heads before staining and treat mildew during the wash.
Expect to recoat a deck every two to three years and a fence every three to four, depending on sun exposure. Zumo Painting & Renovations includes wash, repairs, drying time and the right product for your wood in every written estimate.