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Exterior Staining when Rain is Forecast

By Chris Sullivan – ChemSystems, Inc.

Question:

I acid stained a driveway today and plan to return tomorrow to clean and neutralize the surface. We are expecting rain tonight. Do I need to cover the driveway with plastic or do anything to protect the surface because of the rain?

Answer:

The short answer is, yes! No matter what color acid stain is used, there is always excess stain (called "stain residue") remaining on the surface. Acid stain residue contains some un-reacted stain, which will discolor most anything it comes in contact with. If it rains, the runoff will carry some or all – depending on the amount of rain – of the residue with it. Darker colors tend to leave more residue then lighter colors.

Depending on where the runoff goes, this could be a small issue or a major problem. I have seen stain residue carried by rainwater runoff permanently discolor brick, sidewalks, stone, and vinyl siding. Covering the surface with plastic would help, but it is hard to keep rainwater from getting underneath and causing the same issue. Plastic can also affect the appearance of the stain where it touches the stained surface. If rain is in the forecast, either postpone staining or make sure the residue is cleaned off before the rain starts.

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