After cleaning the deck you will need to neutralize the wood deck cleaner with a wood brightener.
Staining new cedar deck boards.
Not the most common approach but can be done if you prep properly.
Let dry for 24 48 hours then apply your deck stain of choice.
New wood needs to season and be prepped prior to stain.
However with semi transparent stains you will need to take care with the application.
Semi transparent stains are your best bet when you want the real look of slightly weathered cedar with protection.
We recommend you wait 3 months to stain new smooth cedar wood surfaces to allow the wood to weather creating an ideal porous surface that will hold the stain.
This simply allows moisture to soak in through the ends or bottom of the boards causing the stain to flake and peel quickly.
Since cedar is all natural and chemical free it comes without any enhanced protection.
Apply a wood deck cleaner and thoroughly scrub and or pressure wash lightly.
Stain all sides of cedar decking.
Cedar is not exceptionally hard wood.
Therefore you should stain or seal your cedar decking within 2 to 3 months of installing the deck.
Stain new deck right away.
The few solid particles in this mix will not significantly obscure cedar s wood grain.
Staining or sealing a cedar deck has different rules than decks using pressure treated lumber.
When to stain cedar decking.
Staining cedar with a semi transparent stain.