Need advice restaining deck *Pics*

slickshift

Well...it's not like paint that goes on like a film over a wall
Paint actually should be dry before re-coating

If there's a chemist about, or a good googler, maybe we'll get a specific technical answer, but...
The best way I can explain it is;
The one-coat stain is also a sealer, and it needs to absorb into the wood
If the first coat dries before the second coat, then the second coat won't sink into the wood like it should

From Personal/Professional Experience:
I know for a fact you can (technically it can be done) wait for it to dry, but the second coat won't absorb (and color) like you want it too
It won't fall off or anything....it's just not really the best way
It tends to pool more...and can even get blotchy

Best bet is to read the can
It will tell you if the product can be second coated, and if the first coat has to be wet or dry

J187

Jelly, I think what you need to realize in order for it to make sense is that part of the reason why we need to be so diligent stripping the deck is to provide for a porous environment to make sure the stain/sealer soaks in as well as possible, as slick explained. Also like he said, you are effectively sealing out your own second coat if you wait.

I know I won't need a second coat now that I have started. The color is exactly what I was hoping for and seems to be what I would expect to be about the right absorbancy. I think that if I had opted to skip the Coating life extender, I would be definitley looking at a second coat, but having used that, I think this will be suffice. Almost done now, thanks again Slck for all your help - hard to believe we finally got some weather for something like this around here huh?

slickshift

That's for sure
Hopefully fall will be warm enough for us to catch up with our exteriors out here
The just plain wet day after days were bad enough
But those sunny mornings with afternoon storms coming off the bay sent us scrambling more than once
At least if we are Bayside, we can hear them aways off for a little heads up