Is it good to stain in Fort Collins, CO this week?
A live 7-day go/no-go calendar for deck & fence stain in Fort Collins, built from the local forecast against the 5°F-above-dew-point rule. We lead with the signal a weather app misses: overnight condensation risk.
- Dew margin
- 23.5°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 1%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Clear to stain: temps 66–90°F, RH under 45%, surface stays 23.5°F+ above the dew point, no rain in the cure window.
- Dew margin
- 38.1°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 1%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Clear to stain: temps 64–85°F, RH under 29%, surface stays 38.1°F+ above the dew point, no rain in the cure window.
- Dew margin
- 31.4°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 16%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Hot afternoon (91°F, ceiling 90°F) — stain early and follow the shade.
- Dew margin
- 19.7°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 9%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Hot afternoon (93°F, ceiling 90°F) — stain early and follow the shade.
- Dew margin
- 28.5°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 8%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Hot afternoon (94°F, ceiling 90°F) — stain early and follow the shade.
- Dew margin
- 41.1°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 4%
- Window
- —
Too hot — high of 96°F is well over the 90°F ceiling; the film skins over before it can level or adhere.
- Dew margin
- 42.6°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 7%
- Window
- —
Too hot — high of 99°F is well over the 90°F ceiling; the film skins over before it can level or adhere.
- Clear to stain: temps 66–90°F, RH under 45%, surface stays 23.5°F+ above the dew point, no rain in the cure window.
Good to go. These are forecast numbers — confirm the surface temperature on-site before you start.
Why these thresholds
Stain applied to a damp or dew-wet board can't penetrate — it beads, stays tacky and flakes. Wood must be dry and stay above the dew point while it sets.
- • Surface temp must stay 5°F above the dew point through application and cure (ASTM D3276 / ISO 8502-42).
- • Air + surface in the 50–90°F band (low-temp lines to 45°F).
- • Humidity under 85%; ideally under 70%.
- • No rain for 24h after application.
- • We use the forecast ground-surface temperature as a surface-temp proxy — confirm on-site with an IR thermometer.
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Get an email the moment overnight dew, rain, or an out-of-range stretch threatens a fresh coat — and a morning digest with the best window ahead. No app to check; we watch the forecast for you.