Is it good to stain in Cedar Rapids, IA this week?
A live 7-day go/no-go calendar for deck & fence stain in Cedar Rapids, 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
- -1.6°F
- Overnight dew
- High
- Rain
- 57%
- Window
- —
High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within -1.6°F of the 74°F dew point (low 72°F, 60% cloud, 7 mph wind). A fresh stain can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- Dew margin
- 1.8°F
- Overnight dew
- High
- Rain
- 51%
- Window
- —
High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within 1.8°F of the 71°F dew point (low 70°F, 83% cloud, 7 mph wind). A fresh stain can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- Dew margin
- 1.5°F
- Overnight dew
- High
- Rain
- 79%
- Window
- —
High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within 1.5°F of the 68°F dew point (low 69°F, 100% cloud, 8 mph wind). A fresh stain can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- Dew margin
- 1.2°F
- Overnight dew
- High
- Rain
- 58%
- Window
- —
High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within 1.2°F of the 68°F dew point (low 69°F, 11% cloud, 13 mph wind). A fresh stain can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- Dew margin
- 1.2°F
- Overnight dew
- High
- Rain
- 39%
- Window
- —
High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within 1.2°F of the 71°F dew point (low 71°F, 100% cloud, 7 mph wind). A fresh stain can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- Dew margin
- -0.2°F
- Overnight dew
- High
- Rain
- 16%
- Window
- —
High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within -0.2°F of the 64°F dew point (low 61°F, 12% cloud, 7 mph wind). A fresh stain can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- Dew margin
- 3.3°F
- Overnight dew
- High
- Rain
- 8%
- Window
- —
High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within 3.3°F of the 60°F dew point (low 63°F, 0% cloud, 5 mph wind). A fresh stain can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within -1.6°F of the 74°F dew point (low 72°F, 60% cloud, 7 mph wind). A fresh stain can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- High humidity (90%, over the 85% mark) slows drying — keep an eye on the cure window.
- Some rain risk (57%) during the cure window — re-check the radar before you start.
Hold off. 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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Watch this job site 24/7
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.