Wood should be dry, though some degree of dampness is acceptable, depending on desired application methods. In a typical application, the wood should be surface dry for at least two hours for best results. Generally, you can power wash your substrate early in the morning and stain by noon. If rainfall is imminent, you should stop the application and protect your recently finished work. If you are applying in sunny conditions as opposed to shade (shade is always preferred), we recommend that you lightly mist the substrate with water, let the wood fibers recover for 10 to 30 minutes, then apply two coats of C2 Guard, wet on damp. Always consult your local C2 Guarddealer for detailed application instructions.