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Deck Staining Weather in South Carolina: Best Months by City

Deck Staining season in South Carolina, city by city: peak months, season boundaries, and annual workable-day counts from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Charleston leads with 264 workable days a year; Columbia runs the shortest at 154.

Across South Carolina's 10 listed cities, annual workable days for deck staining run from 154 (Columbia) up to 264 (Charleston). Every number comes from NOAA 1991–2020 normals scored against the same label ruleset; every city name links to its live 10-day check.

Statewide, October is the strongest month — it tops or ties the table in most listed cities. The live strips on each city page decide the week; this table decides the month. Scoring rules: methodology; the national playbook: the deck staining guide.

Cities in South Carolina

Peak months and season boundaries from NOAA 1991–2020 normals; season = months with at least 8 workable days.
CityPeak monthsSeasonWorkable days/yr
Charleston Oct, Nov, May year-round 264
Columbia Oct, May, Apr March–June 154
Greenville Oct, Sep, May April–November 164
Myrtle Beach Oct, May, Mar February–December 202
Rock Hill Oct, Sep, May March–June 158
Spartanburg Oct, Sep, May March–June 161
Mauldin Oct, Sep, May April–November 164
North Charleston Oct, Nov, Mar February–June 197
Mount Pleasant Oct, Nov, May year-round 264
Florence Oct, Nov, Mar March–June 159

The rules behind these numbers

Typical label thresholds for deck staining — the single ruleset used by every check on this page.
CheckThresholdWhy it matters
Air temperature 50–90°F Air temperature while applying and for the first hours of dry time.
Overnight low ≥40°F during the first 24 h Overnight low during the cure window.
Dry before ≤0.05" rain in the prior 24 h; watch back to 48 h Wood must dry out after rain before it can absorb stain.
Dry after <0.05" rain for 24 h after (48 h oil-based formulas want 48 h dry) Water-based stains need roughly 24 dry hours; oil-based closer to 48.
Evening dew-point spread ≥5°F from 6–11 pm Temperature minus dew point from 6 pm to 11 pm. A small spread means dew will settle on fresh stain.
Daytime humidity ≤85% Daytime relative humidity slows dry time.
Wind ≤15 mph (brush or pad only up to 20 mph) Above 15 mph, spraying drifts; above 20 mph, dust and debris land in wet stain.

Always follow your product label — formulas vary. The table above is the typical range across major manufacturers, not a promise about your can.

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