The Chippewa Valley Climate and Your Deck: Why Weather Beats Down Wood (and How Staining Fights Back)

Life in the Chippewa Valley from Eau Claire to Chippewa Falls, Altoona, and Menomonie

comes with some of the most beautiful scenery in Wisconsin. Rolling forests, winding rivers, and those crisp Midwest mornings make it a great place to live outdoors.

But for your deck? It’s a different story.

The same weather that makes Eau Claire feel so alive can also wear down wood faster than

you’d expect. Between temperature swings, humidity, and long winters, decks in this region face constant stress. Without proper care, even high-quality lumber can crack, fade, or rot within a few short years.

A before picture of a deck EcoWash stained with a water-based product in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Here’s how local weather impacts wood - and how regular staining helps stop the breakdown before it starts.

If you’ve lived in Eau Claire for a while, you know this city has something special. It’s not too

big, not too small - just the right mix of rivers, trails, great food, and good people. You can

spend a morning kayaking on the Chippewa River, grab lunch downtown, and still make it home in time to relax on your back deck before the sun goes down.

In the surrounding area of the Eau Claire radius Lake Halle, Chippewa Falls, Altoona, and Osseo, the winters are harsh and unforgiving. Then add in the long and wet spring and fall seasons, and decks will start to rot out after all of that abuse. So getting a quality stain on those decks should be a priority to preserve the life span of your deck.

What does deck staining do?

Wood is a sponge-like material; the wetness of the outdoors soaks into the wood. What that means is all the dust and dirt that was in the air or on the deck has now just been soaked into the deck. As the pores of the wood have now absorbed the grime, the inner fibers of the wood will begin to break down and decay. This is known as rot.

How do we prevent this? Stain works like a sealant from those external elements. It will clog those pores and make the wood hydrophobic, repelling water and the debris that can come with it.

After picture of the deck staining project in Chippewa Falls.

When is the best time for deck staining?

The staining season is not year-round; the best times to stain decks in northern Wisconsin are typically from late spring into early fall. The best temperature to apply stain is 50 degree lows during the day to 90 degree highs. Making sure the stain fully cures and binds to the wood is essential for proper application and longevity. Stain cannot get below 40 degrees during a 24-hour cure; otherwise, it will not bond correctly.

Bringing it all together

No matter where you call home in the Chippewa Valley, be it Eau Claire, Altoona, Chippewa

Falls, or Lake Halle, staining your deck this spring or summer is a great way to keep it looking

great and fresh. And with the stain applied, there is no need to worry about the wood rotting away after a couple of years. Having a healthy and pristine deck is also a great way to raise the property value of your home. Your deck isn’t just a pile of wood; it's a place to make memories with your family and friends, so let's keep it fresh this summer.