Why Staining Your Deck in the Midwest Isn’t Optional

If you live in the Midwest, you already know the drill. One day it’s 75 and sunny, the next it’s pouring rain, and a few months later your deck is buried under snow and ice. That weather might be normal for Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota… but it’s not normal for wood.

A lot of people think deck stain is mostly for looks like something you do when the boards start turning gray or the color fades. But in the Midwest, staining is honestly more like basic maintenance. It’s what keeps your deck from getting wrecked by water, temperature swings, and sun exposure year after year.

Midwest winters are hard on decks

Midwest Weather Is Rough on Wood

Wood is naturally porous, which means it absorbs moisture easily. And moisture is everywhere around here. Illinois, for example, averages about 39 inches of precipitation each year, and nearby states like Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota get plenty of rain too.

The problem isn’t just the rain, it's what happens after the rain. In the colder months, decks go through constant freeze-thaw cycles. Water gets into the wood during the day, freezes at night, expands, and slowly causes cracking and splitting. That’s why so many Midwest decks start looking rough after a few winters.

Freeze-thaw cycles can cause premature rotting in unsealed wood surfaces

Snow Sits on Your Deck Like a Wet Blanket

Snow makes everything worse because it doesn’t just fall and disappear. It sits. It melts. It refreezes. It sits again. Wisconsin and Minnesota are especially known for heavy snow, often averaging 40+ inches of snowfall per year, while Iowa and Illinois still get plenty depending on the season and location.

When snow piles up on your deck, the boards stay damp for long stretches of time. That’s when wood starts to swell, soften, and eventually break down. If you’re seeing boards that look warped or feel spongy, that’s a sign moisture has been winning for a while.

Snow is a major concern for outdoor wood surfaces in heavy snowfall areas like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan

Summer Sun Still Does Damage

Even though we’re not in Arizona, summer sun still hits hard. UV rays break down the surface of the wood, drying it out and causing fading and splintering. That’s why decks can start looking “washed out” after a couple of summers even if they aren’t actually old.

A properly stained and sealed deck is a great way to protect that surface from rotting away

So What Does Stain Really Do?

Stain helps your deck handle Midwest weather in three big ways:

1. It repels water so rain and snowmelt don’t soak in as fast

2. It reduces cracking and warping by keeping moisture out of the grain

3. It protects from UV rays so boards don’t dry out and splinter as quickly

Basically, staining is your deck’s shield. It doesn’t make it indestructible, but it makes it way more durable.

In Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota, decks take a beating every year from rain, snow, and freeze-thaw stress, so staining isn’t something you do “if you feel like it.” It’s one of the easiest ways to protect the wood and avoid bigger problems down the road. If your deck looks faded, feels rough, or hasn’t been stained in a few years, it’s probably time. A weekend of work now can save you a lot of money (and frustration) later.