Home / Decks and fences
Back to bare, then sealed up.
Stain or paint, after a good wash and a few dry days. If a board needs to be replaced, we'll tell you.
Decks, porches, and fence lines.
- Decks, porch floors, and steps
- Railings, spindles, and posts
- Fences, gates, and pergolas
- Washing off dirt, green growth, and old loose finish
- Sanding rough or splintered boards
- Fixing popped nails and screws so no one trips
- Stain or paint, whichever is best for your wood
The order matters.
Deck stain fails when the wood isn't clean or isn't dry. So we take care of both first.
Wash it
Dirt, green growth, and old peeling finish come off. This makes a big difference.
Let it dry
We wait two or three dry days. Sealing wet wood traps the water inside.
Sand and fix
We sand rough boards and fix popped nails. If a board is soft or rotten, we'll point it out.
Stain or paint
We go along the full length of each board so there are no lap marks. Then we let it dry before you use it.
About this kind of job.
Should I stain it or paint it?
Stain soaks into the wood. When it wears, we wash it and add more. Paint sits on top and looks solid, but when it wears out it peels.
For most deck floors, stain is easier to take care of. We'll look at your wood and tell you what we'd do.
How long after washing can you stain?
Usually two or three dry days. If it's been damp, it may take longer. We want the wood dry first.
What if some boards are rotten?
We'll show you. We don't replace boards ourselves. Some people have a carpenter fix a few boards first, then we come in.
How often does a deck need redoing?
It depends on sun, weather, and how much it gets used. When we finish, we'll tell you what to watch for.
Want a price on this?
Tell us about your project and we'll come take a look. It's free.