The job this guide covers
This guide is about one job: re-staining an existing wood deck. Not building one and not painting one, but cleaning off what's left of the old finish and putting a new stain on boards, rails and steps. It's one of the most variable jobs a painter quotes, because two decks of the same size can be in very different shape.
We don't quote prices. Below is what moves the number up or down, so you can understand a bid and compare two of them.
What the deck has been through
Two NOAA figures for the Chambersburg 1 ESE station describe the kind of wear a deck finish takes. The station averages 925.5 cooling degree days a year and 18.7 days a year reaching 90°F or more. Normal annual snowfall at the station is 30.8 inches. Both come from the station's 1991-2020 normals, not from your back yard.
Sun breaks down a stain's surface over time, and snow sitting on boards keeps them wet. That's general wear on any deck finish. What matters for price is what that wear has left behind on yours.
Condition sets most of the price
A crew's time goes mostly into preparation, and preparation depends on what's there now.
- A sound, faded semi-transparent stain usually needs a cleaner, a rinse and a new coat. That's the lightest version of the job.
- A peeling solid stain or paint has to come off, at least where it's loose. Stripping and sanding take much more time than cleaning.
- Grey, weathered wood may need a brightener and a light sanding to take stain evenly.
- Mildew or algae in shaded areas needs its own cleaner and rinse.
- Raised grain or splinters need sanding before anything goes on.
Ask the painter to say which of these they see on your deck and how they'll treat each one.
Stain type
The kind of stain changes both the prep and the long-term cost:
- Clear and toner finishes show the wood but wear fastest.
- Semi-transparent stains show grain, add color and usually re-coat without stripping.
- Solid stains cover more like paint and hide flaws, but once they peel, the next re-stain usually means more scraping.
Switching from a solid stain back to a semi-transparent one generally means stripping the old coat completely. That's a big jump in labor. See the deck and fence staining page for how each type behaves.
Railings, balusters and stairs
The flat floor is the fast part. Railings, balusters, lattice skirting and stair stringers are brushed piece by piece. A deck with a full run of balusters can take more time on the railing than on the floor. Count them, and expect the bid to reflect them.
Repairs before staining
Loose boards, popped nails, a soft board near the house and split stair treads are common finds. Stain doesn't fix any of them. Ask whether the painter does carpentry, and whether repairs are in the price or added as a separate line.
Scheduling and dry days
Deck stain needs a dry surface before it goes on and a stretch of dry weather after. Boards that were washed need time to dry out first. On hot days, many products should not be applied in direct afternoon sun, because they dry too fast to soak in evenly. A crew that has to come back for a second day because of weather or drying time spends more hours on the job. Ask how the schedule is built and what happens on rain days.
Comparing two bids
Line up two proposals and check:
- cleaning only, or stripping?
- brightener included?
- which stain, by name, and how many coats?
- railings, balusters, skirting and stairs included?
- repairs included or priced separately?
If one bid is much lower, it usually leaves one of these out.