A deck is mostly edges
A deck re-stain looks like a flat area to cover, but much of the time goes into everything that isn't flat: railings, balusters, stairs, posts, fascia boards and the gaps between boards. This guide explains the factors behind the price. It gives no prices, rates or ranges.
What NOAA lists for Jackson/Reynolds
NOAA's engineering weather data for Jackson/Reynolds lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 90 mph (3-second gust at 33 feet), a 100-year rainfall rate of 2.8 inches per hour and about 63 freeze-thaw cycles in an average year. These are the station's figures, not measurements on your deck. The freeze-thaw count is the one that matters most here: water that soaks into the wood surface can freeze and lift the surface fibers, and finishes on a deck wear much faster than on walls.
Size, railings and stairs
- Deck boards are priced by area, and are the fastest part.
- Railings and balusters are slow; each baluster has four faces.
- Stairs have treads, risers and stringers, all detailed work.
- Skirting and lattice under the deck are often extra.
A small deck with lots of railing can cost more than a larger, low deck with none. Ask how each part is counted.
Cleaning and stripping
Old stain, gray fibers and mildew have to come off before new stain goes on. How hard that is depends on the old finish:
- a worn penetrating stain may only need cleaning;
- a solid stain or paint that's peeling may need stripping or sanding, which takes much longer;
- mildew needs treating so it doesn't grow back under the new finish.
Pressure washing can raise and splinter soft wood if done too hard, so ask what pressure and what cleaner the crew will use. The cleaning stage usually decides more of the price than the staining.
Board repairs
Loose, split or rotted boards and popped nails or screws should be fixed before stain. Ask whether the painter does repairs, how they're priced, and whether structural problems will be pointed out to you.
Stain type and coats
A penetrating stain soaks in and recoats easily later. A solid stain hides more but can peel on walking surfaces. Switching from a solid stain back to a clear or semi-transparent one usually means stripping, which adds a lot of labor. Coats vary with the product: some labels call for one coat, others two applied wet on wet. The deck and fence staining page explains the choices.
Dry wood, dry days
Stain needs dry wood and a dry spell after it goes on. After washing, the deck needs time to dry, often more than a day. Rain on the forecast pushes the job back. Ask how the crew handles a rain delay between cleaning and staining, since wood that sits too long may need another light cleaning.
Michigan's 2019 change for painters
Michigan's Occupational Code list of crafts and trades for a residential maintenance and alteration contractor license (MCL 339.2404) does not include painting and decorating; 2018 Public Act 527, effective March 28, 2019, removed that trade so residential painters no longer need that license. That puts the terms of the job in your written agreement.
What to get in writing
- Which parts of the deck are included: boards, rails, stairs, skirting.
- How it will be cleaned or stripped, and with what.
- Which repairs are included.
- The stain product, color and number of coats.
- What happens on rain days.
See the pricing guide for more on what moves painting costs.