What this job really involves
A deck or fence takes more weather than any other painted surface on the property. The deck floor takes foot traffic and standing water, fence boards take sun on one side and shade on the other, and every board end soaks up rain. Stain and sealer protect the wood only as long as they're kept up, so staining is a job you'll see again. Doing it well the first time makes every future coat easier.
Clear, transparent, semi-transparent or solid
Clear sealers and transparent stains let the most wood grain show but give the least protection from the sun and usually need recoating more often. Semi-transparent stains add color while some grain still shows. Solid stains look more like paint and hide the grain, and they can cover older or mismatched wood. Ask how the coating you choose will age, and what the next recoat will involve.
Cleaning and stripping
Stain has to soak into clean wood. Most decks and fences need a cleaner to lift dirt, mildew and grayed fibers, and old peeling coatings may need stripping. Some cleaners brighten the wood after stripping. Pressure washing can help, but too much pressure tears up the surface and raises fuzz, which then has to be sanded. Ask how the painter cleans the wood and protects the plants and siding nearby.
New wood
Brand-new boards, especially pressure-treated lumber, are often too wet to take stain right away. The stain maker's label says how to tell when new wood is ready. Some painters test with a few drops of water: if it beads on the surface, the wood isn't ready. Ask how the painter decides when new wood can be stained.
Weather and dry time
Stain needs dry wood, a dry forecast, and temperatures in the range on the label. Hot sun can dry stain too fast and leave lap marks. A deck can't be walked on until the coating is dry, so plan when you'll need the space. Ask what weather the painter needs and how long to stay off the deck afterward.
Repairs before stain
Loose boards, popped nails or screws, split railings and soft spots should be fixed before the coating goes on. A coat of stain won't hold together a rotten board, and new boards will look different from the old ones until both have weathered. Ask whether repairs are part of the job or a separate one.
Staining versus painting a deck
Painting a deck floor gives a solid color, but paint on a horizontal surface that takes foot traffic and standing water can peel, and peeling paint is harder to redo than worn stain. Many painters steer deck floors toward stain and leave paint for railings, trim or fences. Ask what the painter recommends for each part of your deck or fence.
Upkeep
Every stained surface wears. Deck floors usually wear first, and the sunny side of a fence fades faster than the shady side. Ask how often the painter expects to recoat, what signs to watch for, and whether the same product can go over the old one next time.
Questions to ask
- What product will you use, and is it clear, transparent, semi-transparent or solid?
- How will you clean or strip the wood?
- Do any boards need repair before staining?
- Is the new wood ready for stain?
- What weather do you need, and how long do we stay off the deck?
- How do you protect the plants, siding and patio?
- When should we expect to recoat, and what will that involve?