Prep is the job
Most early peel is a dirty or damp board, not a bad brand. We wait for a dry window. Rushing a coat before a storm is how finishes fail here.
DECKS · MAINTENANCE
Deck Staining and Refinishing
A stain will not save a soft joist, and a new coat over mildew just seals the mildew in. We wash, brighten and prep cedar and older wood decks, then apply a finish that can survive an Eastside year. If the ledger or boards are done, we say so and price a rebuild instead of selling you a one-season cosmetic.
Included in this scope
- Wash and mildew treatment before any stain is opened
- Sanding or brightening where the old finish has failed
- A stain or oil chosen for open decks versus covered decks
- Rails, stairs and fascia in the same pass
- A written note on what should be replaced instead of coated
Details that change the result
Composite is not stained
Capped composite gets washed, not coated. If someone sold you stain for Trex or TimberTech, we will talk you out of it.
A path to the rebuild
Refinishing is the upsell we will refuse when the wood is soft. The deck construction page is the next step, and we would rather send you there than take a stain deposit.
Where this fits
Related pages
Most projects touch more than one trade. These are the pages homeowners open next, and the scopes we most often bundle into a single estimate.
Questions
Before you call
How long does refinishing take?
A typical deck is two to four days: wash, dry, prep, coat, and a second coat if the product needs it. Weather moves the schedule. We do not coat wet boards.
Can you just power-wash it?
A careful wash is the start. Blasting cedar raises the grain and scars the boards. If you also want the house washed before paint, that is a separate prep service under painting.
When should we rebuild instead?
Spongy boards, a soft ledger, posts rocking in the piers, or nails pulling through. We will show you those spots at the visit so the choice is obvious.
Ready when you are
Get a written estimate this week
Call (425) 555-0123, or send the form and we will schedule the visit. We reply within one business day.