The rates, and what sits behind each one
These are the figures our calculator uses. Put your own square footage into it and you will see the same numbers — there is one source and this page is reading from it.
- Sanding and staining, 300–500 sq ft $3,150 – $5,250$7.00 + $3.50 per sq ft
- The usual job: the grey weathered surface is taken back to bare wood, then stained. Both figures are labor.
- Sanding and staining, 500 sq ft and up from $4,750$6.50 + $3.00 per sq ft
- The rate drops on larger decks because setup, masking and drying time are spread over more surface.
- Staining only, 300–500 sq ft $1,050 – $1,750$3.50 per sq ft
- For a deck that is still sound and was sanded recently. If the finish is peeling rather than faded, sanding is not optional.
- Staining only, 500 sq ft and up by square foot$3.00 per sq ft
- Same work, larger deck, lower rate.
- Under 300 sq ft we decline—
- The trip, the masking and the drying time cost the same as on a full deck. We would rather say so than quote a number nobody is happy with.
What the labor rate covers
- Sanding the deck surface, the rails and the stairsNot just the floor. The rails are where a half-done job shows first.
- Applying the stain, cut in by hand at the edgesEdges and posts are brushed, not sprayed past.
- Charged on top: stain, washing, protectionMaterial cost depends on what the deck takes and how thirsty the wood is after sanding. We name it in the written scope before anything starts.
When refinishing is the wrong answer
- The frame is soft, not just the boardsA beautiful finish over a rotted joist is money spent on hiding a problem. If a screwdriver sinks into the framing, the deck needs repair or replacement first.
- Boards are cupped or splitting throughSanding takes off a surface, not a quarter inch of damage. Replace the worst boards, then finish.
- The decking is compositeComposite is cleaned, never stained. If it looks tired, washing is the fix.
Questions people actually ask
How much does it cost to refinish a deck in the Bay Area?
Sanding and staining together run $7.00 and $3.50 per square foot of labor on a 300–500 sq ft deck, which is $3,150 to $5,250 for a typical deck. Above 500 sq ft the rates drop to $6.50 and $3.00. Stain, washing and protection are charged on top of the labor.
How often does a deck need staining?
Two to four years in this climate, depending on how much sun and rain the deck takes. A deck that faces west and gets no shade needs it sooner than one under trees. The honest test is water: if it soaks in rather than beading, the finish is done.
Is sanding always necessary, or can you stain over the old finish?
If the old finish is faded but intact, staining over it works. If it is peeling, cracking or blotchy, staining over it locks the damage in and the new coat fails within a season. Sanding is what makes the difference between a job that lasts three years and one that lasts three months.
Why is there a 300 square foot minimum?
Because the cost of a refinishing job is mostly setup: getting there, masking what must not be stained, and waiting between coats. Those hours are the same on a 150 sq ft deck as on a 400 sq ft one, so a small job would have to be priced at a rate that looks unreasonable. We say no instead.
Does refinishing work on composite decking?
No, and it should not be needed. Composite is not stained; it is cleaned. If a composite deck looks tired, the fix is washing and sometimes replacing boards, not a finish.
Want the number for your own deck?
The calculator takes the square footage and gives you the same range this page quotes. If the deck needs more than a finish, we will say so before quoting.