The stains we use, and how many coats go on
| Product | Type |
|---|---|
| Oils · brushed in | |
| TWP | Penetrating oil, brushed in |
| Armstrong Clark | Penetrating oil, brushed in |
| Penofin | Penetrating oil, brushed in |
| Stains · sprayed | |
| Behr Premium | Solid color stain |
| Sherwin-Williams | Semi-transparent or clear stain |
Coats are our usual practice, not a fixed rule. With a solid stain, new wood soaks up more, so it usually gets two coats; wood that was stained before usually gets one coat. Oils are brushed in as much as the wood takes, per the product’s instructions.
We reach for Behr's solid color when old wood needs covering, or when new boards and old ones have to end up the same color.
Deck owners on forums say Penofin darkens on redwood over the years. We have not seen that in our work.
Sanding and staining a 300–500 sq ft deck — a 20 by 20 foot deck sits in the middle — all in: labor, the wash, protecting the house and 3 to 5 gallons of stain at $75. If the old finish is sound and needs no sanding, staining alone is $1,925 to $2,975. Railings are priced apart. The full table is in our refinishing cost guide.
Price my deckDeck stain colors our clients pick
In order of how often we hear them at the estimate. The color is agreed with you before work starts.
Decks we stained
Why deck stain fails
- Paint on a deck traps waterWater gets into the wood through end grain and joints, and paint keeps it from drying out, so the board swells and rots. Stain lets the wood dry. Solid color stain also forms a film, so we only use one made for decks, like Behr Premium Solid, and prep the surface before it goes on.
- Peeling starts with the surface underneathEvery job starts with a wash. If the old finish is still in good shape, we do not sand. If it is failing, we sand it off first, because a new coat over a failing one lets go with it. Then the stain goes on: a solid stain usually gets two coats on new wood and usually one coat on wood that was stained before; an oil goes on as its instructions say.
- A peeling finish cannot be stained overNew stain over a failing layer fails with it. The old finish has to be sanded off first, which is why a peeling deck costs more than a faded one.
- Too much stain is its own problemA coat the wood cannot absorb stays on top, stays tacky and wears off where people walk. That is why we put on only what the wood takes.
- Ipe and other hardwoods fade fast without oilHardwood owners say it again and again: oiled ipe drifts back to grey unless the oil is renewed. Acrylic sealers on ipe are the wrong product altogether.
Questions people actually ask
What is the best color to stain a deck?
The one our clients pick most is clear, then redwood tones, then cedar. Clear shows the wood as it is; a tinted stain evens out the color and holds up longer in sun.
Should deck stain go on in one coat or two?
With a solid stain, our usual practice is two coats on new wood, because it soaks up more, and usually one coat on wood that was stained before. Oils follow the product's instructions. The exact number depends on the product and the wood.
What is the best stain for a redwood deck?
We use TWP, Armstrong Clark or Penofin. Owners on deck forums say Penofin darkens on redwood over time; we have not seen that in our work.
How much does it cost to stain a 20 by 20 deck?
A 20 by 20 deck is 400 sq ft, in the middle of our 300–500 sq ft band. Sanding and staining a deck in that band runs $4,025 to $6,475 all in: the labor at $7.00 per sq ft for sanding and $3.50 for staining, the pressure wash, protecting the house and 3 to 5 gallons of stain at $75. Staining alone, with no sanding, is $1,925 to $2,975.
Can you stain over old stain?
We wash the deck first. If the old finish is in good shape, it gets new stain without sanding. If it peels or flakes, it is sanded off first.
When is a solid color stain the right choice?
When old wood needs covering, or when a deck has new boards next to old ones and they should end up one color. We use Behr Premium solid color: two coats on new wood, usually one coat on wood that was stained before.
Who picks the color?
You do. We bring the options to the estimate and agree the color before any work starts.