Service
Service No. 09

Deck Staining

Wood that survives another New England winter.

Deck stain fails when the wood isn't ready for it. We wash, brighten to reset the pH, sand where needed, and apply penetrating stains to bone-dry wood — so the finish soaks in rather than sits on top.

Deck Staining
Timeline
3–5 days (weather-dependent)
Service area
Acton, MA & Greater Boston
Licensed
MA CSL & HIC
Why us

Why owners choose us.

Wash, brighten, dry — then stain

The three prep steps that determine how long the finish lasts.

Penetrating stains only

Film-forming stains flake. Penetrating stains fade — and re-coat cleanly.

Back-brushed

Every board back-brushed after spraying for uniform absorption.

Fastener check

Popped screws and nails set before staining — small detail, big longevity.

Scope

What's included.

  • Deck cleaning & brightening
  • Sanding & fastener repair
  • Semi-transparent & solid stains
  • Railing & baluster refinishing
  • Composite deck cleaning
  • Annual maintenance plans
Method

A repeatable process.

Every project runs through the same four stages so nothing is improvised on your dime.

  1. 01

    Wash

    Soft-wash with deck cleaner to lift algae, grime and old finish.

  2. 02

    Brighten

    Neutralize the wood pH so stain adheres correctly.

  3. 03

    Dry & Sand

    48 hours of dry weather, then spot-sand rough grain and set fasteners.

  4. 04

    Stain

    Two coats of penetrating stain, back-brushed for uniform absorption.

Materials

What we specify.

Spec
Cabot & Sikkens penetrating stains
Spec
TWP semi-transparent
Spec
Behr solid-color stains
Spec
Wood brighteners (oxalic acid)
Portfolio

Selected work.

Semi-transparent cedar tone
Semi-transparent cedar tone
Solid stain on railings
Solid stain on railings
Composite deck, cleaned only
Composite deck, cleaned only
Client — Acton — mahogany deck
"Three New England winters in and it still looks freshly done."
Tom B.
Questions

Frequently asked.

How often do I need to re-stain?
Every 2–3 years for horizontal surfaces; vertical rails can go 4–5.
Semi-transparent or solid?
Semi-transparent shows grain and wears gracefully; solid hides age but flakes when it fails.
Do you stain composite decks?
We clean composite; most manufacturers don't recommend staining them.
Start

Ready to build?
Let's talk.