Decks and fences here are mostly redwood, with pressure-treated framing and posts. They get six dry months of sun and then a wet winter, which is hard on any flat piece of wood. A finish has to be chosen for that.
The dollar figures on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Sonoma County labor rates, the paint chosen and the condition of your own surfaces move a real price up or down. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to stain a deck?
The national figure is $1.50 to $4 per square foot, or $450 to $1,000 for an average deck. By size, HomeGuide lists a 12x12 deck at $226 to $582, a 12x16 deck at $301 to $775 and a 20x20 deck at $628 to $1,616.
Prep changes the price. The same source lists $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot for washing, staining and sealing, and $2.50 to $5.50 when the old finish has to be stripped first. Railings are extra at $4 to $12 per linear foot, and a deck with many balusters has more railing surface than floor.
Should I paint or stain my deck?
Stain is the better choice for most deck floors. Stain soaks into the wood and wears away gradually, so recoating is simple. Paint forms a film on top, and on boards that are walked on and hold water, that film cracks and peels.
Paint does have its uses. It hides worn or mismatched boards, and it lasts well on railings and posts. The published figures are $2 to $5 per square foot for deck painting, with a life of 10 to 15 years, against restaining every 2 to 3 years. Just know that a painted deck is hard to take back to stain later.
Solid or semi-transparent stain on an old deck?
Use a solid stain on an old deck with gray, patched or uneven boards, and a semi-transparent stain on wood that still looks good. Semi-transparent lets the grain show and suits newer redwood. Solid stain hides color differences and gives more protection from the sun.
Once a deck has had solid stain, you cannot go back to semi-transparent without stripping it.
How often does a deck need restaining?
A deck needs restaining every 2 to 3 years, by the published figure. A deck in full sun can need it sooner, and a covered or shaded one can go longer.
Splash some water on the boards. If it soaks in and darkens the wood instead of beading, the finish has worn out. In Santa Rosa the sun wears the open deck floor first, and the railings last longer.
Can you paint a deck that was previously stained, or stain one that was painted?
A previously stained deck can be painted after it is cleaned and sanded and a primer is applied. Going the other way is harder. A deck that was already painted cannot take stain until all of the paint is removed, because stain has to soak into bare wood.
Stripping paint from a whole deck is slow work. It is often more practical to recoat a painted deck with paint or a solid stain.
Why is my deck stain peeling after a year?
Deck stain is peeling because it sat on top of the wood and did not soak in. Good penetrating stain does not form a skin, so it should fade, not peel.
- The wood was damp, dirty or still coated with an old finish when it was stained.
- Too much stain was put on, or a second coat went over a first coat that had sealed the surface.
- The product was a film-forming stain or sealer, which behaves like paint.
- New, smooth lumber was stained before it could absorb anything.
The fix is to strip or sand off the failed coating, let the wood dry and apply a penetrating stain thinly.
How long to wait before staining a new deck or pressure-treated fence?
Wait until the wood is dry enough to absorb stain, which can be a few weeks to a few months for a new deck or pressure-treated wood. Treated lumber arrives wet from the treatment process.
Use the water test: sprinkle water on the wood. If it beads, wait. If it soaks in, the wood is ready. Kiln-dried lumber and new redwood are ready sooner. In our dry summers new wood dries quickly, so do not leave it bare through a whole season of sun either.
Can I stain a deck while the wood is damp?
No. Damp wood will not take stain properly. The pores are full of water, so the stain sits on the surface, dries blotchy and peels.
After rain or washing, give the deck at least two dry days, and more in cool weather or shade. Decks under redwoods and oaks dry slowly. Morning dew counts as well, so staining starts once the boards have dried off.
Should I stain or paint my wood fence?
Stain your wood fence, in most cases. Stain soaks into rough fence boards, does not peel and is easy to renew with a new coat. Paint looks crisp on a smooth picket fence, but when it starts to peel, every board has to be scraped.
The published national cost to paint or stain a fence is $2 to $14 per linear foot, and $4 to $9 per linear foot for a 6-foot fence. A redwood fence left bare will turn gray in the sun. Stain keeps the color and slows the cracking.
Is an old pine fence worth staining or should it be replaced?
An old pine fence is worth staining only if the posts are solid. Push on each post. If they stand firm and the boards are mostly whole, washing and staining can add years.
If the posts rock in the ground, the rails are rotten or many boards are split and missing, stain is wasted on it. Posts rot at ground level first, where winter water sits.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (707) 205-3959.