Decks, porches & pergolas

Deck Staining & Sealing in New Bedford, MA

Decks, porches and pergolas power washed, then stained and sealed, so the wood looks cared for again and has protection going into the next season.

Get a free quote Call Jorge774-510-4840

A freshly stained wooden deck on a lawn — deck staining and sealing in New Bedford, MA

A brush staining a wooden deck railing — deck and porch staining in New Bedford, MA

What we do

Decks, porches and pergolas

Outdoor wood takes more punishment than anything else on a house. A deck lies flat under the sun, holds rain and snow, and here it gets the salt air too. Left alone, it goes grey, dries out, and starts to crack and splinter.

We clean, stain and seal decks, porches and pergolas: the boards, the rails, the stairs and the posts. The aim is wood that looks good again and is protected from the weather, whether it's a small back porch or a big deck that gets used all summer.

Decks
Porches
Pergolas
Rails, stairs and posts

Stain going on with a pad over clean, weathered deck boards — deck staining in New Bedford, MA

The process

Power wash first, then stain and seal

Stain can only soak into wood that's clean and open. Put it over dirt, mildew or an old failing finish and it sits on top, looks blotchy and wears off unevenly. So every deck job follows the same order:

Power wash. Dirt, mildew and loose old finish washed off, so the wood is clean and open again.
Let it dry. Wood has to be dry before stain goes on, so the staining waits until it is.
Stain and seal. Stain and sealant applied evenly across the boards, rails and stairs, worked into the wood rather than left on top.
Clean up. The area around the deck left clean, and the deck ready to use once it has dried.

Power washing takes judgement too: enough pressure to clean the wood, not so much that it tears up the grain.

Good to know

Stain, sealant, or both?

They do different jobs. A sealant is about water: it soaks in and keeps rain and snow from getting into the wood, which is what leads to rot, swelling and cracking. Stain adds colour, and the pigment in it also shields the wood from the sun, which is what turns bare wood grey.

Stains come in different strengths of colour. A clear or transparent finish shows the most grain but gives the least protection from the sun. A semi-transparent stain tints the wood and still lets the grain show through. A solid stain covers like paint: the grain disappears, and it hides older, uneven wood well.

Which is right depends on the wood, its age and what's on it now. A deck that has been solid-stained can't simply go back to a clear finish without being stripped first. Jorge will tell you what your deck can take when he sees it.

A brush applying dark stain to grey, weathered deck boards — deck restaining in New Bedford, MA

Is it time?

Signs your deck needs attention

Most decks give plenty of warning. Look for these:

Water soaks in: sprinkle some water on the boards. If it beads up, the finish is still working; if it soaks in and darkens the wood, it's time to reseal.
Grey, faded wood: the sun has broken down the surface, and the wood needs cleaning and fresh protection.
Peeling or patchy finish: old stain or sealer flaking off, or worn through where people walk.
Cracks and splinters: dry wood checks and splinters. Catching it early keeps small problems small.
Dark spots and mildew: green or black patches in shady corners, which need cleaning off before anything new goes on.
Soft spots: boards that feel spongy underfoot may be rotting. Mention them when you call: they need looking at before anyone stains over them.

Timing

When to stain a deck

Stain and sealant need a dry surface and a few dry days, and most products list a minimum temperature on the can. In New England that usually means late spring through early fall, with the schedule set around the forecast.

Brand-new pressure-treated wood is a special case: it usually needs time to dry out before it will take stain. If your deck is new, ask Jorge when it will be ready.

If you'd like the deck done before a particular date, say so when you call, and the work can be planned around the weather. Porch floors and deck surfaces that need boards replaced are covered on Flooring, and the rest of the house on Exterior Painting.