Deck staining and refinishing: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering deck staining and refinishing

Deck refinishing is judged on the color, the cleaning and the wood condition after a season, and most complaints come from skipped inspection or a bad product match. Win the job by checking the structure first and naming the product and cure time in the quote.

What customers ask

  • Will the stain look even, or will the boards come out blotchy?
  • How long will the stain last before it needs recoating?
  • Do you replace boards, and will the new wood match the old?
  • Is the deck safe to walk on after the repairs?
  • How long will the deck be closed while it cures?

How to win the job

  • Walk the deck with a screwdriver and a flashlight, probe the ledger, posts and stringers, and photograph anything that is soft or loose before you quote.
  • Test the stain on a board in an out-of-the-way spot, and show the customer the color on the actual wood species before the whole deck is done.
  • Put the board replacement count and the fastener type in the quote, with the stair and railing repairs listed as separate lines.
  • Name the cleaner, the stain or sealer and the number of coats in the proposal, and explain the cure time the product needs.
  • State the moisture check you will do before staining, and reschedule the job if the wood is wet after rain.
  • Quote the protection plan for plants, siding and the house, and who does the cleanup of the sanding dust.
  • Give the customer a schedule that shows when the deck will be closed and when it can be used again.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of decks from the same angle, with the board color and the finish visible
  • Close-up photos of ledger and post repairs, which show the structure work
  • Photos of a stain test board next to the finished deck, which show the color match
  • A list of the wood species and stain products you work with

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A recoat schedule and a cleaning guide sent with the final invoice
  • A check visit after the first season to look at fading, the boards and the fasteners
  • A quote for railings, stairs or a new deck section, offered only when the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Deck refinishing with stain often does not need a license, but ledger, post and structural repairs often need a permit and qualified carpentry. Confirm your business registration, insurance and any structural credentials in your state and locality before you take repair work.

Questions

Should I warranty the stain?

Warranty the workmanship and pass through the stain manufacturer's warranty. State the maintenance the customer must do and what the warranty excludes, such as damage from furniture or pets.

What do I do when the wood is too far gone to refinish?

Tell the customer plainly. Show the rotted boards or the soft ledger, quote the replacement as its own line and recommend the repair before any stain goes on.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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