The amount that it will cost to stain a wooden deck is determined by a number of different aspects, such as the dimensions of the deck, its current state and its age, and whether or not the job is done by the homeowner themselves or by a professional. However, the typical cost to have a professional stain a deck is between $1.75 and $4.50 per square foot if the deck has been kept frequently. If the deck has not been maintained regularly, the average cost is significantly more. If the deck is in poor condition, having it power sanded, power washed, and stained can be a far more expensive endeavor, costing as much as $6.00 per square foot on average. When your deck reaches a particular age, you will eventually need to give some thought to how much it will cost to replace it.
How Much Does It Cost to Stain a Deck if You Do it Yourself?
This also depends on if you already own the necessary equipment, such as a power washer and sander, or whether you can borrow them, as well as the sort of stain that you decide to use. In general, it is safe to assume that the worse the condition of your deck is, the greater the amount of money you will save due to the fact that the labor is "free."
It should cost between $1.25 and $1.75 per square foot for a deck that is in good shape, taking into account the fact that you will need to rent or buy the appropriate equipment. The price of a deck that hasn't been maintained properly might easily quadruple to between $2.00 and $2.50 per square foot. Again, here is where the savings come from because the amount of time required to properly power sand and prepare the worn surface for stain is significantly different.
Read more: How to Remove Paint from a Wooden Deck
Cost to Stain Deck Railings
Estimating the cost of the railings is one of the more challenging aspects of building a deck. There is a wide variety of railing styles available in wood, each of which can have a significant impact on both the cost and the degree of difficulty associated with maintenance. If you have maintained your railing well or if it is relatively new, you can anticipate paying a professional between $4.00 and $12.00 per linear foot for their services. Costs associated with more thorough maintenance will be higher. Railing that is in desperate need of TLC or has a design that is difficult to deal with will run you anywhere from $6.00 to $16.00 per linear foot in labor costs. The prices of replacing railing vs the costs of maintaining it are something that must constantly be kept in mind. Wood railing may normally be replaced for between $15.00 and $30.00 per linear foot, though this cost will vary depending on the design and the materials used.
Average Cost to Seal a Deck
How much does it typically cost to hire a professional to seal a deck by themselves? Staining is typically a little more expensive than sealant because it contains pigmentation that protects against sun damage and also enables you to modify the hue of your deck. Sealant, on the other hand, does not contain pigmentation and therefore does not protect against sun damage.
On the other hand, the cost to seal a deck ranges from around $1.00 to $1.25 per square foot on average, and this includes a light sanding. In most cases, a deck that is already in decent shape and only requires some additional protection from the elements is an excellent option for staining. If you have a deck that is in good shape and you want to seal it yourself, you can typically expect to spend less than one dollar per square foot on materials.
