Fence & deck staining and sealing in Salado & Central Texas
Fences and decks washed, brightened, dried and sealed with a penetrating stain that stands up to Texas sun.
- Free estimates
- Locally owned & operated
- Commercially insured
What you get
A Central Texas fence or deck takes a beating. The sun bleaches the wood gray, mildew settles into the shaded runs, and whatever finish was on it gives up after a few summers. We wash it, brighten it, let it dry properly and seal it, so it looks sharp again and goes longer between coats.
Most fences want a fresh penetrating stain every 2 to 4 years, and full-sun decks every 2 to 3. If water no longer beads on the surface, it is time.
What's included
- Fences, gates, decks, porches and pergolas
- Full wash at a surface-safe pressure, with no fuzzed grain
- Brightening where the wood has gone gray or carries mildew staining
- Moisture-checked dry time before any finish goes on
- Professional-grade penetrating stain and sealer, applied evenly and back-brushed
- Furniture moved and replaced; plants, paint and pavers protected
- A walk-through of the finished job before we pack up
How we handle it
- Low pressure on wood. Fences and decks get washed at surface-safe pressure. High pressure fuzzes cedar and pine and drives water into the joints.
- Brightener where it's gray. Cleaning alone leaves wood flat. Brightening restores the tone and gives the stain a surface it can bond to.
- Dry before stain. We check moisture rather than guess. In a Texas summer that is often 48 to 72 hours of drying before the first coat.
- Even, back-brushed coats. No puddles and no lap marks. That is what keeps a finish looking right for years.
Cedar, pine and decks each ask for something different
Most fence lines around here are cedar or pressure-treated pine, and decks are a harder life than any fence. The same stain on all three is how finishes fail early.
- Cedar. Naturally rot- and mildew-resistant, and it takes a penetrating stain beautifully. Weathered cedar tends to go silver-gray rather than rot, so it usually recovers with a wash and a brightener instead of new boards. It also drinks less product than pine.
- Pressure-treated pine. More porous, so it soaks up more stain, and sometimes needs a second pass on end grain and top rails. New pine can carry mill glaze, a shiny surface that repels stain; it has to weather or be washed before coating, or the finish sits on top and fails early.
- Decks. Horizontal boards hold water, take full sun all day and get walked on. They usually want a stain with more UV protection and a recoat sooner than a shaded fence.
- Either way. Prep decides the outcome. Wood that is clean, brightened and properly dry holds a finish; wood that is dirty, damp or glazed will not, whatever the species.
What affects the price of fence and deck staining
- Linear feet and height. The length and height of the fence, and the square footage of a deck, set the base amount of work and stain.
- The starting condition. Raw, gray or previously stained wood needs different prep. Peeling film coatings that must be removed add the most time.
- The product and number of coats. Penetrating oils, semi-transparent stains and solid colors are priced differently, and some wood needs a second coat.
- Access and repairs. Thick shrubs along the fence, steep ground and boards that need replacing first change the scope.
Fence & deck staining and sealing questions
Do you have to pressure wash a fence before staining it?
Yes, but at low pressure. Wood has to be clean, brightened and fully dry before stain goes on. Blasting it with high pressure fuzzes the grain and drives water into the joints, so we wash at a surface-safe pressure, brighten where the wood has gone gray, then let it dry properly.
How long after rain can you stain a fence or deck?
The wood needs to be dry through, not just on the surface. After a soaking rain we usually wait 24 to 48 hours of dry weather before coating, longer in shade or a humid spell. Staining damp wood traps water underneath, and that's where peeling starts.
How long does stain last in Central Texas?
A penetrating stain on a fence typically holds two to four years here, and west-facing runs fade first. Full-sun decks usually want attention every two to three. The water-bead test tells you when: once water stops beading on the surface, the sealer has worn out.
Do I need to seal a deck after staining it?
With a penetrating stain-and-sealer, no. One product does both jobs. If a straight stain was used, then yes, because the sealer is what blocks UV and slows moisture cycling. We use a stain-and-sealer so there is nothing to add later.
Can you stain over old stain or paint?
Penetrating stain needs bare or lightly weathered wood to soak into. If the old finish is a faded penetrating stain, a wash and a recoat is usually enough. If it's a film that is peeling, it has to come off first. We test a spot before we quote.
Care notes: fence & deck staining and sealing
- Deck vs Fence Staining in Texas
- Best Stain for a Texas Fence
- How to prep a fence before staining
- How often should you stain a fence?
- Fence Staining Cost in Central Texas
- Best Stain for a Cedar Fence in Texas
- Stain vs Paint a Fence in Texas
- Remove Green Mold from a Wood Fence
- When to Stain a New Fence in Texas
Fence & deck staining and sealing around Central Texas
Ready when you are
Tell us about the property and we'll take it from there.