Home Services Guidelines and Best Practices
Deck Staining
Deck Staining guidelines, FAQs and unit pricing information
January 2017
Are you looking for independent, trustworthy advice about Deck Staining? Do you need to understand common installation options? If your project calls for Deck Staining work, the following guidelines and best practices will help you understand: Is a subcontractor really necessary for Deck Staining work? Will a permit be required? What are common problem areas? How much will Deck Staining labor cost? What are the important Deck Staining quality checks that should be included in the work requirements?
Deck Staining - Frequently Asked Questions
| What is a fair price for Deck Staining? | Costs vary with project size, job quality and time of year. For typical Deck Staining expect to pay between $1.75 to $2.50 per square foot. Additional fees are typically charged for small projects or rush jobs. |
| Is a permit needed for Deck Staining work? | Design approval and permits from your local building authority are usually not required for Deck Staining. If your home is subject to homeowner association covenants, you should verify that the Deck Staining complies with association guidelines. |
| Is it worth using a professional to perform Deck Staining work? | The appearance, useful life and required maintenance for the deck staining may be affected by poor installation techniques and inexperience. To minimize risks with Deck Staining, hire service providers carefully and always tie payment milestones to appropriate quality checks (use the list below). |
| Is Deck Staining something that I can do myself? | Most of the Deck Staining project can be completed by a moderately experienced do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Deck Staining requires attention to detail and careful planning. |
| How many days are typically required to complete the Deck Staining work? | This work can be completed in 1 to 2 days. |
Deck Staining - Options, Quality Checks and Important Details
Use the list below to document your expectations for level of detail and finish quality for Deck Staining. Make sure that relevant information is included in any written contracts or work orders on your project. Before any Deck Staining work begins, review the checklist with the service provider. Tie payments to satisfactory completion of this checklist.
- The layout, location, style and finish appearance of ALL materials used in Deck Staining will be approved by owner, before any work begins
- No deck or clean up residue will be left on adjacent finished surfaces, trim plates, fixtures or grilles
- All visible deck surfaces will have a consistent texture and uniform sheen
- The deck finish will have uniform color depth and appearance in all lighting conditions
- All deck edges at surface edges and trim intersections are sharp and crisp, forming a clean, straight line
- The deck surface and surface finish will be free of surface defects, irregularities and any physical damage
- There will be no deck staining on hardware, trim plates or fittings; attached hardware and fittings should be removed prior to deck staining application, whenever possible
Deck Staining - Work Milestones and Project Reminders
The following list summarizes work tasks commonly performed during Deck Staining. These tasks help ensure proper completion of the deck staining work and compliance with common manufacturer and vendor warranty requirements. Make sure that either you or your service provider takes responsibility for each of these tasks. All service provider task responsiblities should be clearly called out in the written contract or work orders.
- Review written list of work to be completed; review quality requirements and payment terms before work begins
- Select, specify and order deck staining; verify that type, grade, finish, size, color, any options, and quantity are clearly identified in the order; make sure that delivery date, terms and damage provisions are included in the order
- Confirm date (and time) for project start with subcontractor - one week and two days prior to project start
- Review material choices for Deck Staining with the homeowner before work begins - consider toxic exposure, allergic risks and environmental factors; purchase construction materials only after approval
- Prepare area for safe, efficient work; move items that restrict work access or are vulnerable to damage; cover and protect items that cannot be moved
- Carefully remove fixtures, fittings, finish plates, grilles, knobs, pulls and trim that will be reinstalled later; label and safely store these items for later use
- Inspect installation quality and verify proper operation for deck staining using the Quality Checklist on this page; create a punch list of final tasks that must be completed prior to final payment
- Reinstall pre-existing fixtures, fittings, finish plates, knobs, pulls, grilles and trim
- Submit final payment in exchange for signed lien release; final payment amount should be adjusted for excess material to be returned and tasks not performed; pay with a check to ensure expense can be verified for tax purposes
