Deck and fence staining in Georgina
Deck and fence staining starts with clean, dry wood and ends with the stain and opacity that suit the species and the weather it takes. Painting or clear-coating pine panelling, whole-cottage interiors, lake-side exteriors and trim, and cabinet refinishing make up most of the Georgina work.
Concept imageryGeorgina, on the ground.
Much of Georgina's housing began as lakefront cottages and was converted to year-round use, so pine panelling, drywall additions and sun-faded wood siding sit side by side. Older yards carry cedar decks and fences that have greyed and need brightening, and newer subdivisions carry pressure-treated decks that must dry out before a first coat. Shoreline lanes can be narrow and some driveways drop toward the water, so access for the van and ladders is checked before the booking. The wood is washed, brightened and left to dry, failing stain is stripped, the surroundings are masked, and the stain goes on by brush and pad with railings done by hand.
Rooms facing the water in Georgina take strong daylight, so sheen and colour are judged from sample patches in the room before the paint is ordered.
Read more about painters in Georgina or the full deck and fence staining page.
On the quote, from the start.
- 01A moisture check on the wood and a look at the old finish to decide between a refresh and a strip
- 02Wash with a deck cleaner, then a brightener to lift the grey and open the grain
- 03Old stain stripped where it is failing, and smooth boards sanded so the new coat soaks in evenly
- 04Loose boards and popped screws reset, and badly rotted boards flagged for replacement before staining
- 05Stain applied by brush, pad or sprayed and back-brushed, with railings, spindles and stairs done by hand
- 06Plants, siding and patio stone masked, and a final walk around with you once the deck is dry to use
No figures published. The drivers, in order.
| Driver | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Square footage and railing length | The deck surface goes quickly. Spindles, stairs, lattice and the underside of a raised deck are brushed by hand and take most of the time. |
| Condition of the old finish | Bare or lightly weathered wood needs a wash and stain. A peeling solid stain needs stripping and sanding first, which can double the prep. |
| Type of stain | Transparent and semi-transparent stains go on in one coat and show the wood. Solid stains behave like paint and often take two. |
| Fence length and both sides | A fence is measured in linear metres, counted twice if we are doing your neighbour's side too. |
Weather sets the schedule. Stain needs dry wood, a dry forecast for a day or two after, and a surface that is not too hot, so a July heatwave can wait just as a wet May does.
Deck and fence staining questions from Georgina
How early can you stain a deck in Georgina?
Once Georgina has a stretch of dry days with temperatures above the product's minimum and the wood reads dry on the meter, usually from [late May]. We book spring decks over the winter because the window fills quickly.
Can you stain my Georgina fence on both sides?
Yes, with your neighbour's agreement for their side. It is the most common fence request in Georgina because the colour and finish match from either yard. We mask their plantings the same as yours.
We are not at the cottage during the week. Can you work while we are away?
Yes. We ask for a key or a lockbox code and a phone contact, confirm heat and power will be on, and send photos as rooms are finished. Any decision that comes up on site is sent to you with a photo before the crew continues. The final walk-through can be done when you are next up, and the touch-up visit is booked around your schedule.
Can knotty pine walls be painted without the knots bleeding through?
Yes, if every knot is sealed first. Pine resin bleeds a yellow-brown stain through ordinary primer and paint within months. The crew sands the boards, seals the knots and the whole surface with a shellac-based primer, caulks the gaps between boards if you want them to read as one plane, and applies two coats of enamel. Done properly, painted pine stays white for years.