Deck Staining, Sealing & Painting
Protect your deck and enhance its beauty with professional staining, sealing, and painting services.
(504) 977-0328
Why Your Deck Needs Protection
Wood decks face constant attack from sun, rain, humidity, and temperature changes. Without protection, wood will fade to gray, develop cracks, and start to deteriorate. Staining and sealing your deck creates a protective barrier against these elements. It keeps your deck looking beautiful and significantly extends its life.
Even pressure-treated wood needs protection. The treatment protects against rot and insects, but it does not protect against UV damage or moisture problems on the surface. Cedar and redwood have natural oils that provide some protection, but they still benefit from stain and sealer. Regular staining and sealing is the single most important thing you can do to maintain your wood deck.
Stain vs. Sealer vs. Paint
Choosing between stain, sealer, and paint depends on your goals for appearance and protection. Each product offers different benefits. Understanding the differences helps you make the right choice for your deck.
Here is how these products compare:
- Transparent sealers protect wood while letting the natural grain show through, but provide minimal UV protection
- Semi-transparent stains add some color while still showing wood grain, offering better UV protection
- Solid stains cover wood grain like paint but penetrate the wood better, providing excellent protection
- Paint completely covers wood grain and offers maximum protection, but requires more maintenance
- Oil-based products penetrate deeper and often last longer, but require more drying time
- Water-based products clean up easily, dry faster, and have less odor
Our Deck Staining and Sealing Process
Proper surface preparation makes all the difference in how long your stain or sealer lasts. We do not just slap on a coat and call it done. We start with thorough cleaning to remove dirt, mold, mildew, and old finish. For older decks, we might use a deck brightener that opens wood pores and restores color before staining.
If your deck has rough spots or splinters, we sand them smooth. We also sand any areas where the old finish is peeling or flaking. Once the deck is clean and dry, we apply stain or sealer carefully, working with the wood grain. We make sure to get good coverage on all surfaces, including the undersides of deck boards and railings. Proper application ensures even color and maximum protection.
When to Stain or Seal Your Deck
New decks should be stained or sealed within a few months of installation, once the wood has had time to dry and weather slightly. After that, most decks need refinishing every two to three years in Metairie's climate. You can tell it is time when water stops beading on the surface or when the wood starts looking faded or gray.
The best time to stain or seal your deck is during dry weather when temperatures are moderate. Spring and fall are usually ideal in Louisiana. We need at least 24 to 48 hours of dry weather after application for the product to cure properly. We avoid working in extreme heat or cold, which can affect how the stain or sealer absorbs and dries.
Maintaining Your Newly Finished Deck
After we stain or seal your deck, you will want to keep it looking great as long as possible. Regular maintenance is simple. Sweep off leaves and debris regularly. Clean spills promptly before they can stain. Once or twice a year, clean the deck with mild soap and water or a specialized deck cleaner.
Avoid pressure washers if possible, as they can damage wood fibers and reduce the life of your finish. If you must use a pressure washer, use low pressure and keep the nozzle moving. Between refinishing projects, check for areas where the finish is wearing thin and touch them up if needed. With basic care, your stain or sealer should last two to three years before you need complete refinishing.