Deck and Fence Staining in Ottawa

Stain soaks into the wood and lets the grain show through. Transparent and semi-transparent stains highlight the natural wood, while solid stains give more colour and hide more of the grain, closer to the look of paint. Stains generally wear by fading rather than peeling, which can make recoating simpler.

Paint forms a film on top of the wood. It offers the widest choice of colours and can give a crisp, uniform look, especially on fences and railings. On deck boards, where feet, furniture and standing water wear the surface, paint can show scuffs and peeling sooner, so it needs more care to maintain. The choice depends on the look you want, the condition of the wood and how much upkeep you are happy with; options are chosen to suit each client's preferences.

Like any exterior surface, a deck or fence must be clean, sound and dry before it is coated. Dirt, mildew and greyed, weathered wood fibres stop new finishes bonding, so the wood is cleaned and, where needed, sanded back to fresh wood. Loose or peeling old coatings have to come off; a new finish applied over a failing one fails with it.

Dry wood is essential. After cleaning or rain, the wood needs time to dry out before stain or paint goes on. Our guide on how exterior surfaces are prepared explains each step in more detail, and the same principles apply to decks and fences.

Railings and balusters have many edges and faces, so they take far longer to coat than their size suggests, and every side needs covering to protect the wood. Stair treads take the most foot traffic on a deck and usually wear first, so they deserve extra attention when the finish is chosen.

Fences have their own challenges: both faces, posts that sit in damp soil, and boards close to gardens and lawns. Plants and neighbouring surfaces are protected while the work is done, and the base of posts, where water collects, is checked for rot before any finish goes on.

If a fence is shared with a neighbour, it is worth agreeing on the colour and on access to the other side before work starts.

Decks and fences follow the same weather rules as other exterior work: temperatures within the product's range, dry wood, no rain before the finish sets and, ideally, no fierce midday sun on the surface while it is applied. In Ottawa that usually means late spring to early fall; our guide on when to paint your home's exterior in Ottawa explains how the season plays out.

Horizontal deck boards wear faster than railings and fences, so they usually need recoating first. A yearly check each spring, a gentle clean and early touch-ups on high-traffic areas keep the finish going longer and make the next full recoat easier.