"Brannick Painting just finished a complete exterior repaint of our house in El Cerrito, including staining our deck. Patrick and his team were wonderful to work with.
Patrick helped us with color selection, painting large sheets of posterboard with several colors we considered, so we could hold them up to the house in different lighting to see how they would look when finished. we have heard from others that they had small swatches painted on their house and Patrick’s approach is so much more helpful.
Patrick is also extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of preparation and painting. We have an old stucco house that needed a lot of detailed preparation. His crew is very experienced, and they did an excellent job repairing and preparing all of the cracks and blemishes on our house. We are very happy with the final product. We highly recommend using Brannick Painting."
"Needed my deck sealed after a year of curing. Quote was high, but I decided it was worth it. Lots of positive reviews. Had some water marks from pots on the deck. After the first brightening there were still watermarks. I sent Bruce pictures and asked that the guys coming to seal make sure the watermarks were taken care of. He told me to point out the spots and they would take care of it. When the sealers came, I pointed out the marks and asked that they make sure they were taken care of before the sealing. They told me that the water marks were the result of leaving pots on the deck...duh. Obviously this is what happened, but was why I was paying Cal Preserving to take care of it. I don't appreciate having to convince my contractors I want something done the right way. I ended up calling Bruce and explaining that I felt like this was being done in a rush, but he assured me his team was professional and that it would get done properly. Placated, I decided to trust it would be OK, despite the static. That was my first mistake. After they were done sealing they asked for the check (before it had a chance to dry and for me to inspect the work). I told Bruce I didn't feel comfortable with this (over the phone), but he reassured me that they weren't that kind of company and any mistakes or issues would be taken care of. I gave the sealers the check. Mistake number 2. The next day I inspected the work to find huge sections of the hand rail completely unsealed and with power-washer damage. Also the water marks were still there and now sealed in. I took pictures and sent them to Bruce. He came out and we discussed the issues. He was nice and told me not to worry and that his guys would take care of it. Another iteration and the handrail was fixed, but the watermarks are still there. At this point I feel like I didn't get the full value of what I paid, and the hassle I went through to get to where I am now, which is barely passable should be avoided by others so I am writing this review. I don't mind paying premium prices, but when I do, I expect premium work. And if I find something wrong with the work, I expect it to be fixed without contention. The fact is I feel like the job was rushed, and I was pressured into paying early. I am a relatively new homeowner and this whole experience has just been a lesson learned. If the watermarks were taken care of, and the rail done right the first time, and nobody gave me static, I would be rating Cal Preserving with five stars. Take warning!"
"Excellent job by Adam and his team from the prep work to the wood replacements around windows, to the actual painting of the house. What impressed me the most is Adam did exactly what he said he would do, no surprises and he was very detailed oriented about every step of the process. I would recommend him as well as use him again in the future for interior painting next time. Always glad to know I picked the right person for the job as I had at least 9 quotes."
"The finished product looks great! There were some hard feelings when the project neared completion because of some carelessness with knocking over a floor speaker and a long scratch on our dining room table that was never taken care of. Other than that the paint job is really very good!"
"We hired Juan and his crew to re-stain our kitchen and stair rails. Juan was very quick to respond to our quote and was able to accommodate us before the holidays. He was upfront with expectations and explained the staining process. I was very nervous about the change in color but Juan was able to put my nerves at ease and provided me different stain samples. His crew was very professional and hardworking. Juan was always in communication with me and took care of any concerns that may have come up. We felt that our satisfaction was a top priority for him. We loved the finished product and our house looks beautiful. Then the kitchen is beautiful and the stair rails make the whole house brighter. We are so happy we chose to work with him. I would highly recommend hiring Juan for your painting project needs."
"Extremely satisfied with the work by All Cote painting. They are very detailed in their work and have very high standards for the final product. They are also very good with paint colors and spent extra time with me to get the color right for a difficult color match. They went the extra mile to make sure I was completely satisfied with their work. They painted the outside of my home and also some rooms inside. The walls inside required texturing and their work was meticulous. Best of all, they are trustworthy and nice guys to work with. I highly recommend this company."
"Flex Painting was incredibly professional and performed great work. Our home was in desperate need of stucco repair, window trim replacement, and paint and they were able to do that and more. After our kitchen contractors abandoned our window replacements, Flex paint stepped in and got the job done! Bayardo even stopped by for one last walk through after we were satisfied with the work just to touch up spots he was not personally satisfied with. I would highly recommend their services and will be using them again when we are ready to skim coat our bedrooms as they are by far the most reliable contractors we have hired throughout our home renovation."
"Mike and his crew did an awesome job painting the entire inside of my home, They were very professional and very skilled painters who did my home in a timely manner. I highly recommend Lamorinda Painting and will be using them again in the future."
Staining a deck with a rag is typically a better option than using a brush, as it helps the stain penetrate deeper into the wood. However, both brushes and rags are best reserved for detailed work because using these tools on an entire deck can require tediously crawling around on your hands and knees. A pad applicator, sprayer, or roller are preferred alternatives to applying stain over the majority of a deck. Use a rag for railings and other detailed work, and let the wood soak up as much of the stain as possible before wiping away drips or pools.
You have a couple of options when choosing a durable pool deck coating. Epoxy is common and offers excellent stain and water resistance. Epoxy also withstands high temperatures and UV lighting, making it ideal for sunny spots. You can also add a coating to cement, which significantly lowers the temperature of the concrete, is environmentally safe, and makes cleanup a breeze.
Ideally, it's best to stain your dock once per year. Applying stain doesn't just keep it looking nice and new; it also helps extend the dock’s lifespan. Since you want to ensure water levels are at their lowest, it's best to have this project done by a professional dock repair service in the cooler autumn or early winter months.
You should refinish your deck to maintain its appearance, durability, and longevity. Refinishing your deck protects the wood from foot traffic and the elements. It also helps extend its life span by keeping rot, mildew, and termites at bay. By maintaining your deck, you can avoid the cost of replacing your deck sooner. A refinished deck also looks great and restores some of its original beauty.
Exterior paints contain more volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, making them dangerous when used indoors. Without the free ventilation of the great outdoors, it can take longer for the fumes to dissipate than interior paint. While you may notice the smell lessening more quickly, you should be wary of paint fumes inside for 48 to 72 hours after it dries.
The Moraga, CA homeowners’ guide to deck staining services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Thinking about adding a deck to your home? Explore this guide to learn about the average cost to build a deck in San Francisco, CA based on factors like size, material, and labor.
The best time to stain a deck is when it’s dry but not too sunny. How often you restain a deck depends on climate and wood type, but every two to three years is normal.