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TRUSTED BY SANTA CRUZ, CA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon85
    Verified deck staining services reviews

Find Deck staining pros in Santa Cruz

Avatar for A+ Painting
A+ Painting
4.9(
102
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: LargeExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: Medium

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2005

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I used George and his crew for the 2nd time because I was so happy using them last summer. As expected, they did an excellent job and my house & deck looks great! George is so easy to talk to and he offers great advice and listens so well to my concerns. The best thing honestly to say about A+ painting is that George takes pride in doing a great job; sadly which is lacking these days with other businesses. I highly recommend him and his crew. He is honestly the best!"
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+97

Recommended by96%of homeowners
Lance Sanchez Painting
4.9(
162
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: LargeExterior Home or Structure - Paint or StainExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: Medium

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2000

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Lance and Shaun stained my redwood deck and did an excellent job sanding and preparing the deck for the new stain . They jumped right on the job which I appreciated and proveded sample stains for me to choose from. Also punctual and cooperative"
Response time5 hrs
Response rate88%
8 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Cal Preserving, Inc.
Cal Preserving, Inc.
4.5(
15
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: LargeExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: MediumExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1998

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Very easy to work with. I'd used them before but this time I got estimates from other contractors and was amazed how much more reasonable Cal Preserving was. The difference may be that the others pointed to additional steps that could be taken. Did Cal Preserving "miss" these things or recognize they weren't necessary--I'm inclined to believe the latter."
 Deck - before
 Deck - after
 Deck - before
 Deck - after
 Deck - before

+2

Response time2 days
23 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by91%of homeowners
Avatar for Revival Painting
Revival Painting
5.0(
9
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: LargeExterior Home or Structure - Paint or StainExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: Medium

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Revival Painting work was absolutely perfect. Jonathan, the owner, was more than reasonable with the cost of my project. He showed up on time, when he said he would. He got the job started and was on the job to the finish. He helped me pick out the right stain for my deck as I was having a problem picking one and was so on target with the color. In finishing up, Jonathan, and his worker, did a walk through of the deck to make sure it was complete, did touch ups that were needed and completed the project on time. My deck looks wonderful! I'd hire him again in a heartbeat! Thank you Jonathan and Revival Painting! Quality work. Value extraordinaire!"
Kitchen looking into Living Room
Kitchen
Bathroom
Bathroom
Bathroom

+13

Response time9 hrs
Response rate93%
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Two Men and a Brush Painting
5.0(
22
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or StainExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: LargeExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: Medium

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1983

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"They came in and very efficiently removed old wall paper in two rooms. They had to skim coat in one of the rooms. But the results are very good!"
Response time2 days
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for John Melendez Paint Company
John Melendez Paint Company
4.9(
13
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: Medium

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"John and his team are true professionals. John understands your requirements and works with you to make the final decision on paint and configuration. They finished the job on time. Very prompt and responsive. Very personable. I would highly recommend them."
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by92%of homeowners
Avatar for Transformational Color
Transformational Color
4.9(
12
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1987

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"Gregory and his team members are friendly and very easy for me to work with. Quality craftmanship and a thorough job seem to be at the top of their list. I saw this in their presentation, and also in their work."
Stain matching
Stain matching
Deck staining
Deck staining
Staining railings

+26

Response time1 day
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Deck Staining questions, answered by experts

It’s important to make sure the wood on a new deck is properly seasoned. Seasoning a deck is simple: Once you build it (or have a pro do so), just leave it alone so it can acclimate to the environment. If you don’t give the deck proper seasoning time before staining, the stain can lock in any lingering moisture and cause mold, rot, and other moisture issues down the road. Give the wood at least four to eight weeks to season before you stain.

Choosing whether your deck should be lighter or darker than your house is a matter of personal preference, as there is no right or wrong answer. However, considering the pros and cons of each can help guide your decision. Darker colors are often chosen because they show less dirt, footprints, and marks from daily wear, making them easier to keep clean. On the other hand, lighter deck colors tend to stay cooler in the summer. From a design perspective, using a deck color that contrasts with your home's exterior can help make the deck a more defined and distinct feature. Consulting color theory can also make the process of choosing a complementary house and deck color combination easier.

You can use latex or acrylic paint outdoors. Although acrylic paint tends to last longer outside, it also costs more, so if you’re painting the outside of your house, for instance, latex paint is often a go-to option. However, acrylic will be your best choice if you want to spend some extra money for added durability.

Your tool of choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. Many DIYers prefer applying stain with a lint-free rag, but others stick with a paint brush or a roller. Wipe the stain and work it into the wood, working with and against the grain. If you’re applying multiple coats, allow the stain to dry for around four hours between coats.

Wet-sanding and dry-sanding each have pros and cons. Dry-sanding is less messy, so it’s a good option if you’re trying to minimize dust (for example, if you’re sanding an occupied home or working with particularly dry or dusty drywall mud). However, dry-sanding is quicker because you don’t have to keep rinsing a sponge or wait for it to dry before painting.

The Santa Cruz, CA homeowners’ guide to deck staining services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.