What happens if you don't clean a deck before staining?

• <div><p>If you don’t clean your deck before staining, dirt and debris can get stuck to the surface—which isn’t a good look. Plus, the stain won’t penetrate the wood properly and won’t do such a good job of protecting the deck from bad weather and UV rays. Basically, the stain won’t last as long or look as good.</p></div>

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Q: What happens if you don't clean a deck before staining?

• <div><p>If you don&rsquo;t clean your deck before staining, dirt and debris can get stuck to the surface&mdash;which isn&rsquo;t a good look. Plus, the stain won&rsquo;t penetrate the wood properly and won&rsquo;t do such a good job of protecting the deck from bad weather and UV rays. Basically, the stain won&rsquo;t last as long or look as good.</p></div>

Q: Can you paint or stain pressure-treated wood?

• <div><p>Pressure-treated wood can not only be painted and stained, but it should be; doing so will help to prevent surface or <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/5-common-problems-can-endanger-your-deck.htm">deck board cracking</a>. Allow the wood to dry out before painting it, as pressure-treated wood from the hardware store takes longer to dry than kiln-dried lumber. If water beads on the surface, it needs additional time to dry&mdash;in fact, it can take weeks or even months to fully dry. As soon as the wood absorbs water on the surface, it is ready to be painted or stained.</p></div>

Q: What are the problems with wood decking?

• <div><p>If you have wood decking, there are several <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/5-common-deck-problems-and-solutions.htm">common deck problems</a> that you might encounter. For example, your natural wood boards may fade over time due to things like sunlight, weather, and debris. On top of that, some types of wood decking can rot, grow mold, and attract destructive pests&mdash;including termites, carpenter ants, and woodpeckers.</p></div>

Q: Should I pressure wash my deck before I paint it?

• <div><p>You don&rsquo;t have to pressure wash your deck before painting. However, you must clean the deck, and pressure washing is one of the most efficient methods. Pressure washing quickly removes flaked paint, wood fibers, and embedded dirt. It also gets much deeper into the wood surface than manually scrubbing the deck&mdash;and the cleaner the deck, the better the paint can adhere. Ensure the wood is fully dry before applying paint.</p><p> </p></div>

Q: What kind of wood stain should I choose?

• <div><p>Opt for an interior wood stain that is rated for your type of wood. Consider your personal style preferences as well as the overall use of the room when choosing a color. Remember, the color you see at the store may look different on your actual floors once applied. This is why if you have the chance, it&rsquo;s helpful to test a few options on a scrap piece of wood in the room first. Once you narrow it down, you can test a small patch on an inconspicuous area in the room to see it on the actual floors. </p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Deck Staining pros in Standish, MI

*The Angi rating for Deck Staining companies in Standish, MI is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Deck Staining needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Deck Staining companies in Standish, MI is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Deck Staining needs.

Last update on October 28, 2025

Reviewed in October 2025
We had SKM come out and stain our wrap around porch. They did a fantastic job very happy with my experience with them and the fair price that they quoted me.
SKM Property Maintenance
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Reviewed in December 2024
Kevin and company were able to grind, patch cracks, stain and seal my 30 year old, 1350 sqft concrete basement floor in less than two days. The result is beautiful! I also had Kevin epoxy my 30 year old, 2-car garage concrete floor with amazing results that all visitors have complemented when...
Webb Industries, LLC
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Reviewed in March 2021
They removed shoe molding, hung plastic to secure the rooms, sanded the floors, applied the stain and then the coats of poly. (over a 3 day period). They always let me know before they arrived each day and updated me on their progress and what would still need to be done. The floors look great....
Unique Hardwood Floor LLC
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Reviewed in July 2020
never returned to stain the decks as contracted to do 3 times when I called Steve he said he will be over never shows. after 8 days and many call, he returned to stain decks when he did work the quality was satisfactory.
Comfort Zone
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Reviewed in April 2018
They broke the roof the 2nd week of January. Was able to get it done in a timely manner so I didn't lose much heat. He was able to work with me on making changes during the project. During the process I wasn't liking the way the deck was looking so I asked if we could make some changes. They did...
Superior Home Building LLC
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Reviewed in March 2017
Snaked the drain and successfully opened it back up. Fred & Tommy were extremely professional and knowledgeable. They were very alert to put "booties" on (not upon my request) to prevent rusty water stain boot marks on our stained deck. Will definitely be calling this company again if and when...
Universal Home Services
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Reviewed in June 2015
· Todd P. is an independent contractor who works for Blue Water Pools in Port Huron, Michigan. Blue Water Pools provided us with his phone number when we wanted a pool liner installed. Blue Water Pools gave us a price of $450.00-500.00 to have our own liner installed. We...
Blue Water Pool Service
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Reviewed in August 2013
Jim Mochty, owner of the Maple Ridge Home Improvement completed the shower work on time (one week), was very quiet and efficient and on time each day to begin his work. It was very hot that week but he kept the bathroom doors closed so the dust from the wall board would not penetrate the rest...
Mapleridge Home Improvement
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Reviewed in April 2013
Profile Painting applied stain to our brand new cedar deck in our backyard and around the seawall in September 2012. 3 coats of stain were applied and we were told the the sealer could wait until spring to be applied. 4 months after the initial application, we noticed peeling and now the entire...
Profile Painting
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Reviewed in July 2012
The powerwashing was done well-I would have liked a call to let me know he was coming...but he was very courteous.The staining of the deck took a little longer due to the heat and the rain around the end of June and beginning of July. However, once they got here they did a great job, the deck...
Fresh Touch Custom Painting Inc.
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