Deck Staining in East York: Two Decks With Peeling Brown Stain Sanded and Refinished Two-Tone, Cedar Deck Boards and Black Railings

Two-Tone Deck Makeover in East York

Two connected decks and their stairs behind an East York home, with a dark brown stain peeling off the boards and treads. We sanded both decks to bare wood, stained the deck boards and stair treads a warm cedar tone and refreshed the railings, pickets and stair risers in black for a modern two-tone look.

The decks: dark brown stain peeling off

This East York home has two connected decks along the back and side of the house, each with its own set of stairs and wood railings with square pickets. Both were coated in a dark brown stain that had failed: the deck boards and stair treads were peeling in patches, with grey, weathered wood showing through, and the railings had faded and dulled.

Sanding both decks

We sanded the deck boards and stair treads on both decks back to bare wood, removing the peeling brown coating so the new stain could soak in evenly instead of sitting on top of a failing film. Before starting, the owners picked their colours from our stain samples on site.

A two-tone finish: cedar boards, black railings

The deck boards and stair treads were stained in a warm cedar tone that shows off the grain. The railings, pickets, posts, stair risers and fascia were refreshed in black, while the top rail caps were finished to match the deck. The two-tone combination is one of the most popular modern deck looks: the warm wood and black frame work beautifully with the red brick of the house.

The result

Two decks that look brand new and match each other, with no peeling, a crisp modern contrast and a finish that only needs a wash and a maintenance coat every few years.