Pergola and Deck Staining in Oakville: Large Wood Pergola, Slatted Columns and Deck With Glass Railings Sanded and Refinished in a Natural Stain

The pergola and deck: an uneven, dated finish

This Oakville backyard has a large custom wood pergola attached to the house, with closely spaced roof boards, decorative rafter tails, slatted wrapped columns and black steel beams, over a raised deck with black-framed glass railings. The old orange-toned finish had weathered unevenly, with darker and lighter sections, grey edges and dirt on the boards, and it no longer suited the modern look of the house.

Sanding the pergola, columns and deck

We sanded the whole structure back to fresh wood: the pergola roof boards and rafter tails, every slat on the wrapped columns, the deck surface and the deck skirting. Sanding a pergola is slow, detailed work done overhead, and it is what lets the new stain go on evenly. The sanding photo shows the clean, bright wood across the deck and pergola before staining.

Natural wood stain

We then stained the pergola, columns and deck in a natural, light wood tone that brings out the grain and gives the space a clean, modern look against the black beams, the black glass railing frames and the grey exterior.

The result

A bright, warm, even-coloured pergola and deck that look like new and finally match the style of the home, protected from sun and rain with a finish that only needs a maintenance coat every few years.

Pergola and deck staining: questions homeowners ask

How often should a deck and pergola be restained?

Deck boards take the most sun, rain and foot traffic, so a deck floor usually needs a maintenance coat every 2 to 3 years. Vertical and overhead wood, like this pergola and its columns, sheds water and lasts longer between coats. Check each spring: if water soaks in instead of beading up, or the colour has faded and gone grey, it is time.

Do you pressure wash or sand a deck before restaining it?

It depends on the job. We look at every deck first and decide whether it should be pressure washed and then sanded, or only sanded, based on the size of the project, the style of the deck, the weather in the forecast and the result the homeowner wants. When the old finish is uneven, peeling or a colour you want to change, as it was on this Oakville pergola, sanding back to fresh wood is what gives an even colour and a stain that soaks in and lasts.

Can you put new stain over old stain?

Only when the old finish is clean, sound and not peeling, and the new colour is the same or darker. Going lighter, like the natural tone on this project, means removing the old colour first, which is why we sanded the whole pergola and deck before staining.

Is it better to seal or stain a deck?

For most GTA decks, stain is the better choice. A clear sealer repels water but does little against the sun, so the wood still turns grey and dries out. A penetrating stain adds pigment that blocks UV and also repels water.

Will the new stain peel?

Peeling usually happens when new stain goes over a failing old coat or is applied too thick. We prepare the wood properly first, and our deck, fence and pergola staining comes with a 3-year non-peeling stain warranty.

When is the best time of year to stain a deck in Ontario?

Late spring through early fall, on dry, mild days. The wood has to be dry before staining and the stain needs dry weather afterwards to soak in and cure, so we plan staining days around the forecast.

How much does it cost to refinish a deck and pergola?

It depends on the size of the deck and pergola, the condition of the old finish, whether it needs washing and sanding or sanding only, and how many railings, stairs, columns and overhead boards there are. We come out, look at the wood and give you a free written quote with no pressure to book.