Deck Staining in Richmond Hill: Grey Deck and Railings Sanded and Refinished Two-Tone, Brown Floor With Red Railings

The deck: grey boards and leftover red stain

This backyard deck in Richmond Hill sits off the patio door, with wood railings and balusters around the open sides. The deck floor had weathered to a dry grey, with checking in the boards and small patches of an old red stain still clinging around the edges and near the house. The railings had faded too.

Sanding the deck floor and railings

We masked the patio door and brick, then sanded the whole deck floor and the railings, top rails and balusters back to fresh wood. The sanding photo shows the clean, bright boards with the grey and the old red stain gone, ready for an even new finish.

Two-tone finish: brown floor, red railings

The homeowners chose a two-tone look. The deck floor was stained a semi-transparent brown that shows the grain and knots of the wood, and the railings, top rails and balusters were finished in a red tone that frames the deck and picks up the colour of the brick.

The result

A deck that looks completely new: warm brown boards with visible grain, crisp red railings and a finish that protects the wood from sun and moisture.

Deck staining: questions homeowners ask

Can the deck floor and railings be different colours?

Yes. A two-tone finish is very popular: a semi-transparent stain on the floor to show the wood grain, and a more solid colour on the railings to frame the deck. Railings do not take foot traffic, so a more opaque finish holds up well there, as on this Richmond Hill deck.

Do you pressure wash or sand a deck before staining 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. On this deck, sanding removed the grey and the leftover red stain in one step.

Do I need to remove old stain before restaining?

If the old stain is patchy, peeling or a different colour from the one you want, yes. New stain over leftover patches looks uneven, so we sanded the old red stain off the floor before going to brown.

How often should a deck be restained?

Deck floors usually need a maintenance coat every 2 to 3 years because they take the most sun, rain and foot traffic. Railings shed water and last longer between coats.

Will the new stain peel?

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

How much does it cost to refinish a deck with railings?

It depends on the size of the deck, its condition, whether it needs washing and sanding or sanding only, how many railings and balusters there are, and whether you want one colour or two. We come out, look at the wood and give you a written quote.