How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Deck?

Deck painting cost

Many homeowners like the crisp, clean look of a painted deck. The paint not only looks good, but it protects the wood. If your deck is painted, you should repaint it every two to three years. This time frame can vary, depending on where you live, how old the wood is, what quality of paint you use, how it's applied, and what kind of elements the deck is exposed to. A covered deck would be more protected from the direct sun, rain, leaves and other factors.

Average cost to paint a deck

Deck painting costs can range from $1.50 to about $3.20 per square foot. There are lots of factors that can raise or lower the amount, from the condition of your wood, the complexity of your deck, and the choice of paint. To find out how much having you deck painted might cost, click here.

Labor cost to paint a deck

When you ask for an estimate from a professional to paint your deck, what are the tasks and materials included in the price? Your professional's bid should include the paint, possibly materials for repairs, delivery of materials, labor to paint/repair the deck, and usually two coats of paint. It should include prep work and cleanup, too. Your hired professional should also supply the masking tape and paper (to keep paint from going where it shouldn't) and solvents. It includes travel, setup time and cleanup and breakdown time.

If you're doing the job as a DIY project you'll need to add these materials to your list of purchases, and either buy or rent a sprayer to make the job go faster.

The cost will vary depending on whether you're supplying the paint. This is something you can discuss with the painter before you commit.

The labor estimate doesn't cover things like making changes to your existing structure, moving any lines for your electricity, plumbing or HVAC system.

If your wood is in rough shape, the painting bid would not include resurfacing the wood - that would be extra, and an incentive to keep your deck in good shape to avoid future repairs.

The bid also wouldn't include any required permits or inspection fees to comply with from your local building department.

The estimate also doesn't include the sales tax, any general contractor fees (if you choose to go with a contractor), and any testing for or disposal of asbestos, lead or any other hazardous materials.

Getting estimates for work

If you have a professional paint your deck, you'll want to get several estimates for the work. Make sure the professional gives you a breakdown of all of the costs, the quality grade of the paint, and ask to see photos of previous work. Make sure the professional is licensed and insured, too.

Cost to repaint a deck

If your deck has been painted in the past and needs to be repainted or refinished, there are some price considerations. Whether you hire a professional or do it yourself, there are necessary steps to take before painting over the old paint.

Prepping the deck for a new coat of paint may raise the labor costs for your project. It's a necessary cost, however, because if you apply a fresh coat of paint over an older, peeling coat of paint, you'll be back to square one with peeling paint.

How much does it cost to refinish your deck? The cost depends on pretty much the same factors that can change the cost for painting for the first time and staining.

Cost to paint a deck per square foot

The cost to refinish a deck ranges from $2.87 to $6.40 per square foot. This amount will differ according to your project size, location, paint you choose, and other factors.

You can budget how much the total project cost will be by figuring out how many square feet your deck is. To do this, measure the length and the width of your deck. Don't forget the surface area of stairs. Multiply the length and width to get the square footage. When buying paint, you'll also need to take into account the surface area of all the deck and stair railings, and the sides of the deck.

The following table shows the average cost to paint a deck per square foot:

Repainting cost considerations

The cost of repainting may differ depending on what kind of shape your deck is in. If it hasn't been painted in years or the wood is soft and rotting in places, or really showing its age, it may need repairs or a lot of labor to refurbish and make it paintable again.

Your professional may also need to remove loose paint and then sand and clean the surface before repainting. The better the condition of your deck, the less labor there should be to repaint it.

Preparing your deck for repainting

Before your painter arrives (or before you take on the project), you'll want to prepare your deck to be repainted. Inspect the surfaces for peeling paint. If the paint is still in good shape, you don't need to strip it. But if it's peeling, remove it with a stiff brush or a scraper, down to the bare wood. You may want to sand it down, too, or pay a professional to do this.

Once you've removed all the loose paint, rinse the deck off using a low-pressure garden hose. You'll want to rinse it at least a couple of days before painting begins. Otherwise, the paint won't stick.

If your paint is peeling and it hasn't been more than two or three years since it was painted, you need to do some investigating: why is it peeling or flaking already? Some of those reasons include:

• Dirty surface: If your deck is dirty, the paint will adhere to the dirt and not the deck surface. Make sure you clean dirt, mildew, grease, and anything that could interfere with a good bond between the paint and deck.
• The quality of paint: If the paint is inferior quality or has expired, its adhesion qualities won't be as good.
• How the paint was applied: If the paint was applied too thin, too thick, or in less than ideal weather conditions, this can affect how well it bonds to the deck.
• Moisture: If your deck is in a shady, rainy location, this can cause a paint failure before its time. Water can seep between the paint and the deck wood.

Cost to stain a deck

You may prefer to keep the natural look of wood instead of painting. Many people like the natural look of wood, or a change in color with stain instead of paint.

If you choose to stain your deck, the national average cost to stain is between $0.29 to $0.80 per square foot, or an average of $0.55 per square foot. If you hire a professional to do the job, the all-in cost for labor and materials is between $1.71 and 4.16 per square foot, averaging about $2.73 per square foot. Use this Porch cost estimator to find the cost to stain a deck where you live.

What does this mean in real numbers? A 300-square foot deck (about a 15 by 20-foot deck) would cost about $800 for a professional to stain.

How do you know it's time to stain your deck? When your deck starts to look worn and the deck no longer repels water, it's time to re-stain. You should plan on adding a new coat of stain every two to three years with a good-quality stain. The better you maintain your deck in between stains - keeping it clean and free of decaying leaves and debris - the longer you can go between staining jobs.

Deck staining cost factors

Deck staining costs vary depending on the size and complexity of your deck, where you live, what stain you buy, what weather conditions are like and how many coats it may require. For instance, deck wood that hasn't been stained in some years will soak up more stain. You can find out more information on the cost to have your own deck stained.

Prepping your deck for staining

To stain your deck, you must prepare the surface just like you would do for painting or repainting it. You'll want to first remove all furniture and other objects and don't replace them until after the product directions say the stain is fully dry.

Sweep the deck well to remove any leaves, dirt, or debris between the deck planks and clean it with a deck cleaner if needed. If you have grease from a grill, make sure you remove the grease so the stain will stick.

If your deck's still grimy and the deck cleaner doesn't get it clean enough, you may need to power wash it before staining. After power-washing, let the wood dry for several days before staining.

If you are refinishing your deck, you may need to strip the previous stain or paint from the wood first. You may need to do this with a chemical stripper followed by cleaning and sanding.

Cost to power-wash a deck

If your deck is really dirty it may need power-washing. If you pay a professional to do the job, you will pay an average of $0.50 per square foot. Find out the cost to power-wash a deck in your area.

When your deck is covered with dirt, moisture, leaves and surface mold, it can shorten its lifespan. Power-washing - blasting it with high-pressure water - can help remove all of that and make your deck look newer and cleaner.

Prepping your deck for power-washing

Remove furniture, potted plants, and all objects as you would prior to painting or staining. Sweep the deck to remove big chunks of dirt, leaves, twigs and other debris, and try to sweep it from between the planks. You can even use a putty or old butter knife to remove debris from those cracks.

You may be able to clean the deck with only the water from the power-washer, but if your deck is really dirty, you may need to use a deck cleaner, too.

Deck power-washing cost factors

Factors that can complicate your deck power-washing cost include how soiled the deck is, how complicated your deck is, and how deteriorated your boards already are.

If you choose to do the power-washing yourself, you can rent a power washer from a large home improvement store or tool rental agency. However, you need to be careful how you operate the power washer. You can do more damage than good with it. For instance, if your deck is made from pine or another soft wood (many decks are made from pine), you'll need a lower presser setting than you would us for harder woods. You'll also want to adhere to all safety precautions and wear shoes because power-washers can cause injuries.

DIY vs. hiring a pro

You may be tempted to paint, stain, power-wash, or repair your own deck. There are things you should consider before tackling these projects, however. Do you have the skills? Do you already have a good-quality pressure washer, painter, and other tools? Is your deck a size that you can tackle without feeling overwhelmed? Do you have the time? Professionals already possess the experience and skills along with the tools.

If you need to repair your deck

It's possible that your deck not only needs painting, staining or power-washing, but close examination shows that you need some boards replaced. Take a close look at where your deck meets the ground. If it has direct wood-to-ground contact, it's possible that wood has been damaged by moisture or insects like termites. Standing water on non-stained or non-painted wood can rot the wood, too. You may need repairs.

Cost of repairing or replacing decking

The national average cost to install wood decking material is $3.83 per square foot. Depending on where you live, and what kind and quality of wood and materials you use, this cost can vary between $3.15 to $4.51 per square foot. When you factor in labor, the national average is $9.42 per square foot, or somewhere between $8.21 and $10.64.

To put this into a relatable price, if you have a 300-square foot deck, which would be a 15-ft by 20-ft deck, installing a deck would cost, on average, $2,827.

How much you pay to install wood decking depends on several factors, including the size, the height, the design complexity and the location. Cost also depends on what type of wood you use. Southern yellow pine that's pressure-treated to resist insects and rot is more affordable than cedar, redwood, and other high-end tropical hardwoods.

When replacing a deck, depending on your home's configuration, you can keep it the same size or make it larger. Your deck at minimum should be big enough to comfortably hold a table and chairs, perhaps a grill, and any other furnishings you want it to hold, like potted plants or a shade umbrella.

If your deck is beyond painting or staining or minor repairs, now may be the time to build the deck of your dreams. Always check with your building code and permitting departments.

Working with a professional

In most areas, building permits are required when constructing a new deck. If you're unsure of the process, leave this to a professional who knows the ins and outs of code compliance. This ensures that your completed project will meet or exceed all code requirements and is structurally sound.

A licensed expert chooses the wood boards carefully and builds your structure using methods that ensure longevity of your deck, including preventing cracking, warping, and sagging. They know how to safely and securely attach the surface to your home without damaging either structure, too.