Deck and fence staining in Ottawa
Wood that sits outside all year needs the right finish and the right prep.
5.0Google rating
Decks and fences have the hardest life of any wood around your house. Sun dries them out, rain and snow soak them, and a deck gets walked on all summer. A finish that looks fine in June can be peeling by the next spring if it went on over dirty or wet wood.
Carleton Prime Painting stains and paints decks and fences across Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley. Because Carleton Prime Construction builds decks and fences too, we can also tell you when a board needs replacing rather than covering.
- Free in-home consultation
- 2-year warranty on painting
- Liability insurance
- WSIB coverage
- Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore paints
- Our own painters, family owned
- BBB Accredited Business
Stain or paint?
Semi-transparent stain lets the wood grain show and soaks into the wood. When it wears, it fades rather than peels, which makes recoating easier. Solid stain covers the grain like paint but stays thinner, and it hides older, weathered wood. Paint gives a solid colour, but on a deck floor it wears in walkways and can peel, so it's more common on railings, fences and trim than on deck boards. The right choice depends on the wood, its age and what's on it now.
The prep that makes it last
- Cleaning off dirt, mildew and grey, weathered wood fibres
- Removing loose or failing old finish
- Replacing or fixing loose, cracked or soft boards first
- Letting the wood dry before the finish goes on
- Protecting the house, plants and patio around the work
New pressure-treated wood
New pressure-treated lumber is often too wet to take stain well right away. The usual advice is to let it dry out first, and the stain maker's instructions say how to tell when it's ready. Ask us if your deck is new.
In writing
What your written estimate spells out
Two painting quotes only compare fairly when they cover the same work. Ours lists the job in plain words, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
- Which rooms and surfaces are included, and which aren't
- The prep for each area: repairs, cleaning, sanding and primer
- How many coats
- Who supplies the paint
- The schedule, and what you need to move or clear
- The 2-year warranty on painting
What a painting customer said
I asked them to re-paint some rooms in my house, and the painter did an excellent job. The mistakes from years ago were erased. He even painted behind the toilets.
Eric Clara, interior painting, several rooms, on Google
Our process
How your deck and fence staining job works
Free in-home consultation
We come to you, walk the rooms or the outside of the house with you, and listen to what you want the finished result to look like.
A written estimate
You get the scope in writing: which surfaces, what prep, what's included and what isn't, so there are no surprises later.
A schedule that fits your life
We book the work around how you use your home, and tell you ahead of time what needs moving and when we'll be there.
Prep, then paint
Prep comes first and gets the time it needs. Then the painting, done carefully, and a clean site at the end of each day.
Walkthrough together
We go over every room or wall with you before we call it finished, and fix anything you're not happy with. The leftover paint stays with you for touch-ups.
Questions people ask
How often does a deck need to be re-stained?
It depends on the stain, the sun and how much the deck is used. Floors wear faster than railings. When water stops beading on the surface and soaks in, or the colour has faded unevenly, it's usually time.
Should I stain or paint my fence?
Either works on a fence. Stain shows the wood and fades as it wears. Paint gives a solid colour but will eventually need scraping where it peels.
When is the best time to stain a deck in Ottawa?
On dry days in late spring, summer or early fall, after the wood has had a few dry days and with no rain in the forecast. The stain can lists its own temperature range.
Can you fix boards before staining?
Carleton Prime Construction builds decks and fences, so loose, cracked or rotten boards can be dealt with before the finish goes on.
Related services
Tell us what you'd like painted
Start with a free in-home consultation. We'll look at the job with you and follow up with a written estimate.