A deck in St. Louis goes through humid heat, strong sun, storms and winter freezes every year. Stain soaks in and handles that better than paint on most deck floors. We clean the wood, let it dry fully, replace bad boards where needed and then coat it.
Decks here are mostly pressure treated pine, with some cedar and some composite. In the city they are often small raised decks or back porches reached from the kitchen of a brick house. In the county they tend to be larger, built off a walkout basement. All of them face the same weather: long humid summers, hard sun on the boards, heavy thunderstorms and winter freeze and thaw. Water gets into unprotected wood, the surface greys and cracks, and mildew grows in the shade.
We clean the deck first with a wood cleaner and a low pressure rinse, since too much pressure tears the soft grain of pine. Then the wood has to dry, which in a St. Louis summer can take a few days after rain. Loose nails and screws are set, split boards are replaced, and rough spots are sanded. Stain goes on by brush and pad so it soaks in, with railings and spindles done by hand. Siding and brick beside the deck are masked.
For the floor of a deck we usually suggest a penetrating stain, clear, semi-transparent or solid, because it wears away slowly instead of peeling. Paint or solid stain suits railings, posts and porch trim. A deck that already has peeling paint needs the loose coating taken off first, and we will tell you how far that can go. New treated lumber should dry out before its first coat. We check it by sprinkling water on the boards.
Deck painting & staining in St. Louis: common questions
My deck is grey and rough. Can it still be stained?
Usually yes. Grey is sun damage on the surface. Cleaning and a wood brightener bring back much of the color, and sanding takes off the splinters. Boards that are soft, cupped or cracked through should be replaced before staining.
How soon after rain can you stain?
The wood must be dry inside, not only on top. After a normal summer storm here we often wait two dry days or more. We also want no rain due for a day after the stain goes on.
Do you paint the covered back porch on a city flat?
Yes. Covered porch floors, ceilings, rails and stairs are common work for us. A porch floor under a roof can take a porch and floor enamel, since it is shielded from most of the weather.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.