Outdoor wood has a short, hard life in San Bernardino. Months of strong sun and very dry air gray the surface, open cracks and burn off stain faster than in cooler places. Decks, patio covers, pergolas and wood fences all need regular care here.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own walls move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to stain a deck?
The cost to stain a deck is $1.50 to $4 per square foot when done by a professional, or $450 to $1,000 for an average deck, by the national figures. The national average is $730. For set sizes, a 12 by 12 deck is listed at $226 to $582 and a 12 by 16 deck at $301 to $775.
| Method | National cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Stain and seal | $0.50 to $1.50 |
| Power wash, stain and seal | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Power sanding, stain and seal | $2.00 to $4.00 |
| Strip, stain and seal | $2.50 to $5.50 |
Railings are listed separately at $4.00 to $12.00 per linear foot.
Should I paint or stain my deck?
Stain is the better choice for most decks. It soaks into the wood and wears away slowly, so recoating is simple. Paint forms a film on top. On a floor that takes foot traffic, sun and sprinkler water, that film cracks and peels, and then it must be scraped before every repaint.
The published figures show the trade. Deck paint is listed as lasting 10 to 15 years and costing $2 to $5 per square foot. Stain is cheaper per coat but is redone every 2 to 3 years. Under San Bernardino sun, expect a painted deck floor to need attention sooner than the national figure suggests.
Solid or semi-transparent stain on an old deck?
Use a solid stain on an old, weathered deck and a semi-transparent stain on newer wood in good shape. Solid stain looks like thin paint. It hides gray wood, old stains and mismatched replacement boards, and it blocks more sun. Semi-transparent stain shows the grain, so it suits cedar and redwood that still look good. It is also easier to recoat.
How often does a deck need restaining?
A deck needs restaining every 2 to 3 years by the published national figure. In full San Bernardino sun, flat surfaces can need it at the short end of that or sooner. Railings and shaded areas last longer. The test is simple: sprinkle water on the boards. If it soaks in instead of beading, it is time.
Can you paint a deck that was previously stained, or stain one that was painted?
A previously stained deck can be painted or coated with solid stain after cleaning and light sanding. Going the other way is harder. A deck that was already painted cannot take a penetrating stain, because the stain cannot get through the paint film. The paint has to be stripped or sanded off first, which is the most expensive prep on the price table. A solid stain over sound old paint is sometimes a workable middle road.
Why is my deck stain peeling after a year?
Deck stain is peeling because it sat on the surface instead of soaking in. The common causes are too much stain put on, stain applied to damp wood, stain applied over old sealer or mill glaze, or a film-forming product on a floor. Applying stain in hot direct sun does it too. The stain dries on top before it can penetrate, which is easy to do here in summer.
The fix is to strip or sand the failed coating, let the wood dry and apply a thin coat of a penetrating stain in the cool part of the day.
How long to wait before staining a new deck or pressure-treated fence?
Wait until the wood is dry enough to absorb stain. A new deck or fence built of pressure-treated lumber is sold wet with treatment and can need several weeks to a few months. Kiln-dried lumber, cedar and redwood are ready much sooner. In our hot, dry air, new wood dries faster than the timelines written for humid states.
Use the water test. If drops soak in within a few minutes, stain it. Do not leave new wood bare through a whole summer here. The sun will gray and crack it.
Can I stain a deck while the wood is damp?
No. Damp wood cannot absorb stain, so the stain stays on top and peels. After washing or rain, let the deck dry fully. In summer here that can be a day or two. In the cooler months, and on shaded decks, allow longer. Morning dew and sprinkler overspray count as damp, so turn the sprinklers off before and after the job.
Should I stain or paint my wood fence?
Stain it, in most cases. Stain soaks into fence boards and fades slowly, so the next coat goes straight on. Paint gives a crisp solid color, but when it peels on rough fence boards the scraping is slow and never complete. By the national figures, painting or staining a fence costs $2 to $14 per linear foot, with a 6 foot fence at $4.00 to $9.00 per linear foot.
As arithmetic on those figures, 100 feet of fence is listed at $200 to $1,400. No lifespan is published for fence stain. Sun exposure and sprinklers decide it.
Is an old pine fence worth staining or should it be replaced?
An old fence is worth staining if the posts are firm and most boards are solid. Push on the posts. If they rock at the ground, the fence is failing where stain cannot help. Pine boards that are cracked through, curled or soft at the bottom from sprinklers should be replaced. If more than a small share of the fence is like that, put the money toward a new fence and stain that.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (909) 487-2695.