Outdoor wood wears fast in San Bernardino. Months of strong sun and dry air gray the boards and burn off stain. Decks, patio covers and pergolas here need cleaning and a fresh coat more often than in mild climates. We wash the wood, let it dry and stain or paint it.
Raised wood decks are less common in San Bernardino than patio covers, pergolas and balconies, but all of them face the same problem. Flat wood under an open sky takes the sun straight on for months with almost no rain to rinse it. Finish burns off the top surfaces first. Boards turn gray, the grain lifts and small cracks open. Whatever the structure, the horizontal parts wear out long before the upright ones.
We check the wood before choosing a finish. Boards and rails should be solid, with no soft spots, and fasteners should be tight. Then the deck is cleaned to remove dust, gray fibers and any failed coating, and left to dry. Rough areas are sanded. Stain is brushed or rolled on and worked into the boards, with the board ends and the tops of rails given extra attention because they soak up the most and fail the soonest.
The choice of product is a trade between looks and upkeep. A clear or lightly tinted stain shows the wood and needs renewing most often. A solid stain hides the grain and blocks more sun. Deck paint makes a film that can peel where people walk. Hot boards are a real problem here, so we stain in the morning or in shade, not on wood that is too hot to touch. Call or text (909) 487-2695 for a free estimate and written quote.
Deck painting & staining in San Bernardino: common questions
How often does a deck need restaining in San Bernardino?
It depends on the product and how much sun the deck gets, so we do not give one number. Watch the wood instead. When water stops beading and soaks straight in, or the color has gone flat and gray, it is time.
Can you stain a patio cover or pergola?
Yes. Patio covers and pergolas are a large part of this work here. They take as much sun as a deck. The tops of the beams and rafters wear first, and we coat those as well as the sides you see from below.
Should I paint or stain my deck floor?
Stain is the safer choice for a floor. It soaks in and wears away gradually, so the next coat is simple. Paint looks solid at first, but once it peels on a walking surface, it has to be scraped or sanded off.
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.