Deck boards & walking surfaces
Stripped, sanded, and two-coated in a stain matched to how the deck actually gets used.
Services
Deck & Fence Staining
Stripped, sanded, and stained to last — decks, railings, and fences finished with products matched to mountain weather and daily use.
What we stain
Every part of the deck and fence — not just the easy faces.
The difference between a great deck job and a rushed one is in the pickets, the rail undersides, and the end grain. We finish all of it.
Railings, pickets & balusters
Hand-worked so the finish is even on every face, with a harder topcoat where hands go.
Privacy fences & gates
Cleaned, brightened, and stained to a consistent colour — boards replaced where needed.
Pergolas & shade structures
Every face finished evenly and matched to the deck or fence it sits with.
Stairs, landings & boardwalks
Treads, risers, and stringers finished with the grip and durability a daily-use surface needs.
Cleaning, brightening & re-coats
If the finish is just tired, a refresh restores it for a fraction of a full strip.
How we do it
The deck & fence staining process, step by step.
A deck that holds its finish is built in order — clean, strip, sand, then stain. Skip the prep and it peels by next summer. Here's exactly how a project runs.
Step 01
Protection
Before any prep, we protect what surrounds the deck or fence. Plants and gardens close to the work get covered, adjacent siding and stonework gets shielded, and we clear the area of furniture and anything moveable. Decks and fences sit right in the middle of your yard, so a clean setup matters. The work zone is staged so the rest of your outdoor space stays untouched.
Step 02
Cleaning & brightening
Old finish, grey weathering, mildew, and dirt all stop new stain from bonding, so we deep-clean the wood first. Where the wood has gone grey or fuzzy, a brightener restores the natural tone and reopens the grain. This step is what lets the stain soak in rather than sit on the surface and peel. We then let the wood dry to the right moisture content before going further.
Step 03
Stripping & sanding
Any failing finish gets stripped, and the boards are sanded to remove splinters, raised grain, and the last of the old coating. Deck surfaces and handrails get the most attention since that's where wear and feet land. Sanding leaves a smooth, even surface that takes stain consistently instead of blotching. We vacuum and wipe down so the finish goes onto clean wood.
Step 04
Masking & drop cloths
Right before staining, we mask off the house, posts, hardware, and anything adjacent that isn't being stained, and lay drop cloths to protect surfaces below and around the work. This finer round of protection keeps lines crisp and overspray contained. It's a few minutes that saves a lot of cleanup — and gives a sharper edge where the deck meets the house.
Step 05
Stain application
We apply a penetrating stain matched to the wood and how the surface gets used — two coats on walking surfaces and high-wear areas for durability. We back-brush so the product works into the grain rather than puddling on top, and we finish every face of the pickets and rails, not just the ones you see from the chair. Conditions are watched closely, since dry time and temperature shape how the stain cures.
Step 06
Clean-up & inspection
Once the stain has set enough to handle, we pull the masking and drop cloths, uncover the plants, and return your yard to how it was. Then we walk the whole project looking for thin spots, lap marks, and drips, and touch up anything that isn't right. The deck should look better than the day it was built, with nothing left behind.
Step 07
Re-coat schedule & close-out
We walk the finished deck or fence with you and hand off a written report listing the exact product, colour, and — importantly — the recommended re-coat window for each surface. Horizontal surfaces typically need a refresh every 2–4 years, and staying on that schedule is far cheaper than a full strip-and-restore. Final payment happens once you're satisfied, with a clear plan to keep the wood protected.
The Alpenglow Guarantee
1-Year No-Peel Guarantee
On qualifying projects finished with penetrating, non-film-forming stains, we guarantee the surface against peeling for one year. These stains are designed to fade gracefully instead of peeling — and we stand behind that in writing.
Frequently asked
Deck & fence questions.
Get in touch
Ready to bring the deck back?
We'll assess the wood on-site and tell you whether it needs a full strip or just a refresh — and quote it the day of the visit.