Deck Staining & Sealing

Exterior Painting & Weatherproofing

Deck Staining, Sealing, and Restoration for Wood and Composite

A Michigan deck takes punishment all year. UV bleaches wood gray in summer. Rain swells the grain. Snow sits on it for months. By spring, whatever was on the surface is either worn through or peeling. A penetrating stain applied correctly and renewed every two to three years keeps the wood sound. A film-forming sealer applied without proper prep traps moisture, blisters, and eventually requires full mechanical stripping before anything new can bond.

We identify the existing finish type before recommending a treatment path. A deck with active film-forming sealer that's peeling can't just be stained over — it needs stripping or extensive mechanical prep first. A deck with penetrating stain needs cleaning, brightening, and a fresh penetrating coat. We use TWP, Cabot, and Benjamin Moore Arborcoat products that penetrate into wood fibers and protect from within rather than forming a surface film that eventually traps moisture.

For Metro Detroit homeowners with weathered, gray wood that hasn't been treated in years: wood brightener opens the grain and restores surface chemistry before stain is applied. The difference in penetration and color uniformity is significant. We assess each deck before pricing the work and tell you upfront what prep the condition requires — a deck that was sealed with a film product costs more to restore than one maintained with penetrating stain.