Deck staining cost depends on floor area, how many rails, balusters and stairs there are, how much cleaning or stripping the wood needs, and the type of stain. Rails often take as long as the floor, and weather windows set the schedule because stains need dry wood above 40°F.
Floor area is only part of it. A 12 by 16 foot deck has 192 square feet of decking, but rails, balusters, stair treads and risers, skirting and the underside of rails add surface and much more brushing time. Benjamin Moore lists its Woodluxe stains at 300 to 400 square feet per gallon, so one coat on that floor is roughly half a gallon, while the railing system can take as much time as the floor.
Gray, weathered or mildewed wood needs cleaning first; Benjamin Moore's Woodluxe All-In-One Wood Cleaner is used above 50°F. If the old finish is a solid stain and a penetrating stain is wanted, the old film has to come off; Benjamin Moore makes a Woodluxe Wood Stain Remover for that. Loose boards and raised nails are fixed before staining.
It affects labor and future upkeep. Semi-transparent stains penetrate and need even application to avoid lap marks, while solid stains form a film and cover color variation. Benjamin Moore lists both Woodluxe types at 300 to 400 square feet per gallon. Penetrating stains usually need maintenance coats sooner, which matters for long-term cost.
Benjamin Moore's Woodluxe stain sheets require air and surface temperatures of at least 40°F and say new pressure-treated lumber must dry below 15% moisture content. Decks need 48 hours before furniture returns. Rain delays and drying time after cleaning are built into scheduling.
Painted porch floors and railings on pre-1978 homes may carry old lead paint. Paid work disturbing more than 20 square feet of exterior paint falls under the EPA rule, adding containment and cleanup. Porch floors also need a floor-rated coating rather than wall paint.
The cleaning method, any stripping, repairs, the stain product and its type, which surfaces are included (floor, rails, stairs, skirting) and the number of coats. Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires the contract to describe the work and materials and list the approximate start and completion dates, which for decks depend on dry weather.
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Measure the floor, then add rails, stairs and skirting. Benjamin Moore lists its Woodluxe stains at 300 to 400 square feet per gallon, so a 192 square foot deck floor needs roughly half a gallon per coat before railings. Weathered or rough wood absorbs more, so plan toward the low end of coverage.
Upfront costs can be similar, but long-term upkeep differs. Penetrating stains wear away gradually and are recoated after cleaning, while paint and solid stain form a film that can peel and need scraping. Many homeowners choose stain for decking because maintenance is simpler.
Railings have many small surfaces: each baluster has four sides, plus top and bottom rails and posts, all brushed by hand. A railing system can take as much time as the entire deck floor, even though it uses less stain. Stairs add treads, risers and stringers.
Yes, if the wood is dry and temperatures stay above the stain's minimum. Benjamin Moore lists 40°F for its Woodluxe water-based stains and 50°F for its wood cleaner. NOAA normals show average October lows of 43.8°F at Lehigh Valley International Airport, so fall staining depends on the forecast.
Sources: Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Water-Based Semi-Transparent Stain + Sealer (692) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Water-Based Deck + Siding Solid Stain (694) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Woodluxe All-In-One Wood Cleaner (018) technical data sheet; NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Lehigh Valley International Airport (USW00014737); EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E; Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (Act 132 of 2008), Section 7. Figures checked October 2026.
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