Deck & Fence Staining in North York — Your Questions Answered

A deck or fence is an expensive addition to any home, and keeping up with maintenance is what stops it deteriorating prematurely. Seal Tech has been cleaning, staining and sealing wood structures across the Greater Toronto Area since 1998. Below are the questions North York homeowners ask us most, along with exactly what happens when our crew turns up.

Do You Work in North York?

Is North York within your service area?

Yes. We service North York along with the rest of the Greater Toronto Area from our base in Scarborough. One of our published customer reviews comes from a North York homeowner — her comment was that our crew "worked so carefully and meticulously and I can see there is attention to detail," and that they started at 6 in the evening and were back the next morning before she was out of bed to finish the deck.

What kinds of wood structures do you treat?

Decks, fencing, pergolas, sheds and other exterior wooden structures. If it's outside and made of wood, it can almost certainly be cleaned, prepared and sealed.

Timing & Condition

My deck is brand new. Should I wait a season before staining it?

No — the best time to apply a sealer or stain is as soon as construction is complete. The sun and weather start working on unprotected wood immediately, and a great deal of irreversible damage happens in that first year. Waiting is the most common and most costly mistake.

My deck has already gone grey. Is it too late?

Usually not. Greying is caused by UV rays breaking down the surface wood fibres, and our restoration process is designed for exactly this: high-pressure cleaning to remove dirt, fungus, mildew, mould and atmospheric pollutants, then sanding to take off the loose, damaged fibres, then sealing. What can't be reversed is structural damage — wood that has been left long enough to rot or split badly needs replacement pieces, not stain.

How do I know when it needs redoing?

Every second or third season is a sensible interval to have it inspected by a professional to evaluate the condition of the existing sealer. Bear in mind horizontal surfaces like deck boards wear faster than vertical surfaces like fencing, and high-traffic areas fastest of all.

How long will the finish last?

One to five years on horizontal surfaces, and up to ten years on vertical ones. That range depends on real conditions at your property: elevation and air flow, sun exposure, surrounding trees and shrubs, foot traffic, precipitation, and the hot and cold cycles of the Toronto seasons.

Choosing a Stain

What are my options?

• Clear sealer — won't change the appearance of the wood. With no pigment it generally won't last as long, but it's the choice for a natural look.
• Semi-transparent stain — a bridge between clear and solid. Translucent, so the natural grain and texture show through while still giving you colour.
• Semi-solid or solid stain — more paint-like in appearance, and because of the higher pigment level, the most UV protection and the most weather protection of the three.

We carry 120 stain and sealant colours — the full range is here. How a colour actually looks once applied varies with the species of wood, its age and condition, the number of coats and the lighting, so we're glad to bring physical samples when we quote.

Does it matter which stain brand you use?

It matters a great deal, and specifically it matters that the product is intended for our climate. A stain has to hold up to Canadian weather and full seasonal swings. We use only proven quality sealers and stains, matched to the material they're going onto.

What Actually Happens on the Day

What does the job involve?

Four steps:

• High-pressure cleaning to remove existing dirt, fungus, mildew, mould and atmospheric pollutants, using environmentally sensitive cleaning products.
• Inspection of the existing fasteners, reapplied as needed to make sure the structure is sound.
• Sanding to remove loose wood fibres and prepare the surface for the chosen stain or sealer.
• Application of the stain or sealer in your chosen colour.

Can I save money by skipping the cleaning?

No, and we'd advise against trying. Stain works by penetrating the wood. If dirt, mould or mill glaze is on the surface when the stain goes down, it gets sealed in — the finish looks poor and it fails and peels early. A clean, sound surface is what makes the stain last.

Do I need to be home?

Generally no, as long as we have access to water, electricity and the work area — though it's always nice to see the reaction when it's finished.

How long before I can use the deck again?

Foot traffic within 24 hours; put the furniture back after 48. Actual drying times vary with temperature and sun exposure.

What should I do before the crew arrives?

• Clear furniture, children's toys and other items from the work area.
• Clean up pet waste, and keep pets inside while the crew is working.
• Unlock side gates so there's clear access.
• Make sure we can reach outside water and electricity.
• Switch irrigation off, and leave it off until 24 hours after we finish.
• Check for bee or wasp nests in the work area.

If we arrive and can't start — locked gate, no water, no power — a $250 rescheduling fee applies, so it's worth a quick check the day before.

More Services

• Deck & Fence Staining
• Browse 120 Colours
• Interlock Cleaning & Sealing
• Garage Floor & Epoxy
• Project Gallery
• Customer Reviews

Anything not covered here is probably in our general FAQ — or just call (416) 966-4200.