How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Deck?

When you have a deck, you naturally want it to look its best and last for as long as possible. The outdoor elements are hard on wooden surfaces and they cause the wood to rot faster, deteriorate, and look bad in a short amount of time. To protect the materials of your deck you can coat them with paint or stain and sealant.

Many homeowners have existing decks that are starting to look a little worse for wear and they wonder what it will cost for them to update the look of their space. We talked to several home renovation experts, plus painters and deck owners to try and find the answer to how much it costs to paint a deck.

Hiring a Professional to Paint Your Deck

Most of us are strapped for time. We have jobs, careers, families, commitments, and if we are lucky social lives that keep us busy 7 days a week and usually 10 – 12 hours per day. We know that we want home renovations like deck painting but we also know finding the time to get the work done will be almost impossible. So, most people would like to know how much a professional would charge to come and paint their deck for them.

Most professional painters come and measure your deck and then they give you an estimate of the materials and labor cost based on the square feet of area you need to be painted. Other things that are considered when an estimate is being made are:

• The design of the railing and whether the railing is also being painted
• The condition of the boards
• The existing paint substances and how hard they will be to remove or cover
• The type of paint or stain the owner wants to be applied
• Will sealer be required
• The location of the deck (some decks are hard to get to and the painter has to either go through the customer’s home with all of their supplies or they have to carry everything around the house)
• Is there electricity available for operating air compressors and such or will they have to bring a generator to the job
• The preferred method of application (some pros ask the homeowner if they want the surface painted with a brush and roller or if they want it painted using spray painting equipment)

Read More: How Much Will it Cost to Paint Fence

Deck Painting Cost by Professional

Deck Staining Cost Estimate

Benefits of Having a Pro Paint Your Deck

• The professionals will likely use less paint, stain, or sealer
• Professionals know which products are best to use
• You do not have to buy the tools to apply the paint
• The finished look will be flawless
• Professionals are less likely to get paint on the exterior of your home or on your shrubbery while they work
• Your home value can be increased 
• It saves you valuable time
• Reduces the maintenance issues with the deck

Drawbacks of Hiring a Pro to Paint Your Deck

• Professional painters are rather expensive so it costs more to get the work done
• You will have to take the time to find the right person to do the job
• The painter may require someone to be at home while they work
• If they are injured while working at your home, they may file a claim on your homeowner’s insurance
• You have to allow a stranger to come to your home

How to Choose the Right Painter for Your Deck Painting Project

If you do decide to hire a painter to do the work at your home you have to choose the right person or you can be greatly disappointed. The following tips from the pros we talked to will help you hire a good painter who will do a good job.

• Ask your friends and relatives for recommendations
• Always check the Better Business Bureau to see if the person you are considering has had complaints filed against them in the past
• Ask the individual if they are bonded or insured (this will cover damages that may happen to your home or belongings)
• Ask for a written estimate, and ask how long the estimate is good for
• Ask what paints, primers, and materials will be used. Be specific and ask what brands the person intends to use.
• Ask if they have pictures of their past work
• Ask for references, but know that no painter is going to give you a reference that is not going to give them a positive rating
• Ask about how long they have been doing this kind of work
• Ask about guarantees of their work. You are really wanting to get specific details that tell you exactly what prep work they will do, what clean-up work they will do, and if the paint or stain they use has a durability guarantee from the manufacturer.
• Do not hire someone just because they give you the lowest estimate. It is generally smarter to choose people whose price estimates are not the lowest or the highest.

Ways to Save Money When You Hire a Pro

There are a few things that you can do to decrease the amount the professional painters charge to paint your deck.

• Do all repairs to the deck yourself
• Strip old paint and do sanding of the wood yourself
• Provide the paints and painting materials
• Move all furniture and décor items from the deck
• Do all of the pressure washing and cleaning
• Cover your own shrubbery

DIY Deck Painting Cost Estimate

A lot of people do their own painting around their homes. Some do this work because it is a lot cheaper and some do the work because they enjoy doing their own painting. If you are considering doing this work yourself then there are a few price considerations for you to look at.

Material Cost

Time to Paint

A professional painter can paint more than 500 square feet of surface area in less than four hours. A regular person who does not paint on a weekly basis will need twice as much time to paint the same 500 square feet. When considering the length of time it will take to paint your deck you need to calculate preparation time, painting time, drying time, and clean-up time into your figures.

Most painters charge between $65 and $80 per hour for their services. These people can normally paint about 150 square feet of surface for each hour they spend on the job. The painter also charges by the hour for the prep work they have to do, and the clean-up work they have to do. Generally, if the paint is going to take several hours to dry or cure the painter will leave and return the next day to do the work.

Preparation

When it comes to how much time it will require for you to prepare your deck to be painted you have to consider the condition of the wood, and whether you are panting or staining. Prep work includes:

• Stripping off old or peeling paint
• Sanding the surface
• Nailing nails back down tight
• Fixing any broken or loose boards
• Covering any bushes or exterior siding and windows that could get paint transferred on them
• Moving all furniture, plants, and décor from the porch, cleaning the wood so it is free of dirt, particulates, and dust created while sanding

When you prep a deck to be painted you normally use a pressure washer to help you remove all of the dirt, debris, and fine dust that can interfere with the paint. You need to allow the wood to dry for at least 24 hours after you wash it in this manner so you have a perfectly dry surface to work with.

When sanding a deck, it is best if you have an electric sander to help you. You do want the boards to be sanded smooth because this eliminates the possibility of splinters, and it creates a smooth surface that looks better after the paint dries. You can purchase these tools for $20 to $150 dollars at most building material stores. This is a tool that is going to be beneficial to you for many home projects so it is recommended that you purchase one instead of renting or leasing the equipment.

Cleaning Up After the Job

Once the deck is painted you have to do the clean-up. Cleaning up includes:

• Washing and putting away all paint supplies like rollers, brushes, and sprayers
• Removing any painters’ tape or drop cloths covering windows, or shrubbery
• Putting all furniture and décor back in place

When you go to paint a deck, you can easily spend an entire weekend on all of the different elements that go into this job. The one thing you must know about painting is “if you want it to look right then you need to take your time.” When you are considering the job plan a full weekend and if you finish sooner then you have some free time to do whatever you like.

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Deck Painting Cost Comparing a Pro Vs DIY

Should You Paint or Stain Your Deck?

Pros of Painting Your Deck

• Deck paint is thick and helps hide imperfections in the wood
• Increased color options
• Protects the wood from water, humidity, and sun damages
• Easy to apply
• Great for older decks
• Paint is easier to maintain
• Paint lasts longer than stain (your average paint on exterior surfaces like this will last 10 years and stain is going to last about 8 years)

Drawbacks of Paint on a Deck

• Paint can make the surface more slippery
• It takes longer to paint than it does to stain
• Paint products for decks can be expensive
• Paint is less likely to adhere to treated wood
• Deck paint is very thick and you may not be able to apply it with a sprayer unless you thin it down considerably

Pros of Staining a Deck

• Stain brings out the natural beauty of the wood
• Stain is a one-coat application where paint can take multiple coats
• Stain is easier to apply
• You can apply stain with a pump-up garden sprayer like the one you use to apply insecticide 

Drawbacks of Stain on a Deck

• Last about 2 years less than paint would
• Does not prevent mold and rot to the same extent that paint can
• Stained decks are harder to clean

Money Saving Tips

• If you do not own an electric paint sprayer, use a pump-up garden sprayer to apply stain
• Rent paint guns and air compressors instead of buying them (You can also rent a sander from some tool rental companies)
• Buy larger containers of primer, paint, or sealer because you can save money on the bulk purchase (you might be able to split the material costs with a friend or two and buy your items in five-gallon containers to save money)
• Shop at discount stores and think about buying the store brands instead of getting the major name-brand materials

FAQs

What Kind of Paint Do I Use on My Deck?

You need exterior paint and to have the most protection you should buy paint that is specifically made for placement on decks. This paint is designed to withstand heavy foot traffic, sunlight, temperature fluctuations, and rain and humidity.

How Often Do I Need to Paint My Deck?

If you use good quality paint on the deck you will more than likely not need to repaint it for about ten years. 

If One Part of My Deck has Scratched in the Paint do I Need to Repaint the Entire Thing?

If the deck is painted you can probably do some touch-up painting on the scuffed area instead of repainting the entire deck. If you do not have a record of the paint color, or it has been several years since the paint was applied you may not be able to match the paint and will have to repaint the entire thing.

Do I Have to Apply a Clear Sealer over Deck Paint?

You have to apply a clear sealer over stain but most deck paints are formulated to seal and protect from mold, moisture, and sun damage so you do not always have to use a clear sealer over paint.

Can I Paint Over a Stained Deck?

You can apply paint if the deck was previously painted. You are more than likely going to need to do some sanding to prepare the surface because of the clear sealers used on top of stained wood. Be sure to use a good primer so the stain does not bleed through your paint choice.

Can I Stain over the Paint?

The only way to stain a deck that was previously painted is to strip away all of the paint so you can see the bare wood. Then you can stain the wood.

Does Stain Increase Home Value More than Paint?

The biggest differences between the look of a stain and the look of paint are personal preference choices. Both substances increase the value of the home because they increase the beauty of the home, and they make the surface they cover last longer.

Final Thoughts

Your deck is an extension of the living space in your home. It is where your family and friends gather to visit and you want it to look its best and be as safe as possible. We all know that lumber and deck building materials are very expensive so painting and staining this area is the ultimate way to make it more durable and long-lasting.

Furthermore, please take a look at How Much Does It Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets?