Pergola, Gazebo, Fence & Trellis Painting & Staining
by CertaPro Painters of Salt Lake City
Local Staining Services in Salt Lake City
Living with a pergola, gazebo, fence, or trellis, you understand the wear and tear that fluctuating weather can inflict on your wooden structures. Without consistent re-sealing and re-staining, these structures can end up being a pricy home maintenance liability, negatively affecting your home’s value. The longer you delay employing a painting contractor, the higher the cost escalates.
CertaPro Painters® of Salt Lake City boasts experienced residential painting squads who excel at sealing and staining wooden surfaces to shield them from diverse weather conditions. Depending on your specific project, our expert surface preparation and staining approach may encompass:
Wash/Clean
Your wooden surface must be properly cleaned prior to applying a new stain. Pressure washing the surfaces will help eliminate mold, mildew, algae, etc., as well as help remove any loose/peeling coatings. Using the proper cleaning solution is important depending on the conditions of the pergola, gazebo, etc. Depending on the desired finish, a full strip (chemical or sanding) and/or a brightening process may be necessary.
Preparation
Proper cleaning and preparation are the key to getting the most out of your staining project. Any remaining loose coatings after the pressure wash must be scraped and or wire brushed off. Depending on the desired finish, sanding may also be necessary. Any loose nails, screws, and boards should be resecured. Caulking is generally not necessary for these structures as the stain will need to breath (release moisture).
Staining
Using a quality stain is the best practice. If paint is used on vertical surfaces, any bare wood should be primed prior to applying the paint. Stains come in various finishes: transparent/translucent, semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid (see “Stain Finishes” for more detail). Stains do not require a prime coat and should always be applied with a brush and roller. If a sprayer is used, a back-brush or back-roll should be performed to create an even finish as well as work the product into the wood.
Maintenance
With weather conditions in Utah, exterior wooden surfaces like fences and gazebos require fairly regular maintenance and upkeep. A simple wash, using a basic cleaner, should be performed at least once a year. Depending on the kind of stain used, horizontal surfaces (ie: flooring, tops of railing, etc) will likely need touchups or even fresh coats every 1-4 years. Vertical surfaces will usually hold up longer because they are not walked on and moisture does not sit on them for extended periods of time. Touchups and fresh coats are usually completed on every other round of horizontal surface reworks.
Projects We’ve Completed
Common Questions About Staining Projects
How frequent should I stain my fence, gazebo, or pergola?
If you’re utilizing a transparent stain, reapplication is recommended every 1 to 3 years. However, with a solid stain, a fresh coat is necessary every 2 – 5 years.
How do I determine if I need a solid stain or a transparent or semi-transparent one?
The protection your product affords over time is inversely proportional to its pigment (color) content. As such, after using a solid stain or paint before, transparent alternatives are not an option. Many individuals adore the transparent appearance that reveals the wood’s natural hue, but maintaining this appearance necessitates additional upkeep.
Is it necessary to strip my deck every time I stain it?
While the answer is technically yes, and it’s often what we suggest, most clients lack the finances for this. In such situations, reapplying the previous product used is the next ideal solution.
CertaPro did some painting for me and did a wonderful job. There was no mess to clean up. Pablo was very careful and all went smoothly. I will use them again.
- Barbara H. | Murray, UT
