Cleaning
Wood cleaner and a low-pressure rinse to lift dirt, pollen, mildew and gray fibers without furring the wood.
Clean · Brighten · Stain
Deck & Fence Staining in Matthews, NC
Decks, fences, pergolas and porch floors cleaned, brightened and stained, with loose boards and popped nails fixed first. We match the stain to the wood and how much sun it gets.
Mon-Sat 7 AM-6 PM · On-Site Estimate · Written Scope First
6 DaysPhone line
Mon to Sat
Mon to Sat
On-SiteEstimate at
your property
your property
WrittenScope before
work starts
work starts
28105Matthews, Mint Hill
& Stallings
& Stallings
SEAL IT Bare wood weathers fast in full sun
Spot one of these? Call to book an on-site estimate
Warning Signs
7 Signs Your Deck or Fence Needs Stain
Most decks around Matthews are pressure-treated southern yellow pine in full sun. It grays and checks fast once the finish wears off. These are the signs.
- 01 Water soaks in instead of beading on the boards
- 02 Gray, weathered wood where the stain has worn away
- 03 Splinters and raised grain on the walking surface
- 04 Peeling film-forming stain or paint on the deck floor
- 05 Black spots or green growth in shaded corners
- 06 Cupped or cracked boards and popped nail heads
- 07 A fence that is gray on the sunny side and green on the shady side
Call (980) 243-8188 Phone line open · Mon-Sat 7 AM-6 PM
What We Cover What Deck & Fence Staining
What Deck & Fence Staining
in Matthews NC Includes
Stain only soaks into clean, dry, open wood. Most of the job is getting the wood to that state.
Brightening
An oxalic-acid brightener after cleaning restores the wood color and helps stain penetrate evenly.
Stripping When Needed
Peeling film-forming stain or paint stripped back so the new coat can soak in instead of sitting on top.
Board & Fastener Repair
Popped nails reset or replaced with screws, split boards replaced, and loose railings tightened.
Penetrating Stain
Semi-transparent or semi-solid stain applied by brush and pad and back-brushed into the grain, never left puddled.
Plant & House Protection
Plants, siding and patios covered or rinsed, and runoff controlled around beds and lawns.
Deck looking gray before a summer cookout? Book in spring; dry spells fill up fast.
📞 Call (980) 243-8188 Local Conditions Why Decks Here
Why Decks Here
Wear Out So Fast
Pressure-treated pine is the standard deck and fence lumber around Matthews. It holds up to rot, but it moves a lot with wet and dry cycles, and full Carolina sun breaks down the wood fibers on the surface. Once the stain wears off, boards gray, check and splinter within a season or two.
The weather sets the schedule. Charlotte gets measurable rain on about 112 days a year, according to NOAA climate normals, and wood has to dry after cleaning before stain goes on. We plan around a couple of dry days and check moisture before staining.
New pressure-treated lumber is often too wet to stain right away; it may need several weeks to a few months to dry, depending on the season. Shaded fences along wooded lots grow mildew and need a mildewcide wash first. Leftover stain and rags are handled safely; oil-soaked rags can self-heat, so they are laid flat to dry or sealed in water, and leftover products go to a county drop-off center.
- Moisture checked before any stain goes on
- Back-brushed into the grain, not left on top
- Semi-transparent or solid matched to wood condition
- Oily rags handled safely and leftovers disposed of properly
2-3 yrs typical life of semi-transparent stain on a sunny horizontal deck
112 days of measurable rain a year at Charlotte (NOAA 1991-2020)
Our Process How Deck & Fence Staining
How Deck & Fence Staining
Works, Step by Step
Clean, dry, then stain. Skipping the drying time is the most common reason deck stain fails.
- 01
Inspect the Wood and Pick the Stain
We check for rot, loose boards and old coatings, and recommend semi-transparent, semi-solid or solid stain.
- 02
Clean, Brighten or Strip
Wood cleaner, brightener and a low-pressure rinse; stripping where old film-forming coatings are peeling.
- 03
Repair and Dry
Boards and fasteners fixed, then at least one or two dry days with a moisture check before staining.
- 04
Stain and Walk Through
Stain applied and back-brushed, overspray cleaned, and a walkthrough with care instructions.
Ready for step one?
Call (980) 243-8188Guidance & Business Details
Choose the Right Stain for the Wood
Ask whether the wood will be cleaned, brightened or stripped, which stain type goes on, and how long the first coat should last.
Read the Relevant Guidance
- EPA: Mold, moisture and your home
Moisture control comes before paint wherever stains, mildew or soft wood show up.
- Mecklenburg County disposal centers
Where residents take leftover stain and oil-based products.
Choose Your Next Step
- Stain or paint a deck?
Why paint peels on decks and stain wears instead.
- Semi-transparent vs solid stain
Looks, life and how each one ages.
- Washing before staining
Low-pressure cleaning that does not fur the wood.
- What deck staining costs
National benchmarks for decks and fences.
Business Details You Can Check
- Owner
- Matthews Painting Pros, Owner & Founder. Meet the team.
- Office and contact
- 250 N Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105. (980) 243-8188 · info@matthewspaintingpros.com. Office and contact details.
- Written warranty
- Every completed painting job comes with a 2-year written workmanship warranty. Read coverage, exclusions and how to claim.
- Contractor documentation
- Ask for a certificate of liability insurance, proof of workers' compensation where the law requires it, and for homes built before 1978 the lead-safe firm certification. Check North Carolina lead-safe firm certification.
- Your job documentation
- Request a written scope listing surfaces, prep steps, products, colors, sheen and number of coats. Use the written-estimate checklist.
Why Call Us How We Handle
How We Handle
Deck & Fence Staining in Matthews NC
A deck stain job is only as good as the cleaning and drying under it. Our team will reschedule before staining damp wood.
- Clean and brighten every board before staining
- Moisture checked before the first coat
- Back-brushed so stain soaks in and does not puddle
- Loose boards, popped nails and railings fixed first
- Plants, siding and patios protected from cleaner and overspray
- Written product and color list for the next maintenance coat
FAQ Deck Staining Matthews NC:
Deck Staining Matthews NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on cost, stain types, new wood and how long it lasts.
01 How much does deck staining cost in Matthews NC?
Staining is priced from the deck's size, railings, stairs and the condition of the old finish. HomeGuide's national benchmark for painting or staining a deck is $2 to $5 per square foot, or $600 to $2,000 for an average deck, and $1 to $3 per square foot for fences (July 2025). Those are national figures.
Read the cost sources and assumptions.
Question about your property? Call (980) 243-8188 02 How long does deck stain last?
On a sunny horizontal deck, a semi-transparent stain usually lasts about two to three years; vertical surfaces like fences and rails last longer. Solid stains last longer but can peel and are harder to refresh.
Question about your property? Call (980) 243-8188 03 Can you stain new pressure-treated wood right away?
Usually not. New treated lumber is often wet and needs to dry, sometimes a few weeks in summer and longer in cool weather. A water drop test tells you: if it soaks in, the wood is ready.
Question about your property? Call (980) 243-8188 04 Should I stain or paint my deck?
Stain for the walking surface. Paint forms a film that traps moisture and peels on horizontal boards. Paint or solid stain can work on railings and skirting.
Question about your property? Call (980) 243-8188 05 Do you pressure wash decks before staining?
We clean with a wood cleaner and a low-pressure rinse. High pressure raises the grain and leaves fuzzy, splintery wood.
Question about your property? Call (980) 243-8188 06 How long before I can use the deck?
Light foot traffic after about a day; furniture and grills after two or three, depending on the product and weather.
Question about your property? Call (980) 243-8188 07 Do you stain fences on both sides?
Yes, if we can reach both sides. Neighbors usually need to grant access for the outside face.
Question about your property? Call (980) 243-8188 08 What about the black spots on my deck?
Black spots are usually mildew or mold on damp, shaded wood. They are cleaned off with a mildewcide before staining; if they come back fast, the area needs more sun or airflow.
Question about your property? Call (980) 243-8188 Ready to Start? Need Deck or Fence Staining
Need Deck or Fence Staining
in Matthews NC?
Tell us the size of the deck or fence, the wood type if you know it, and whether the old finish is peeling. We will look and recommend a stain.
Phone line open Mon-Sat 7 AM-6 PM Matthews, Mecklenburg & Union County
✓ On-site estimate✓ Written scope before work✓ Insured crew✓ Matthews, NC 28105