Cedar Mill Property Repair cleans, stains and seals wood decks and fences, and repaints fences that already carry paint. We serve Cedar Mill, Beaverton, Bethany and nearby. On the west side a deck usually runs $550-$1,250 and a fence $500-$2,000, stain counted in (market data, November 2026) . Send a picture of the boards to and book your dry-season slot early.
Slava has 7 years of hands-on experience. On a stain job most of it shows before the brush comes out.
What's included when you stain a deck or a fence?
The visit starts with a walk along every board. Anything loose, cracked or soft gets dealt with first, because a fresh coat over a wobbly tread just makes it look nicer while it fails. Boards, stairs and railings fall under deck repair; split pickets and leaning posts under fence repair. Which of those Slava fixes on the same visit depends on what he finds .
After that the wood gets washed and left to dry out. Where the grain has gone furry, a light sanding . Siding, plants and concrete get covered, then the stain goes on deck boards, rails and steps, or on one or both faces of the fence. We clean up and walk it with you at the end.
Left out of a staining visit: moss killers, scraping old paint on older houses, and new construction. A rebuilt deck or a new fence line is its own job. Siding and trim belong to exterior painting.
How much does deck and fence staining cost in the Portland area?
Figures below are what west-side homeowners typically pay, not a quote from us yet.
| Staining job | From | Usual | Up to | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean, stain and seal a typical deck | $550 | $850 | $1,250 | with materials |
| Stain or paint a typical backyard fence | $500 | $1,000 | $2,000 | with materials |
The figure climbs with railings and balusters, which are slow brush work, with stairs, and with staining both faces of a fence instead of one. Old solid stain or paint means more prep, or it has to stay solid. Shrubs tight against the boards slow things too. Repairs found on the walk-through are priced on their own; the deck repair cost guide shows typical numbers. Oregon wants a written agreement once a construction job passes $2,000, and a long fence can get there . For the hourly rate and the smallest visit we book, see pricing.
When should a deck or fence be stained here?
Stain wants dry wood going in and dry weather after. West of Portland that means late spring through early fall, and it's no accident that local searches for fence staining climb from May on. Slava's own rule on how many dry days he needs and how cold is too cold goes here .
Decks sitting under Douglas firs or on the north side of a house dry slowest, so they wait longest after washing. Summer dates go first .
What happens if it rains right after the stain goes on?
We check the forecast and don't open a can if rain is due before the coat can set. How long that takes depends on the product, and the label says. If a surprise shower lands on wet stain anyway, here is what we do .
Stain, sealer or paint: what suits a deck or a fence in this climate?
A clear sealer or a transparent stain keeps the grain on show and wears off quickest. Semi-transparent adds colour and still soaks into the wood. Solid stain and paint form a skin over the surface and cover the grain. On a deck, that skin can peel where puddles sit; on upright fence boards water runs off and it holds up longer.
Slava's picks for our weather go here . Keep in mind you can always go darker or more opaque later. Going back from solid to visible grain means stripping.
How do you clean a deck or fence before staining, and what about moss?
The wood gets washed, scrubbed where it's green, rinsed and left to dry . Shady decks around here collect moss, mildew and fir needles between the boards, and those come out by hand and brush.
We don't spray moss or algae killers. The full list of excluded jobs is on what we don't do.
Inside City of Portland limits, wash water carrying soap, paint or dirt isn't allowed to run into the street or a storm drain. We keep it on the property .
How often does a deck or fence need new stain here?
Decks wear out sooner than fences. Flat boards take foot traffic, standing water and full sun, while a fence sheds rain. Slava's intervals by finish and exposure go here .
There's an easy check. Flick a few drops of water on the boards: if they bead, the finish is still working; if they soak in and the wood darkens, it's time .
What if the boards are soft, or the home dates from before 1978?
Stain won't stop rot that has already started. Spongy boards, split stair treads and posts that move get repaired or replaced first, then coated with the rest .
On pre-1978 homes, old coatings can hold lead, and Oregon's renovation rule treats scraping and sanding as prep for painting. Lead-based paint is a line we stay behind, so on an older home nobody on our crew scrapes or sands painted deck rails or fence boards .