The phrase “cost to restain deck” is searched by thousands of Boston-area homeowners each month. Yet the number you find online can swing wildly from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. At CountBricks, we turn guesswork into clarity. Our voice-driven estimating engine scans current material prices, regional labor rates and surface conditions in real time to produce an itemized figure you can trust—often before a contractor even leaves your driveway.
Boston’s coastal climate batters exterior wood with freeze-thaw cycles, salt and UV exposure. A fresh stain prevents costly board replacement and keeps curb appeal high. From a construction standpoint, restaining is one of the highest ROI maintenance tasks you can recommend to clients because:
• It extends deck life by sealing out moisture
• It reduces future structural repairs
• It refreshes aesthetics for resale value
CountBricks breaks every project into three buckets so homeowners immediately understand where their dollars go.
1. Surface Prep
2. Stain & Supplies
3. Labor
Before the first coat goes on, existing finishes and mildew must come off. Typical prep tasks captured by CountBricks include light sanding, pressure washing, and minor board repairs. In Greater Boston, surface prep averages $1.00–$1.80 per square foot, depending on deck age and previous coatings.
Stain quality directly impacts longevity. A budget semi-transparent product costs as little as $35 per gallon. Premium marine-grade formulations reach $70+. Our AI instantly recommends the optimal product tier based on exposure, wood species and desired translucency. Material outlay usually clocks in at $0.50–$1.10 per square foot, including brushes, masking tape, drop cloths and safety gear.
In residential construction, labor often dictates the total bill. CountBricks references live payroll feeds for the Boston union and open-shop markets, then assigns the right crew hours. Expect $1.20–$2.50 per square foot for professional application with two coats. DIYers can zero out this line, but time and precision become the hidden currency.
The table below illustrates how our software aggregates the three buckets for a 350-square-foot cedar deck:
• Low exposure, minimal prep, economy stain: $875 – $1,050
• Moderate exposure, average prep, mid-grade stain: $1,150 – $1,450
• High exposure, heavy prep, premium stain: $1,600 – $2,100
Because everything is calculated inside CountBricks, clients can toggle variables—such as stain brand or board replacement—during the voice meeting and watch totals adjust live.
• Furniture moving and storage
• Permit fees for structural alterations discovered during inspection
• Extra sanding disks for decks with peel-back stain layers
• Weather delays that extend crew mobilization
• Schedule in early spring before contractors hit peak demand
• Choose a stain tone close to the existing color to reduce stripping time
• Combine restaining with other exterior projects to share mobilization fees
• Ask CountBricks to create multiple stain-grade scenarios so you can see true lifecycle cost, not just day-one spend
• Keep the deck clear of planters and grills the night before work starts to eliminate crew idle time
Our estimating workflow compresses days of manual number-crunching into a single conversation.
1. Launch a voice session from your phone.
2. Walk around the deck while the app captures dimensions with AI vision.
3. Describe current condition; CountBricks suggests prep levels.
4. Pick your stain color and transparency.
5. Receive a shareable, branded PDF quote complete with payment schedule.
Contractors using CountBricks close restain jobs 42% faster because pricing objections disappear in real time. Homeowners appreciate the transparency—every board, brush and minute is accounted for.
A 12’ x 18’ mahogany deck had not been serviced in six years. Heavy UV fading and minor rot were present. Using CountBricks, the contractor generated a $2,480 estimate including:
• 4 hours targeted sanding
• Two gallons premium oil-based stain
• Replacement of two 1” x 4” boards
This digital quote was accepted on the spot. The project finished on budget, and the homeowner booked an annual maintenance plan via CountBricks.com/services.
DIY material cost for a 350-square-foot deck sits around $400. Factor in three weekends of labor and opportunity cost quickly tilts the scale. Meanwhile, contractors leveraging CountBricks deliver a warranty-backed finish in two days. When homeowners see both lines itemized on the same screen, 78% choose the pro route.
Ready for an exact figure tailored to your deck? Start a free voice estimate at CountBricks.com/consultation and watch the numbers populate in minutes.
Accurate pricing is just the first step. CountBricks integrates scheduling, material procurement and invoicing to keep deck restain projects moving without surprises.
• The moment your quote is approved, CountBricks auto-generates a purchase list that syncs with regional suppliers’ stock levels.
• Back-ordered items trigger alternate stain recommendations, maintaining your timeline.
• Our weather API maps Boston’s 10-day forecast against cure times, selecting the optimal two-day window for application.
• If rain threatens, the system reschedules and notifies the crew and homeowner instantly—no late-night calls required.
1. Field techs upload completion photos to the CountBricks dashboard.
2. AI compares coverage consistency to manufacturer specs.
3. Any deviations generate a punch-list before final payment is released.
A coastal homeowner feared yearly restains due to salt spray. CountBricks recommended a high-solid alkyd stain, logged historical weather exposure, and scheduled annual inspections. Two years later, moisture readings remain below 12%, and no touch-up has been needed—saving the client $1,100 compared to traditional schedules.
When you pair precise cost insights with automated project controls, restaining transforms from a reactive expense to a predictable maintenance line item. Explore the full suite of features at CountBricks.com/portfolio to see more success stories.
