If your deck's finish is still intact but worn in high-traffic spots, deck staining and sealing ($400–$1,500) is the maintenance step that protects the wood for another 2–4 years. If the wood is grey, cracked, splintering, or covered in old peeling paint, deck sanding and restoration ($600–$2,000) is the only option that will actually last — because a new coat of stain won't bond to a failing surface. In Winnipeg's freeze-thaw climate, that distinction matters more than anywhere else: stain a deck that needs sanding and you'll watch it peel within a single season; sand it properly and a premium penetrating stain will flex with the wood and survive multiple Manitoba winters.
What's the Difference Between the Two Services?
Both services end with a fresh coat of premium stain and sealer. The difference is what happens before that coat goes on — and how much of the old finish gets removed.
Deck staining and sealing is a surface-level treatment. We clean the deck, brighten the wood, do light spot-sanding where the old stain has worn thin, and apply a penetrating stain that soaks into the top layers of the cedar. This is the right choice when your deck is structurally sound and the existing finish is still mostly there. It's faster, cheaper, and perfectly appropriate for decks that have been properly maintained.
Deck sanding and restoration is a full reset. We strip the old finish completely, sand the entire surface down to bare wood, repair damaged boards, replace rotten sections, and then apply the same premium penetrating stain. This is the right choice when the old stain has failed, the wood has greyed out, or a previous owner used a film-forming paint that's now flaking off. There's no shortcut here — the wood has to be bare before a penetrating stain can do its job.
What's Included in Each Service
Deck Staining & Sealing (from $400):
- Full cleaning with a deck brightener to remove grey oxidation and mildew
- Light sanding of worn, peeling areas
- Nail and screw check — we set any that have popped
- One full coat of premium penetrating stain (Sikkens or TWP)
- Second coat on horizontal surfaces and end grain, where water does the most damage
- Cleanup and protection of your lawn and siding
Deck Sanding & Restoration (from $600):
- Complete removal of the old stain or paint
- Full deck sanding with a drum or orbital sander down to bare wood
- Board repair and replacement of rotten or damaged sections (materials billed at cost)
- Nail and screw replacement and set
- Deck brightening to neutralize the wood after sanding
- Two full coats of penetrating stain and sealer
- Same cleanup and protection
The key difference: staining and sealing is a maintenance layer. Sanding and restoration is a full rebuild of the surface — the wood is brought back to near-new condition before any stain goes on.
Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay in Winnipeg
Prices below are typical ranges for Winnipeg and the surrounding bedroom communities (St. Vital, Charleswood, East Kildonan, and out to Selkirk and Steinbach):
| Service | Typical Range | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Deck Staining & Sealing | $400–$1,500 | Cleaning, light sanding, 1–2 coats of penetrating stain on a standard 200–600 sq ft deck |
| Deck Sanding & Restoration | $600–$2,000 | Full sanding to bare wood, repairs, brightening, 2 coats of stain on the same size range |
| Fence Staining & Painting | $300–$1,200 | Same prep and premium stain, applied to fencing |
| Deck Cleaning & Power Washing | $150–$400 | Strip the dirt, mildew, and old grime before you decide what's next |
The price gap between the two services is roughly 50–70% more for sanding and restoration. That gap reflects labour — sanding a deck properly takes a full day, sometimes two, depending on the size and the state of the old finish. But it also reflects the result: a sanded deck looks new again and the finish lasts 3–5 years longer than a stain applied over a failing surface.
The Process, Step by Step
Here's how we work, whether you're booking a stain or a full restoration:
Step 1: Free quote within 48 hours. We come to your deck, inspect the wood, check for rot, and tell you honestly whether you need sanding or just a stain. We don't upsell you into a $2,000 restoration if a $500 stain will do.
Step 2: Prep. Every deck gets cleaned and brightened first. If you've booked sanding, we strip the old finish and sand to bare wood. If you've booked staining, we sand the problem areas and make sure the surface is ready to accept the stain.
Step 3: Repairs. Rotten boards get replaced, popped nails get set, loose screws get replaced. This is where we catch the problems that would have killed a new coat of stain in a season.
Step 4: Stain and seal. We apply Sikkens or TWP penetrating stains — not the film-forming paints that trap moisture and peel off in a Winnipeg winter. Two coats on the surface, extra attention to the ends of the boards and any exposed end grain.
Step 5: Walkthrough. We show you the finished deck, explain what to expect in the first season, and give you the warranty that covers the work.
Why Choose Us
Deck Staining Winnipeg is a deck-only crew. We don't paint houses, we don't wallpaper rooms, we don't install fences. Decks are all we do — and that means we've seen every failure mode a Winnipeg deck can throw at us. Gumbo clay heaving the posts, freeze-thaw cycles cracking the finish, UV summer drying out the cedar. We know what survives here because we work here year-round.
The other part is the product. We use Sikkens and TWP penetrating stains, not the film-forming paints that peel and flake. Penetrating stains soak into the wood and flex with it as the temperature swings from +30°C to -40°C. That's the difference between a deck that still looks good in year three and a deck that needs stripping and sanding again in year two.
And we do the prep. Full sanding, brightening, repairs — not just a coat of paint over the problem. That's why our work holds up through a Manitoba winter, and why homeowners from Winnipeg to the surrounding bedroom communities keep referring us.
Ready to Get Your Deck Done Right?
Whether your deck needs a full sanding and restoration or just a fresh coat of stain and sealer, you'll get a straight answer on what it needs — not a upsell. Get your free quote within 48 hours, no pressure. Call us or use the form on this page and we'll come out, take a look, and tell you exactly what your deck needs and what it will cost.