Stain that protects through Colorado's freeze-thaw cycles.
Deck restoration, fence stain, pergola finishing, and exterior wood sealing across the Denver metro. Sand, clean, condition, stain, and seal — built to last through high UV, snow, and freeze-thaw seasons.
Wood that survives Denver weather.
Colorado's climate is exceptionally hard on exterior wood. High elevation means more UV. Wide daily temperature swings stress the grain. Snow loads sit on horizontal surfaces, melt, and refreeze. Most decks in the Denver metro look weather-beaten by year three if they were stained with bargain-grade product or applied without proper prep.
GT502 stains the long-lasting way. Power-wash to clean, sand to open the grain, condition for even absorption, then two coats of premium oil-based or water-based stain (your choice depending on look and maintenance preference) with proper dry time between. The result is wood that looks rich on day one and still looks intentional five years in.
What we stain and seal
- Deck boards, deck railings, and step risers
- Wood fences (cedar, redwood, pressure-treated)
- Pergolas, gazebos, and outdoor structures
- Wood siding and trim (transparent or solid stain)
- Garden boxes and outdoor planters
- Wood shutters, door surrounds, accent trim
- Cedar shake and shingle roofing
- Sealing of new construction wood before weathering
- Concrete sealing — driveways, patios, garage floors
Two product families, different jobs.
Choosing between transparent and solid stain (and oil vs. water base) is the most important decision on a stain project. Here's how to think about it.
Lets the wood grain show through. Penetrates the wood instead of forming a film on top, so it doesn't peel — it weathers. Has to be reapplied every 2–4 years depending on UV exposure. Best for new wood and well-maintained decks.
- Best on cedar, redwood, mahogany, and exotic hardwoods
- Reveals natural grain and color variation
- Easier reapplication — no scraping needed
- 2–4 year reapplication cycle in Denver UV
- Premium product (Sikkens, Cabot, TWP) recommended
Opaque finish that hides the grain — looks more like paint, but penetrates more deeply. Better for older or weathered wood that's lost its grain character. Lasts 4–7 years before reapplication. The middle ground between stain and paint.
- Best on weathered or pressure-treated lumber
- Hides grain irregularities and color mismatches
- Wider color selection — basically any paint color
- 4–7 year reapplication cycle in Denver
- Better protection on south- and west-facing surfaces
Four steps. No shortcuts.
Soft-wash with cleaner solution to remove dirt, mildew, and weathered fibers. 24 hours dry time before sanding.
Light sanding to open the grain for absorption. Spot-sand any raised grain. Wood conditioner for end grain and absorbent areas.
Apply by brush or pad — never spray-only. Worked into the grain. Wipe excess. Let dry per manufacturer spec (typically 4–24 hours).
Second coat for full saturation and even color. Sealer topcoat where applicable. Final inspection and walk-through with you.
Stain & sealing, answered.
For a 300 sq ft deck: power wash day 1, dry overnight, sand and stain day 2, second coat day 3. Three days of elapsed time, with active labor totaling about 8–12 hours. Larger decks scale linearly. Fences and pergolas are usually faster — 1–2 days total.
Transparent stain in Denver UV: every 2–4 years on horizontal surfaces, 3–5 years on vertical surfaces. Solid stain: every 4–7 years. We offer free annual inspection visits to past clients to assess whether re-stain is due — most of the time you can wait another year, sometimes you can't.
Yes, but timing matters. Pressure-treated lumber needs to dry out for 4–8 weeks after installation before stain absorbs properly. If your contractor installed pressure-treated decking yesterday, we'll do an absorption test before staining. If the wood beads water, it's not ready — we'll come back in a few weeks.
If the deck is structurally sound but visibly weathered, we can usually restore it. Heavy power wash, aggressive sanding, sometimes a chemical brightener to even out gray tones, then solid color stain to give it new life. If the boards are cupping, splitting, or the structure is rotting, we recommend repair or replacement before staining — there's no point spending money on a finish that's going to be torn out.
Almost always stain. Paint forms a film on top of the wood, which traps moisture underneath and accelerates rot. Stain penetrates and lets the wood breathe. The only time we recommend paint over stain on a fence is if the fence was painted 20 years ago and stripping it would cost more than just continuing the paint cycle.
Yes. Driveway sealing, garage floor coatings, and patio sealing are common add-ons. Concrete sealer is a different product from wood stain but the prep is similar — clean the surface, let it dry, apply, let cure. Sealing extends concrete life and prevents salt damage during Colorado winters.
Stain that holds up through Denver winters.
Free walkthrough, written estimate, and stain that's actually applied the way the manufacturer specs it.