A wood deck in South Florida takes full sun, daily summer rain and constant humidity. Stain soaks in and wears away slowly, while paint forms a film that can peel on a wet floor, so we help you pick the finish that suits your boards. Deck work is timed for dry spells so the wood is dry when it is coated.
Wood decks are less common in Miami than in northern cities, because most patios here are concrete or pavers. Still, plenty of homes have a wood pool deck, a raised deck off a frame house, a balcony floor, a dock walkway or a pergola. All of them take a beating. Strong sun dries the boards and turns them gray. Daily summer rain soaks them again. Mildew and algae grow wherever the wood stays damp, and they make the surface slippery.
We start by checking the boards, rails and steps for rot and loose fasteners, and we tell you what needs replacing before any finish goes on. The deck is then cleaned with a wood cleaner and a gentle wash that will not tear the grain. Old film that is peeling is stripped or sanded. After that the wood must dry fully, which in a Miami summer can take several clear days. Stain or deck paint goes on by brush and roller, worked into the gaps and the ends of the boards.
The choice between stain and paint matters here. A penetrating stain soaks in, shows the grain and wears away slowly, so it can be cleaned and recoated without scraping. Solid stain or paint hides weathered boards and gives more color, but once a film is on the deck it can peel where water sits. On most decks open to the Florida sun we suggest stain and a simple recoat when the color fades. Tropical hardwoods need a product made for dense wood.
Deck painting & staining in Miami: common questions
How often does a deck need to be restained in Miami?
More often than in mild climates, because the sun here is strong all year. There is no fixed date. When water stops beading and soaks straight into the boards, or the color has faded, it is time to clean and recoat.
Can you stain my dock or the wood around my pool?
Yes, if the wood is sound. Around a pool we suggest a finish that is not slick when wet. On a dock, salt and constant damp shorten the life of any finish, so expect to recoat sooner than on a deck inland.
Do you also coat concrete patios and pool decks?
Ask us when you call. Concrete needs different products and prep from wood, and the right answer depends on the old coating and the state of the slab. We look at it and tell you honestly whether it is work for us.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.