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Carol Leppla
Staining · Gainesville
Wood Staining in Gainesville.
Wood staining for fences, decks, doors, porches, and ceiling beams. Stain done right brings out the grain and seals against weather. Stain done wrong peels in two seasons. We pick the product, prep the wood, and apply with the patience the surface needs.
Scope
Everything in the scope.
What gets covered in every staining job. Itemized, in writing, before we start.
01
Wood prep
Sanding, stripping old finish where needed, cleaning. Bad prep is why most stain jobs fail.
02
Stain selection
Solid, semi-transparent, or clear. We pick what suits the wood, the location, and the look you want.
03
Test patch
Small sample on the actual wood, in your light. Confirm before we commit to the whole surface.
04
Two coats minimum
On most surfaces. Decks and fences often want a third pass on high-wear zones.
05
Sealer where it counts
Clear UV-resistant sealer over exterior stains so the color holds against Florida sun.
Method
How a staining job runs with us.
Same sequence on every project. The owner is on site through all of it.
01Step
Walkthrough
What wood, what condition, what look. Sometimes the right answer is paint, not stain. We will say so.
02Step
Prep
Sand, scrape, strip. Clean with the right cleaner for the wood (mildew, gray, old finish).
03Step
Sample
Test patch on the real surface. Adjust before committing.
04Step
Stain
Wipe-on, brush-on, or spray depending on surface. Worked into the grain, not just laid on top.
05Step
Seal
Clear topcoat on exterior surfaces. Indoor surfaces sometimes skip this.
06Step
Cure
Full cure before walking decks or exposing to weather. Rushing this is what makes stain peel.
Education
Interior vs. exterior staining
Same word, different jobs. Mixing them up is the biggest mistake we see on DIY stain projects.
- Interior (porch ceilings, doors, trim, beams): oil-based with a clear topcoat. Brings out grain, lasts indefinitely indoors.
- Exterior (fences, decks, exposed wood): semi-transparent with UV-resistant sealer. Needs renewal every 2 to 4 years depending on sun.
- The DIY mistake: applying interior-grade stain outdoors. Looks great for a year then washes off. We pick the right product up front.
How quotes work
Every job, quoted in writing.
We come out, walk the job, and send a detailed quote within forty-eight hours. Itemized, in writing, so you can see exactly what is included. No verbal estimates, no surprises after we start.
Proof
Recent work + what customers said.
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Steve Stokely
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MH
Frequently asked
Questions, answered.
01Can you stain an old, weathered deck?
Usually yes. The wood needs cleaning and sometimes brightening to remove gray, plus board-level repairs if any are heavily rotted. We assess on the walkthrough.
02How often does a deck need re-staining in Florida?
Exterior deck stain in our sun and humidity typically holds 2 to 4 years before it needs a refresh. The horizontal boards take the most UV and foot traffic, so they wear faster than a fence or a rail. On the walkthrough we will tell you whether yours needs a full re-stain or just a maintenance coat on the high-wear areas.
03Can you stain a deck and matching fence at the same time?
Yes, and it is usually the most economical way to do it: same crew, same product, one mobilization. Decks and fences often take the same semi-transparent exterior stain, so doing them together keeps the color consistent and the cost down.
04How long between coats?
Depends on the stain and the humidity. Most need 4 to 12 hours; some 24. We do not rush it. Rushed second coats peel.
05Can you change the color of an existing stain?
Light to dark, yes. Dark to light is harder; it usually means stripping and sometimes lightening. We are honest about what is realistic before you commit.
06Do you stain pressure-treated lumber?
Yes, but it has to be fully dried first (3 to 12 months after install). Fresh pressure-treated holds too much moisture to hold stain.
07Will the stain match what I already have?
Within reason. We bring samples, do a test patch on the actual wood, adjust before committing to the whole surface.
08What does your deck staining service include?
A full deck staining service: we clean and brighten the boards to strip gray and mildew, sand rough or splintered spots, secure or replace any failed boards within scope, then apply a semi-transparent exterior stain worked into the grain and a UV-resistant sealer. On a weathered deck the prep is most of the job, and it is what makes the stain actually last in the Florida sun.
Pairs well with
Often booked alongside.
Where we work
Staining across Alachua County.
Owner-operated, licensed, insured. staining jobs in every neighborhood we work.
Don't see your neighborhood? We work the surrounding parts of Alachua County too — see the full service area.
The Last Word
Ready for a staining quote?
Walkthrough is free. Written quote inside forty-eight hours.