A Calgary fence takes the full brunt of chinooks — expanding, contracting and checking all season — and decks sit in snowmelt half the year. Coating over failing wood just schedules the same job twice. We wash, scrape and sand first, and if the wood needs repair before paint, we tell you that instead of painting over the problem.
Stain or paint depends on the wood: stain shows the grain and is easier to recoat; paint covers more but asks more of the prep. We look at your fence or deck and give you the straight call — the honest one, not the expensive one.
What's included
- Full wash so coatings bond to wood, not to grey weathered fibre.
- Scraping and sanding of loose and failing coating — prep quoted honestly, not skipped to win the job.
- Stain or exterior paint matched to the wood species and its exposure.
- Two finish coats over the prepared surface — our standard, unless the written coating spec says otherwise.
- Plantings, patios and neighbouring surfaces protected; full cleanup when we're done. GST is the only thing added on top of your written price.
What's not included
- Rotten boards, leaning posts and structural repairs — flagged in writing; we coat sound wood.
- Your neighbour's side of a shared fence — we paint your side; shared fences need the neighbour's OK first.
- Coating in weather the product's data sheet doesn't allow — we reschedule instead.
How the job runs
- Look & honest call
We walk the full run, check for rot and movement, and tell you whether it wants stain or paint — or repair first.
- Wash & prep
Washed, scraped and sanded. Grey, weathered wood gets the prep it needs for the coating to bite.
- Protect
Plantings covered; patios, siding and adjacent surfaces masked.
- Coat
Two finish coats, scheduled inside the product's temperature and curing limits — roughly late May to early September in Calgary.
- Cleanup
Everything uncovered, site swept, final walk with you.
When can you paint the outside of my house?
Products & coating specification
Exterior stains and paints are chosen for wood in Calgary: UV resistance, flexibility for seasonal movement, and moisture tolerance. The exact product is named on your written estimate.
Application follows the manufacturer's data sheet — surface and air temperature limits, the required margin above dew point, wood moisture content, and curing forecast. Wood that's too wet or a day that's too cold means we wait.
Two finish coats over a properly prepared surface is our standard, unless the written coating specification says otherwise. On rough-sawn fence wood, that second coat is doing real work — one coat on rough wood rarely covers.
Typical timeline
Most fences take one to three days depending on length and condition; decks run similar. You get the plan in writing before we start.
Fence and deck season matches exteriors — roughly late May to early September, when the wood is warm and dry enough for coatings to cure.
How pricing works
Fences price by length and condition; decks by size and how the old finish is failing. A grey, checked fence that's never been coated takes more prep than a sound one getting its second round.
The estimator gives you a preliminary range in about a minute. We confirm it at a free visit — wood condition doesn't photograph reliably.
What moves the number: total length and area, how much old coating has to come off, access along the fence line, and stain vs. paint. The $500 minimum job charge applies; GST is added on top; the approved price stays fixed unless you approve a written change to the scope.
More money questions? How much does it cost to paint a house in Calgary? Do you take a deposit?
Common questions
Stain or paint for my fence?
It depends on the wood. Stain shows the grain and is easier to maintain; paint covers more but needs more prep. We look at the fence and tell you straight — the honest call, not the expensive one.
Do you repair fences and decks?
We coat prepared, sound wood — washing, scraping, sanding. Rotten boards and leaning posts are carpentry, outside our scope; if we find them, we flag them in writing before touching anything.
What about my neighbour's side of the fence?
We paint your side. For a shared fence, the neighbour needs to agree before we touch their side — and it's worth asking, because a fence coated on both sides is better protected against moisture.
When is fence season?
Same as exteriors — roughly late May to early September, when the wood is warm and dry enough for coatings to cure properly. The product's data sheet decides the day.
The old stain is peeling — can you just coat over it?
Not if you want it to stay. Peeling coating has to come off where it's failing, or the new coat peels with it. We quote that prep honestly instead of burying it.
How long does the job take?
Most fences: one to three days depending on length and condition. Decks run similar. You get the written plan before we start.
Get a straight answer on your fence or deck.
A preliminary range from the estimator in about a minute — then a free visit for the honest call: stain, paint, or repair first. Or call (825) 964-4310.