2026 pricing guide · Stain season: late May to mid-September

How much does deck staining cost in North Bay?

Most North Bay decks fall between $2 and $5 per square foot of deck surface — about $300 to $750 for a small ground-level deck and $1,200 to $3,000 for a large multi-level cottage deck with railings, stairs, and skirting. Real numbers below — by deck size, by lake exposure — plus the cost factors that move them.

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2026 deck staining pricing · North Bay, Ontario

Deck staining cost in North Bay, broken down by deck size and lake exposure.

Deck staining in North Bay typically costs $2 to $5 per square foot of deck surface depending on prep needs, stain type, and railings/stairs. A small ground-level deck of about 150 square feet runs $300 to $750. A standard 300 sq ft residential deck with railings and a single set of stairs runs $600 to $1,500. A large multi-level deck with railings, stairs, and skirting runs $1,200 to $3,000. A cottage deck on Lake Nipissing or Trout Lake at about 500 square feet runs $1,000 to $2,500 because of mildewcide-treated stain and lake-exposure prep. North Bay Painting Services has been staining decks across North Bay and a 45-mile radius across 17 communities since 2016. Every deck starts with a hand-clean using TSP and wood cleaner, brightening if needed, scraping any flaking finish, sanding rough or fuzzy spots, and one or two coats of Benjamin Moore Arborcoat or Dulux deck stain applied by brush and back-rolled. We give you a fixed-price written quote, and back the workmanship with a 1-year written warranty. Every painter on the crew is WSIB-covered with $2M liability. Owned and operated by Ahmed Khalil, owner and lead painter.

Pricing scenarios

Real deck staining pricing scenarios for North Bay decks.

Four typical jobs we quote every season. All ranges are CAD, fixed-price, and reflect 2026 North Bay market pricing for hand-prep, brush-and-back-roll stain application using Benjamin Moore Arborcoat or Dulux deck stain.

Scenario	Price (CAD)	What's included	Timeline
Small deck ~150 sq ft, single level, no railings	$300 – $750	Hand-clean with TSP, brighten if needed, light scrape and sand, one or two coats of Benjamin Moore Arborcoat semi-transparent or Dulux deck stain. Single-colour, single horizontal surface.	1–2 days on-site
Standard residential deck ~300 sq ft with railings + 1 set of stairs	$600 – $1,500	Full TSP wash, brightener treatment, scrape and sand, two-coat brush-and-back-roll stain on deck floor, brush-applied stain on railings, balusters, and stair treads. Benjamin Moore Arborcoat or Dulux.	2–3 days on-site
Large multi-level deck ~600 sq ft with railings + stairs + skirting	$1,200 – $3,000	Multi-day prep, brightener treatment, full scrape and sand of all surfaces, two coats of Benjamin Moore Arborcoat (semi-transparent or solid). Includes vertical skirting, multiple stair runs, and all railing systems.	3–5 days on-site
Cottage deck / dock surface ~500 sq ft, lake exposure	$1,000 – $2,500	Hand-cleaning, mildewcide-treated stain (Benjamin Moore Arborcoat with mildew inhibitor) for high-humidity lake exposure, two-coat application, optional dock surface staining and boathouse deck. Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake, Lake Nosbonsing.	3–4 days on-site

Optional upgrades and add-ons

Board replacement — rotted or split deck boards swapped out by a carpentry sub-trade before staining (priced separately, flagged on the quote)
Brightener treatment — oxalic-acid wood brightener after TSP wash to restore weathered grey wood to fresh tone before stain
Mildewcide-treated stain — Benjamin Moore Arborcoat with mildew inhibitor for lakefront and high-humidity decks
Two-coat application — second coat of stain for richer colour, longer life, and better penetration on hardwoods and older cedar

Cost factors

What moves your deck staining quote up or down.

Every quote is fixed-price and written. These are the variables that change the number — and why the same square footage can quote at $2/sq ft on one deck and $5/sq ft on the next.

Deck size + levels

A flat 150 sq ft deck takes one crew, one day. A multi-level 600 sq ft deck with split landings, drop steps, and a covered upper section takes longer per square foot because every transition needs hand-detailing. Multi-level decks run roughly 20% more per square foot than single-level decks of the same total area.

Railing linear footage

Railings, balusters, and top caps are slow, hand-brush work. A simple 30-foot railing is a half-day. A wraparound 80-foot railing with closely-spaced balusters and detailed posts is two full days. Every railing system is measured separately on the site visit and priced by linear foot.

Stair count

One set of stairs (3 to 5 risers) is built into the standard quote. Multiple stair runs — front stairs, back stairs, dock stairs — each add half-day labour because of the riser, tread, stringer, and railing detail work. Cottage decks with lake-side stairs almost always have multiple sets.

Prior finish (paint vs stain vs bare)

A previously-stained deck that's still in good shape needs only a wash and a maintenance coat — the cheapest scenario. A previously-painted deck or one with a peeling solid stain needs full mechanical scraping, which can double the prep time. A bare new cedar or pressure-treated deck needs a brightener and is straightforward.

Wood condition + carpentry

Sound boards, tight fasteners, no rot — the easy quote. Soft spots, raised nails, splitting, or visible rot mean we recommend carpentry replacement of those boards before we stain. Carpentry is a separate sub-trade priced on the same written quote so you see one final number.

Stain type (semi-transparent / solid / clear)

Semi-transparent stain is the most common spec on cedar and pressure-treated pine — it penetrates the wood and shows the grain. Solid stain hides imperfections, costs more per gallon, and lasts longer between recoats. Clear UV protectant is for composite decking only and is the lowest-cost option.

Composite vs cedar vs pressure-treated

Cedar and pressure-treated pine accept stain readily and respond well to brush-and-back-roll. Composite decking never gets stain — it gets a clean and a clear UV protectant only. Hardwood decks (ipe, mahogany) need a specialty hardwood-specific stain and more coats, so they price higher per square foot.

Lake exposure (mildewcide upcharge)

Decks within 50 feet of Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake, Lake Nosbonsing, Callander Bay, or the Mattawa River see UV reflection off water and high humidity that promotes mildew. We specify a mildewcide-treated Benjamin Moore Arborcoat or equivalent Dulux stain — small upcharge, big difference in longevity.

Always included

What's in every deck staining quote.

The standard North Bay Painting Services package — every line item in writing on the quote, before any cleaning or staining starts.

Fixed-price written quote

Every line item priced in writing — never hourly. You see the full number before we mobilize.

Full prep description

TSP hand-cleaning, brightener treatment if needed, scraping flaking finish, sanding rough or fuzzy spots.

Product callouts

Benjamin Moore Arborcoat (semi-transparent or solid) or Dulux deck stain specified by name on the quote, with colour and sheen confirmed in writing.

Drop sheets + daily cleanup

Plastic and canvas drop sheets to protect siding, plants, and patio furniture. Daily site cleanup and tool storage.

Mid-job inspection by Ahmed

Ahmed Khalil walks the deck mid-job, before the second coat. Final walkthrough at handoff.

1-year written warranty

1-year written workmanship warranty on every deck. Covers premature failure caused by application — peeling, lifting, or blistering.

WSIB-covered crew

Every painter is WSIB-covered. We provide the certificate before we start. No subcontracted unknowns.

$2M liability + COI

$2 million general liability insurance with certificate of insurance available on request before any work begins.

Stain season in North Bay

Ontario's deck staining window is short. Booking early matters.

Stain windows are limited in Ontario. Deck staining season runs late May to mid-September when overnight lows stay above 10°C and daytime humidity is moderate. Stain applied below 10°C will not properly penetrate or cure. Stain applied during high-humidity stretches in July and August can flash-dry on the surface and trap moisture below — neither outcome lasts.

Cottage decks on Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake, and Lake Nosbonsing usually get scheduled for shoulder weeks in late May, early June, and September when humidity off the lake drops. We need 24 to 48 hours of dry weather above 10°C before we apply stain — wet wood will not accept finish.

Booking early in the season locks rates and avoids the late-summer crunch. By mid-July the schedule fills with referrals and BNI leads, and August through Labour Day is typically wait-listed. If you want a specific calendar week — or you have absentee homeowner logistics on a cottage — call (705) 482-1142 by April or early May to lock the slot.

Frequently asked

Deck staining cost questions, answered.

Still have one? Call (705) 482-1142 any time, Monday through Saturday.

How much does it cost to stain a deck in North Bay?

Deck staining in North Bay typically costs $2 to $5 per square foot of deck surface, all-in. A small 150 sq ft single-level deck with no railings runs $300 to $750. A standard 300 sq ft residential deck with railings and one set of stairs runs $600 to $1,500. A large 600 sq ft multi-level deck with railings, stairs, and skirting runs $1,200 to $3,000. A cottage deck on Lake Nipissing or Trout Lake at about 500 sq ft runs $1,000 to $2,500 because of mildewcide-treated stain and lake-exposure prep.

Every quote includes hand-cleaning with TSP, scraping any flaking finish, sanding rough or fuzzy spots, and one or two coats of Benjamin Moore Arborcoat or Dulux deck stain applied by brush and back-rolled. Carpentry repairs (rotten board replacement) are flagged in writing as a separate sub-trade add-on. Every deck staining job includes a 1-year written workmanship warranty and is delivered by a WSIB-covered crew with $2M liability.

Semi-transparent vs solid stain — which is better value?

For a typical North Bay deck, semi-transparent stain costs less per gallon, applies in fewer coats, and recoats easily — but it lasts only 2 to 4 years on a horizontal deck floor. Solid stain costs more per gallon, takes more prep on a previously-stained deck, and lasts 4 to 6 years. Over a 10-year window, solid stain often comes out cheaper because you re-stain half as often.

The right choice is driven by the wood, not the budget: new or clean cedar and pressure-treated pine where the homeowner wants to see the grain gets Benjamin Moore Arborcoat semi-transparent. Older, blotchy, weather-grey, or previously-painted decks where the grain is no longer attractive get solid stain — it hides imperfections and reads almost like paint. We use Benjamin Moore Arborcoat semi-transparent or solid for most jobs and Dulux as our secondary line. Composite decking gets neither — it gets a clean and a clear UV protectant only.

How often will I need to re-stain my deck?

Semi-transparent stain on a properly prepped horizontal deck surface in North Bay lasts 2 to 4 years before a maintenance coat is needed. Solid stain on the same surface lasts 4 to 6 years. Vertical surfaces — railings, balusters, fascia boards, gazebo posts — typically last 1.5 to 2 times longer than the deck floor because they don't take foot traffic, snow load, or direct UV the same way.

Lake-facing decks on Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake, or Lake Nosbonsing see slightly faster wear due to UV reflection off water and high lake-side humidity, so we specify a mildewcide-treated Benjamin Moore Arborcoat or equivalent Dulux stain on every cottage deck. Composite decks treated with a clear UV protectant need a refresh every 2 to 3 years. Our 1-year written workmanship warranty covers premature failure of our application — peeling, lifting, or blistering — for the first year after the work is completed.

How much does deck staining cost in North Bay?

Get your deck staining quote

Deck staining cost in North Bay, broken down by deck size and lake exposure.

Real deck staining pricing scenarios for North Bay decks.

Optional upgrades and add-ons

What moves your deck staining quote up or down.

Deck size + levels

Railing linear footage

Stair count

Prior finish (paint vs stain vs bare)

Wood condition + carpentry

Stain type (semi-transparent / solid / clear)

Composite vs cedar vs pressure-treated

Lake exposure (mildewcide upcharge)

What's in every deck staining quote.

Fixed-price written quote

Full prep description

Product callouts

Drop sheets + daily cleanup

Mid-job inspection by Ahmed

1-year written warranty

WSIB-covered crew

$2M liability + COI

Ontario's deck staining window is short. Booking early matters.

Deck staining cost questions, answered.

How much does it cost to stain a deck in North Bay?

Semi-transparent vs solid stain — which is better value?

How often will I need to re-stain my deck?

Keep digging.

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