Deck Stain and Sealer

The Deck Stain and Sealer Calculator computes the number of gallons of deck stain and sealer needed to cover a deck, porch or steps.

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

• (L) Length
• (W) Width
• (SC) Surface Condition (SMOOTH or ROUGH)

Deck Stain and Sealer (DS): The calculator returns the gallons of stain needed to coat the deck area.  The calculator also returns the surface area (A) of the deck in square feet.  However, these answers can be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu.

The Math / Science

The surface area of a deck is based on the length and width. The surface conditions dictate the amount of stain needed.  400 ft2 to 500 ft2 of smooth surfaces can be covered with one gallon of stain.  Only 200 ft2 to 300ft2 of rough surfaces can be covered with a gallon of stain.

Time to Dry

Stain typically takes four to six hours to dry.  Do not place furniture on newly stained deck for at least twenty four hours.

Preparing the Surface 

Stain only works if it can penetrate into the material.  This means that the material should be free of loose fibers, oils and organic material such as mildew.  Power washing, sanding or the use of a wire brush or scraper can often effectively remove unwanted material.  However, be sure to sweep off  removed material, and in the event of power washing, allow the material to thoroughly dry to make it permeable to the stain. 

Deck Builder Calculator provides estimates for a simple rectangular deck project.  Calculator functions include the following:

• Deck Board Count: Computes the number of decking boards needed for your deck based on the size of the deck and the size of the decking boards.
• Deck Boards Cost: Computes the cost of deck board flooring based on a computed number of deck boards and the price per board.
• Decking Cost Estimate: Estimates the cost of wood board decking based on total area and unit pricing in dollars per square feet.
• Subfloor 4x8 Sheets: Computes the number of 4x8 sheets to cover floor/deck area.
• Subfloor Cost: Computes the cost of 4x8 sheets to cover fool/deck area.
• Deck Joist Count: Computes the number of floor joists needed for a deck.  It returns the number of joists and plate boards, square feet of area and the length of the diagonal.
• Joists on Beams: Computes the number of joists (2x dimensional lumber or i-joists), number of beams, number of joist hangers, and length of plate boards needed for a floor or deck with a span that might require one or more beams.
• Deck Joist Cost: Computes the total cost of the floor joist boards.
• Deck Stain and Sealer: Computes the amount of stain and sealer needed for a deck.