How much does it cost to stain a 20x20 deck in Glenview?

A 20x20 foot deck is 400 square feet. That puts it squarely in the medium deck range, and the answer to what it costs to stain depends on three things: the condition of the wood, how much prep is needed, and the stain you choose.

For a 20x20 deck in Glenview, expect to pay $900 to $1,800 in labor, plus stain materials. Here is how that breaks down.

The honest price range for a 20x20 deck

For a deck this size in good condition, with light prep needed, labor lands closer to $900 to $1,200. For a deck that has been weathered for years, with significant cleaning, sanding, and board repair needed, the labor cost climbs toward $1,400 to $1,800.

Materials add another $80 to $200 depending on the stain you choose. A gallon of quality semi-transparent stain runs $40 to $70 and covers about 200 to 300 square feet. A 20x20 deck typically needs 2 to 3 gallons.

So the total project cost lands somewhere in the $1,000 to $2,000 range for most homeowners. If you are also thinking about the fence, our 200 feet of fence pricing breakdown covers that side of things.

What drives the price up

• Heavy weathering. Decks that have not been stained in 5+ years usually need more aggressive cleaning and sanding
• Stripping old stain. If existing stain is peeling or flaking, removing it adds significant labor
• Detail work. Railings, balusters, stairs, and lattice all add square footage
• Solid stain instead of semi-transparent. Solid stains take longer to apply and need cleaner prep

What can keep the price down

• Clean wood. A deck that just needs a refresher coat skips most of the prep cost
• Simple geometry. Open decks without railings or detail work are faster
• Same color stain. Going from clear to tinted, or refreshing the same color, is faster than dramatic color changes

Why prices vary so much across contractors

If you have called around for quotes, you may have gotten numbers ranging from $500 to $4,000 for the same deck. That spread is real, and it tells you something about who is quoting.

The bottom of the range usually comes from contractors who are skipping prep, using cheap stain, or planning to do a one-coat application. The top of the range comes from larger painting companies with overhead, insurance costs, and crews to feed.

The middle is where most quality work gets done. For a 20x20 deck in Glenview, anywhere from $1,000 to $1,800 in total project cost should get you proper prep, two coats of decent stain, and a job that lasts 3 to 5 years.

What the work actually involves

For a 20x20 deck, here is what we typically do:

1. Day 1 morning: Pressure wash the deck to remove dirt, mildew, and loose old stain
2. Day 1 afternoon: Light sanding where needed, taping off siding and trim
3. Day 2: Apply first coat of stain. Most decks dry in 4 to 6 hours
4. Day 3: Apply second coat where needed, especially on horizontal surfaces
5. Day 3: Cleanup, walk through with the homeowner

So a typical 20x20 deck takes 2 to 3 days. Weather can extend that. We never apply stain if rain is expected within 24 hours. Here is what happens if rain hits sooner, and what we do about it.

How to get a real number for your deck

Every deck is different, and a phone or text estimate is going to be a range, not a real number. The fastest way to get an accurate quote is to send us 3 to 4 photos from different angles. We can usually quote within 4 hours from photos alone.

For larger or more complex decks, we will schedule a quick site visit before the final number. No pressure, no sales pitch. We just want to give you a real price you can plan around.