Decks and pergolas, the rest of the wood.

A deck takes more abuse than a fence because it sits flat and holds water and sun all day, then takes foot traffic on top. The wood-care logic is the same as the fence, with a couple of differences that matter.

Deck staining

A deck gets the full clean, brighten, and dry, then a stain chosen for horizontal, walked-on wood. The right finish for a deck surface is one that grips underfoot and sheds water rather than a glossy film that wears through in the traffic lanes. The gaps between deck boards and the end-grain at cut ends deserve particular attention: end-grain is where deck rot actually starts, because cut wood ends absorb water far more readily than the face grain. Sealing those ends properly is a meaningful difference between a deck staining job that holds and one that leaves the most vulnerable part unprotected.

Pergolas and overhead structures

• Pergolas and arbours. Overhead and angled wood needs the tops done properly since that is where sun and water sit. The technique for overhead surfaces is a slightly thicker application to compensate for the wood facing upward, and the cleaning step matters more since debris and moisture collect on horizontal overhead members.
• Gates. Stained on both faces with hardware protected, so the most-touched piece of the fence looks the part and weathers evenly.
• Gazebos and larger structures. Larger backyard wood handled with the same prep-first approach, quoted by the project.

Why bundle with the fence

Most of the cost of a small job is mobilizing: getting the crew, the gear, and the materials on site. Once set up for a fence, adding the deck or pergola the same day skips a second mobilization and a second trip charge, so the whole backyard gets done as one project for less than the sum of two. Tell a contractor everything that is wood out back and ask for the combined price before deciding what to include.

What it costs

Deck staining typically runs from $3.50 a square foot as an add-on to a fence job. Pergolas and arbours are quoted by size, usually from around $250 bundled with the fence. Gates and smaller structures are quoted per project. Full ranges on the cost page.