How Much Does Exterior Timber Maintenance Cost? [2024]

From sealing decking to replacing broken or rotting fence panels, maintaining exterior timber is a home improvement project worth paying for, because it helps to maintain the value of your home.

In this guide, we look at several exterior timber projects and their approximate costs. Read more about:

• What affects exterior timber maintenance cost?
• How much does timber decking maintenance cost?
• How much does timber house painting or sealing cost?
• How much does maintaining timber fencing cost?
• How much does timber cladding maintenance cost?
• Can I maintain timber myself?
• Getting quotes for exterior timber maintenance

What affects exterior timber maintenance cost?

Every job will have a different price. The cost of any exterior timber maintenance job will depend on several factors, including:

• The size of the job
• The condition of the timber
• Whether timber needs replacing
• How much extra work is involved

In order to get an accurate online quote, you will need to give accurate details about the job:

• If it's decking, how large is your deck and what condition is it in? If it's a house or fencing, you will need to supply the same details. Also tell the painter or builder if there are plants near the decking, house or fencing, because they will need to take extra care around these.
• Are there any access problems? A painter or builder will need to know if they are working in a cramped space, because this will make the work slower. If they are painting or sealing a house, they will need to know if it's a one or two storey house and whether it is on a flat or sloping block.
• If the fencing joins an adjacent property, you will need to get permission from the owners of the adjacent property and they may have to pay half the cost of repainting or sealing the fence. If they refuse, you can just paint or seal your side of the fence, but that could lead to problems later on, because unsealed or unpainted timber can rot.

How much does timber decking maintenance cost?

A variety of problems can arise with timber decking, but the most frequent is that it needs sanding and resealing every few years to maintain its appearance and help the timber to last.

How much does it cost to reseal timber decking? The price will depend on several factors:

• How many coats of sealer the deck needs: a deck in good condition may only need one coat, while a deck in poor condition may need three coats
• Whether it needs staining first
• The condition of the decking (is it mouldy or very dirty?)
• Whether decking boards or the structure beneath the boards needs new timber
• A small deck may cost more than a larger deck
• Sanding and punching in nails will cost more

If the deck is in good condition and is relatively large, the cost will be lower because less work is involved. On average, staining or resealing a deck may cost:

• $300 to $450 for a small deck
• $700 to $1000 for an average sized deck
• $1300 to $2500 for a large deck

These prices will depend on the condition of the decking and the size of the deck. If decking boards need to be replaced, the cost will be higher and will include labour and the cost of the new boards themselves.

If the structure underneath the boards needs any replacement timber, the cost will be higher because more work will be involved.

Read more: How much does staining a deck cost?

How much does timber house painting or sealing cost?

Timber exterior walls can have a clear sealer applied or may be painted. A timber house should be repainted every 5 to 7 years, but it may need to be resealed every 3 to 5 years to maintain its surface.

A clear sealer can cost more than painting, but more goes into sealing or painting a home exterior than meets the eye. First, the exterior will need to be washed to get rid of dirt and grime. Then it may need to be sanded in places. In some cases, an older house may need extensive work to renew it, so the cost will be higher.

House painters charge by the hour, but their hourly rates depend on the condition of the walls. Expect to pay:

• From $35 per hour for a simple job
• Up to $60 per hour for a more complex job

Depending on the size of the house and the condition of the walls, the cost of painting or sealing a house can be between $4000 and $20,000.

Sealing can be more expensive, because the painters will need to make sure the sealer is applied evenly, which might require extra work.

When you're hiring a house painter, make sure they are suitably qualified. In New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, house painters must have a licence. In other states, they may not need a licence, but you should hire a reputable company to paint or seal your timber home exterior.

The painter should have a Certificate III in painting and have a good reputation in your area. They should be a well established business and guarantee their work. Aside from giving your home a good paint job or sealer, they should take care not to damage plants and spill paint or sealer on decks or other surfaces they are working on.

Read more: How much do painters cost?

How much does maintaining timber fencing cost?

Timber fencing can receive a lot of wear and tear if it's exposed to the elements. Low fencing can also be subject to rotting posts and damage over the years.

Maintaining a timber fence costs around the same price per hour as house painting. The average cost to paint or seal a timber fence in Australia is $40 per hour, but it can go up to $50 per hour if the fence is in poor condition. A fencing contractor will look at the condition of the fence and make an assessment of their hourly rate.

There can be a lot of preparation work involved before a fence can be painted or sealed. Pressure washing might be required or the painter will wash the fencing first to get rid of dirt and grime. They may also have to remove and sand places where paint has peeled and some timber may need to be replaced.

If fence posts have rotted or the fence has other damage, fence repair costs from $65 to $100 per metre, depending on how severe the damage is.

Read more: How much does timber fencing cost?

How much does timber cladding maintenance cost?

Like other exterior timber installations, timber cladding should be coated to protect it against water and UV damage and extend its life. Treatments should be applied before the cladding is installed.

Cladding should be cleaned regularly to maintain its appearance and remove dirt, stains and mould. Recoating or repainting will be necessary every 1 to 5 years, depending on how much it's exposed to the elements.

Repainting timber cladding costs the same as repainting other timber structures, between $35 and $60 per hour.

Read more: How much does cladding cost?

Can I maintain timber myself?

You can buy timber stains, paint and other coatings and apply them yourself when you follow the supplier's instructions, but you should be confident in your ability to get an even finish.

1 litre of timber stain costs upwards of $50, along with the cost of applicators and other tools and materials needed. The amount of stain you need to buy will depend on the size of the wall, fence or other structure you're treating.

DIY timber maintenance could save you money, but the results may be inferior to a professional service, and this could count against your home's curb appeal and value if you decide to sell.

Getting quotes for exterior timber maintenance

The best way to get an accurate online quote for exterior timber maintenance cost is to describe what you need in detail and get quotes from three services. If you do this, you won't be disappointed when the contractor inspects your property and gives a higher quote.

A reputable company with years of experience can give you accurate quotes based on their previous work, while a newer contractor may only be able to give a less reliable estimate that could end up costing more.

Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.