For deck and fence staining crews
Deck and fence staining software that's actually free
Square feet from satellite, a cure rule for the day after, wash-and-stain as two visits, and a rebook every two or three years from the record. Free, no monthly plan.
Free forever. No credit card. Set up in minutes.
Free forever. No monthly plan, no seat fees, no trial clock.
Built for deck and fence staining
What a staining crew gets, for $0.
Square feet from satellite
Trace the deck or the fence line on satellite view; the numbers become the quantities.
Satellite measurementCure-day rule
A staining rule checks rain the day of and the day after, plus the high against your limits.
SchedulingWash and stain as visits
Two visits on one job, each with its own forecast.
SchedulingService packages
Stain only, wash plus stain, and wash, repair, and stain as three tiers on one quote.
QuotingDeposit at approval
Collected by card or bank transfer when they approve, credited against the invoice.
Invoicing & paymentsPhotos of the finish
Send the before and after; the homeowner gets an email and a portal gallery.
Customers & portalRe-stain from the record
Square feet, product, and price stay on file for the next coat.
Customers & portalReview requests
A request with your review link goes out when the invoice is paid.
Automations
What changes with MakeHay
Quote, schedule, get paid, come back.
Schedule around the weather, not despite it
Stain has rules, and MakeHay checks them where the deck sits: rain under 20% the day of and the day after, a high above 50°F, and a cap for the hot days that flash-dry the coat. Wash day and stain day are two visits on one job, each judged on its own day.
- Rain checked the day of and the day after, per address
- Low- and high-temperature flags from your limits
- Wash and stain as two visits on one job
- Clearer-day suggestions when a booked day turns
Quote it before you leave the site
Trace the deck on satellite view for square feet and the fence line for linear feet, then quote from your price book: wash, stain, and seal by the square foot, railings and spindles by the foot. Offer stain only, wash plus stain, and wash, repair, and stain as three packages on one quote. The homeowner approves from their phone.
Get paid without chasing
A deposit at approval for the stain order, credited automatically. The balance goes out in one click when the last coat is dry, with a card or bank pay link, and overdue reminders go out on their own.
Keep every customer for the re-do
Stain wears on a schedule. Every deck keeps its square feet, the product used, the photos, and the price, so the re-stain quote two or three years later is one click, not a site visit.
Give every customer a portal
One private link per customer: messages with photos, documents you request, a heads-up on any contract waiting for their e-signature, and invoices they pay. No app, no password, free.
Set up in ten minutes
What a deck and fence staining business puts in on day one.
A starting point that matches how the trade bids and runs. Every item, rule, and follow-up is yours to rename, reprice, or switch off.
Price book
- Deck wash and prepper sq ft
- Deck stain and sealper sq ft
- Railings and spindlesper linear ft
- Fence stainper linear ft
- Board replacement, per boardeach
- Stain product upchargeflat
Weather rules
- Staining: rain under 20% the day of and the day after, high above 50°F, high below 90°F
- Washing: rain under 60%
- Board repairs: no rule
Follow-ups that run themselves
- Quote follow-up three days after an unanswered estimate
- Visit reminder the day before, so furniture is off the deck
- Review request once the invoice is paid
The honest math
Compare the bill, not the brochure.
MakeHay
$0/mo
Free is the plan, not a trial of one
- Every feature, every user, from day one
- No per-seat pricing, no feature gates
- No credit card to sign up, nothing to cancel
The usual field-service subscription
$29–399/mo
plus per-user fees on top
- Per-seat pricing that climbs as your crew grows
- The features you actually need gated to higher tiers
- An annual bill whether it rained all month or not
FAQ
Deck and fence staining questions, answered straight.
Is it really free for staining crews?
Yes. Unlimited customers, quotes, scheduling, and invoices, free forever, not a trial. No monthly plan, no seat fees, and no credit card to start.
Can I measure a deck without a site visit?
Yes. Trace the deck on satellite view for square feet and the fence line for linear feet; the numbers drop into the quote. Try it free at makehay.io/satellite-measurement-tool.
Does it know stain needs a dry day after?
Yes. A staining rule checks rain the day of and the day after and the high against your minimum and maximum, per address, from the National Weather Service forecast.
Can I schedule the wash and the stain separately?
Yes. A job is made of visits. Wash Tuesday, stain Thursday, each with its own forecast, and drag either when the sky changes.
How do rebooks work?
Every deck keeps its measurement, the product, the photos, and the price. In two or three years, open the customer, reuse the quote, and send it.
What's the catch for a staining business?
No catch. The software costs us almost nothing per crew to run, so it is free. Online card and ACH payments carry processing costs, as they would with any provider.
See every trade we build for on the industries page, browse the full feature list, check pricing (it's free), or measure your next job on the free satellite measurement tool, no account needed.
Stain on the dry days. Pay $0 on all of them.
Square feet from satellite, cure-day rules, wash and stain as two visits, and rebooks from the record. Free forever.
Free forever. No credit card. Set up in minutes.