Wood | Composite | Concrete | Stone
Weathered cedar and composite brought back to life — across Lake, McHenry & Cook County, IL.
A deck takes more abuse than almost any surface on your property. Sun bakes the finish, rain and snow soak the boards, and shade breeds a slick green film that turns a beautiful cedar deck into a gray, splintery hazard you stop wanting to walk on barefoot. The good news: that gray is almost never the real wood. It's oxidized surface fiber, mildew, and ground-in grime sitting on top of boards that still have plenty of life. Clean it off properly and the warmth and grain come right back.
The catch is that wood is soft and unforgiving — the wrong pressure splinters it, carves furry lines into the grain, and leaves damage no stain can hide. We treat decks completely differently than concrete: lower pressure, a wood-safe cleaner that does the lifting, and passes that work with the grain instead of against it. Composite like Trex and TimberTech gets a manufacturer-safe approach that won't void the warranty, and stone or concrete patios get matched to their surface too. If you're planning to re-stain, a proper clean is the prep that makes the new finish actually bond and last.
Every part of your outdoor living space — matched to the right method.
Low-pressure, with-the-grain cleaning that lifts gray, mildew, and old finish without splintering the boards.
Cleaned at manufacturer-safe pressure to clear mildew and film without damaging the cap or voiding the warranty.
Poured and stamped concrete patios cleaned evenly with a surface cleaner — no wand stripes, no etching.
Natural stone and paver patios deep-cleaned with dwell time — re-sand and seal available if you want the full restoration.
The spindles, rails, and step treads where grime and algae build up most — detailed so the whole deck matches.
Planning to re-stain? We prep the wood so the new finish bonds — and tell you exactly how long to let it dry first.
A careful four-step process built around protecting the wood.
We check the deck material and condition, flag any loose or rotted boards, and clear furniture and debris off the surface.
A cleaner matched to your surface goes on and breaks down the gray, mildew, and grime so it lifts instead of needing to be blasted.
Low, controlled pressure worked along the grain — the technique that brings color back without splintering or furring the wood.
A final rinse evens everything out, and a wood brightener restores the natural tone — ready for stain when it's dry.
Not the way we do it. Wood is soft, so we use lower pressure, a wood-safe cleaner, and work with the grain — that lifts the gray, mildew, and old finish without splintering or carving lines into the boards. The damage you've seen on other decks comes from people holding a high-pressure tip too close, which we never do.
Yes. Composite resists rot but still grows mildew and surface film in shaded, damp spots. We clean it at the manufacturer-safe pressure with the right solution so it comes back to its true color without damaging the cap layer or voiding your warranty.
Our core service is the cleaning and restoration that has to happen first — a clean, dry deck is the only surface stain will actually bond to. If you're planning to re-stain, just tell us when you book and we'll prep the wood and let you know how long to wait before coating.
Usually, yes, and the difference surprises people. That gray is oxidized surface fiber and ground-in grime, not the real color of the wood. A proper cleaning strips it away and brings the warmth back. Severely rotted boards won't revive, but most tired-looking decks have a lot more life left than they appear to.
Most wood needs to dry for 24 to 48 hours after cleaning before it will take stain properly, depending on the weather and the wood. We'll give you a straight answer for your specific deck so you don't seal in moisture.
Serving Lake, McHenry & Cook County — here are a few of the towns we cover.
Don't see your town? See our full service area →
Send a couple photos if you've got them — we'll give you a transparent, no-obligation estimate.