Highwood has compact lots and older homes near Fort Sheridan. Around here that means small decks and porches on tight lots, shared-line fences between neighbors and lake-effect exposure on east-facing decks. Each of those has a specific failure mode and a specific fix, and we have done all of them.
If your deck has gone gray, deck staining in Highwood after a proper clean brings it back. If it has a peeling solid stain on it, that is a deck restoration job: strip, sand, brighten, refinish. A cedar fence that has silvered needs fence staining before it starts to check. And if the wood is sound and you just want it to stop being green, a deck cleaning or fence cleaning once a year is cheap maintenance.
Highwood is on Lake Michigan nearby. Wood near water gets more dew, more humidity and, on open water, reflected sun on top of direct sun. Waterfront decks gray faster on the lake side and hold moisture longer in the morning. We plan drying time around that, and for docks and piers we use finishes suitable for use near water and stain pier sections on land where we can.
In the Lake Michigan shore, where Highwood sits, winters are the enemy: snow sitting on unsealed boards for weeks, then freeze-thaw that opens the grain. Sealing and staining before November is the single best thing you can do for wood here.
Our season runs roughly late April through October. Stain needs the wood dry, temperatures between about 50 and 90 degrees, and 24 to 48 hours without rain afterward. In Lake County that means spring and early fall are the best windows, with midsummer jobs scheduled around heat and pop-up storms. We book spring work early because the good weeks fill fast.
We are also regularly in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Lake Bluff and Lincolnshire. Lake County is small enough that no town is a long drive from Libertyville.
Text a photo and we will suggest two.
Every one of these has its own Highwood page with local details.
Wash, prep and stain your wood deck with a penetrating oil or hybrid stain that holds up to Lake County winters.
Deck staining HighwoodSpray-and-back-brush staining for cedar and pine privacy fences, both sides, with plants and neighbors protected.
Fence staining HighwoodStrip failed stain, sand, brighten and refinish a weathered deck so it looks and performs like new wood.
Deck restoration HighwoodLow-pressure wash with a wood-safe cleaner that removes gray, mildew and algae without furring the boards.
Deck cleaning HighwoodClear or lightly tinted sealer that keeps water out of the grain without changing the look of the wood.
Deck sealing HighwoodDetail staining for pergolas, gazebos, arbors, privacy screens and outdoor structures, with all the overhead work done by hand.
Pergola & gazebo staining HighwoodReplace rotted or split boards, re-fasten loose decking and tighten railings before we stain.
Deck repair HighwoodRemove green algae, black mildew and gray weathering from wood fences without splintering the boards.
Fence cleaning HighwoodSafe cleaning for Trex, TimberTech, Azek and other composite or PVC decking: mildew, black spots, pollen and tannin stains.
Composite deck cleaning HighwoodCleaning, sealing and staining for wood docks, piers and boardwalks on the Chain O'Lakes and Lake County's inland lakes.
Dock & pier staining HighwoodYes. Highwood is in the Lake Michigan shore, and we cover it from Libertyville with no trip charge. Most quotes are done from texted photos.
Late spring and early fall. We need dry wood, temperatures between about 50 and 90, and two dry days after staining. Spring books up fast, so text us early.
It depends on size, condition and stain type. Text a few photos with a rough size and we will send a real number, usually the same day. The pricing page explains what moves the price.
Yes, and it is the best way to do it: one wash day, one stain day, one matching batch of stain.
Text a photo of the wood and your address. Quotes usually come back the same day.
Text a photo of your deck or fence and get a number back. We answer Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.
Lake CountyFence & Deck Restoration