Composite decking does not need stain, but it is not maintenance-free. Older capped and uncapped composite grows black mildew spots, holds pollen and tree tannin stains, and gets a gray film in shade. Newer PVC and capped boards do better but still need a proper wash. The catch is that composite scratches and hazes easily with the wrong pressure or the wrong chemical.
We clean composite and PVC decks across Lake County with manufacturer-appropriate cleaners and low pressure. The goal is to get the deck back to its original color without leaving wand marks, which are permanent on capped composite.
Composite decks are the ones that get damaged most often by general pressure washing, because the surface looks tough. It is not. Capped composite has a thin outer layer and a narrow-tip wand will strip it in stripes. We use a soft-wash approach: cleaner, dwell, gentle agitation, low-pressure rinse. If your composite deck has black spots that will not come off with a hose, that is mildew in the surface and it needs the right cleaner, not more pressure.
We do a lot of this work in Gurnee, Mundelein and Indian Creek, and the central Lake County towns like Vernon Hills and Green Oaks keep us busy through the season. See every town on the areas page, or jump to Composite deck cleaning in Mettawa.
Composite deck cleaning usually pairs with one of these.
Text a photo of your deck or fence and get a number back. We answer Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.
Text (224) 944-8652Mildew in the surface texture. A composite-safe cleaner removes it.
Uneven weathering. Cleaning evens most of it out on capped boards.
Oxalic-based cleaner lifts the brown.
Permanent on capped composite. We use low pressure so it never happens.
First-generation composite oxidizes. Cleaning restores some color; some fading is permanent.
See the pricing page for how we quote, or text photos and get a real number.
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.
After staining, keep furniture and foot traffic off for 24 to 48 hours, longer if it is humid. Rinse pollen and leaves off through the season instead of letting them sit and hold moisture. Move planters and rugs periodically so they do not leave shadows. Rinse the deck each spring with a hose, and when water stops beading on the horizontal boards, that is the signal for a maintenance coat. Done on that schedule, a deck never needs stripping again.
Only at low pressure with a wide tip. Manufacturers generally cap it around 1,500 PSI held a foot or more away. Higher than that, or a narrow tip, will scar the surface.
Almost always mildew growing in the surface texture, fed by pollen and moisture. A composite-safe cleaner removes it. Bleach alone will lighten it and leave it to come back.
Generally no. Most manufacturers advise against coatings on capped composite and PVC. Some uncapped first-generation boards can take a composite-specific sealer, and we will tell you if yours is one.
No. Cleaning removes dirt and growth. Fading on old uncapped composite is permanent, and scratches on capped boards are permanent.
Every Lake County town has its own composite deck cleaning page.
Text a photo of the wood and your town. 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