Deck Cleaning & Power Washing Barrington, IL

Deck cleaning for Barrington homes

Most of our deck cleaning calls in Barrington come from homes with a historic village center with larger lots and older homes. That means older cedar decks that have been stained many times, which changes the prep more than the stain.

Barrington sits along the Fox River nearby, and the tree cover that comes with it keeps decks and fences damp longer in the morning. We schedule washes early in the week so the wood has time to dry before stain goes on.

Our deck cleaning is a wash, not a blast. We use a sodium percarbonate cleaner to lift the growth and oxidation, then a low-pressure rinse with a fan tip held well off the boards. A 3,000 PSI pressure washer with a narrow tip will cut grooves into cedar and leave fuzz on pine. That damage is permanent.

How the job goes in Barrington

1. Cover and pre-wetPlants, siding and light fixtures around the deck get wetted or covered. We check for loose boards and popped nails before we start.
2. Apply the cleanerA percarbonate wood cleaner sits for 10 to 15 minutes and breaks down mildew, algae and the gray layer. Stubborn spots get a scrub brush.
3. Low-pressure rinseUnder 1,000 PSI with a wide fan tip, working with the grain. The rinse is only removing what the cleaner already loosened.
4. BrightenAn oxalic-acid brightener neutralizes the cleaner and restores the natural wood tone, especially on cedar and redwood.

Other work we do in Barrington

Homeowners here also ask us about Pergola & gazebo staining in Barrington, Deck restoration in Barrington and Dock & pier staining in Barrington. See everything on the Barrington service area page, or read the full deck cleaning guide. We also cover nearby Kildeer, Wauconda and Tower Lakes.