Deck Cleaning & Power Washing Highland Park, IL

Deck cleaning for Highland Park homes

Deck cleaning in Highland Park starts with knowing the housing: North Shore homes on ravine and lakefront lots with old-growth trees. That means deep-shade decks on ravine lots that stay damp, which changes the prep more than the stain.

Highland Park sits on Lake Michigan, and waterfront wood weathers faster on the water-facing side than the house side. We check both and often give the exposed side a second coat.

The most common deck we see is one a homeowner or a general power-washing company went over at high pressure. The boards look clean for a week, then dry out fuzzy and gray. The pressure tore the surface fibers loose. A chemical clean does the work, and the pressure only rinses. If your deck is due for stain, the cleaning is step one and we roll it into the staining job.

How the job goes in Highland Park

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 Highland Park

Homeowners here also ask us about Fence staining in Highland Park, Deck sealing in Highland Park and Pergola & gazebo staining in Highland Park. See everything on the Highland Park service area page, or read the full deck cleaning guide. We also cover nearby Highwood, Riverwoods and Mettawa.