Deck Restoration & Refinishing Island Lake, IL

Deck restoration for Island Lake homes

Deck restoration in Island Lake starts with knowing the housing: a lake community of older cottages and newer homes. That means older decks that have gone gray, which changes the prep more than the stain.

Island Lake sits on Island Lake, 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 reason so many decks look bad is that each new coat went over the last failed one. Stain does not stick to stain that is letting go. Restoration resets the deck to bare wood so the new finish bonds to the grain, not to a flaking layer underneath it. Done right, it is the last time the deck needs anything more than a maintenance coat for years.

How the job goes in Island Lake

1. Assess and quoteWe identify what finish is on the deck, how many layers, and whether any boards need replacing before refinishing.
2. StripA sodium-hydroxide or solvent stripper, depending on the finish, dwells and lifts the old coating. Stubborn areas get scraped and a second application.
3. SandHorizontal boards get an orbital sand at 60 to 80 grit to remove residue and raised grain. Rails and spindles are hand-sanded as needed.
4. Brighten and dryThe brightener neutralizes the stripper and restores tone. Then the deck dries for two to three days.

Other work we do in Island Lake

Homeowners here also ask us about Pergola & gazebo staining in Island Lake, Deck staining in Island Lake and Deck sealing in Island Lake. See everything on the Island Lake service area page, or read the full deck restoration guide. We also cover nearby Volo, North Barrington and Wauconda.