Deck Restoration & Refinishing Old Mill Creek, IL

Deck restoration for Old Mill Creek homes

Most of our deck restoration calls in Old Mill Creek come from homes with a rural village of farmsteads and very large lots. That means wind exposure on open lots, which changes the prep more than the stain.

Old Mill Creek is in northern Lake County. The established trees that make the yards nice also keep decks and fences shaded, and shaded wood needs a thorough chemical clean before it will take stain evenly.

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 Old Mill Creek

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 Old Mill Creek

Homeowners here also ask us about Pergola & gazebo staining in Old Mill Creek, Deck staining in Old Mill Creek and Deck cleaning in Old Mill Creek. See everything on the Old Mill Creek service area page, or read the full deck restoration guide. We also cover nearby Gurnee, Wadsworth and Lake Villa.