Deck Sealing & Waterproofing Long Grove, IL

Deck sealing for Long Grove homes

Long Grove has a historic downtown surrounded by acre lots and estate homes, and that shapes how we approach deck sealing here. We see a lot of long cedar and split-rail fences on large lots, and the work is planned around it.

Long Grove is in western 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.

Ask a Lake County homeowner when their deck was last sealed and the honest answer is usually never. Water gets into the end grain at the board ends, the screw holes and the ledger board against the house, and that is where rot starts. A sealer is cheap insurance. It is also the one step people think they can skip on a hardwood deck, when hardwood is exactly what a UV-blocking penetrating oil is made for.

How the job goes in Long Grove

1. Moisture checkThe deck must read under about 15% on a moisture meter. Sealing wet wood traps the water in and the sealer will not bond.
2. Clean and brightenEven a deck that looks clean has surface oxidation. A percarbonate wash and brightener open the grain so the sealer penetrates.
3. Mask and protectSiding, doors, planters and the patio below are covered. Sealers are thin and travel.
4. Apply thin, even coatsPad or sprayer with a back-brush. The wood takes what it can absorb and the rest is wiped off so it does not leave a sticky film.

Other work we do in Long Grove

Homeowners here also ask us about Fence cleaning in Long Grove, Pergola & gazebo staining in Long Grove and Deck repair in Long Grove. See everything on the Long Grove service area page, or read the full deck sealing guide. We also cover nearby Kildeer, Lincolnshire and Buffalo Grove.