Deck Sealing & Waterproofing Riverwoods, IL

Deck sealing for Riverwoods homes

Riverwoods has heavily wooded lots with homes tucked under old trees, and that shapes how we approach deck sealing here. That means decks that never dry out under the canopy, which changes the prep more than the stain.

Riverwoods sits along the Des Plaines River, 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.

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 Riverwoods

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 Riverwoods

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