Deck Staining Highland Park, IL

Deck staining for Highland Park homes

Deck staining in Highland Park starts with knowing the housing: North Shore homes on ravine and lakefront lots with old-growth trees. That means estate fences and pergolas, which changes the prep more than the stain.

With Lake Michigan close by, decks and fences here hold moisture longer in the mornings. We schedule the wash early in the week so there is time to dry before stain goes on.

We stain cedar, pressure-treated pine, and hardwood decks across Lake County. Every job starts with a proper wash and a moisture check, because stain applied to dirty or damp wood peels within a year. Then we apply a penetrating oil or oil-hybrid stain in the tone you pick, back-brushed so it soaks in instead of sitting on top.

How the job goes in Highland Park

1. Walk the deck with youWe look at the boards, rails, stairs and any soft spots, and confirm the stain type and tone before anything gets wet.
2. Clean and brightenA sodium percarbonate deck cleaner lifts gray oxidized wood, mildew and old failed finish. A brightener follows to neutralize and open the grain.
3. Dry and sandTwo to three dry days depending on weather. Raised grain and rough spots get a light sand so the stain goes on even.
4. Stain and back-brushApplied by pad or sprayer and immediately back-brushed into the wood. Rails, spindles and stair risers are brushed by hand.

Other work we do in Highland Park

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