Deck Staining Long Grove, IL

Deck staining for Long Grove homes

Most of our deck staining calls in Long Grove come from homes with a historic downtown surrounded by acre lots and estate homes. In practice that means big decks and pergolas under mature trees.

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.

Most deck staining problems come from prep, not product. A deck that was power-washed and stained the same afternoon will look fine for a month and fail by the following spring because the wood was still wet inside. We wash, let the deck dry to under 15% moisture, sand any raised grain, then stain. It takes an extra visit. It is the difference between a finish that lasts three or four years and one that lasts one.

How the job goes in Long Grove

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 Long Grove

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