Lake County has more lakes than any county in Illinois, and a lot of wood docks on them. A dock lives in the worst conditions wood can face: constant water, sun off the surface of the lake, ice in winter and the pier sections often pulled and stacked each fall. Unsealed dock boards gray, splinter and rot from the bottom up. Stained and sealed, they last far longer and are a lot easier on bare feet.
We clean, seal and stain fixed and seasonal wood docks, piers, boardwalks and shore steps on Fox Lake, Pistakee, Channel Lake, Lake Marie, Grass Lake, Bangs Lake, Cedar Lake, Diamond Lake, Round Lake, Island Lake and the rest of the county's inland lakes. Seasonal pier sections are best done on land in spring before they go in, or in fall after they come out.
Dock staining has a rule the rest of our work does not: what goes on the wood ends up in the lake. We use penetrating oil or water-based stains and sealers that are suitable for use near water, apply them with the dock sections on land where we can, and never over open water on a windy day. We also pay attention to slip resistance. A glossy film finish on a dock is a hazard. A penetrating stain is not.
We do a lot of this work in Gurnee, Mundelein and Indian Creek, and the central Lake County towns like Vernon Hills and Green Oaks keep us busy through the season. See every town on the areas page, or jump to Dock & pier staining in Mettawa.
Dock & pier staining usually pairs with one of these.
Text a photo of your deck or fence and get a number back. We answer Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.
Text (224) 944-8652Algae at the waterline. Scrubbed and cleaned with the sections on land.
Unsealed pine that has been wet and dry a hundred times. Sanded, then sealed.
Cleaned and brightened. The gray lifts more than people expect.
A previous varnish or paint. Stripped and replaced with a penetrating stain.
Noted during the job so you can fix them before the season.
See the pricing page for how we quote, or text photos and get a real number.
Our season runs roughly late April through October. Stain needs the wood dry, temperatures between about 50 and 90 degrees, and 24 to 48 hours without rain afterward. In Lake County that means spring and early fall are the best windows, with midsummer jobs scheduled around heat and pop-up storms. We book spring work early because the good weeks fill fast.
After staining, keep furniture and foot traffic off for 24 to 48 hours, longer if it is humid. Rinse pollen and leaves off through the season instead of letting them sit and hold moisture. Move planters and rugs periodically so they do not leave shadows. Rinse the deck each spring with a hose, and when water stops beading on the horizontal boards, that is the signal for a maintenance coat. Done on that schedule, a deck never needs stripping again.
Some are, some are not. We use penetrating stains and sealers suitable for use near water, apply them on land when possible, and use drop cloths and containment on fixed docks. We do not apply finish over open water in wind.
Spring before the pier sections go in, while they are dry and on land. Fall after they come out is the second-best window. Fixed docks are done in summer during a dry stretch.
A penetrating stain will not. A film-forming finish, varnish or paint will, especially when wet. We do not use those on docks.
Yes. We stain the lift decking and walkways around it. The lift mechanism itself is left alone.
Every Lake County town has its own dock & pier staining page.
Text a photo of the wood and your town. Quotes usually come back the same day.
Text a photo of your deck or fence and get a number back. We answer Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.
Lake CountyFence & Deck Restoration