Dock & Pier Staining Gages Lake, IL

Dock & pier staining for Gages Lake homes

Gages Lake has unincorporated lake-community homes near Grayslake and Wildwood, and that shapes how we approach dock & pier staining here. In practice that means fences along wooded lot lines.

With Gages Lake 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.

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.

How the job goes in Gages Lake

1. Schedule around the waterSpring before the pier goes in, or fall after it comes out, is ideal. Fixed docks are done in dry weather with drop cloths and containment.
2. CleanPercarbonate cleaner and low-pressure rinse remove algae, gray and goose mess. Slime on the lower boards gets a scrub.
3. Dry fullyDock wood is wetter than deck wood. We wait for a meter reading under 15% before anything goes on.
4. Stain or sealPenetrating finish, back-brushed, with attention to board ends and the underside edges where water wicks in.

Other work we do in Gages Lake

Homeowners here also ask us about Deck staining in Gages Lake, Deck cleaning in Gages Lake and Fence staining in Gages Lake. See everything on the Gages Lake service area page, or read the full dock & pier staining guide. We also cover nearby Grayslake, Third Lake and Gurnee.