Dock & Pier Staining Racine, WI

Dock & pier staining for Racine homes

Racine has a lakefront city with historic neighborhoods and post-war subdivisions, and that shapes how we approach dock & pier staining here. In practice that means older decks and porches in the historic districts.

With Lake Michigan and the Root River 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 Racine

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 Racine

Homeowners here also ask us about Pergola & gazebo staining in Racine, Deck restoration in Racine and Fence cleaning in Racine. See everything on the Racine service area page, or read the full dock & pier staining guide. We also cover nearby Sturtevant, Caledonia and Winthrop Harbor.