Deck and Fence Maintenance: What Each Material Needs, and When
There is no such thing as a no-maintenance deck, whatever the brochure said. Every deck and fence needs cleaning and most need sealing on a schedule, or the sun and the Chicago freeze-thaw cycle will take it apart one board at a time. Here is the schedule we use, by material.
| Material | Clean | Seal or stain | What it prevents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exotic hardwood (ipe, mahogany) | Every year | Every year | Graying, fading, splintering, mold |
| Cedar | Every year | Every 2 to 3 years | Bleaching, splitting, mildew |
| Pressure-treated pine | Every year | Every year | Bleaching, rot, mold, splintering |
| Composite | Every year | Railings and trim as needed | Mildew, staining, color fade |
| Vinyl fencing | Every year | Not required | Chalking, yellowing, mildew |
Our Maintenance Services
- Power washing with wood-safe cleaners, at pressures that will not fur the boards.
- Brightening to bring back the wood color before sealing.
- Staining and sealing with the product that fits the wood and its age.
- Repairs: board replacement, railing repair, post resetting, gate adjustment, and screw-down of loose decking.
- Painting of painted railings, pergolas, arbors, and picket fences.
Put It on a Schedule
The easiest way to keep a deck looking new is to stop thinking about it. We can put you on a yearly cleaning and inspection schedule and only stain when the wood needs it. You get a call in spring, we come out, and it is done.
Ready for a full refinish? See deck refinishing and fence refinishing.
Call (847) 564-4880 or request a free estimate. Pete walks every job himself and puts the price in writing. Want to try colors first? Use the paint color visualizer on a photo of your own home.
