This service scrubs weathered boards clean, waits for them to dry, and then puts on a stain or sealer that shrugs off sun and moisture. Rob, a Woodstock contractor with no subcontractors, works on decks in Union, IL, where open lots mean strong sun, wind and little shelter. The price begins at $300. Pictures of the deck texted to (815) 451-0106 are all it takes to get a quote.
A deck in a village lot with mature trees lives a different life from a deck on an open acre. Out here, the boards cook in afternoon sun, take wind-driven rain sideways, and sit under a field-facing sky with no shade to slow the weather. Stain wears off sooner, gray sets in faster, and cupping appears sooner than owners expect.
This page follows the deck through a Union year, because the work lines up with the calendar: what to do when, what to leave alone, and when a board needs replacing instead of staining.
Spring: read the boards before touching them
Winter leaves tell-tale signs. Splintered edges, raised nails, gray patches where water pooled, and green film in the shade under the rail are all easy to see in April. Press a screwdriver tip into the wood near joists and posts. If it sinks in, the wood has rotted and staining will not help.
Rob inspects before quoting and will say if boards, rails or stair treads need replacement. A carpenter should handle structural repairs, such as a rotted ledger board or loose post. Cleaning and staining make sense once the deck is sound.
Early summer: wash, then wait for it to dry
The right order is wash, dry, stain. Rob cleans the deck with a solution matched to the wood and a gentle rinse, because hard jets tend to lift the grain and leave boards rough and fuzzy. Then comes the part that tests patience: the wood must dry thoroughly before any stain goes on.
Drying time depends on shade, humidity and wind. Open Union decks dry faster than shaded ones, but a deck surrounded by tall grass or hosta beds may hold moisture. Staining over damp wood can trap water, which leads to peeling. Rob checks and schedules accordingly.
Midsummer: choosing between stain, sealer and doing nothing
Transparent finishes show wood grain but break down quickly in strong sun. Semi-transparent stains hold pigment, which blocks UV and lasts longer on exposed decks. Solid stains cover almost everything, including flaws, and behave like paint, which can peel on horizontal surfaces.
For an open lot with full sun, a pigmented finish usually makes more sense than clear sealer. New treated lumber can need a long dry-out before it accepts stain at all. Rob will recommend based on the wood type and condition. The deck care schedule covers cycles in more detail.
Late summer: protecting what grows around the deck
Union properties often have plantings, vegetable beds or lawn right at the edge of the deck. Rob covers or waters plants beforehand, uses drop cloths, and keeps cleaner and stain off the siding and any stone below. Overspray on nearby walls is a small risk worth planning around.
If your deck sits against a wall that also needs cleaning, a soft wash done first keeps dirty drips off a fresh coat. Order matters: top down, walls before decks, stain last. Stair treads and railings can be handled along with pressure washing on the concrete below, in the same visit.
Fall and winter: keep it dry, keep it clear
Leaf piles and wet debris trap moisture against the boards, and moisture is the start of mold and rot. Sweep the deck regularly in autumn and keep planters on feet, not flat on wood. Snow can be shoveled with a plastic shovel to protect the finish.
Be sparing with ice melt, since heavy salt can dull some finishes and corrode fasteners. In spring, a quick check tells you whether the stain is still beading water. If it soaks in, it is time to plan another coat.
Deck Wash & Staining through the year in Union
April
Inspect for rot, loose boards and popped nails. Send photos so Rob can tell you whether it needs repairs before cleaning.
June
The usual window for washing and staining, with temperatures steady and boards drying quickly in open Union sun.
September
Second chance for a deck that missed summer. Cooler nights are fine as long as the boards are dry.
December
Brush off snow with plastic tools, avoid piling it on boards, and go light on ice melt.
Getting a quote
A deck that is cared for on schedule costs less over time than one that is rescued every ten years. If yours has turned gray, started to splinter or collected a layer of green in the shade, text pictures to Rob at (815) 451-0106. He will look at the wood, tell you what it needs, and plan a visit around the weather.