Bring your wood or composite deck back to life. Safe soft wash methods that remove years of buildup without damaging your deck.
Decks take a beating. Rain, humidity, leaves, pollen, foot traffic. All of it adds up. That gray, weathered look on wood decks? It's a combination of sun damage and organic growth working its way into the wood grain. The green or black film on composite decks? Mold and algae that love our Charlotte humidity.
The trouble is, this stuff doesn't just look bad. Mold and algae create a slick surface that gets dangerous when wet. On wood decks, moisture trapped by organic growth accelerates rot. And if you're planning to stain or seal your deck, none of that will stick properly until the surface is truly clean.
A lot of homeowners try to clean their deck with a pressure washer from the hardware store. That can work, but it's easy to damage the wood if you're not careful. Too much pressure gouges the surface, raises the grain, and leaves you worse off than before. Our soft wash approach uses cleaning solution to do the heavy lifting, not brute force.
Different materials need different approaches
Wood is porous, which means dirt, mold, and mildew work their way down into the grain over time. Our cleaning solution penetrates the wood to pull out that embedded grime and kill organic growth at the root.
After cleaning, wood decks need time to dry before staining. We recommend waiting at least 48 hours, though 3-4 days is better if you can swing it. The wood needs to be completely dry for stain to absorb properly.
Common wood types we clean: Pressure-treated pine, cedar, redwood, IPE, mahogany, and other hardwoods.
Composite and PVC decking won't rot like wood, but it still gets dirty. Mold and mildew love to grow on composite surfaces, especially in shaded areas. That slippery green film is a safety hazard and makes your expensive deck look neglected.
We use products specifically formulated for composite materials. The wrong cleaner can cause discoloration or leave a residue. We know which products work with Trex, TimberTech, Azek, and other brands.
No staining needed: Composite decks don't need staining or sealing. Once we clean it, you're done.
Thorough cleaning that protects your investment
We start by checking your deck's condition and material type. Wood species, composite brand, age of the deck, and current staining all affect how we approach the job. We also note any problem areas that need extra attention.
We apply our cleaning solution and let it dwell on the surface. This breaks down the organic growth, loosens embedded dirt, and starts to restore the natural color of wood decks. The solution does most of the work.
Using low pressure, we rinse away the solution and all the grime it's loosened up. For wood decks, we work with the grain. For composite, we're careful not to disturb the textured surface pattern.
Railings, stairs, and the areas between boards all get attention. We don't just hit the walking surface and call it done. Your whole deck gets cleaned, including the spots you actually notice when you're sitting outside.
Mold and algae make decks dangerously slippery, especially when wet. A clean deck is a safe deck. This matters most if you have kids running around or older family members who visit.
Decks aren't cheap. Regular cleaning removes the organic growth that traps moisture and accelerates decay. A deck that gets cleaned every year or two will last significantly longer than one that's neglected.
Planning to stain or seal your wood deck? It won't work on a dirty surface. Stain needs to penetrate the wood, and it can't do that through a layer of grime. Cleaning is the mandatory first step.
A clean deck makes your whole backyard look better. That gray, weathered appearance on wood decks? Much of it washes away, revealing the warmer tones underneath. Composite decks look new again once the mildew is gone.
We get asked about staining and sealing all the time. Here's the deal: we focus on cleaning. It's what we're good at, and it's a specialized skill that requires the right equipment and chemicals.
Staining is a different trade. It requires different skills, different conditions, and more time on-site. Rather than do it halfway, we stick to what we know and refer staining work to a contractor we trust.
If you're planning to stain after we clean, keep a few things in mind:
Decks are quoted based on size, material, and condition.
Most decks benefit from cleaning once a year or every other year. If your deck is in heavy shade, surrounded by trees, or stays damp a lot, you might need it annually. Decks with good sun exposure and airflow can often go two years between cleanings.
Yes. High-pressure washing can damage wood by gouging the surface and raising the grain. We use low pressure with the right cleaning solution, which cleans thoroughly without harming the wood fibers. The solution does the work, not the pressure.
Absolutely. We clean all major composite brands including Trex, TimberTech, Azek, and others. Composite decks need a different approach than wood. We use products specifically designed for composite materials that clean effectively without causing discoloration or damage.
Your deck is safe to walk on as soon as it dries, usually within a few hours. If you're planning to stain or seal after cleaning, you'll need to wait at least 48 hours for wood decks to dry completely before applying any finish.
We focus on the cleaning side of things. For staining and sealing, we can refer you to a trusted contractor we work with. Cleaning is always the first step before any stain or seal job, so we handle that part and then hand you off if you need finishing work done.
Yes. That slippery film on your deck is usually a combination of mold, mildew, and algae. Our cleaning solution kills and removes it, making your deck safer to walk on. This is especially important on composite decks where that slick buildup can be a real hazard when wet.
