Deck Cleaning

That gray, slippery film on the boards is mildew and algae feeding on Florida's year-round humidity. Left alone, the longer it sits, the deeper it works into the wood grain or the composite texture. It makes the deck slick when wet, eats through protective stain, and makes the whole thing look ten years older than it is.

A garden hose and a scrub brush won't get it out (you have probably tried). A rented pressure washing machine at full blast will get it out along with the top layer of the wood. What works is a controlled low-pressure wash with a cleaning solution that kills the growth and lifts it off without tearing into the surface underneath.

Wood decks

Pressure-treated pine, cedar, and hardwood decks all grow mildew here. The soft grain in pressure-treated lumber splinters if you hit it with too much pressure. We keep the pressure low and let the cleaning solution do the work. You get a clean surface with the grain intact, ready for foot traffic or a fresh coat of stain. If it has been a while since the last cleaning, there is more color under that gray layer than you expect.

Composite decks (Trex and others)

Composite doesn't rot, but it grows mildew. The texture that gives composite boards their wood-grain look also gives algae something to hold onto. Trex's care guide calls for periodic cleaning with appropriate solutions and low pressure, and that is how we treat every composite deck. No high pressure, no wire brushes, no abrasive pads.

Stain prep

Planning to restain a wood deck? Cleaning comes first. Old mildew, dirt, and flaking stain have to come off before new stain will bond. We prep the deck for restaining on the same visit. Once it dries, the surface is ready for your painter or for you. The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) publishes deck maintenance guidance if you want to read up before you pick a stain.

Why Florida decks need cleaning more often

Humidity, daily summer rain, and warm temperatures give mildew, algae, and mold everything they need on any outdoor surface. Decks under tree canopy or on the shaded side of the house are the worst. Regular cleaning keeps the growth from getting deep enough to discolor the boards for good or soften the wood. Treated lumber still needs upkeep in a wet climate; the EPA's wood preservative overview covers what the treatment does and does not do. The same low-pressure thinking behind our soft washing service is what keeps that protection intact.

Dock and pier cleaning

We clean residential docks and piers anywhere in our Volusia, Seminole, and Orange County service area. That covers wood and composite dock decking, handrails, and the pilings above the waterline. Dock decking picks up algae and bird staining, and neither comes off with a hose.

The method matches what we do on a deck. We pre-treat with a cleaning solution that breaks down the algae and the bird staining, wash at low pressure so we don't raise the grain on wood boards or scuff composite, then rinse. Pilings get the same treatment down to the waterline. We do not work below it.

Dock cleaning is priced on site. The length of the dock, the decking material, and how much growth is on the pilings all move the number, so we look at it first and give you an exact price before we start.