Maintenance
When should a deck or fence be cleaned?
Clean wood decks and fences once a year, ideally in late spring before sealing season. Composite and vinyl can go 12–18 months. The signal is grey film, green shading in the corners, or water no longer beading on a sealed surface.
The short version
Clean wood decks and fences once a year, ideally in late spring before sealing season. Composite and vinyl can go 12–18 months. The signal is grey film, green shading in the corners, or water no longer beading on a sealed surface.
- Wood is cleaned at controlled pressure so the grain doesn't fuzz.
- Composite needs low pressure and the right chemistry, not scrubbing.
- Cleaning must happen before any stain or sealer is applied.
- Allow the surface to dry fully — usually 48 hours — before sealing.
Related questions
- Will pressure washing damage my wood deck?
- It can, at the wrong pressure or nozzle. Controlled pressure with the correct fan tip cleans without raising the grain.
- Should I clean or replace a weathered deck?
- If the boards are structurally sound, cleaning and sealing restores most of the appearance for a fraction of replacement cost.
Want this answered for your exact property?
Send the address and what you're seeing. You'll get a written scope and price before anything is scheduled.