★★★★★
"We had our deck power washed. The crew worked for two hours and made sure every railing and step were cleaned. Our deck looks brand new."
Elizabeth S. · Google
Deck Restoration · Wheeling, IL
Deck Restoration — Wood, IPE & Composite, Wheeling & North Shore.
Sanding and staining, IPE hardwood cleaning and oiling, board and railing replacement, repairs, and composite upgrades. We bring tired decks back to life — the right way, with the right products.
✓ Labor warranty
✓ Wood, IPE & composite
✓ Fully insured
Deck Restoration
Every deck is different. So is the work.
Wood, tropical hardwood, and composite each need a completely different approach. Choose your deck below to see exactly how we restore it.
Select your deck type
Full wood deck restoration
From a quick wash-and-seal to a complete rebuild. We power wash, sand, and re-stain pressure-treated pine and cedar decks, and handle every repair from a single soft board to structural posts. Old, gray, splintering decks come back looking new.
Preferred finish: Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck — stain & sealer for PT pine & cedar
Our full re-stain process
1
Power wash
Strip off dirt, mildew, old flaking finish, and gray weathering down to clean, bare wood.
2
Sand smooth
Sand the boards and rails to knock down splinters and raised grain, so the new finish goes on even.
3
Repair & replace
Swap out soft or cracked boards, lock down loose rails, and fix anything that won't hold before we coat it.
4
Stain & seal
A fresh coat of stain or sealer — applied by spray, brush, or roller — to protect the wood and bring the color back.
What we handle
Power Washing & Maintenance
Deep clean to strip dirt, mildew, and gray weathering — on its own as seasonal maintenance, or as step one of a full re-stain.
Sanding & Re-Staining
Full prep done right: power wash, sand smooth, then a fresh coat of stain or sealer applied by spray, brush, or roller — whichever the deck calls for.
Paint & Coating Stripping
Old paint or peeling solid stain stripped off the boards and railings and sanded back to bare wood — so a penetrating stain or sealer can finally soak in and protect the deck the right way.
Board & Flooring Replacement
Soft, cracked, or rotted boards swapped out and matched, so the surface is solid and even before we refinish it.
Railing Replacement & Upgrades
Worn or dated railings replaced or upgraded — safer, sturdier, and a fresh look for the whole deck.
Structural & Post Repairs
Posts, beams, and joists repaired and reinforced so the deck is safe and solid — the part you don't see that matters most.
Stairs Replacement
Sagging or unsafe deck stairs rebuilt to code — solid treads, proper support, and a clean match to the rest of the deck.
Fence Restoration
Wood fences brought back too — post and board replacement plus stain or sealer to match and protect.
Repairs & Touch-Ups
Loose boards, popped screws, wobbly rails — the small fixes that make a deck feel solid and finished again.
We never paint a deck
Paint forms a film on top of the wood that traps moisture and peels under foot traffic — it's the wrong product for a deck. We only use stain, oil, or sealer, which soak into the wood, protect from the inside, and wear gracefully without peeling.
IPE & hardwood restoration
IPE (Brazilian walnut) and other tropical hardwoods are stunning but unforgiving — they're far too dense for ordinary stains and film finishes. They need a careful clean-brighten-oil process and a penetrating oil made for dense wood. Done right, the deep natural color comes right back. We also replace damaged hardwood boards with matching IPE, blended seamlessly into the existing deck.
Preferred finish: DeckWise penetrating oil — made for IPE & dense hardwoods
Our IPE process
1
Two-step cleaning
Brushed with a cleaning solution to lift grime and mildew, then a gentle soft wash rinse.
2
Brightener
A wood brightener applied and soft washed off — this neutralizes the cleaner and restores the natural tone.
3
Sanding
For faded or grayed decks, we sand the surface smooth to open the wood back up before oiling.
4
Oiling
A penetrating oil soaks into the dense grain — feeding the wood and bringing back the rich IPE color.
What every IPE owner should know
Tropical hardwood is beautiful but unforgiving — and most deck crews treat it like ordinary pine. Here's what actually keeps an IPE deck looking right.
Ordinary deck stain won't stick
IPE is so dense that film-forming stains and sealers can't penetrate — they sit on the surface and peel within weeks. It needs a penetrating hardwood oil, not deck stain. Many contractors don't know the difference and the finish fails fast.
Re-oil every 1–2 years
Left alone, IPE silvers to gray as the sun burns off the oil. A light re-oil every one to two years — usually no sanding needed if you stay on schedule — keeps the deep brown color. Let it go for years and it needs the full clean, brighten, sand & oil reset.
Prep decides the color
The rich tone comes from correct prep, not just the oil: a two-step cleaning to lift grime, then a brightener to neutralize and pull the natural color back. Oil over dirty or gray wood just locks the gray in.
Never pressure-blast it
Aggressive pressure washing fuzzes and gouges dense hardwood grain. IPE is soft-washed and hand-worked — high pressure does damage that only sanding can undo.
Gray isn't damage
That silvery-gray is only surface UV weathering — not rot. The wood underneath is solid, and a proper clean, brighten & oil pulls the deep brown color right back, even on decks left bare for years.
Watch mats & planters
Rugs, planters, and anything left sitting on the boards trap moisture and block the sun — leaving marks and uneven color. Move them around now and then so the whole deck weathers evenly.
Composite & PVC decking
Composite and PVC decks don't get stained or sanded — they get rebuilt and upgraded. We replace flooring and railings, build clean picture-framed borders, and protect the substructure underneath so the deck lasts. We work with all the major systems.
We work with Trex, TimberTech, AZEK, Fiberon & Deckorators and other common brands
What we handle
Flooring Replacement
Worn or storm-damaged composite boards replaced, or a full re-deck over your existing frame in the brand and color you want.
Railing Replacement & Upgrades
Modern composite, aluminum, and cable railing systems — replacing dated rails with a clean, low-maintenance upgrade.
Picture-Frame Miter Corners
A border board around the deck with crisp 45° mitered corners — the premium finished look that hides board ends and frames the surface.
Joist & Framing Tape
Protective tape applied along the joists and beams before the boards go down — it keeps water off the wood frame, the part that rots first, and adds years to the deck.
Hidden Fasteners
Boards secured with a hidden fastening system where the product allows — a clean, screw-free surface with no exposed heads to catch on.
Re-Deck Over Your Frame
If the structure is sound, we can re-deck over the existing frame — a full new composite surface without rebuilding from scratch.
Our composite install process
1
Tear-off & inspect
Old boards removed and the frame inspected — we flag any joists or beams that need repair before new decking goes on.
2
Tape the framing
Joist and beam tops sealed with protective tape so water can't sit on the wood and rot the structure.
3
Lay the decking
New composite or PVC boards installed to spec with hidden fasteners where the system allows.
4
Picture-frame & railings
Mitered border boards and new railings finish the deck with crisp, clean edges.
Not sure what your deck needs?
Send a couple photos with the form, or call — we'll tell you straight.
Our Work
Recent deck projects
A few decks we've restored and rebuilt across Wheeling and the North Shore — more photos coming soon.
What Customers Say
Your neighbors trust us with their decks.
★★★★★
"Cleaned my deck and patio for spring cleanup — came out the very next day. Affordable and did an excellent job. Five stars!"
Adrianna F. · Facebook
★★★★★
"Very professional and helpful. They repaired my gutter and did a great job with power washing and staining two decks."
Kathryn C. · Thumbtack
Common Questions
Deck restoration FAQ.
Should I stain or paint my deck?▾
We never paint a deck — it's the wrong product for a walking surface. Paint sits on top of the wood as a film that traps moisture and peels under foot traffic and weather. We use stain, oil, or sealer instead, which penetrate the wood, protect from the inside, and wear gracefully without peeling.
How often should a wood deck be re-stained?▾
Most wood decks in the Chicago area need re-staining every 2–3 years, depending on sun exposure and foot traffic. A full re-stain includes power washing, sanding, and a fresh coat of stain or sealer. We use Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck on pressure-treated pine and cedar.
Can you restore an IPE or hardwood deck?▾
Yes. IPE and other tropical hardwoods are too dense for film finishes, so they need penetrating oil. Our IPE process is a two-step cleaning, then a brightener to restore the natural color, sanding if the deck has faded or grayed, and finally a penetrating oil — our preferred brand is DeckWise.
Do you replace deck boards, railings, and stairs?▾
Yes. Beyond refinishing we handle board and flooring replacement, railing replacement and upgrades, stair rebuilds, structural post repair and reinforcement, and fence work — board and post replacement plus stain or sealer.
Do you work with composite decking like Trex, TimberTech, and AZEK?▾
Yes. We install and replace composite and PVC decking from the major brands — Trex, TimberTech, AZEK, Fiberon, and Deckorators — including flooring replacement, railing replacement, and picture-frame mitered borders for a finished look.
What is joist tape and why does it matter?▾
Joist tape is a protective flashing applied to the tops of the joists and beams before the decking goes down. It keeps water from sitting on the wood frame — the part of a deck that rots first — so taping the framing significantly extends the life of the substructure. We apply it on replacement and new decking work.
What's the difference between stain, sealer, and oil?▾
Sealer is clear and protects against moisture; stain adds color and UV protection while letting the grain show; penetrating oil soaks into dense hardwoods like IPE to feed and protect the wood. We never use paint — only products that penetrate rather than form a peeling film.
Service Area
We serve Wheeling and all North Shore suburbs.
Based in Wheeling, IL — we cover 30+ communities across the North Shore and Northwest suburbs. Not sure if we cover your area? Just call or text us.
Wheeling
Northbrook
Buffalo Grove
Glenview
Arlington Heights
Palatine
Vernon Hills
Deerfield
Highland Park
Barrington
Des Plaines
Schaumburg
Naperville
+ surrounding areas
Give your deck a second life.
Free on-site estimate, same-day response. Wood, hardwood, or composite — we do it right.
✓ Free on-site estimate
✓ Labor warranty
✓ Fully insured crew