Professional Deck & Fence Staining in Crystal Lake, IL

Deck & Fence Staining Company in Crystal Lake, IL and Surrounding Areas

Level Best Painting stains decks, fences and outdoor wood in Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Crystal Lake and the rest of the northwest suburbs. We do this work from about May to early October, when the wood is dry and the weather lets stain cure. It runs the same season as exterior painting.

A deck in northern Illinois has a hard life. Humid summers, months of snow and dozens of freeze/thaw cycles every winter push water in and out of the wood. Left bare, the boards turn gray, crack and splinter, and over time they rot. Good stain on clean, open wood is what slows that down.

Full-Service Deck & Fence Staining

Stain only works on clean, dry wood. We wash off dirt, mildew and old failing finish, then use a wood brightener to bring back the color and open the grain. Rough boards get sanded and popped nails and screws get set. Then the stain gets worked in by brush and pad so it soaks in instead of sitting on top.

• Low-pressure wash, never a blast that fuzzes the wood
• Wood brightener to restore color and open the grain
• Sanding on rough and splintered boards
• Popped nails and screws set
• Penetrating stain worked in by hand
• An honest call on rotted boards before we start

Wash, Brighten & Sand

Most of a good stain job is prep. We wash the deck with a cleaner and low pressure to take off dirt, mildew and old finish. Then we use a wood brightener, which brings back the natural color and opens up the grain so the new stain can soak in.

After that the wood has to dry, usually a day or two depending on the weather. Rough and splintered boards get sanded, and nails or screws that have worked loose get set. Only then does stain go on. Skipping these steps is why so many deck jobs look blotchy after one winter.

Deck Staining

Deck boards take the worst of the weather because they're flat and in the sun. Snow sits on them for months, and meltwater soaks in with every thaw. That's why decks need care more often than fences or siding. We stain the boards, stairs, railings and spindles, and we take our time on the railings because they're slow, detailed work.

We'll tell you straight if a board is rotted instead of just weathered. Rotted boards need to be replaced, not stained. A gray, rough deck is usually not too far gone. Washing and brightening bring back a lot of the color, and sanding takes care of the rough spots.

Fence Staining

A fence is often the biggest wood surface on a lot. Because it stands up, water runs off and stain lasts longer than it does on a deck. Fences still gray out and split without protection, though, especially on the side that takes the afternoon sun.

We stain both sides when you own both or your neighbor agrees, which protects the wood better. Otherwise we do your side and keep stain off the neighbor's. We can match the fence color to the deck so the whole yard looks like it belongs together. Gates get checked so they still swing and latch when we're done.

Pergolas & Outdoor Structures

Pergolas, arbors, sheds, playsets and porch floors need the same protection as a deck. They're often harder to reach, with more edges and corners, so they tend to get skipped or rushed. We prep and stain them the same way we do the deck.

If we're already painting your house or staining your deck, adding the pergola or shed usually makes sense. It's the same setup and the same prep, and the whole yard ends up on one color plan. Bigger lots out toward Barrington and Bull Valley often have a lot of outdoor wood, and doing it together saves time.

Picking a Stain for Illinois Winters

Clear and semi-transparent stains show the grain and suit newer wood. Semi-solid and solid stains hide more and are the better choice for older, weathered boards. A solid stain gives a painted look without the peeling you get from actual paint on a deck.

Paint sits on top of deck boards and peels under snow and foot traffic. Stain soaks in and wears down slowly, so upkeep is a wash and a fresh coat instead of scraping. A well-prepped deck here usually wants a maintenance coat every two to three years. When water stops beading on the boards, it's time.

Your Free Consultation

1. 1

   Free Estimate

   We come out, look at the job with you, and you get a written, itemized price. No pressure.

2. 2

   Color Selection & Schedule

   Pick your colors. We can help if you want it. Then we set a start date and tell you who's coming.

3. 3

   Prep, Paint & Clean-Up

   Our crew covers your floors, furniture and landscaping, does the prep right, puts on two coats, and cleans up every day.

4. 4

   Final Walk-Through

   We walk the job with you before we call it done. If something isn't right, we fix it.

Why Choose Level Best Painting

We prep before we stain. A lot of deck jobs blotch or peel in one season because someone rolled stain over dirty, gray wood. We wash, brighten and sand first, then work the stain in by hand. It takes longer, and it's the reason the finish lasts.

You get a written, itemized price that covers the square footage, the railings, the prep and the stain we'll use. We cover your siding, plants and patio while we work and clean up when we're done. Then we walk the deck with you and check the stairs, rails and edges.

Contact Our Deck & Fence Staining Team Today

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