Deck Cleaning and Refinishing in Ann Arbor
Serving Ypsilanti, Saline and Washtenaw County
A gray, splintery deck is not worn out. In most cases it has lost its finish and has been absorbing water ever since. Simply Amazing LLC does deck cleaning, staining, and full refinishing across Washtenaw County, and we have been doing it since 2016.
Cleaning or Refinishing
These are two different jobs and they cost very different amounts, so it is worth knowing which one you need.
Deck Cleaning
We wash the deck at a pressure the wood can take, removing algae, mildew, gray surface fibers and general grime. If your deck still has a sound finish on it and just looks dirty, this is all it needs.
A deck cleaning is usually a few hundred dollars.
Deck Refinishing
We strip whatever finish is left, wash the wood, let it dry to the right moisture level, sand where it needs it, and apply new stain or sealer. This is what turns a gray deck back into a wood deck, and it is what protects the boards through the freeze and thaw cycles that do most of the damage in Michigan.
A full refinish is typically in the low thousands, depending on square footage, railing and spindle count, the condition of the existing finish, and the stain you choose.
Why Drying Time
Matters
This is the part most people do not know, and it is where a lot of deck jobs go wrong.
Wood has to be dry before stain goes on. If it is stained while it is still holding water, the finish cannot penetrate, and it peels within a year. After we wash a deck we let it dry, usually two to three days depending on weather, before we come back to apply anything.
That means a refinish is a two-visit job. It is also the reason our work lasts.
What We Work On
Pressure treated pine decks
Cedar decks
Hardwood decks including ipe and mahogany
Composite decking (cleaning only)
Railings, spindles, stairs and skirting
Porches, pergolas and gazebos
Fences, using the same process
When to Refinish a Deck in Michigan
Anywhere from late spring through early fall, once nighttime temperatures are reliably above the stain manufacturer’s minimum. Practically, that means May through September in this area.
The best time to book is earlier in the season rather than later, because a deck that goes into a Michigan winter unsealed will absorb water, freeze, and lose more surface fiber before spring.
Common Questions
How do I know if my deck needs refinishing or just cleaning?
Splash a little water on it. If it beads up, the finish is still working and the deck probably just needs a cleaning. If it soaks straight in and darkens the wood, the finish is gone and the deck needs to be refinished.
Can you fix boards that are splitting?
We can replace individual damaged boards as part of a refinish. If a large portion of the deck is failing structurally, we will tell you honestly that it is a carpentry job rather than a finishing job.
How long will the new finish last?
Two to three years on a horizontal surface in this climate, longer on railings and vertical surfaces that take far less weather. A light cleaning and recoat before it fails is much cheaper than a full strip.
Do you do composite decks?
We clean them. Composite does not take stain, so there is no refinishing step, but composite still grows algae and still benefits from a proper wash. For composite and Trex we use low pressure, a mild detergent, and a soft brush when needed.
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Serving Washtenaw County
We clean and refinish decks across Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Saline, and travel to Canton, Dexter, Whitmore Lake, Milan, Chelsea, Manchester, Belleville, Northville, Plymouth, Novi and other nearby communities.