Who it suits
Greyed wood, decks due for new stain, and fence runs weathering unevenly between their sunny and shady sides.
Deck and fence washing in North Alabama
Low-pressure washing for wood decks, fences, gates and pergolas, including preparation when stain or sealer follows.
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- Mon to Sat, 7 AM to 7 PM
- Licensed and insured
Quick answer
Wood decks and fences in North Alabama should be cleaned with a solution at low pressure, because high pressure raises the grain and leaves a fuzzy surface that usually cannot be sanded out. Greyed wood can usually be brightened. If you plan to stain, the wood needs to dry through first, typically two to three dry days here.
At a glance
- Method
- Cleaning solution at low pressure
- Surfaces
- Decks, fences, gates, pergolas and railings
- Grey wood
- Usually brightened back
- Before staining
- Dry through, typically two to three dry days
- Fences
- Sunny and shady sides treated differently
- Estimate
- Free, with a written line-item scope
The details
Wood is the easiest surface to ruin
Wood takes pressure badly. Too much, or held too close, raises the grain. The soft wood between the harder growth rings wears away faster than the rings themselves, leaving a fuzzy, ridged surface that feels rough and takes stain unevenly from then on.
On most deck boards, that cannot be sanded out. That is why we treat wood washing as preparation, not just cleaning, and why it takes longer than the square footage suggests.
Fences weather unevenly
One side of a fence faces the sun and turns grey. The other stays shaded and grows a green or black film. They are two different problems on the same fence, and treating them the same way leaves a two-tone result.
We handle that by changing how long the solution sits, not by changing the pressure. The chemistry adjusts. The pressure stays low.
If staining follows
The wood has to be clean and, above all, fully dry before any finish goes on. Wood that looks dry on top can still hold moisture, and stain applied over it will not bond properly.
In this humidity that typically means two to three dry days, and longer after a long spell of rain. Staining damp wood is why finishes fail early here. Good prep decides how the finish looks and how long it lasts.
Grey wood or rotten wood?
Greying is sun damage to the surface fibers, and a brightener will recover most of it. Wood that has gone soft rather than grey is decayed, and cleaning will not fix that. If we find soft boards or posts, we point them out before we wash, so you know what you are working with.
How it compares
Wood decks and fences need a cleaning solution with low or no pressure. High pressure permanently raises the grain on most boards.
Caring for your deck between washes
- Sweep off leaves and pine straw so they do not hold moisture against the boards
- Trim plants back so air can move around the deck and fence
- Keep sprinklers from soaking the same boards every day
- Plan to re-stain when water stops beading on the surface
What affects the price
We price after measuring, line by line, with the materials named. These are the things that move the number.
- Square footage of deck, or length of fence
- Condition of the wood and how grey it has gone
- Number of sides to clean on a fence
- Whether stain or sealer follows
- Access, stairs and railings
How a job works
Step 1: Free in-home estimate
We walk your exterior, measure, and show you the options. There is no charge and no pressure.
Step 2: Choose your materials
You get a written scope with every line and material named. Then we order for your home.
Step 3: Installed and cleaned up
Cut, fitted, trimmed, cleaned up and hauled away the same day. You never look at a pile of old frames.
From our recent jobs
Real ACM job photos. Every photo marked “ACM job photo” is from one of our own jobs.
ACM job photoSoft wash on vinyl siding
Mildew and grime removed from vinyl siding at low pressure, so the siding and trim were not damaged.
ACM job photoWalkway cleaning
Concrete walkways at an apartment building pressure washed back to clean, even concrete.
ACM job photoDriveway and curb cleaning
Driveway and curb concrete cleaned at a brick home, with ACM spelled out in the concrete partway through the clean.
Questions people ask
Will washing damage the wood?
At full pressure, yes. It raises the grain and wears away the soft wood between the harder rings, leaving a fuzzy surface that then holds dirt. We wash wood at low pressure and let the solution do most of the work.
How long before I can stain?
Long enough for the wood to dry through, not just on top. In this humidity that is typically two to three dry days, and longer after a long rain. Staining damp wood is why finishes fail early here.
Can grey wood be brought back?
Usually. Greying is sun damage to the surface fibers, and a brightener will recover most of it. Wood that has gone soft rather than grey is decayed, and cleaning will not fix that.
Why does my fence look two-toned?
The sunny side greys and the shady side grows a green or black film. We adjust how long the solution sits on each side so the whole run comes out even.
Can you clean both sides of my fence?
Yes, when we can get to the other side. If the back faces a neighbor's yard, you will want their permission first.
Do you clean pergolas and gates?
Yes. Pergolas, gates, railings and other wood structures get the same low-pressure approach as decks and fences.
How often should a deck be cleaned here?
Most decks benefit from a cleaning every year or two, and shaded decks under trees may need it more often. Cleaning before the growth gets heavy is easier on the wood.
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Guides on this topic
Washing and upkeep9 minute read
Black Streaks on Your Roof: What They Are and How to Clean Them
Those dark streaks on North Alabama roofs are a living organism, not dirt. Here is what causes them and why pressure washing is the wrong fix.
Washing and upkeep9 minute read
Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing: Which Surfaces Need Which
Soft washing and pressure washing are different jobs. Here is which surfaces on a North Alabama home need low pressure, which can take real pressure and why it matters.
Areas we serve
We're based in Madison and work across North Alabama, providing deck and fence washing in every area below. We do not work in Tennessee.
Let's get your home looking its best.
Tell us what you're picturing. We'll come out, measure up, and give you a free written estimate, so you know exactly what to expect before any work begins.
- Free measuring and written estimate
- No pressure to sign, ever
- Alabama license #307601, licensed and insured
