When deciding if a restoration project is right for them, people often have many questions. The frequently asked questions page attempts to answer some of those questions as clearly as possible. If you have other questions, please contact us for a discussion about your restoration needs.
Are you insured?
Deck Solutions is insured with workers compensation insurance and $2,000,000.00 in general liability insurance. A certificate of insurance is available upon request.
Do you subcontract employees?
No. all the employees of Deck Solutions are pay roll W2 employees.
Do you do repairs?
Yes. Deck Solutions is the areas only full service Deck company including Maintenance, Design, Installation and Repair work.
Do all exterior wood surfaces need treatment, even Cedar, Ipe and redwood?
Yes. While some species of wood are more resistant to decay than others, The resins in all species begin to break down and deteriorate after time. Deck Solutions Comercial grade Penetrating oils are a powerful formula and the only 100% penetrating formula on the market designed to protect the timber from the inside out. It is not only an aesthetic application.
Will Sealer/stain come off on my clothes after it has dried?
No. Our Sealer will not come off on your clothes as some of our competitors product do. It does not contain any paraffinic oils or waxes that build up on the surface.
How often will my deck need to be re-stained?
We put an 18 month guarantee on all projects that your wood surfaces will not turn grey and maintain water protection. we recommend decks to be restained every 2-3 years but also offer an affordable annual maintenance plan.
How long will solid stain last for?
2 years on horizontal surfaces and 3-5 years on vertical surfaces 3-5% annual failure on horizontal surfaces is considered normal wear and tear.
How will you protect my plants and house
Deck solutions covers the siding and all plants in the immediate work area during the staining process. All of Deck Solutions cleaning products are biodegradable and safe for the grass and plants.
Do you do any sanding?
Yes. all the deck hand rails and benches are sanded at no charge to limit the chances of getting splinters. We offer heavy duty floor sanding as an option and recommend this if you have small children in the crawling stage but it is beneficial to the appearance of every job but not always required if the deck surface is new or well maintained.
What will you do if the previous finish will not strip all the way?
Deck Solutions guarantees that if our Deck Stripper will not remove the previous stain safely that no other company can. We have put many years of development into our deck cleaners. If the previous finish was over applied or is just to difficult to remove with out damaging the wood we will need to custom match the color in a comparable product. Sometimes we will recommend the option of a two tone with a solid stain on the rails matching the trim or siding color of the house will create an extension of the home adding an appealing design if we can strip and sand the floor to allow the use of our Commercial grade penetrating oil on the walking surfaces this becomes a low maintenance option in the future.
What are the fuzzies on my wood?
When wood is washed some of the lignin in the wood is washed away. Lignin is the glue in the wood that holds the fibers together. When the lignin is washed away this has a tendency to make the wood fibers stand up. This is normal and expected it is also why our low pressure cleaning system is crucial. After a month or two these fuzzies will disappear on their own do to normal weather. Sanding of the floors and top rail is recommended to speed this process up.
Does the stain/sealer smell?
Sealers have a distinctive smell to them until they have completely dried. Just like your home will smell after a room has been repainted or hardwood floors refinished. After the deck has dried for a couple days if the smell still persists the wood can be sprayed with a solution of tide laundry detergent and water then rinsed off to mask the smell.
What Causes mold to grow on my deck?
The pollen from the trees and lawn fertilizer being over sprayed by the wind mixed with moisture can create a food supply for mold to grow on top of the wood even after the deck is sealed. Mold would grow just the same on your car if it was left outside and not washed.
Will algae mold and moss hurt my outside wood?
Moss is the most destructive because it will actually feed of the wood and hold moisture causing the wood to rot.
Are your Deck Cleaners Safe for my Pets, grass and plants?
Yes. All of our Deck cleaners are 100% biodegradable and safe for the grass and plants. Our pre cleaner is phosphoric and will actually act as a fertilizer after rinsed down and absorbed by the ground, but like fertilizing you can burn your grass by over fertilizing. During periods of dry conditions our technicians will water all your plants and grass prior to applying any cleaner to make sure the dilutions are safe. Deck Solutions guarantees that our process will not harm your grass, plants or pets..
What is the difference between oil based sealers and water based?
Water based sealers are film forming and are similar to acrylic paints just with out a lot of pigment added. Water based sealers sit on the surface an in turn chip crack and peel. Our commercial grade oil penetrates deep into the wood replenishing the natural oils lost do to weathering and will never chip or peel.
Why do water based sealers peel?
Outdoor wood is constantly changing with the environment and will absorb ambient moisture from the atmosphere as well as from rain. Film forming stains that sit on the surface do not allow the wood to dry naturally through evaporation upwards, they trap the moisture in the wood under the finish after many cycles of rain and sun something has to give and that is the finish. Wood is also constantly expanding and contracting with temperature and the water based finishes will not expand and contract at the same rate in turn causing the finish to fail.
Will your Sealer bead water?
No. our commercial grade penetrating oil defuses liquid and gas phase moisture from inside the timber which causes it to dry out very quickly after getting wet from the elements. Only sealers containing paraffinic oil and waxes that sit on the surface will bead water. Our sealer sheets water away.
Does your sealer have UV protection?
Yes. Deck Solutions Commercial grade penetrating oil has Transoxide pigments which are microscopic particles of metal that reflect the sun but can still penetrate the pores of the wood.
Why should I hire Deck Solutions?
Deck Solutions has a professional workforce committed to excellence. Deck Solutions LLC is the number 1 rated company on Angies List in Chicago and has Maintained an A plus rating with the Better Business Bureau for over 15 years.
