Wood & Composite Deck Cleaning
Deck Cleaning Gainesville FL
Wood and composite decks washed and brightened across Gainesville, Newberry, Alachua County and North Central Florida. Two steps as standard, so the green comes off and the color comes back. Free written quotes.
Washed Then Brightened
Every wood deck we clean gets washed first, then brightened. One step kills the growth, the other restores the tone. Doing only the first leaves you with a clean gray deck.
Low Pressure On Soft Wood
Pressure treated pine and cedar are soft. We clean at low pressure so the boards dry smooth rather than furry, with no wand marks left across the grain.
Always In Touch
You call, we answer. A phone call or message reaches the owner directly, with no call centers and no chasing for a callback.
What Is Deck Cleaning?
A Two Step Job, Not A Quick Rinse
Deck cleaning is a two step process on wood: a low-pressure wash with a cleaning solution to kill algae, mold and mildew, followed by a wood brightener that neutralizes the surface and restores the natural color of the timber. Composite and vinyl decking is soft washed only, since there is no wood tone to bring back.
The two steps solve two different problems. The wash deals with what is alive, the green and black growth that makes a deck slippery and dirty. Brightening deals with what the sun has done, because UV breaks down the lignin holding the wood fibers together and bleaches the surface gray. Cleaning alone will not touch gray, and brightening alone will not kill algae. A deck that has been left a few Florida summers usually needs both.
Pressure is the other half of the job. Pine and cedar tear easily, and a wand held too close lifts the surface fibers so the board dries furry and holds dirt worse than before. It also leaves lap marks that cannot be washed out later, only sanded out. We keep pressure low and let the products work.
Scrubbing Sam’s is owner-operated and based in Gainesville, serving Alachua County and North Central Florida. Free written estimates, no hidden fees.
Decks and fences take the same approach, and for the same reason. Turn the pressure up on either one and you raise the grain, leaving a surface that feels rough underfoot and drinks up stain unevenly afterwards.
Our Deck Cleaning Process
Deck Inspection
We check the decking material, look for popped nails, lifted screws, soft or rotten boards and loose railings, and point out anything that needs a carpenter before we start rather than after.
Clear And Protect
Furniture, grills and planters come off the deck. Landscaping around and underneath gets pre-wet before we start and rinsed again when we finish.
Step One: The Wash
A cleaning solution applied at low pressure kills the algae, mold and mildew living in the grain. Low pressure is what keeps pine and cedar smooth instead of furry.
Step Two: The Brightener
An acidic wood brightener neutralizes the surface and pulls the natural color back out of gray timber. This is standard on every wood deck we clean, not an extra.
Rails, Spindles And Stairs
Railings, spindles, stair treads and the framing under the deck all get worked. Spindles are slow and fiddly, which is exactly why they get skipped by people in a hurry.
Rinse, Dry And Walkthrough
Full rinse, then we walk it with you. Wood needs to dry fully before the final color shows, so we will tell you what to expect over the next day or two.
Decking And Materials We Clean
Pressure Treated Pine, Cedar, Composite And Vinyl
Pressure Treated Pine • Cedar • Composite & Trex • Vinyl Decking • Railings & Spindles • Stairs & Landings • Screened Porch Floors • Pergolas & Gazebos • Docks & Boardwalks • Deck Furniture • Under-Deck Framing • Outdoor Kitchens
Benefits Of Professional Deck Cleaning
A Slippery Deck Is A Hazard Before It Is An Eyesore
- Takes the slip out of a deck that gets dangerous after rain
- Kills algae and mildew living down in the grain
- Brings gray, sun-bleached timber back toward its natural color
- Leaves the wood ready to take stain or sealer properly
- Reaches railings, spindles and stairs, not just the floor
- Clears tannin staining from oaks overhead
- Extends the life of the deck you already paid for
- Costs far less than tearing out and rebuilding boards
Why Florida Decks Go Green And Gray At Once
Damp Underneath, Sun On Top
Decks in North Central Florida get attacked from both directions at once. The top surface takes full sun for most of the year, which bleaches the timber gray and dries out the finish. Underneath and between the boards it stays damp, because air does not move well under a deck and our humidity keeps everything from drying properly.
That combination is why a Florida deck can look sun-bleached and be growing algae in the same square foot. Shaded sections under trees or against the north side of the house go green first and stay slippery longest. Boards close to the ground, or over a screened area that traps moisture, tend to hold growth in the grain even after the surface looks clean.
Add oak tannin dripping through the canopy, pollen packing into the grain each spring, and the fact that most decks only get looked at when someone is about to host something, and you have the usual Gainesville deck: gray on top, green in the shade, and slick after rain.
Areas We Service
Deck Cleaning Across Gainesville And North Central Florida
Gainesville is our primary service area. We clean decks throughout Haile Plantation, Oakmont, Duckpond, Millhopper, Blues Creek and the neighborhoods off NW 39th Avenue and Tower Road. Decks under mature oak canopy here collect tannin staining as well as the usual algae.
Newberry, Jonesville and Tioga are our home base. Newer builds in Town of Tioga and Arbor Greens use a lot of composite decking, which cleans well but needs a gentler approach than people expect.
Alachua, High Springs and Fort White bring more elevated wood decking and dock structures near the Santa Fe River, where damp is constant and growth is heavier.
Archer, Williston, Bronson and Chiefland across Levy County, including porches and raised decking on rural properties.
Lake City and Columbia County along the I-75 corridor, residential and commercial.
Ocala, Marion County and surrounding communities, including pool decking and screened porch floors.
We also service Micanopy, Hawthorne, Waldo, Starke, Keystone Heights, Melrose, Trenton, Bell and Cedar Key. If you are just outside these areas, give us a call and we will tell you honestly whether we can cover it.
A clean deck is also a deck ready to be sealed, and the days right after a wash are the window for it. If you would rather protect the wood than repeat this next year, that is deck and fence staining.
Why Should You Choose Scrubbing Sam’s?
Fast Quotes - Simply fill out our request a quote form or send us a call and we can give you an instant remote quote. Hassle free!
Prompt Service - Harnessing our swift and highly effective cleaning methods, we expedite the process to swiftly deliver a thoroughly cleaned property.
Affordable Prices - We believe that everyone deserves a clean property, so we make it an effort to keep our pricing affordable!
Top Rated Service - Our pride is woven into every task we undertake, and the numerous 5-star reviews we've earned are a testament to the unwavering commitment we bring to each project.
Easy & Reliable - Let us handle the heavy lifting, ensuring you have nothing to worry about.
Always in Touch - A mere phone call or message connects you to us. Feel free to reach out at any time, and rest assured, we'll respond promptly.
What Your Neighbors Say About Our Work
Booking Deck Cleaning Takes Three Steps
Step 1
Get A FREE Quote
Fill out our “get a fast quote form" and we will reach back out to you promptly. We offer remote and in-person quotes depending on what needs to be done. Our quotes are set in stone and have no hidden fees or charges.
Step 2
Choose A Schedule
Once the quote is approved, we will schedule you according to your preference. We can book you quickly or can plan your cleaning in advance. We work for you and want you to be satisfied!
Step 3
Sit-back & Relax
Congratulations! You can rest assured that your property will be in good hands. We take care of the hard work while you can sit-back, relax, and enjoy the time saved by hiring us. Your property will soon shine bright!
Our Other Exterior Cleaning Services
One crew for the whole property. Owner operated, serving Gainesville and Alachua County.
Frequently Asked Deck Cleaning Questions
How much does deck cleaning cost in Gainesville?
Price depends on square footage, the material, how much railing and how many spindles there are, and how far the wood has gone. Spindles and stairs take disproportionately long, so a small deck with a lot of railing can cost more than a large open one. Wood includes the brightening step as standard. Send a photo and rough dimensions and we can usually quote it remotely.
Do you brighten the wood or just clean it?
Both, every time, on every wood deck. The wash kills the algae and mildew, then a wood brightener neutralizes the surface and pulls the natural color back out of gray timber. They solve two different problems, and doing only the first leaves you with a clean gray deck. Both steps are included, not an upsell.
Will pressure washing ruin my deck boards?
It can, and it is the most common way decks get damaged. Pressure treated pine and cedar are soft, and a wand held too close tears the surface fibers so boards dry furry and hold dirt worse than before. It also leaves lap marks, the stripes where passes overlapped, which cannot be washed out afterward, only sanded out. We work at low pressure and let the solution do the job.
Can you clean composite decking like Trex?
Yes. Composite gets soft washed rather than pressure washed, because high pressure can damage the surface and some manufacturers treat it as grounds for voiding a warranty. Composite does grow mold in the embossed grain pattern, which surprises people who bought it expecting no maintenance. It cleans up well. There is just no brightening step, since there is no wood tone to restore.
How often should a deck be cleaned in Florida?
Most decks in Gainesville and Alachua County want cleaning once a year. Shaded decks, low decks close to the ground, and anything under tree canopy tend to need it annually without fail, because they never dry properly. If your deck is slippery after rain, it is overdue regardless of when it was last done.
Do you clean the railings and spindles too?
Yes, along with stair treads and the framing underneath where we can reach it. Spindles are slow work and they are the first thing skipped by anyone pricing on speed, so it is worth asking any company you get a quote from whether railings are included. With us they are.
Can you stain or seal the deck afterward?
Yes, we offer staining and sealing as well as cleaning. Doing it in that order matters: a finish will not bond over algae, mildew or a gray oxidized surface, and it will lift or blotch if you skip the prep. Tell us when you get the quote and we will price cleaning, brightening and the finish as one job.
Is the cleaning solution safe for my plants and pets?
Handled properly, yes. Planting around and underneath the deck is pre-wet before we start and rinsed again when we finish, which is what protects it. Keep pets off the deck while we work and until the rinse is done. Point out anything delicate nearby and we will take care around it.
What about popped nails and soft boards?
We look for them during the inspection and point them out before we start. Cleaning does not cause them, but it does make them obvious, and a soft or rotten board is a safety issue rather than a cleaning one. We are not carpenters, so we will tell you what we see and leave the repair to you or to someone who does that work.
Do you clean decks outside Gainesville?
Yes. Gainesville is our main service area, and we regularly work in Newberry, Jonesville, Tioga, Alachua, High Springs, Archer, Fort White, Williston, Bronson, Chiefland, Trenton, Lake City, Micanopy, Hawthorne, Waldo, Starke, Keystone Heights, Melrose and Ocala. If you are just outside that range, call us at (352) 262-3155 and we will tell you honestly whether we can cover it.
