Deck Cleaning
in Dacula, GA
Restore your wood or composite deck to its original beauty. We remove the gray weathered layer, kill mold and mildew, and prep the surface for staining or sealing.
Your deck is where your family hangs out, where you grill on the weekends, where the kids play, and where you sit and enjoy a cold drink after a long day. It should look good, feel safe underfoot, and last as long as possible. But Georgia weather has other plans. Between the humidity, the rain, the pollen, and the summer heat, decks in Gwinnett County age fast - a lot faster than they should.
At Kidd's ProWash, we've been cleaning and restoring decks across Dacula, Lawrenceville, Buford, and the surrounding areas for five years. Chase knows wood, he knows the climate, and he knows how to bring a beat-up deck back to life without causing damage. Whether you have a pressure-treated pine deck that's turned gray, a cedar deck covered in mold, or a composite deck that's lost its color, we can make it look like new again.
What Is Deck Cleaning and Restoration?
Deck cleaning goes way beyond just spraying water on the boards. A true deck restoration is a multi-step process that cleans the surface, strips away the gray weathered layer, kills mold and mildew at the root, and prepares the wood for a fresh coat of stain or sealer. The goal is to get back to the healthy, original wood underneath all that buildup.
When wood is exposed to sun, rain, and humidity, the outer fibers break down. UV rays destroy the lignin - the natural glue that holds wood fibers together - and the surface turns gray and soft. Mold and mildew move in because there's plenty of moisture and organic material for them to feed on. Over time, the deck looks old, feels rough, and becomes slippery when it's wet.
Our cleaning process strips away that damaged outer layer and exposes the fresh, sound wood underneath. It's like peeling back the top layer of a sunburn to find healthy skin. The difference is dramatic - customers regularly tell us they forgot what their deck actually looked like under all that weathering.
For composite decks (Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon, and similar brands), the process is different. Composite doesn't weather the same way wood does, but it does collect mold, mildew, algae, and a grimy buildup that dulls the color and makes it slippery. We use a soft wash approach on composite to clean the surface without scratching or scuffing the material.
Why Decks in Dacula Need Regular Cleaning
You already know the Georgia weather story if you live here, but it's worth talking about what specifically it does to decks. Most other surfaces around your home have some protection - your house has paint, your roof has shingles, your driveway is solid concrete. But a deck? It's just bare wood sitting flat, catching every drop of rain and baking in the sun all summer long.
Humidity & Moisture
Gwinnett County stays humid from March through October. Decks absorb that moisture, and when they can't dry out quickly - common in shaded backyards - mold and mildew take hold fast.
Pollen Season
Georgia pollen is legendary. In the spring, your deck gets coated in a thick layer of yellow dust that gets ground into the wood grain by foot traffic and furniture.
Summer Storms
Heavy rain followed by intense heat and humidity causes constant expansion and contraction, opening up the grain and creating entry points for moisture, mold, and UV damage.
Red Clay
If your yard slopes toward the deck or rain splashes off the ground nearby, red clay gets tracked onto the surface and ground into the wood. Those red-orange stains need a proper cleaning to remove.
Homeowners around Hamilton Mill, Harbins Road, Fence Road, and the wooded neighborhoods near Auburn tend to see the worst buildup because of all the tree cover. Shade keeps the deck damp and blocks the sunlight that would otherwise slow mold growth.
Our Deck Cleaning Process
We treat every deck like it's our own. Here's the step-by-step process we follow on every job:
Inspection
We check the entire deck - the boards, the railings, the stairs, and the framing underneath. We look for loose boards, protruding nails or screws, rot, and structural issues. If we find anything that could affect the cleaning or cause a safety concern, we bring it to your attention before we start.
Clear the Deck
We'll ask you to remove furniture, planters, grills, and other items beforehand. If anything is left, we'll carefully move it out of the way.
Apply the Cleaning Solution
For wood decks, we apply a wood-safe cleaner that breaks down mold, mildew, algae, and the gray oxidized layer. It soaks into the wood grain and loosens all the buildup from the inside out. For composite decks, we use a gentler formula that cleans without affecting the surface texture.
Dwell Time
The cleaner needs time to work. We let it sit on the surface for the right amount of time based on the condition of the wood and the amount of buildup. Rushing this step gives poor results - patience matters.
Wash
For wood decks, we use carefully controlled pressure to strip away the weathered layer and clean the grain. The key is enough pressure to remove the damage without furrowing or "fuzzing" the wood. Too little pressure and the gray layer stays. Too much and you end up with a splintery, rough surface that's worse than when you started.
Brighten (Wood Decks Only)
After cleaning, we apply a wood brightener that restores the wood's natural pH balance and brings back the original warm, golden color. This step is critical if you're planning to stain or seal the deck. Stain and sealer absorb much better into properly brightened wood.
Final Inspection
We go over the entire deck one more time and address any spots that need extra attention. We don't pack up until you're satisfied with how it looks.
If you've got a wood fence that needs the same treatment, our fence cleaning service uses the same process. A lot of homeowners schedule both at the same time so everything matches when the stainer comes through.
Signs Your Deck Needs Cleaning
A deck that looks worn out doesn't always need to be replaced. Most of the time, a good cleaning and restoration brings it right back. We save homeowners thousands of dollars by restoring decks they thought were beyond help.
Wood vs. Composite Deck Cleaning
The approach for wood and composite decks is different, and using the wrong method can cause problems.
Wood Decks
Pressure-treated pine, cedar, redwood, and ipe respond well to a combination of cleaning solution and controlled pressure. We strip the weathered layer and open up the grain so it's ready for stain or sealer. We adjust pressure and nozzle distance for each wood type because they all have different hardness levels.
Composite Decks
Trex, TimberTech, Azek, and Fiberon have a protective cap layer on the surface. High pressure or an aggressive nozzle can damage this cap and void the manufacturer's warranty. We use low pressure and a soft wash solution to clean composite decks safely and thoroughly.
No matter what material your deck is made of, we know how to clean it properly. We see all types working across Dacula, Suwanee, Duluth, and Snellville.
Why Choose Kidd's ProWash for Deck Cleaning
Chase grew up working in construction, so he has a deep understanding of wood - how it ages, how it reacts to weather, and how to restore it without causing damage. Before starting Kidd's ProWash, he worked as a software engineer at GM. That combination of hands-on building experience and detail-oriented problem solving is exactly what you want from someone working on your deck.
Our motto is "people over profits," and that shows up in everything we do. We don't rush through jobs. We don't cut corners. We don't use too much pressure just to finish faster. Chase lives right here in Gwinnett County with his wife and two boys (and a third on the way), and every customer's home gets treated like it's in his own backyard.
After we clean your deck, take a look at the rest of your outdoor spaces. Your house siding, your patio and sidewalks, and your paver areas could probably use some attention too. Most customers bundle services together to get the whole property looking great in one day.
Bundle your deck cleaning with fence cleaning to get both prepped for staining in a single visit - and save money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pricing depends on the size of the deck, the material, and the condition. Most residential decks in Dacula and the surrounding areas run between $150 and $400. Larger decks or decks with heavy stain buildup that needs stripping may cost more. We always give free quotes before starting work.
Not when it's done right. The key is using the correct pressure for the material and maintaining the right distance between the nozzle and the surface. Too much pressure damages wood by furrowing the grain. We use controlled, professional techniques that clean without causing harm.
We recommend waiting at least 48 to 72 hours for the wood to fully dry. On humid Georgia days, it might take a full three days. The moisture content of the wood needs to drop below about 15% for stain to absorb and adhere properly. Your stainer or painter can test the moisture level before they begin.
For most decks in our area, once a year or every other year is enough to keep them in good shape. Decks in heavily shaded areas or near trees may need annual cleaning. If your deck is stained, the stain itself should last two to three years before it needs refreshing, and a cleaning is always the first step.
We focus on the cleaning, stripping, and prep side of things. We leave the staining and sealing to painters and staining professionals, but we can recommend people we trust. Our job is to give them the best possible surface to work with.
Get a Free Deck Cleaning Quote
Ready to enjoy your deck again? Get in touch with us for a free quote. We'll come take a look, give you an honest assessment of what your deck needs, and let you know exactly what it will cost. No pressure, no games - just a fair price from a local company that cares about doing great work.
Browse all of our pressure washing services to see what else we can handle while we're at your home. A deck cleaning paired with a fence cleaning, house washing, or concrete cleaning gives your whole property a fresh start.
Ready to See the Difference?
Get a free, no-obligation quote from Kidd's ProWash. We serve Dacula, Lawrenceville, Buford, Auburn, Grayson, and all of Gwinnett County.