A deck is one of the few parts of a house that you use and look at every day, and it wears faster than almost anything else outside. Sun, rain, and the freeze-and-thaw winters around Peoria pull the color out of the boards and open the grain to mildew and rot. River City brings it back. Our deck cleaning and sealing work covers the full job for homes and businesses across Peoria and Central Illinois, from the first wash through the final coat of sealant.
We clean the boards down to sound, bare wood, let them dry, and seal or stain them so the finish holds through another round of seasons. The crews are insured, the cleaners are safe for the plants and lawn around the deck, and the pressure is matched to what each board can take. If your deck has gone grey, feels rough underfoot, or has not been sealed in a few years, a clean-and-seal is what puts it right.
Our deck cleaning service is built for homeowners with a wood or composite deck that has lost its color, turned slick, or started to splinter, and for anyone getting a deck ready to sell, stain, or host on. Older boards that have never been sealed and newer decks due for their first coat both fit.
A full job covers:
You end up with a deck that is clean, sealed, and ready to use.
Regular deck power washing and a fresh coat of sealant do more than clean up the look of the boards.
We walk the deck with you to check the boards, railings, and stairs, and flag any wood that needs a repair first, since sealing over a rotted board locks the damage in. This is also where you pick a finish: a clear sealant that keeps the natural wood tone, a semi-transparent stain that adds color and still shows the grain, or a solid stain that covers it. Then we cover the plants, move the furniture, and grill clear, and pre-treat the heavy mildew.
Next, we perform a thorough deck pressure washing (or soft washing, depending on the material). Using professional-grade equipment, we wash away dirt, gray weathered wood fibers, algae, mold, and old surface stains. We also remove any previously painted or stained finishes to prepare the surface for new treatment. For wooden decks, we use controlled pressure and specialized nozzles to avoid gouging the wood. For composite decks, we use a gentle wash that cleans the surface without splintering or scratches. Our technicians are trained to adjust techniques for each deck type, so our deck power washing is done safely and effectively every time.
A deck has to be dry all the way through before a finish goes on, usually a day or two depending on the weather, and we check the wood to be sure. A finish laid over damp boards traps the moisture and peels within a season. Once it is ready, our deck sealing services work the stain or sealant into the grain with brushes and rollers, coating the boards, railings, and steps with no drips or puddling. A penetrating sealant soaks into the wood, so it wears by fading, not flaking.
Once the sealant, stain, or paint is applied, we let it cure properly for maximum durability. Finally, we conduct a thorough walkthrough and cleanup. We’ll tidy up any tape or coverings, replace furniture, and make sure no mess is left behind – the only thing we leave is your beautifully renewed deck! Our crew will do a final quality inspection with you to ensure you’re thrilled with the results. We don’t consider the job done until you have a spotless, sealed deck ready to enjoy.
Throughout this process, communication is key. We keep you informed at each step, especially if weather causes any scheduling adjustments (we know Illinois rain!). Our goal is to make the experience hassle-free for you while delivering exceptional outcomes.
No single pressure works on every deck, so we read the boards before we start. Our deck cleaning services cover two methods, and the condition of your wood decides which one your deck gets.
For older, softer, or weathered wood, we soft-wash: low pressure and a cleaning solution that lifts the mildew and grey without tearing up the grain or leaving wand marks. It is the safe call for boards that would splinter under a hard spray.
For solid wood in good shape and most composite decking, we step up the pressure to clear ground-in dirt and stubborn stains, still keeping the wand moving so the surface stays even.
Composite gets its own read, since it cleans up well but scars under too much pressure. Either way, the goal is the same: boards clean enough to seal, with no damage done getting there.
A deck needs upkeep between full refinishes, and that is work we take on too. We handle the routine cleaning and resealing that keeps a finish from wearing through, and we repair the boards that go soft or rot out before they spread to the ones around them. Loose railings, popped fasteners, and split boards get put right, so the deck stays safe to stand on and the structure holds. If the rest of the yard needs the same care, our fence cleaning and sealing keeps your fence matching the deck.
Deck work tends to come with the rest of the backyard, so we cover more than the boards. We stain and seal fences, pergolas, and other outdoor wood on the same visit, matching the finish across everything so the yard reads as one. For a log cabin or log-sided home, our log home restoration brings the same cleaning and sealing to the larger wood surfaces that need it. One crew handles the whole exterior, which saves you lining up separate contractors for each piece.
Plenty of companies will quote you for deck cleaning services around Peoria, so the question is who you trust on your boards. Here is what puts homeowners in our corner.
River City is based near Peoria and works decks across about a 45-mile radius, covering Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties.
We come to you in East Peoria, Pekin, Morton, Washington, Bartonville, Peoria Heights, Bloomington-Normal, and Galesburg, along with Dunlap, Chillicothe, Canton, and the towns in between.
If your deck sits just past that list, call anyway, since we reach more ground than the map shows. Our deck sealing services travel the same radius, so the finish coat comes with us wherever the clean goes.
Your deck does not get better on its own, and every grey season makes the next clean harder. Call River City at 1-309-213-9622 or request a free estimate online, and we will get your boards clean, sealed, and ready to enjoy.
Browse our gallery to explore before-and-after results from real projects. From homes to businesses, our work speaks for itself—restoring beauty, value, and curb appeal with every clean.
In the Peoria climate, most decks do well with a wash every year and a fresh coat of sealant every two to three years. Decks in full sun or heavy shade wear their finish down faster, so they come due sooner.
Both. Composite cleans up well with the right pressure and solution, and we adjust how we work it so the surface comes clean without scarring.
Give new pressure-treated wood a few months to dry out, then seal it. We can check the boards and tell you if yours are ready.
Not when the pressure is matched to the wood. We soft-wash older and softer boards and step up only on solid wood that can take it, so nothing gets gouged or furred.
We work with clear sealants, semi-transparent stains, and solid stains, and we go over the options with you so the finish matches the look you want.
We work with clear sealants, semi-transparent stains, and solid stains, and we go over the options with you so the finish matches the look you want.
No, as long as we have access to the deck and a water source. We will confirm the finish with you beforehand.
Yes. We use biodegradable solutions and rinse the area, and we cover plantings before we start.
We’re proud of the reputation we’ve built in the Peoria area. Here are a few real reviews from customers who trusted River City Pressure Washing to rejuvenate their decks:
(Names and locations are real clients of River City Pressure Washing – reviews edited for length.)
As you can see, we’ve helped customers all over Central Illinois fall back in love with their decks. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we’re honored by the trust these clients and many others have placed in us.
