Deck and Fence Cleaning in Dothan, AL

Pressure-treated pine is everywhere in the Wiregrass: back decks, porch steps, dock walkways and long runs of privacy fence. It is affordable and durable, but in this climate it does not stay the color it was on the day it went up. Sun grays it, humidity turns the shady side green, and pollen and leaves leave blotches. A careful cleaning can bring much of that wood back and get it ready for stain or sealer. Call (334) 621-3439 and we will connect you with an independent local provider who cleans decks and fences in the Dothan area. We are a referral service, not the cleaning company.

What happens to wood in a humid climate

• Graying. Sunlight breaks down the surface fibers of wood, which turn gray and fuzzy over time.
• Mildew and algae. Fence boards facing north or shaded by trees stay damp and turn green or black. Deck boards near the ground and under overhangs do the same.
• Tannin and leaf stains. Oak leaves and wet pine straw sitting on boards leave dark marks.
• Failing stain. Old stain peels or wears unevenly, especially on horizontal surfaces that take the most sun and foot traffic.

Why wood needs a gentle touch

Wood is soft compared with concrete. A narrow, high-pressure stream held too close cuts into the grain, raises splinters and leaves furring and wand marks that show through any new stain. The better approach is to let a cleaning solution do most of the work, then rinse at moderate or low pressure with a wide fan tip, moving with the grain. Many providers follow with a wood brightener, often an oxalic acid product, that restores a more natural color and neutralizes the cleaner. A light sanding is sometimes recommended afterward if fibers were raised.

Composite and vinyl

Composite decking does not gray the way wood does, but mold and mildew grow in the texture and between boards. Most composite manufacturers publish cleaning guidance, and some limit how much pressure can be used, so ask the provider to follow your brand's instructions. Vinyl fences clean up well with a soft wash and a low-pressure rinse; the green film on the shady side is usually algae and comes off readily.

Cleaning before staining

If you plan to stain or seal, cleaning comes first. Stain sticks poorly to dirty, mildewed or gray wood. After washing, wood needs to dry thoroughly before stain goes on; in humid weather that can take a couple of days or more. Some providers who clean decks also stain them, and some only clean. Ask which they do. If the provider stains, ask what product they use and whether it is oil or water based.

What deck and fence cleaning typically costs

As a typical national-guide range, many homeowners pay roughly $100 to $250 to have an average deck pressure washed, with large decks needing extra care reaching about $500. Cost guides commonly list fence cleaning at roughly $150 to $300, though a long run of privacy fence on a large lot can cost more. Staining or sealing is a separate service and is often listed at several hundred dollars or more, depending on size and product. These are general guides, not local quotes. See the cost guide for details.

Decks and fences in the Wiregrass

• Wet summers slow drying. Dothan averages a little under 54 inches of rain a year, with July and August the wettest months. Wood needs a dry stretch of several days before stain, so summer staining often gets pushed back by afternoon storms.
• Red soil at the bottom boards. Rain splashes the local sandy, iron-bearing soil onto the bottom few inches of a fence. Pine straw piled against the boards holds that moisture and stains the wood. Pulling straw back a few inches helps a clean fence stay clean.
• Field dust. Fences and decks facing farmland pick up dust during peanut digging, roughly September into October. Cleaning after harvest and staining in a dry fall stretch is a common local plan.
• Neighborhood associations. If your subdivision has a homeowners association, check whether fence or deck stain colors need approval before you change them. Cleaning alone rarely needs approval, but a new color sometimes does.
• Sprinklers. During Dothan's April-through-October watering schedule, keep sprinklers off freshly stained wood until the product has cured.

Timing

Spring after the pollen has fallen and fall before the leaves come down are popular times to clean and stain in southeast Alabama. Stain manufacturers usually specify temperature and dry-weather windows, so watch the forecast. A typical deck cleaning takes a few hours; long fences can take most of a day. Most wood decks and fences benefit from a cleaning every year or two, with re-staining every few years depending on the product and how much sun the wood gets.

What to ask before you hire

• What pressure and tip will you use on my wood? Will you use a brightener?
• Will you clean both sides of the fence? Do I need my neighbor's permission for the far side?
• How long should the wood dry before staining, and do you stain or only clean?
• How will you protect plants and grass along the fence line?
• Do you carry general liability insurance? Can I see a certificate?

Alabama does not have a state license written specifically for pressure washing or soft washing. Providers generally need a business license from the city they work in, such as the City of Dothan, and some counties issue their own business licenses too. Because there is no state trade license to look up, proof of insurance is the more useful thing to ask for: a current certificate of general liability insurance that covers damage to your property, plants or vehicles. If the job grows into repairs, painting or carpentry, ask whether any other license applies to that part of the work. Inside Dothan city limits, the city requires a business license for anyone doing business there, handled by Business Services in the Finance Department, and those licenses expire every December 31. Houston County issues its own license through the Probate Office. A provider who works in Dothan regularly should have no trouble telling you they are current.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we serve

We connect callers across Dothan, Enterprise, Ozark, Headland and the Wiregrass of southeast Alabama, including:

• Dothan
• Enterprise
• Ozark
• Headland
• Taylor
• Kinsey
• Cowarts
• Ashford
• Webb
• Rehobeth
• Daleville
• Abbeville
• Slocomb
• Houston County
• Dale County

Local pages: Enterprise, Ozark, Taylor.

Related services

• House Washing & Soft Washing
• Driveway & Concrete Cleaning
• Roof Soft Washing
• Commercial & Storefront Washing
• Gutter Brightening