Wood outside in southern Indiana fights a constant battle: UV grays the surface, rain feeds algae and mildew, and pollen and grime grind into the grain. A deck that started warm cedar-toned goes silver-gray and slick; a privacy fence turns green on the weather side within a few seasons. The good news is that most of that is surface-deep, and the original color is still there underneath.
The critical word is gently. Wood is the easiest surface in exterior cleaning to destroy — a high-pressure tip run across deck boards leaves permanent fuzzy lap marks and gouged grain that no stain will hide. We clean wood the right way: low pressure, wood-appropriate cleaners that lift the gray and kill the growth, and a rinse technique that works with the grain. Composite decking gets its own approach, since algae in composite texture needs chemistry, not force.
What We Clean
- Wood decks — pressure-treated pine, cedar, and hardwoods, including rails, spindles, and stairs
- Composite decks — Trex-style surfaces, degreased and de-greened without scarring the cap
- Privacy and picket fences — both sides where accessible
- Pergolas, arbors, and swing sets — the wood everyone forgets until they see it clean
Cleaning Before Staining or Sealing
Planning to stain or seal? Cleaning first isn't optional — stain applied over gray, dead surface fibers and mildew peels within a year. A proper wash (and, where needed, a wood brightener that rebalances the surface pH) gives your stain a sound surface to bond to. We're happy to be the prep step for your own staining weekend, and we'll tell you how long to let the wood dry before you start.
Pricing
Most decks run $150–$350 depending on square footage, rail count, and condition; fences are priced by linear footage and typically run $1–$2.50 per foot per side. Bundling deck or fence work with a house wash or concrete cleaning on the same visit is the cheapest way to book it — details in the cost guide.
Want ballpark numbers before you call? Read our pressure washing cost guide, the window cleaning cost guide, or learn why method matters in soft wash vs. pressure wash. Or skip the reading — back on the homepage you can see everything we do, and (812) 329-4733 gets you a straight answer fastest.