EXTERIOR · WOOD DECKING
WOOD DECK & DOCK CLEANING
The Gold Standard, Every Time.
A wood deck is a living surface. Clean it wrong and you fuzz the grain. We use the two-step (wash + brighten) that pros use before re-staining.
Get A Free EstimateOur Process
How We Deliver The Gold Standard
Species Check
IPE, cedar, pressure-treated, mahogany — each takes different chemistry and dwell.
Wood Cleaner Pass
Sodium-percarbonate based cleaner applied at low pressure. Lifts grey, mildew, and tannin.
Brightener Neutralize
Oxalic acid brightener returns the wood pH to neutral and restores honey-tone.
Stain-Ready Hand-Off
We tell you the moisture content, the recommended cure window, and whether we see soft boards.
Real Work, Real Results
Before & After
NE Florida Context
Docks and Decks: What the Marine Environment Changes
The Intracoastal Waterway runs through much of FCPE's service area — St. Johns, Duval, and Nassau counties all have ICW-adjacent neighborhoods where residential docks are common. A dock in a saltwater-adjacent or tidal environment faces biological challenges that a backyard deck does not. Understanding the difference determines whether the cleaning restores the surface or merely cleans the surface temporarily before rapid regrowth.
Dock-Specific Challenges in NE Florida
Tidal zones produce a combined barnacle and algae presence on dock pilings and decking that requires a two-stage approach. Barnacle removal cannot be done with chemistry alone — barnacle shells are calcium-based and require careful mechanical assist before chemical treatment can reach the wood substrate. Applying sodium hypochlorite to barnacle-covered pilings without mechanical prep first leaves the barnacle shells intact and allows regrowth in the same locations within one tidal cycle. After mechanical assist, a soft-wash pass for biological film completes the job. Post-rinse with fresh water is required on every saltwater-adjacent dock job to prevent salt redeposition on the wood surface as it dries — salt crystals accelerate both biological growth and wood fiber degradation if left behind.
Wood Species on NE Florida Docks and Decks
Pressure-Treated Pine
Most common material for dock construction in NE Florida. Responds well to sodium percarbonate cleaner and oxalic brightener. Check for soft spots along board edges before applying pressure — PT pine in tidal zones develops soft areas faster than deck applications.
Ipe (Brazilian Hardwood)
Premium hardwood common in high-end residential docks and elevated decks. Extremely dense — standard sodium percarbonate cleaners have limited penetration. Requires specific Ipe-formulated chemistry with extended dwell time. The result when done correctly justifies the additional effort; Ipe cleaned improperly simply grays back within months.
Composite Decking
Growing market for dock decking. Most composite products are pressure-wash safe up to 1,500 PSI — but the pressure limit applies to the decking surface, not the fastener holes or board edges where moisture infiltration occurs. Low pressure is still the preferred approach for composite near water.
AZEK / PVC
Pressure-wash safe to 1,500 PSI. Does not require brightener treatment. Primary cleaning challenge is surface-level biological film and airborne salt deposit, both of which respond to soft-wash chemistry and medium-pressure rinse.
How Florida's Climate Accelerates Wood Deterioration
Coastal NE Florida compounds the standard wood-aging factors. UV radiation at this latitude is aggressive — untreated wood grays and checks faster than in northern climates because Florida's solar angle is steeper. High humidity prevents wood from fully drying between rain events, which means biological organisms have continuous moisture available. Salt air deposits on deck surfaces increase the conductivity of any moisture present, accelerating oxidation of metal fasteners and biological growth on the wood itself. A cleaning cycle that includes post-fresh-water rinse and a moisture content check before any stain application addresses all three compounding factors.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked
Do I have to re-stain after?
Not immediately. The deck will look great for months — but re-staining locks in the protection. We can coordinate the cleaning timing with your stain contractor so you're stain-ready on the day they arrive.
Will this raise the grain?
Minimally when done correctly. Heavy pressure is what raises grain — we stay low. The brightener step actually helps settle the grain after the cleaning pass.
Can you do IPE?
Yes — IPE is one of our specialties. It takes longer and costs a little more because the wood requires specific chemistry and dwell time. The result is why you chose Ipe in the first place.
My dock has barnacles on the pilings — can you handle that?
Yes. Barnacle removal on dock pilings requires a mechanical assist before chemical treatment. We do both steps so the surface is fully clean, not just rinsed over barnacle shells.
Do you do a fresh-water rinse on dock jobs near the water?
Always. Salt redeposition after a saltwater-adjacent cleaning accelerates biological regrowth and wood degradation. The fresh-water post-rinse is a standard step on every dock and waterfront deck job we do.
Ready When You Are
Book Your Wood Deck & Dock Cleaning Quote
St. Johns, Duval, and Nassau counties. Same-day callback if you reach us before 5pm weekdays.
Prefer to submit online? Our estimate form takes 60 seconds and you’ll get a same-day response.
Start My Free EstimateOr call (904) 466-1622
Exterior Vetting
What to ask your exterior cleaning contractor
Exterior cleaning around Northeast Florida homes requires the right method for each surface, not one pressure setting for everything.
When do you soft wash versus pressure wash?
Siding, stucco, painted trim, screens, and roofs need soft washing. Concrete and some hardscape can handle controlled pressure when the operator knows the surface.
How do you protect plants, pools, and runoff paths?
Ask about pre-wetting, controlled application, rinsing, and water movement around landscaping, pool decks, and drainage areas.
What chemistry do you use for organic growth?
The answer should be specific to algae, mildew, tannins, rust, or irrigation staining. One generic cleaner is not a property-care system.
Are the exterior specialists trained only for exterior scope?
FCPE keeps exterior discipline separate so the tools, chemistry, safety expectations, and surface knowledge stay focused.
Do you document the finished work?
Before and after photos, scope notes, and surface observations create accountability after the truck leaves.