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Repair + Refinish 10 Documented Restorations Fully Insured

Deck Restoration in Chicago

Structure and surface, handled by one crew: repairs, strip, sand and a finish that lasts

Restoration is for the deck that has slipped past a wash-and-seal. We replace what has rotted, reset what has loosened, strip and sand the boards back to clean wood, and finish with a stain or sealer chosen for your deck. Ten restorations are documented on this site with photos, products and the real invoice.

Get a Free Estimate Call (847) 979-9299

One Crew, Start to Finish

Repairs and refinishing in one visit, no handing off between trades

Written Scope First

Every board, rail and repair listed before work starts

Real Invoices Published

Our documented projects show what each restoration cost

Written Warranty

18 months against peeling, 2 years on repair workmanship

What deck restoration includes

A restoration has two halves. The first is structural: soft boards come out, loose railings and stair treads are re-anchored, and anything under the deck that has rotted is replaced with matched, treated lumber. The second is the surface: the old finish is stripped, the boards are sanded so raised grain and gray fibres are gone, and a new stain or sealer is applied to dry, clean wood.

Because one crew does both, the sequence is right. Repairs happen before the strip, so new boards get the same prep and finish as old ones; sanding happens after the wash and the drying period, not before; and the stain goes on last, over a deck that will hold it.

Not every deck needs the full programme. On the first visit we tell you which level yours needs, and we quote only that. Below are the three levels, and the pages that describe each in detail.

Restored front porch stairs and railing in Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL: 750 sq ft porch and stairs restored and finished with Benjamin Moore Woodluxe by our Chicago crew.

Three levels of restoration

We match the work to the deck. Most decks need level two; a deck with rot underneath needs level three first.

Level 1

Refresh: wash and reseal

The deck is sound and the finish is only tired. A wash, a brightener and a fresh coat, done on a schedule so it never gets worse than this.

See maintenance plans
Level 2

Refinish: strip, sand and stain

Gray or peeling boards, a few repairs, then a full strip and sand and a new stain. The most common restoration we do.

See deck staining
Level 3

Rebuild: rot, framing and stairs

Soft posts, joists, ledger or stairs. Structural repairs come first, then the surface work from level two.

See structural repairs

Deck Problems Restoration Fixes

If your deck has more than one of these, it has crossed from maintenance into restoration.

Gray, Splintered Boards

Years of sun and snow leave the surface fibres dead. Sanding removes them and a new finish protects the sound wood underneath.

Peeling Finish

A failed film has to be stripped completely before anything new goes on. We strip, brighten, sand and start again.

Soft or Rotted Boards

Spongy spots are cut out and replaced with matched material. If the rot goes into the framing, we tell you and fix that first.

Loose Railings

Railings that move when leaned on are re-anchored and reinforced before the finish goes on.

Worn or Shaky Stairs

Treads, stringers and stair rails are the hardest-used part of the deck. We rebuild what has failed and refinish the rest.

A Patchwork of Old Repairs

Mismatched boards, three colours of stain and popped fasteners. One strip, one sand and one finish make it a single deck again.

Restoration Work We Handle

The full list, so the written scope you receive has a name for everything on it.

Strip, Brighten and Sand

Chemical stripping of failed finish, a brightener to reset the colour, then sanding of the floor, treads and handrails to clean wood.

  • Stripper
  • Brightener
  • Floor and rail sanding

Board Replacement

Rotted, cracked or cupped boards are replaced with matched species and thickness, fastened to sit flush with their neighbours.

  • Matched wood
  • Flush fit
  • New fasteners

Railing and Stair Repair

Posts re-anchored, spindles replaced, treads and stringers rebuilt where they have failed. Finished to match the deck.

  • Post anchors
  • Spindles
  • Treads and stringers

Structural Check

We look under every deck we restore. Ledger, joists, posts and footings are inspected and anything unsafe is quoted as a structural repair.

  • Ledger and joists
  • Posts and footings
  • Written findings

Stain or Seal

Two thin back-brushed coats of a penetrating stain, or one coat of sealer, chosen with you on a sample brushed onto your own boards.

  • Colour sample
  • Rymar and Woodluxe
  • Penetrating finishes

Pergolas, Privacy Walls and Benches

Built-in seating, hot tub surrounds and privacy screens are restored with the deck so the whole space matches.

  • Built-ins
  • Hot tub surrounds
  • Privacy screens

Our Restoration Process: Four Careful Steps

The order matters as much as the work. This is how a restoration runs from the first visit to the walkthrough.

Inspect and Write the Scope

Boards, rails, stairs and everything underneath. You get a written scope with every repair listed and a repair-versus-rebuild recommendation for anything borderline.

Repair the Structure

Rotted boards, loose railings, stair treads and any framing work come first, so new wood gets the same prep and finish as the rest.

Strip, Wash and Sand

Old finish stripped, deck washed and brightened, 48 to 72 hours of drying, then sanding of the floor, treads and rails.

Finish and Walk Through

Your colour sample, then the stain or sealer. We walk the deck with you and hand over the written warranty.

What a typical week looks like

  1. Day 1Inspection, written scope and estimate. Structural repairs start once you approve.
  2. Day 2Board, railing and stair repairs. Larger framing jobs take a second day.
  3. Day 3Strip, wash and brighten. Then 48 to 72 hours of drying.
  4. Days 5 to 6Sanding, colour sample, two coats of stain or one of sealer.
  5. Day 7Walkthrough, furniture back after the finish has cured.

What Shapes a Restoration Quote

Restoration prices vary more than any other service because the repairs vary. Every estimate is free, written and itemised, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.

What shapes the price

  • How many boards and rails need replacing. Each is listed as its own line.
  • Whether the framing is sound. Rot in the ledger, joists or posts moves the job to structural work first.
  • What the old finish is. A sound semi-transparent stain washes off; a peeling solid stain or paint has to be stripped and sanded, which is the slowest part of any restoration.
  • Square footage and linear feet of floor, railing, spindles and stairs.
  • The finish you choose. Solid stains cost more in product and prep; sealers the least.

Ten restorations are documented on this site with the size, the product and the real invoice, from a 200 sq ft deck at $8,435 to a 595 sq ft deck with new stairs at $35,500. Read the one closest to yours before you call.

Get a free written estimate

Written warranty. 18 months against peeling on the finish, 2 years on repair and construction workmanship. Read the warranty terms.

Recent Restoration Projects

Real decks restored this season, with the town, the product, the size and the invoice. Each card opens the full case study.

Deck Restoration in Northbrook, IL, after the work

Deck Restoration in Northbrook

  • 385 sq ft
  • Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe
  • $13,860
Read the case study · Northbrook crew
Deck Restoration in Chicago, IL, after the work

Deck Restoration in Chicago

  • 750 sq ft
  • Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe
  • $23,088
Read the case study · Chicago crew
Deck Restoration in Lisle, IL, after the work

Deck Restoration in Lisle

  • 200 sq ft
  • Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe
  • $8,435
Read the case study · Lisle crew
Chicago deck before deck restoration
Before
Chicago deck after deck restoration
After

Chicago, IL · 595 sq ft · Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe · see the job

Chicago deck before deck restoration
Before
Chicago deck after deck restoration
After

Chicago, IL · 900 sq ft · Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe · see the job

Lisle deck before deck restoration
Before
Lisle deck after deck restoration
After

Lisle, IL · 200 sq ft · Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe · see the job

Browse all documented projects

Why Choose Deck Doc for Restoration?

  • One crew does the repairs and the refinishing in one visit
  • Written scope with every repair listed before work starts
  • Honest repair-versus-rebuild advice, with the numbers behind it
  • Matched lumber and fasteners for every replacement
  • Penetrating stains and sealers chosen on a sample on your own deck
  • Fully insured, $1M liability coverage on every job
  • 4.9★ on Google · 229 reviews
  • 18-month warranty against peeling, 2 years on repairs

Get Your Free Estimate

Tell us what the deck is doing: soft spots, loose rails, gray boards. We call back within one business day.

Areas We Serve

Deck Restoration Across Chicagoland

Our crews restore decks from the North Shore to DuPage County. Pick your town for local details and recent jobs nearby.

See all service areas

Deck Restoration FAQs

The questions Chicago homeowners ask before booking a restoration.

Restore it if the framing is sound and fewer than about a third of the boards need replacing; the result is a deck that will last as long as a new one at a fraction of the cost. Replace it if the ledger, posts or most of the joists have rotted. We tell you which on the first visit, with the numbers, and our post on repair versus replace explains how we judge it.

Most decks take about a week from the first working day to the walkthrough, of which two to three days are drying time. Large decks, extensive framing work or a stripped solid stain add days. You get the schedule in writing with the estimate.

Staining, sealing, board replacement and railing repair do not need a permit. Replacing joists, beams, a ledger, footings or rebuilding a section does, in Chicago and in most suburbs. We tell you when the work crosses that line and handle the paperwork.

After the strip and the drying period we sand the floor with a flooring sander, usually 60 then 80 grit, and hand-sand treads and handrails. It removes the dead gray fibres and raised grain so the finish penetrates evenly. Boards are never sanded thinner than they need to be.

Composite boards are cleaned, not sanded or stained. If a composite deck has rotted framing or loose rails, we repair those; the surface gets a wash. For wood decks, everything on this page applies.

Every board and rail to be replaced, every repair, the prep steps, the finish and colour, the number of coats, the schedule, and the price for each line. Nothing is added later without talking to you first.

Because the repairs do. Two decks of the same size can differ by thousands of dollars depending on how many boards are rotten, whether the stairs need rebuilding and what the old finish is. Our documented projects publish the invoice for each job so you can see where yours is likely to sit.

Yes. The finish carries our written 18-month warranty against peeling, and all repair and construction work is covered for two years against failures caused by our workmanship. Materials carry the manufacturer's warranty.

Is Your Deck Past a Wash and Seal?

Send photos of the worst spots, or call and we will come out, look underneath, and leave you a written scope and estimate.

If it only needs maintenance, we say so and quote that instead.

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