University Village is townhomes and rowhouses. Almost every property has a roof deck or a rear wooden staircase, and those take a beating from Chicago weather. The sun grays the wood. The freeze-thaw opens the grain. Snow sits on the deck boards for months. If the stain is failing, water soaks in and the boards warp and rot. We see it every spring.
The roof decks are the main call. University Village roof decks are typically 200 to 400 square feet, pressure-treated pine or cedar. The south-facing decks get hammered by UV. The north-facing ones stay damp and grow mildew. We use different stain formulations for each. South-facing decks get a stain with higher UV blockers. North-facing decks get a stain with a mildewcide additive. Same product line, different formulation. If your contractor uses the same stain on every deck, they're not thinking about it.
The process is 80 percent prep. We strip the old finish with a chemical wood stripper, pressure wash the wood at 1,500 PSI to remove the gray oxidized fibers, and let it dry for 24 to 48 hours. We test with a moisture meter. If the reading is above 15 percent, the stain will trap moisture and peel. We wait. We don't stain wet wood.
After drying, we sand the handrails, steps, and any rough spots. Splinters are a sign that the wood is failing. Sanding makes the deck safe to bare feet. Then we apply two coats of premium stain by brush and roller. We use Ready Seal, Cabot, and Armstrong Clark. These penetrate the grain. Big-box stains sit on the surface and fail in a season.
Rear wooden stairs on University Village rowhouses are the other common job. They're narrow, they get constant foot traffic, and they green up with algae in a single season. We wash them at low pressure, let them dry, and stain them. Washing alone gets you a year. Washing plus staining gets you three.
A typical University Village roof deck, strip and wash and sand and two coats, runs $500 to $1,200 depending on square footage and whether there are railings and spindles. Rear stairs are usually $200 to $400. We bundle both into one visit if you need both done.
We're 10 minutes from University Village. We can usually schedule within the same week. Call us and we'll come measure the deck and test the wood moisture.
University Village is about 10 minutes from our shop in Bridgeport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a University Village roof deck be stained?
Every 2 to 3 years for semi-transparent stains on horizontal surfaces. South-facing decks with full UV need more frequent attention. North-facing decks stay damp and need a mildewcide additive in the stain. We use different formulations for each orientation.
Do you stain rear wooden stairs on rowhouses?
Yes. Rear stairs get constant foot traffic and green up with algae fast. We wash them at low pressure, let them dry, and stain. Washing alone gets you a year. Washing plus staining gets you three. We bundle deck and stairs into one visit.
What happens if you stain wet wood?
The stain traps moisture and peels within a season. We test every deck with a moisture meter before staining. If the reading is above 15 percent, we wait. We never stain wet wood, even if it means coming back the next day.