Deck & Patio Cleaning in Kenosha County & Lake County, IL
Remove years of outdoor buildup and bring back a cleaner, more inviting space.
Decks and patios need a cleaning method selected for the material.
Code 3 cleans wood decks, composite decking, patios and paver surfaces using an approach matched to the surface and its condition. We target algae, mildew, dirt and organic buildup without treating every outdoor surface like concrete.
From railings and stairs to deck boards, patios and paver walkways, we focus on an even result while respecting nearby siding, landscaping and finished surfaces.
Deck and patio surfaces we clean
- Wood and composite decks
- Deck railings, stairs and walking surfaces
- Paver and hardscape patios
- Surface-appropriate pressure and cleaning methods
Deck and patio cleaning results.
Every image below is matched to the service shown. Actual Code 3 project photography only.
Deck and Patio Cleaning across our primary service area.
Code 3 Cleaning is based in Pleasant Prairie and serves homeowners and businesses throughout Kenosha County, Wisconsin and Lake County, Illinois.
Common deck and patio cleaning questions.
What outdoor surfaces do you clean?
Code 3 cleans wood decks, composite decking, railings, stairs, patios and paver surfaces. We evaluate the material and condition before selecting the cleaning approach.
Do you use the same pressure on every surface?
No. Wood, composite materials, concrete and pavers require different methods. The process is selected around the surface rather than using maximum pressure everywhere.
Can cleaning help with algae and mildew?
Deck and patio cleaning targets algae, mildew, dirt and common organic buildup on compatible outdoor surfaces.
Where is this service available?
Code 3 provides deck and patio cleaning throughout Kenosha County, Wisconsin and Lake County, Illinois.
Learn before you schedule.
Practical exterior-cleaning information written for homeowners in Kenosha County and Lake County: what causes it, whether it comes off, and when it is worth doing. See the Cleaning Guides.
Outdoor surfaces we clean.
Included
- Wood decks — cedar, pine, pressure-treated and hardwood
- Composite decking of all the common brands
- Railings, spindles, stairs and the under-structure you can reach
- Paver patios and brick hardscape
- Concrete patios and pool surrounds
- Pergolas, gazebos and covered outdoor structures
Not included
- Staining, sealing or refinishing — we clean and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth refinishing
- Board replacement, structural repair or fastener work
- Stripping failed stain or sealer, which is a different job with a different price
- Any board we judge to be structurally unsound
Saying what is not in the price is not a weakness. A surprise at the end of a job costs more goodwill than an honest line on a website ever will.
Every job runs the same way.
Consistency is most of what separates a professional job from a cheap one. This is the sequence, on every property.
Identify the material first
Cedar, pressure-treated pine, composite and pavers all behave differently under water and cleaner. Wood is soft and will fuzz or gouge if it is hit too hard. Composite is more forgiving but goes cloudy if it is scoured. This is the step that gets skipped, and it is the reason for most of the ruined decks we get called out to look at.
Clear and protect
Furniture, grills and planters come off. Adjacent siding, landscaping and anything downhill from the run-off gets protected and pre-rinsed.
Cleaner does the work
The solution breaks down the algae, mildew and gray weathering. On wood that means a controlled dwell rather than pressure, because pressure on soft wood raises the grain and leaves a fuzzy surface that then holds dirt worse than before.
Even, controlled rinse
Rinsed with the grain, at a pressure the board can take, working consistently across the whole surface. Uneven cleaning on a deck is more visible than on almost any other surface, because the boards are long and straight and the eye follows them.
Dry, inspect, put it back
We reset your furniture and walk it with you. If we saw a soft board, a popped fastener or rot starting at a post base while we were down there, you will hear about it.
The things you were going to have to ask.
Insured
Code 3 Cleaning carries insurance. Certificates are available on request, and commercial accounts and property managers can have them on file before work starts.
Guaranteed
We do not stop until the job is right. If something is not right when we are done, it gets fixed — that is the whole policy and it does not need small print.
Estimates, usually same day
Most estimates go out the same day. If not, inside 24 hours. You should not have to chase a contractor for a number.
Pay how you want
Cash, check, card, and the common payment apps. Whatever is easiest on your end.
Code 3 Cleaning is firefighter-owned and based in Pleasant Prairie, now in our fourth season. You are dealing directly with an owner, not a call center — which is also why the guarantee above is worth something.
Why decks here go gray and green.
A wood deck in this climate is under attack from two directions. UV breaks down the surface fibers and turns the wood silver-gray. Moisture feeds algae and mildew in the shaded sections and anywhere water pools. Most decks in Kenosha and Lake County have both going on at once, which is why one end can look weathered and the other looks dirty.
The green film on a north-facing deck or one under tree cover is not a cosmetic problem alone — it is slick, and it is genuinely a slip hazard on stairs. That is the part homeowners underestimate until someone goes down.
Our freeze-thaw cycles work on decks the same way they work on concrete. Water sitting in the grain expands when it freezes, opening the fibers a little more each winter. A deck that is cleaned and sealed on a regular cycle holds up markedly better than one left to sort itself out.
Straight answers.
Will pressure washing ruin my wood deck?
It can, and this is the most common damage we are called out to look at. Too much pressure on soft wood tears the fibers and leaves a permanently fuzzy, splintered surface. The right method for wood is chemical cleaning with controlled, low-pressure rinsing.
Can you clean composite decking?
Yes, and it needs its own approach. Composite scratches and hazes if it is scoured, so it is cleaned with solution and low pressure rather than force.
Can you make old gray wood look new again?
Cleaning removes the algae, mildew and surface gray and gets you back to clean wood. Wood that has weathered deeply may still show its age, and restoring real color means stain or sealer after cleaning. We will tell you which side of that line your deck is on.
Do you stain or seal?
We clean. Cleaning is the required first step before any stain or sealer goes on, and we can tell you honestly whether yours is a candidate.
How long before I can use it?
Normally the same day once it is dry. If you are having it sealed afterwards, that has its own timeline and the wood needs to be properly dry first.
How often should a deck be cleaned?
Once a year for most decks here, and that is what keeps a sealed deck sealed. Shaded decks and anything under trees may want it more often.
What about the pavers around my pool?
We clean paver patios and pool surrounds. Pavers need lower pressure so the joint sand stays where it belongs, and we work around pool chemistry rather than rinsing everything into the water.
Are you insured?
Yes. Code 3 Cleaning carries insurance and certificates are available on request. Commercial accounts and property managers can have them on file before work starts.
Do you guarantee your work?
Yes. We do not stop until it is right. If something is not right when we are finished, we come back and fix it.
How fast will I get an estimate?
Usually the same day, and inside 24 hours at the latest.