Deck stripping, sanding and re-staining in Holgate

The signs that bring this up

• A stain that is peeling in sheets on the sunny half and still sound on the shaded half
• Boards that have gone grey and furry and give you splinters barefoot
• Composite decking with black spotting that a hose will not shift

Why this comes up in Holgate

Here is what makes Holgate particular: exposed on three sides with nothing south of it. Ocean spray from the east, bay and inlet from the west, and wind that runs the length of the spit without meeting anything. Sand is as much of a problem here as salt.

Holgate is the southernmost community on the island, running down Long Beach Township to the wildlife refuge at the very end, and that shapes what turns up on these walls.

What access looks like here

One road in and one road out, and the far end of it is a long way from anywhere. Beyond the built streets there is no vehicle access at all.

Long Beach Township handles permitting for work at this address.

What a crew will actually do

On a wood deck the honest sequence is strip, neutralise, sand and re-coat, and skipping the sanding is why so many re-stains fail in one season. On composite the job is different: the black spotting is usually mould growing in the surface texture, and it wants a low-pressure treatment, not a pressure washer, which will permanently stripe the boards. Ask which one you have before anyone quotes it — plenty of island decks are a wood frame with composite boards and a wood rail.