Power Washing A Deck And Staining

A fan tip is the best choice to avoid gouging the wood.

Power washing a deck and staining. This may take a day or two depending on weather conditions. If you decide to use a pressure washer for cleaning follow the manufacturer s instructions on the type of wood cleaner to use and the distance the spray tip should be from the surface you re cleaning. The results of the inspection will determine if a quick power wash is needed or something more involved. Then wash the deck using a power washer to scrub the surface clean.

Apply a deck stain stripper which will break up the old stain and prepare the surface for pressure washing. Apply a deck brightener. You can use any good oil or modified oil based deck stain. Allow to dry for 24 hours then sand the surface with between a 60 to 150 grit sandpaper or sanding disk.

A good deck cleaner can remove the gray fibers dirt mold mildew and other impurities deep in the wood. No matter if you have a new deck or if you are working to restore a deck the first step in how to prep a deck for stain starts with an inspection inspection should only take a few minutes. Be careful not to be too aggressive with a power washer as it can damage the wood and leave divots. How to pressure wash a deck before staining.

Second let the deck dry completely. Apply the stripper solution in the same manner as when pressure washing with plain water then rinse by pressure washing again with plain water. You may also use a power washer equipped with a 45 degree tip set at 1200 1400 psi. This unfortunately is a permanent condition.

Stripper brightener products tend to roughen up the wood fibers so you will generally need to sand the deck completely before re staining or sealing the wood. Once the deck is completely dry lightly sand any areas of new wood to remove any remaining residue. Over time the deck needs to be cleaned and power washed to apply new layers of stain and sealer and knowing the right time to reapply things after washing leads to longer lasting coverage. Pressure washing can help but if you want your stain to last using a good deck cleaner and brightener on the deck prior to pressure washing will provide you the best result.

Third apply deck stain. It will restore ph levels in the wood and open up closed and dried grains allowing the stain to enter the wood and bond with the grain. When using a power washer use a wide spray nozzle. When learning how to re stain a deck always read the manufacturer s directions for.