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Sanding and stripping are two of the most popular methods of removing the finish from decking to bare wood. Both methods can be used to remove paint, weatherproofing or varnish, and each method has specific advantages and disadvantages. The right choice between sanding and stripping usually depends on the condition of the deck, and it’s important to note that stripping penetrates deeper than sanding.
Easiest Way To Strip A Deck
Solvent strippers work much faster than sanding and require less effort. Like all chemical strippers, they do not damage the wood and clean the finish down to the grain for a complete clean. The disadvantage of solvent strippers is that they are expensive, have a large deck and a high price. Strippers are also dangerous, if the solvent comes into contact with the skin, it can cause unpleasant burns. At least two coats of stripper are required, and you still need steel wool to remove the dirty residue.
Step 2 Deck Stain Stripping
Caustic strippers are cheaper than solvent strippers, but do not penetrate deep into the deck. Leave them for several hours to completely remove the finish before starting to scratch. Caustic strippers emit less smoke than solvent strippers, making them a little safer, but they can still burn. Remember that salt forms after the wood dries, and the residue should be washed off with white vinegar. Caustic strippers are great for removing multiple layers of finish from deck wood, but often require multiple applications.
While sanding is the most common method of removing finish from a wood deck, you have two realistic options: power sanding or sandblasting. Power sanding with a handheld oscillating tool attached to a sanding accessory is a quick process, but deck wood can be damaged if full control of the tool is not maintained. Sandblasting is simple and requires very little skill, but this method creates more mess, which leads to longer cleanup times. A third option is hand sanding, but this process is slow and time-consuming and unlikely to remove finishes effectively.
Strippers are very effective and require less effort than sanders, but they are sometimes dangerous to use and can sometimes stain the deck wood. Strippers should be used if a dark stain or finish is desired on the wood after sanding. Sanding is preferred where less spread is required, such as deck level, but the process requires additional labor and time to ensure consistent results. A stripper is often the best choice for larger decks, although the cost is significantly higher.
In the United Kingdom, Paul Miceli has been a professional writer since 2006. He has been published online by Ideate Media and Promega and has a proven track record in creating informative articles and sales copy. Miceli is UK “advanced” trained, continues to work as a paint sprayer and has over 25 years automotive body repair experience.
Ir Paint Stripper Infrared Tool
How to clean a shower head, according to an expert How to stain a deck after adding new boards Tips and tricks for removing old stain and varnish from veneer How to remove old varnish from wood How to finish oak stairs Have you tried it? Power washer before staining the deck? How to Remove Old Paint from Decks Deck Stain How to Fix Deck Bubbles Refinishing Tools for Deck Sanding and Staining How to Remove Concrete Layers How to Clean a 10-Year-Old Front Deck Painting Introduction Introduction Even Best Solid-Color Deck Stains. Flakes. To make an old deck look new again, remove the old finish, then clean, refinish, and stain the wood.
If the stain on your deck is old and peeling, the first step in restoring your deck is to remove all the stain. Solid color stains protect wood decks and look great when new, but even the best solid color deck stain will eventually chip and wear. At that point, they should be scraped off before the deck can be re-covered. In this article, we’ll walk you through staining a previously stained deck.
First, remove as much of the old solid color deck stain as you can using a paint scraper such as a deck stripper. As you scrape the wood, replace any nails or screws sticking to the surface of the wood.
Next, remove the deck with a special deck stain remover (1 gallon covers 100 square feet). Cover or wet plastic tape on nearby siding, bushes, and grass around the deck, then apply a heavy coat of stain remover to the colored boards. Remove the old stain with a stiff brush and deck finish remover. Allow the remover 15 to 30 minutes to soften the stain before you scrub. Cover 20 to 30 square feet at a time, moistening the wood to scrub with a stiff brush.
How To Clean A Deck To Remove Tough Stains And Grimy Buildup
Rinse off the residue with a hose and allow the deck to dry. Use a coarse stripping disc for heavily discolored or discolored areas. Rough discs work much faster than a belt or orbital sander. They are available for angle grinders (the fastest option) or drills (the slowest).
Stripping discs are faster and more efficient than regular sanders and work best with angle grinders like a deck stripper.
Finally, neutralize the stain remover with a deck polish/conditioner to clean and restore the wood to close to its original color. One gallon covers about 200 square feet. Rinse/brush with conditioner diluted in water. Scrub and rinse the decking thoroughly to restore the original color of the wood.
After the wood is dry, seal or apply a clear penetrating finish. Clear finishes show the true color of the wood, but must be reapplied each year. Stronger stains protect the wood longer, but are painful to scratch. Penetrating stains also need to be reapplied frequently, but unlike solid stains, they don’t need to be removed. Now you’re ready to stain your previously stained deck this spring.
Common Deck Staining Questions
Here are some great tips and products for a beautiful deck that will last for decades.
We no longer support IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. The deck was in rough shape when we bought our house. Before we restore it with new stain, we must first remove the old stain. It definitely took some time and effort – our deck is almost 700 square feet! But it’s definitely a do-able weekend project even for first-time strippers. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
That’s before and after the stripping process, but if you want to see how it came out with the new stain, check out our How to Soundproof and Seal a Deck tutorial.
Discard the new piece of wood. The part where the tree was growing through the deck had to be repaired. We even have a tutorial on patching a wood deck if you want!
Best Way To Apply Deck Stain: Roller Applicator, Sprayer, And Wood Stain Brush Reviews And Recommendations
If you plan to refinish or paint your wood deck, you’ll want to remove the old finish for a better, more durable bond. However, there are some products that are designed to be applied directly over your existing coat. Rust-Oleum Restore and Behr DeckOver create a thick layer of paint for an almost plastic-like finish on your deck. Personally, we didn’t like Restore’s rough texture, and while DeckOver is smoother, it’s too expensive. We ultimately wanted a more traditional stained wood finish, not the thick coat that those products give us. That’s why we decided to continue unwrapping our deck.
May be! Power washing is a very quick and effective way to remove old paint or stains from surfaces, especially when combined with some of the chemical cleaners listed below. In fact, we used our pressure washer to help restore a wooden outdoor shower in our current home. However, we didn’t remove any stains, just dirt, grime, and layers of mold, so we didn’t use any chemicals to clean it.
For the deck shown in this post, we chose not to use a pressure washer because the wood is in such rough condition. We were afraid that the trees would rot in some places and rot in others and be destroyed by the beaten water. We knew the wood on this old deck was past its prime, so our goal in refinishing it was to extend its life a few years after it was replaced.
But if you want to use a power washer, read our pressure washer guide here and get our favorite power washer for just $99!
How To Best Strip, Clean, And Restain My Deck Considering There Is A Tree In The Middle Of It?
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