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Deck Cleaning

Deck Cleaningdeck stainDeck Staining 101

101 Deck Staining Tips

by administrator
written by administrator

There is all kinds of advice on the internet when it comes to tips for deck restoration. While reviewing websites I came across this extensive article. It has 101 Deck Staining Tips that I found to be pretty much right on the money.

101 Deck Staining Tips

It is a very good read and since the site carries many of the higher end products, I thought it would be useful for others to see.

Some of the key aspects are:

  • Deck Cleaning Tips
  • Deck Staining Tips
  • Future Maintenance

One of my favorites was:

# 101. Relax, have dinner or a party on your beautiful newly refinished deck!

Since that is what having a deck is all about!

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Deck CleaningGray Weathered Deck

Protect Your Deck With Deck Stain

by deckadmin
written by deckadmin

It may be difficult to understand why a deck seems to weather so quickly. It turns gray from the weather and fades quickly. Unlike your siding or roof, there is no place for snow, ice, and rain to trickle down. Your deck is horizontally exposed to the elements, meaning that any snow or rain buildup on the deck will not slide off. Decks can have very large surface areas, allowing them to potentially catch very heavy loads of snow on top of the grills, chairs, and tables already on them. Water and snow has to evaporate or melt all by itself on these decks since there is the tendency for precipitation to pool and accumulate on decks, causing the gradual wearing away of the beautiful wood that the deck was built with.

Due to this fact, it is extremely important to to apply a wood stain that will not only protect your deck from rain and snow, but the damaging UV rays from the sun. The sun is the real culprit when it comes to decks turning gray. Because they have such a large surface area, it has the tendency to catch incredible amounts of UV rays, promoting the graying and general deterioration of the wood over time.

imagesA semi-transparent wood stain or even an opaque wood stain is going to protect your deck much better than a clear wood stain. Semi-transparent wood stains and opaque wood stains allow less UV radiation to penetrate the wood, preventing graying and stain fading over time. An opaque wood stain does not allow the grain of the wood to show through at all. It does however accentuate the wood’s texture. A semi-transparent stain allows most of the grain and the texture to show through. It does not protect the wood as well as an opaque stain does but provides more protection than a clear stain. Most clear stains will alter the look or color of the wood, so find a stain that will accentuate the color of the wood and provide the most protection.

It is prudent to look for a deck stain that provides some type of UV protection, or else the sun will start fading away your expensive deck staining project the moment you apply it. Just as the sun fades the look of outdoor rugs, it fades the pigment in your deck stain. This vicious cycle can definitely be a pain for homeowners, but with the proper care, can be prolonged to prevent too frequent maintenance.

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Deck Cleaning

How to Use a Pressure Washer on a Wood Deck

by Clay
written by Clay

pw2

Pressure washing your deck is a great way to clean it up and prep it for a new coat of stain or sealer. Although some claim that a garden hose is safer for cleaning your deck, a garden hose alone doesn’t really provide enough pressure to really make a difference.

When using a pressure washer, you need to make sure that you don’t allow the tip to get too close to the wood. Getting too close will definitely cause damage. You should aim for around 1300-1500 PSI (pounds per square inch). Keep in mind that some pressure washers may go up to 3,000 PSI. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use these machines, just remember to use the widest tip (least pressure) available and hold the power washer 8-12 inches away from your decking surface to prevent damage.

Prior to using your power washer, make sure that you apply a deck cleaner or wood stain stripper to the entire surface. These powerful cleaners, along with the physical power of the pressure washer combine to restore your wood to a beautiful deck surface that will add to the beauty of your home.

pressurewashertipsOnce a high quality wood cleaner or wood stripper has been applied to the wood, it’s time to use the pressure washer. First you need to choose the appropriate tip size. Nozzles, or tip sizes vary and the angle of the tip opening will determine the amount of pressure.  The smaller the angle, the more pressure you get. A zero degree tip is the most powerful and is not recommended for decks as you will probably be able to write your name in the wood with this tip.

Some power washers come with variable degree nozzles that you can manually twist to adjust the pressure. Just make sure that you use a wider tip so the pressure doesn’t damage the wood fibers.

One other thing. Be sure that you are strong enough to handle a power washer! Using a power washer can be very physically demanding so make sure that you are capable of using this tool, otherwise you risk doing damage to your deck and yourself! Remember, this is 1500 pounds of pressure.

It’s best not to try your power washer on your deck the first time you turn it on. Maybe start on on a concrete sidewalk until you get the hang of it. If the pressure surprises you, you may end up with an area of your deck that looks damaged and sunken in.

Once you get the hang of your power washer and feel comfortable enough to begin cleaning the deck, make sure that you go about cleaning a few inches in front of your feet in a long, pendulum like motion. Be sure to wear protective shoes, boots if at all possible, because 1500 pounds of pressure on your pinky toe will not feel good! Make sure you exaggerate your sweeping motion to avoid any lines in your deck surface.

pwRemember that you are merely trying to remove the dirt that is embedded into your wood, not strip the wood of anything else. The cleaner and/or stripper will take care of removing any previous finishes. The pressure washer simply washes everything away.

When you are finished power washing you should still be able to distinguish the wood’s grain and texture. Also, if you used a stain stripper, make sure to use an oxalic acid based product or a wood brightener before staining or sealing your wood. This will neutralize any leftover stripper so you don’t have problems with the stain lifting later on.

All in all, a power washer is a great way to bring your wooden deck back to life and when used properly, can make your cleaning job much faster and easier. Whether you simply want to spruce up your deck or you need to prep it for using a deck stain or clear deck sealer, a pressure washer is a great tool to add to your arsenal of home improvement tools.

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Deck Cleaning

Deck Cleaning and Repair

by Clay
written by Clay

deck1

For many American homeowners, warm weather is an invitation to take the party out to the backyard patio or deck. Before you haul out the grill and light the tiki torches, however, take some time to do a little preventive maintenance.

“This is the time to do a few simple things that will make your deck last for years,” says home repair expert, Jim Rocchetta. “Plus, you’ll have your outdoor environment looking great before you and your friends head outside for those backyard get-togethers.”

The first step is a thorough inspection of the entire structure to ensure that it is safe and secure. Check for loose nails and screws, and either replace them or retighten them. Tighten any railings that have become loose. Then, look beneath the deck to confirm that beams and support poles remain in good working order. “If you find structural components that are loose, rotten or out of position, for your own safety, quit using the deck and call a pro in to fix the problem,” says Rocchetta.

As an additional safety precaution, replace broken or rotten deck boards before they break through completely. Boards that have become bowed or warped will also need to be replaced because they hold water and make the deck surface uneven, and create another potential safety hazard. If you’re replacing those boards with pressure-treated lumber, maximize the life of your deck by using stainless steel or high-grade galvanized fasteners designed to combat the corrosive effects of modern lumber treatment chemicals.

cleaner-smallOnce everything is secure, clean the deck boards with a biodegradable deck cleaner to remove dirt, mildew and algae. These environmentally friendly wood deck cleaners are now commonly available and actually perform better than previously popular outdoor wood cleaners such as bleach. Even if your deck is made from a composite material, most manufacturers still recommend a thorough annual cleaning. During the cleaning process, also take a little time to sand down any spots that have become rough or splintered.

Finally, ensure your deck looks great by protecting it from mildew and water damage with a high-quality finish and preservative. There are many good products on the market. “The best wood preservative products contain UV-resistant compounds which will really liven up the deck surface and add a high-degree of protection from the elements,” says Rocchetta.

A newer technology recently introduced to the market utilizes nano technology. These deck stains have nano-sized zinc oxide particles that are highly mold resistant and reflect UV rays without adding color to your wood. Since there are over 30 trillion zinc particles in a single square inch, they’re so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. This nano-technology is still in it’s infancy in the deck stain market, but there is already a product made by a company called Defy that has this technology. Check out Extreme Wood Stain for clear protection. Look for others in the future, but for now this one has the longest lifespan by far.

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