Calling all wood Deck Pro's

restrangled

I have a deck, that initially was sealed by hand with a brush. Twice over and took me a month.......It's over 1000 square feet. Pressure treated pine. I am 2 months past the 2 year mark where it should have been sealed again.

It needs to be pressure washed before I start again. (I am dreading this project)

The sealent we ordered did last the two years as advertised, but since then I have adopted dogs that have been peeing and pooping on the same........Does anyone know if that permanently damages the wood and I wonder if I reseal this stuff, am I just locking in more problems?

r.

Brother Apostate

1)- Do NOT power wash your deck on a high pressure setting. Use only enough pressure to loosen mold, mildew, droppings, etc. This should take almost NO time to do. Repeat, do NOT power wash to a "like new" look. You will be washing out the preservatives if you do so.

2)- Allow to fully dry- a day or two in 90 degree weather, weeks in 40-50 degree weather.

3)- Use Olympic Maximum 5 year or ten year stain only- two or more coats does the best job.

4)- Enjoy your deck for at least 5 years before repeating.

BA

What-A-Coincidence

BA is one BA!

Jourles

5.) Rip out and install composite deck boards in place of.

When I built our deck earlier this summer, we debated on which type of "wood" to use. I'm pretty glad I spent the little bit extra for composite. It'll never rot and I won't ever have to worry about sealing it every couple years. If anyone has any question on what to use, spend the extra money for the good stuff - you'll thank yourself years down the road. Oh, and it cleans off wonderfully with a power washer - no matter what the setting.

restrangled

BA....Thanks, but what part of the country are you in? Where I am at there is so much heat and moisture...there is no control. I have mildew, black streaks, and ofcourse what I refrered to above and we spent $500.00 on the sealer. The problem here is the sun, and water. Bake, saturate, bake saturate....its horrible. The deck is beautiful, but won't be unless I get this handled soon.

r.

Brother Apostate

Pennsylvania- 100 plus degree heat with 90 plus percent humidity in summer, sub-zero temperatures in winter with snow, sleet, hail, ice, and in between the two extremes, everything imaginable.

As for composites, time will tell, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that sawdust and petrochemicals will NOT have the shelf life marketed by Weyerhauser, et al.

I've already seen composite decking torn off and replaced with wood in less than a decade.

So, good luck, Jourles.

I still recommend wood. Or if you've got the coin, real plastic decking such as is manufactured by DelMarva plastics.

And I own a company that builds a lot of decks.

BA

Big Tex

Our deck is made of Trex, the reconstituted wood, and it's lasted really well for the past three+ years. No warping or splitting. No splinters. Nice weathered gray color. Of course, if the house catches fire, the deck will probably melt instead of burning . . .

Nina (who forgot to log out Big Tex, as usual)

restrangled

Wow, BA I was questioning my choice, and it was not cheap. (treated wood)....I just want to maintain what we have , and thanks for your info.....Big help.

r.

bigmouth

Amateur advice here. I have several large decks and prior to restaining I scrub them with sugar soap and a stiff brush. Let dry out for a couple of days. Brush stain on. Looks new again. I always use a good quality oil based stain on my tanalised pine.

BTW, my seasons sound similar to Brother Apostate in Pennsylvania.

restrangled

Sugar Soap?.

I have to hand do over a 1000 square feet.....some edges saturated with dog pee...will that work?

Calling all wood Deck Pro's

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