Neutralize?

[D.Martin]

Hey guys&gals


Just a quick question on stripping decks. I need to find out if a guy would need to neutralize a cedar deck after it was stripped. Would it damage the wod if a person didn't follow up with this neutralizer. I want to be up on this first before i do anything with this job. All the help would be appreciated. I am new at this deck stripping.


Thanks,
Damon

 

[Jon Fife]

hi Damon,

Yes, you do need to neutralize with either oxalic or citric acid. You can also find something at the hardware store, may be called brightener but make sure it has one or these two ingredients. A good rule of thumb until you learn what requires neutralization is to always neutralize. Shouldn't hurt anything and can only make your job look better. Good luck, make sure the wood is wet when applying neutralizer and rinse after ten minutes.

Jon Fife
Nashville,TN

 

[reedsterstl]

As Jon said, neutrilize. Absolutely a must. There are several products out there that do a great job. If you would like email me and I can set you up with a contact or two for brightner that does not have to be rinsed off. Apply it and let it dry. It really does an excellent job.

 

[Mike Hughes]

I have never rinsed my brightner off............what are you using, Jon?

 

[Jon Fife]

hi Mike,

I doubt it makes a difference either way; I have heard some say they rinse and some say they don't. I figure if there was conclusive proof that either way was better than the other, we would know by now. I usually rinse because in my experience you can't rinse enough. Mike, I use oxalic or citric acid. Do you know, Mike, is Ready seal #80 brightener the same as sunbrites product??

best regards,

Jon Fife
Nashville,TN

 

[reedsterstl]

Hey Jon,

I have used both the ReadySeal #80 and Sunbrites. Fundmentally the same as you don't have to rinse after application. I just picked up Wolman's new All exterior wood cleaner and brightner and you do have to rinse it. It is blue in color as a concentrate, but has soap in it so rinsing is a must. I haven't been able to tell much difference between Sunbrites and ReadySeal's brightner. Kind of like sunbrites because i can mix it at the job site. ReadySeals is pre-mixed and expensive for me as far as shipping costs. It weighs about 55lbs for 5 gallons.