Cedar deck questions....

KirkDS

New Member
Hi guys - I found your forum after searching for some helpful information reagarding presure-washing my 9 month old cedar deck.

The deck was built in the Fall and I'm just now getting around to sealing/staining it and it's just began to weather a bit and most of the deck boards have the gray look now.

Normally I research stuff before just diving in, but I had it in my head that I should give my deck a good pressure-washing before staining it tomorrow (I have a cheap washer from Target). I spent a long time washing a small section, watching as the color got brighter as I went along. I stopped to let the section dry and have a look before going further and now the part I washed has a strange tint to it and the "fuzzies". I"m hoping it'll be back to normal tomorrow after it dries more, but I'm worried I've done some serious damage now....or may end up with different colored sections unless I do the rest of the deck the same way.
Do I need to sand the entire deck? Do I need to use some sort of bleach/cleaner on the whole deck? Has anyone seen this before? I feel like an idiot, and any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks...
 

Everett

Member
This is an excerpt from an article I wrote a few years ago. Unfortunately it still applies. My suggestion would be to find someone to do this project for you. Hopefully there is a contractor on here who is in your area to help you. There are a lot of great folks on here that frequent this board. Good luck in your efforts!



Exterior Wood Restoration
Breaking Down the Myth:
"Anyone Can Do It"


The answer is... of course "anyone" can do it ! However , only a true professional can restore exterior
wood correctly. This article will breakdown the myth that "anyone can do it" by explaining the pitfalls ,
the detail involved , what to look for in a contractor , as well as explain what exactly is involved in an
exterior wood restoration project.

First , let's ask a few questions , the same questions a contractor may ask or consider prior to estimating
or beginning your project.

What is the history of the project? (Decks , Fences , Wood Siding , etc.)

How many coats of sealer/stain are currently on the surface?

What is the new coating going to be? Sealer ( with/or without a tone) , Semi-Transparent , or Solid

What are the differences in each?

Does it need to be stripped and neutralized/brightened?

What is stripping and neutralizing/brightening?

What happens if the stripper isn't completely rinsed off?

How is salt formed on the surfaces and how could it affect the project?

Does it have to be pressure washed?

What size nozzle tip should be used?

What is a tip?

What are the different methods for application and their differences?

This just scratches the surface of questions. If you can't answer even one of these questions whether or
not you are a consumer or contractor , you are probably already in over your head. To restore exterior
wood "correctly" it takes much more than a pressure washer and a water supply. Actually , if you are
relying on the pressure of the water to do the cleaning , stripping , or part of the surface preparation , you
are doing it incorrectly. Matter of factly , probably scarring or damaging the wood surfaces you wanted
restored.

This industry often times has the reputation of the "fast food drive-thrus." Consumers feel they are
often not getting what they pay for. This exists because people are paying "fast food" prices to "fast food"
contractors. Because a contractor owns a pressure washer does not mean that they are a professional in
exterior wood restoration. The other side of this is if you spent the money on the investment of wood
siding , a deck , a fence , etc. , why would you let just"anyone" restore it? Further and specifically , if you
think that a contractor is going to come along and offers to restore your wood for less than $1.00 sq./ft.
,then you are probably going to get what you pay for...headaches , problems , and disappointment.
Depending on the preparation involved , previous coatings , height of work , type of finish coat to be
applied , and other factors $3.00 sq./ft. and over may not be out of the question. Understanding the
downside of not keeping up with proper maintenance it may cost much more in the long run.

Understanding the differences in the types of wood ; coatings ; chemicals ; procedures and methods ;
cleaners,strippers/neutralizers ; cornblasting ; pressure washing ; rollers vs. brushes vs. sprayers ; and
maintenance coats are just the tip of the iceberg. It does take experience and education to do the job
properly.
It certainly takes much more to restore wood correctly than it may look. Just ask anyone who has tried
to do their own deck or the person each year spending an arm and a leg , time , and effort , and still can't
get it to look the way they want. It is amazing what some folks will spend to get a piece of indoor furniture
restored by a professional but not their larger, more costly exterior wood. It would be like a fast food
restaurant offering a $.99 Filet mignon steak meal. If you wanted a filet mignon meal you usually wouldn't
go to a place that is offering it for $.99 . So , the question is ; Why would you expect a 1,000 sq./ft. wood
restoration project be performed for $200.00 to $300.00? It just doesn't make sense.

In conclusion , "Can anyone do it?" , of course. But should "anyone" do it ? Look for a professional
contractor in your area and protect your investment.

Written by ; Everett Abrams
01/03/03
Published in Cleaner Times August 2003
 

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