neutralizing necessary??

[Power Clean]

has anyone every bypassed the neutralizing step?

I stripped a deck yesterday of three sections with "Remove". Two sections are new with that factory sealant stuff so remove removed it fairly well. the other section had not been sealed? Only the new sections had spindles and they came out looking as if I neutralized them. Question.... If they were rinsed well (as they were) and they look good, is it absolutey necessary to neutralize them or should I neutralize them because of some chemical imbalance?.

Also, on the new sections, some boards were apparently NOT factory sealed boards and when I cleaned them and then neautralized them with Oxalic they looked like crapola (darker) than the others. I know when they dry, they'll look better, but I don't think they'll match the other boards. The sealed boards really turned out extermely bright! I'll check them out today for results when they have had a little time to dry. If they still look like crapola, how can I get them to match?

thanks, roy

 

[Deck Works]

I wouldn't risk it, but thats my opinion.....takes 20 minutes to nuetralise.

John

 

[Mike Hughes]

I would neutralize it also.....always. One time earlier this season, I felt I could get away without it, and boy was I sorry. The deck did not look as good as it could have prior to the sealing, which of course, will compomise the job.

Customer was happy anyway...........but I really regret not doing it.

Mike