Washerless deck restoration

JR Wood

New Member
With the threat of mandatory water restrictions here in New Jersey,I was thinking of offering deck sanding and sealing as an alternative.I have never really sanded an entire deck before(pretty close though) and was wondering if anybody does this ? and how much more time it will take than using a pressure washer.One plus is I can seal immediately saving a trip back and getting paid the same day.
I have a small belt sander,A larger belt sander a palm sander and an orbital sander...Do I need a floor sander or should I rent one?
How long does it take to sand a 600 sq foot deck with 70 feet of rails and say 4 steps.
I sanded a 350 sq foot floor of a deck with my big belt sander in about an hour and 45 minutes will a floor sander be a lot faster and is sanding rails a giant pain or is it easy once you get a good system going.
This drought crap is really screwing things up!!!
 

ron

New Member
JR/RON P

Iam exit 105 off the parkway so i am in the same boat [dry docked]
im going to start doing decks this year. My solution is a tank and trailer.
Its not that hard to find WELL WATER. Plus the first restrictions wont hurt us they
still allow us [contractors] to use what we need. They cant make biz. stop untill
ir reaches level 4 of 5 levels. Its only done that 1 time in 30 years. Problem is people wont call or people watching you get mad. Im putting signs on my trailer saying WELL WATER so i dont get the cops there every 10 min.
they cant make sod growers stop so why us?
have you ever checked out or used a sealer called WeatherMax?
www.primeshop.com you need to water down the deck BEFORE you apply it.
I am thinking of 3 types of sealer 1] pennofin red lable 2]ready seal 3]weathermax
only problem with weathermax is you would need to sand it to get it off if you didnt like it.
im going to use sunbrights brightner- and pennofin to start
my question is whats in your arsonal of strippers oxi-bleach? wolemans?
thanks
 

Bill B

New Member
JR, do you think sanding alone will open up the pores well enough to achieve good penetration of the sealer?
 

danarc

New Member
Re: Re: Washerless deck restoration

Originally posted by danarc
I have never used a drum sander on a deck but what does work pretty good is a swing buffer using screen back sanding disk. When you use a floor polishing pad between the disk and holder it will float over any uneveness. I think if you use a drum sander and the boards are cupped you will have to take a lot off to do a good job. As far as the rails go I don't think there is a good way. Good luck
 

Dan Flynn

PWN Founder
It's really labor intensive. But the result is really good. Minus a few corners here and there. The floor will look brand new and when the sealer is applied it will look better than you've seen.

I used a floor sander and I rented it. It takes a little getting use to. Take it slow at first. Rent an orbit for tight spots. I would not do this unless I really got paid well. The corners and tight spots are time consuming. The floor is easy except under the rails.

How ever the deck I did was large and I sanded of FLOOD stain. So anything else would be easier. Sell them high and tell them how much better this option is than pressure washing.
 

ron

New Member
ron p

all this talk on sanding decks dont forget that breathing dust from pressure treated lumber can kill you. Even small amounts-they accumulate and then they kill you
just because it didnt kill you on the first 5 decks one more could your body stores it arsenic
 

JR Wood

New Member
To answer Ron
all this talk on sanding decks dont forget that breathing dust from pressure treated lumber can kill you. Even small amounts-they accumulate and then they kill you
I know, I get Blastmaster magazine too!
Cedar and Redwood dust is also dangerous to breath in
To answer Bill B.
JR, do you think sanding alone will open up the pores well enough to achieve good penetration of the sealer?
Yes! Even better than washing.As long as the surface doesn't heat up too much and cause a surface barrier.
 

Deck Works

New Member
I have gotten stuck sanding 2 decks due to the fact I couldn't get the old stain up with chemicals. Its a complete pain in the A$$. Now all my stripping contracts put an exclusion in for sanding if the chemicals don't work. Exclusion is Floor Sander rental and $55/man hour of sanding.

Wouldn't recommend it. I would go with the tank idea.

John
 

Richard R.

New Member
Jr,
A few Winters ago, I helped my family in their hardwood floors business, which consisted installing, sanding and sealing wood floors.
As for the using sanders to do the job, if you do everything by the letter, it would be the most unpopular thing you've ever done.
It takes about 3 different sanders, one of which is the belt sander which cost about $11,000.00 unless you buy a used one.
I don't think I can tell you exactly how its done but I could show you.
The results are way beyond anyones imagination, but almost every negative thing you heard in these posts are true including the dying. My Uncle who started this business years ago, died of lung cancer at about 52 years old. One of his youngest sons who helped in the business ever since he was a young boy had asthma so bad I would almost have a panic attack when I was around during one of his attacks.
I almost hated helping them. The pain in my back and legs hurt so bad sometimes I felt like I wasn't going to make it.

Take Care
Richard R
 

reedsterstl

New Member
i use a orbital industrial floor sander sometimes. It does a wonderful job, BUT, unless it has a vacuum system the sawdust is incredible. The results, I think, are unbeatable as far a prep goes. But to buy one is very expensive and you would have to use it alot to pay for it. Renting one seems the most economical and you can put the rent $$ in the bid.

Reed
 

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