how to clean old wood deck

If your deck is very large or if you have a lot to clean you may need to make another batch of soapy water. Just know that sodium hydroxide turns most wood decks black so youll need to apply either citric or oxalic acid to the deck after cleaning it to restore the wood to its natural hue.

How To Clean Deck For Cheap Deck Cleaning Deck Cleaner Diy Deck

If your deck is painted and you want to repaint it you can also skip this step.

. High density hardwood decks such as Ipe Cumaru and Garapa are a cinch to clean. Add about 2 cups of Napisan or a generic alternative that contains sodium percarbonate to half a bucket of hot water and you have a great solution for cleaning the deck with. Use a dry brush or broom to get the initial dirt and dust off of the deck.

Use a garden hose to wet down the entire deck. Turn on the water and practice using the wand for a minute. To do this you can either use a deck cleaner or bleach cut in half with warm water and a scrub brush.

Use a roller or spray applicator to cover every bit of the surface of the deck with wood cleaner. Leave the solution to sit on the deck for about 15 minutes or so then add a little more. Alternatively you can use a speciality wood deck cleaner.

Here are a few helpful tips. Contrary to popular belief chlorine bleach is not a great cleaner for a wood deck. This caustic cleaner is found in many pump spray deck cleaners because it doesnt need a power of a power washer to be effective.

Switching over to composite decking is one option though the cost may be prohibitive. Pump the sprayer until you feel resistance usually about 25 pumps or so. Lastly rinse with clean water and leave the deck to dry.

Step 1 Move all the furniture off of the deck. Begin by Mixing the Deck Cleaner Concentrate with Water. Saturate the surface and scrub the deck with a stiff-bristled brush or sponge until the cleaning solution starts to lather.

Choose efficient cleaning tools. Begin at one end of the deck and work your way across the entire surface. HOW TO CLEAN A WOOD DECK STEP-BY-STEP.

Before cleaning the deck set any nails that are raised up using a 38-inch by 6-inch bolt and a hammer. An Affordable Alternative To Replacement. Prepare Wood Deck Surfaces for Stain.

Wait about 15 minutes before you start to scrub Photo 7. These services usually charge by the pound. If stain remains after stripping and cleaning proceed to sanding.

If you do this before you get the deck wet it will be easier to. Keep the wand 12-18 inches from the deck and wash in the direction of the wood grain. Hold the wand about 6-12 inches above the surface of the deck so the water sprays a few feet in front of you.

Apply whatever you are using for a cleaner to the deck. Clean the handrails and balusters with cleaner water and a bristle brush. Rinse the entire deck with the garden hose to remove the cleaning solution.

After scrubbing the deck rinse it clean with a power washer or a garden hose. Use a long-handled brush with stiff bristles or a push broom to scrub. Squeeze the handle to start the water flow then adjust the stream of water by turning the dial at the top of the handleNow begin rinsing the deck.

Step 2 Spray Deck Cleaner over a Small Area of Deck Restoration. Then grab the wand and spray the solution on the deck surface Photo 6. Step 3 Work Cleaner into the Wood with a Synthetic-bristle Brush.

Once youve rinsed the deck youre likely going to be very excited at the results youre seeing. Make sure the surfaces dont dry out during this time. Keeping a wood deck in good shape takes a lot of work.

Step 5 Mix Brightener Solution to Lighten and Even Color Tones. How to clean old wood deck. In this how-to video This Old House general contractor Tom Silva breathes new life into a weather-beaten wood deck.

And youll be tempted to quit and wait for the deck to dry. Spray the wood cleaner solution onto the deck and railings then wait 10 minutes. After scrubbing flush the surface with your garden hose sprayer until the deck looks clean.

A 25-degree to 40-degree nozzle should give you an effective spray without harming your wood. Stripping and cleaning of the boards are an important step to ensuring that the stain will last a long time. Remove all planters seats and tables from your deck before you start to clean it2 X Research sourceStep 2 Sweep down your deck with a broom.

Attach the nozzle to your spray tip turn on the washer and distribute the liquid along the deck. Even if you stain or seal it the boards can still crack and splinter making the deck look old and worn. Do not exceed 600 psi for softwood and 1200 psi for hardwood.

Step 4 Hose the Area with Water and a High-pressure Hose Nozzle. Using the deck brush apply the soapy water liberally to all surfaces you want to clean. 1 For a routine cleaning a bucket of warm soapy water and a stiff bristle non-metallic broom or brush will clean off most surface residues pollen tree droppings dust dirt and grime.

Furniture will get in the way as you clean. What is the best way to clean a wooden deck. In the backpack pump sprayer mix a one-to-one ratio of biodegradable wood cleaner to water.

Purchase a stiff bristled decking brush from a hardware store and give the boards a light scrub while applying the cleaner. It is not necessary to use a pressure washer at this stage. Either of these methods will work wonders on algae and mildew.

Let mixture stand for 5 to 10 minutes or follow the instructions on the deck cleaner label. Wood Deck Covering. The first step is to prepare the wood surface for stain by removing loose surface finishes and paint if needed.

If your deck does not have loose paint or opaque stain you can skip this step. Wait 10-15 minutes for the soap to soak in and do its work. Cleaning Your Deck After sweeping your deck and clearing the cracks it is important to clean the wood.

Combine 1 gallon water with 1 cup baking soda. Be sure to give your plants and siding a quick rinse as well.

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