Wood Deck Restoration

Everything you need to know about Wood Deck Restoration

1. Always use the best deck restoration products you can find. When it comes time to restore again in the future you will be glad you did. It makes an amazing difference.
2. Clean and prep the wood first! ALWAYS, even if it is new. This ensures maximum stain performance.
3. Make sure you use biodegradable wood cleaners, strippers, and brighteners.
4. Wear protective clothing during the prepping process.
5. It is important to thoroughly rinse the wood deck cleaner, stripper, and brightener after each step.
6. If any of these chemicals comes in contact with your skin or eyes be sure to rinse immediately!
7. Use a wood deck brightener after the use of a wood deck stripper to neutralize the pH balance. It is best to do this as soon as you are finished with the stripping process while the wood is still wet.
8. When using a pressure washer, use extreme caution not to damage the wood or yourself.
9. When washing with a pressure washer wash with the grain of the wood.
10. When using a pressure washer make sure to wash with a pendulum motion. Try not to reverse your motion until you are at the high point of the arc. If you do not do this you may see marks or gauges in the wood. Do not get too close to the wood, 8-12 inches away is about right.
11. Be sure to rinse the house after the cleaning process. This will rinse off the wood fibers and dirt as it is much harder to get them off after they dry on windows and siding.
12. Move patio furniture at least 30 feet away from the wood or deck. This will minimize accidental over spray.
13. Cover any electrical outlets when washing the deck. You do not want to find out later that the freezer in your basement was off for a few days because the circuit breaker was tripped.
14. Close any doors or windows that are in close to the deck when you are washing.
15. When hiring it is best to choose a Wood Restoration Contractor who is established and has references if you ask.
16. Never hire a contractor who stuck a flyer in your mailbox.
17. Use Stainless steel or galvanized nails, screws, and brackets for replacement wood otherwise you will see black rusts streaks.

Wood Deck Restoration Staining Tips

1. Pick the correct deck stain color. You really do not want to do the whole process over again or get that 'look' from your spouse.
2. Be sure to mask the areas you wish to protect from stain caused by over spray where needed.
3. Wear old clothes when staining! There is a reason they call it stain!
4. Wear gloves when staining. (see reason above!)
5. Apply the wood stain in the direction of the wood grain.
6. Apply stain evenly.
7. Protect plants and bushes from stain.
8. Use only high quality brushes, stain pads, and rollers.
9. Protect stain from dripping into water if near a pool, lake, or pond so as not to pollute those waters.
10. Cover concrete and pavers! The stain will not come out if you drip on them.
11. Use plastics or poly tarps when covering plants and concrete. Wood stains will bleed through canvas tarps.
12. Apply the wood stain to the verticals (railings, fencing, trellis, etc.) first and do the horizontals last. Never walk on the fresh stain until completely dry!
13. If you need to apply a second coat it is okay to walk on the first coating prior to drying. Make sure though that you do not leave any footprints in your second coating.
14. Follow all manufacturer's directions as all stains differ on the amount of coatings suggested and application methods.
15. When using more than 1 gallon or pail, it is best to mix them all together first to ensure even color.
16. If you are sanding the wood make sure that it is even! Spot sanding can cause the wood stain to penetrate unevenly.
17. When "edging" out the house where the decking butts up, it is best to stagger your stain line. This reduces the chance of having an overlap line when you finish the rest of the flooring.
18. When staining the flooring stain the entire board(s) from end to end before moving on to the next board.
19. When using a pump sprayer it is best to use a high quality one. Cheap plastic sprayers that are not designed for wood deck restoration can clog and leak.
20. With a pump sprayer it is best to use a "fan" tip and not the circular "cone" tip. It will spray wood stains better.
21. Make sure to thoroughly mix your stain prior to filling your pump sprayer. Always pour directly from the can, never from your paint tray. This will reduce any chance of clogging the sprayer.
22. If using the pump sprayer to apply the stain to the decking floor, it is a must that you also back wipe to ensure uniformity when dry. The use of a stain pad attached to a pole is best for this.
23. If using a sprayer on the railings it is important to back wipe the excess stain that accumulates on the flooring below the railings. If you do not do this you may have shiny spots and or a darker color below the railings compared to the rest of the flooring.
24. Do railings that are directly next to the house with a stain bad or brush. Do not use a sprayer here as it will get all over the windows and siding. We would not suggest spraying the railings until you are at least 4-6 feet away from the house.
25. Use a tarp on the outside edge of the deck to catch any over spray.
26. Let wood stain dry completely prior to walking on the decking. Especially if you walk into your house as you can track stain onto the floor!
27. Leave furniture off deck until completely dry.
28. When using a water-based wood stain make sure that you clean your application tools with water as soon as you’re done.
29. When using an oil-based wood stain make sure that you clean your application tools with mineral spirits or paint thinner as soon as you’re done.
30. Final wood stain color is dependent on the age of the wood, type of wood, application of wood stain, and preparation (cleaning) of the wood.

Things you NEVER do when cleaning/restoring deck.

1. NEVER Hire a contractor who buys his materials at Home Depot. Any experienced wood restoration contractors knows there is much better materials and stains elsewhere.
2. NEVER Use a pressure washer without cleaners. It can damage the deck if you do not use the proper cleaners.
3. NEVER Use steel wool to sand the wood. This will leave metal in the wood that will turn black from rust.
4. NEVER Sand the wood too smooth! This could cause the stain to not absorb into the wood and prematurely fail! 60 grit sandpaper is best.
5. NEVER Use household bleach to clean the wood. Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) has been proven to damage the cellular structure of the wood.
6. NEVER Use the Red Tip that comes with your pressure washer. This is a "zero" tip and you will damage your wood.
7. NEVER Let your wood stripper or cleaner dry on the wood during the washing process. Try to keep the wood wet throughout the entire process.
8. NEVER  Use interior wood filler on your outside deck. It will not work. The stain will not color the filler and it will just "fall" out after a short period of time.
9. NEVER Allow pets to walk on the deck during the entire process. If they walk on the deck during the washing process they make get a chemical reaction from the cleaners on their paws. While the deck is drying it is best to keep them off if possible to minimize dirt and mud from being tracked on to the wood. If they walk on the stain while wet it can make them sick. Pets have a tendency to clean themselves and stain getting into their system is not a good idea.
10. NEVER Plant new annuals near the deck prior to starting your refinishing. Tarps and cleaners can damage them. It is best to wait until after you are done. If it is too late make sure to tarp using stakes. In addition remove the tarps as soon as possible to reduce any chance of damaging the flowers from excessive heat.
11. NEVER Believe over-hyped extended stain warranties! Honestly nothing will look like new on a horizontal surface after 2-3 years. Warranties that claim 5, 6 and even 10 years are impossible. They are betting that high sales volumes will overcome their warranty claims. Typically these warranties are "limited" and if you were to make a claim all you would get is product replacement at best. Never will they reimburse you for your hard work and time. It's just a numbers game to these corporations. This is also why you will never see a high quality wood deck stain brand in a "big box" store.
12. NEVER Use Behr Wood Stains. You have been warned!
13. NEVER Use Thompson's Water Sealer. Why waste your time!
14. NEVER Apply an oil-based stain over top of a water-based stain and vice versa. You can create an adhesion issue.
15. NEVER Apply a new coating on top of an old coating that is already failing and peeling. You will be wasting your time as the new coating will not "fix" the failed coating.
16. NEVER Apply an oil-based wood deck stain to a wet deck unless the manufacturer says you can.
17. NEVER Apply a wood deck stain during rain or if rain is forecasted shortly.
18. NEVER Over apply a wood stain. "Thicker is not better" Extra coats will not make it last longer. In fact the stains can fail prematurely.
19. NEVER Over apply on New Wood. New wood is not very absorbent and too much stain will just dry on top of the wood instead of penetrating into the wood. In most causes you will only need one coat on new wood.
20. NEVER Apply a semi-transparent stain over a solid (opaque) stain.
21. NEVER Apply a wood stain below the recommended minimum temperature. The stain may not dry or cure properly if you do.
22. NEVERApply a wood stain if the temperature will fall below freezing over night. This may be okay of your stain has enough time to dry prior, but if it is still wet when it freezes it may have issues.
23. NEVER Apply a stain in extreme heat! The stain may "flash" dry. This can create unevenness and "shiny" spots.
24. NEVER Stain your deck the day before a party. Due to weather conditions, stains may not be completely dry for a few days. The last thing you want is one of your friends leaning on a wet railing.
25. NEVER Add mineral spirits or thinner to the stain. You will degrade its performance.
26. NEVER Stain half the floor then take a long break. You may get overlap lines.
27. NEVER Roll around a heavy grill! These stainless steel grills weigh a lot and typically have small wheels. Rolling the grill back and forth across the decking will leave small dents. Applying a semi-transparent stain will enhance these dents leaving marks all over your decking.
28. NEVER Fill your stain trays on grass. Any spills and the grass will die.
29. NEVER Spray a wood stain on a windy day. One gust and the stain can get all over your windows, siding, or neighbors home.
30. NEVER Wear black soled shoes when using an oil-based stain. The petroleum in the stain can soften the soles leaving black footprints all over your deck!
31. NEVER Try to make your deck "shiny" like your interior hardwood floor. The stain will peel and it will be extremely difficult to remove. This happens when stains are over-applied or a film-forming varnish stain is chosen. An example of a film-forming varnish type stain is Sikkens Cetol. In our opinion this should never be used on decking surface.
32. NEVER Step of your newly stained deck on to concrete or pavers. You will leave footprints.
33. NEVER Worry about the knots of the wood being lighter in color. This is normal for a lot of the stains as the knots have a higher density, causing the stains to be less absorbent.
34. NEVER Use water to clean oil-based stains.
35. NEVER Leave oily rags or canvas tarps near or in the house! They can start a fire. Water down first if needed to reduce any chance of this occurring.