Does power washing damage a deck?

If you have timber deck boards, a power washer's pressure may cause splintering and damage to the timber fibers. If the timber surface already has some splintering, pressure washing will only exacerbate the issue.

How do you power wash a deck without damaging the wood?

Set your power washer at a low to medium setting when cleaning a deck to make sure you do not damage your wood. One of the most important things to remember is that if you use the high pressure setting for the power washer you may damage your wood and leave marks that cannot be covered up by a wood stain.

Does pressure washing damage pressure treated wood?

The impact of water above a 500 psi setting on a pressure washer, as well as bleaches and oxidizers, can damage the wood fibers and are not recommended for deck cleaning.

Do you need to treat deck after power washing?

If your deck is in a great condition and you're simply pressure washing it to remove dirt, dust or mold build up then there's no need to seal your deck after pressure washing. You would be using a gentle soap solution and giving your deck a scrub then pressure washing to remove the cleaning agent and dirts.

How often should you pressure wash your deck?

Most home maintenance contractors recommend power washing your deck once a year. An annual wash will keep your deck in optimal condition, cutting down on accumulation of dirt, mildew, or algae growth.

Can Power Washing Damage Your Wood Deck?

Should I power wash or sand my deck?

DO sand your deck before sealing. It can take up to 48 hours for the deck to fully dry. At that point, lightly sand the surface to remove splintery or fuzzy patches caused by pressure-washing the deck. A pole sander with 80-grit sandpaper will suffice; a power sander is overkill.

What time of year should you clean decking?

Generally speaking, a good principle is to have the deck pressure-washed when the temperatures remain above 52 degrees both at night and during the day without rain or other condensation for several days. This allows the deck to dry as quickly as possible.

How long does it take for a deck to dry after power washing?

Let's start by answering the question: how long should you wait for your deck to dry after you power wash it? The short answer is 48 hours. You should wait at least two days after pressure washing your deck before you consider staining it, to give time for it to dry.

What should I do after pressure washing my deck?

After you've pressure washed your deck, you'll need to wait for it to completely dry. Sometimes, this can take as long as 48-hours. Once it's dry, you'll want to sand your deck lightly. This is necessary to remove any splinters or fuzzy patches that pressure washing can cause.

What should you not power wash?

What is the best way to clean a treated wood deck?

For mild stains and dirt use a mild dish detergent diluted in a bucket of water. Mop a small area of the deck surface with the detergent and then use a stiff bristle brush to work the dirt free from the surface. Rinse the solution with a garden hose and re-clean areas as needed.

Why you should not pressure wash your house?

Your house is built to withstand rain and other moisture, and it can even withstand a low PSI with a pressure washer, but when pressure washers are used at full capacity, you may end up with soggy carpet, wet attics, and mold. When done incorrectly, a pressure washer can damage siding, even knocking it loose.

Can I powerwash a wooden deck?

For cleaning a wooden deck, you'll be best served by using the lowest pressure setting that's still effective. For soft woods like cedar or pine, this is usually about 500 to 600 psi. For harder woods, it can go up to 1200 to 1500 psi. Choose the right tip to use as well.

How do I naturally clean my wood deck?

To clean your deck, combine 1 cup vinegar with 1-gallon water. Sprinkle baking soda on any mildewed wood and use the vinegar and warm water to scrub over all the boards. Borate is also a natural cleaner and versatile for indoor or outdoor cleaning. Use a ratio of one cup of Borax to one gallon of water.

Does a deck have to be dry before power washing?

But how long do you have to wait to stain a pressure-washed deck? It depends on the weather conditions, but the average drying time for a jet washed wood is 48 hours. If you want to be extra sure it's dry enough to stain, you can wait 72 hours before staining.

How much does it cost to power wash a 12x12 deck?

The average cost to power wash, stain, and seal a deck is $1.57 to $4.04 per square foot. A 12x12 deck costs $226 to $582 to stain when paying someone, or $59 to $176 to stain it yourself.

How long should it take to pressure wash a deck?

After 15 minutes you can now use the pressure cleaner with the 25-degree nozzle to give the deck a final wash. Removing all the stains and the remaining brightener detergent in an even sweeping motion.

How much to pressure wash and paint a deck?

$415 – $925. The average cost to power wash and stain a deck is $2.15 to $4.25 per square foot. Deck painting cost is slightly lower. Total cost is $415 to $925 for decks of average size when a contractor is hired to do the work.

Why is my deck fuzzy?

Pressure washing removes the outer layer of dead wood, and can sometimes make it look like it has short fuzzy hairs. This is caused by the tearing of the wood fibers. This is normal, and does not indicate damage. These fuzzies will generally go away in 2 or 3 weeks.

Can you power wash a deck in the rain?

In short, yes. While there are safety precautions you must take, power washing in a light to medium rain can speed up and enhance the power washing process. Here are the two main reasons why: Rain allows power washing detergents to sit on exterior surfaces without drying.

How clean does deck need to be before staining?

Before you apply stain, make sure the surface is clean (no dust, dirt, wood fibers or grease), dry and free from mildew. When a surface is not clean, stains and other finishes have trouble sticking and may end up peeling. 1. Thoroughly sweep the deck to remove all leaves and other debris.

Does power washing remove wood stain?

By adding specialized pressure washer detergent, this tool becomes a powerful stain remover. Cleaning solutions can help you lift stains from aluminum siding, wood and vinyl siding, driveways and walkways, decks, paving stones, and other materials.