Is deck wash necessary?

A: Yes. The answer is simple enough, but it really should be remembered that it's important to remove all dirt and contaminants from the surface of wood to ensure proper stain penetration and maximum durability of wood stains. These cleaning tips will help you properly prepare your deck before staining it.

What happens if you don't clean deck before staining?

But don't just slap a coat of stain on in a hurry — you'll need to clean your deck before staining it. If you stain a deck without cleaning and prepping it first, the results will look blotchy, uneven, and, well, amateur. Any time you save skipping the cleaning stage, you'll spend twice over repairing the botched job.

What is the purpose of deck wash?

Most folks opt to use a deck cleaner at the start of the summer to remove mildew and leaf decay stains and refresh the surface for the upcoming outdoor entertainment season. Deep cleaning is also an essential step before sealing or staining a deck.

Should you power wash your deck every year?

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 I paint my deck without power washing?

Pressure washing will not only remove the dirt and grime, but it can also remove old, chipped paint that may cause discrepancies in you new paint job. In short, forgoing the pressure washing step will likely cause a lot of injustice to your new paint job!

$16 Deck Cleaner vs $3 Bleach..

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.

Is it necessary to power wash a deck before staining?

There is a common misconception that just pressure washing a deck prior to staining is all you need to do in order to prep your deck for stain. Pressure washing can help, but if you want your stain to last, using a good deck cleaner and brightener on the deck prior to pressure washing will provide you the best result.

Can you ruin a deck by pressure washing?

One of the quickest ways to do damage to your deck is by blasting it with a high-pressure power washer. Using too much pressure can scar the wood, leaving unsightly marks. Damage to the wood that weakens it in spots could eventually lead to structural damage.

Should you power wash a wooden deck?

Beware Pressure Washing Damage

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.

Is deck brightener necessary?

A: To restore your deck's wood to its original beauty, it's important to use a brightener as part of your deck staining system. Cleaning is a great first step to remove stains, but many stains (such as those from dust and leaves) are deep set in the wood and require additional stain removal.

Can I use Simple Green to clean my deck?

Simple Green Deck and Fence Cleaner is ideal for both manual and pressure washing your entire deck, lifting dirt, grease and sap from wood and composite surfaces. If using a pressure washer, avoid using a maximum pressure setting, as too much force can damage the wood fibers.

How do I make my own deck wash?

Do you need to wash wood before staining?

Do you have to clean wood before staining? You have to clean wood before staining. This is because staining does little to hide any imperfections on the wood: be it dust, grease, scratches, or dirt. So if you want a smooth finish, always sand the wood clean and evenly, then remove dust before you apply a stain finish.

Why does my deck stain peel every year?

Deck stains will generally peel for two basic reasons: over application and poor adhesion. This is simple — too much stain on the surface of the wood. With deck stains, specifically with semi-transparent finishes, more is not better. You only want to apply as much product as the wood can easily absorb.

How do you clean an unstained deck?

While there are many deck cleaners available on the market, we have found a solution of warm water, TSP (trisodium phosphate), and a small amount of bleach (or powdered oxygen bleach like Oxiclean) to work really well and be very cost-effective.

How often should you clean your deck?

DO clean the deck thoroughly once a year. Your deck needs an annual exfoliation so protective sealers can seep deeper into the wood. When it's dry and moderately warm—60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit—apply an appropriate deck-cleaning solution with a roller or sprayer to kill mold and bacteria.

What is the best thing to clean decking?

To avoid damaging your decking, create a gentle cleaning solution with warm water and liquid dish soap. Alternatively, you can use a speciality wood deck cleaner. Saturate the surface and scrub the deck with a stiff-bristled brush or sponge until the cleaning solution starts to lather.

Do you have to seal 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.

Is it OK to waterblast a deck?

And PLEASE, do not waterblast your deck, no matter what the manufacturers of overpriced cleaning gadgets tell you. Powerful jets of water can damage your decking timber, lifting timber fibres. The net result could be a “fluffy” deck, or even one that is more prone to mould and dirty build up than it was to start.

How long after pressure washing a deck can you stain it?

Wood Deck Staining Overview

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.

Should I sand my deck after pressure washing?

Make sure your deck is thoroughly dry before you sand. If there has been recent rainfall or if you have power washed, wait several days before sanding.

Is it better to seal or stain a deck?

Although a wood stain is more expensive than a sealer, it can last up to 5 times longer and looks more professional. So you certainly get your money's worth. Here at DeckMaster™, we recommend using wood stains for your deck and fence maintenance.

How much does it cost to power wash and stain a deck?

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.

Can you use OxiClean to clean a deck?

To clean the deck with this quick method, I just mixed 1 cup of OxiClean (powder) into 1 gallon of water. Pour a little bit onto your deck in sections and use a push broom to scrub the solution in really well. Once you notice stains starting to break up, spray down well until the soapy residue is gone.