Should I sand or pressure wash 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.

Can I pressure wash my deck instead of sanding?

That being said, sanding is a lot of work. You can get the same clean, fresh surface with a good pressure washing. A pressure washer removes the deteriorated finish and some of the decayed wood fiber leaving a like-new surface after the wood dries.

Should I sand deck before or 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.

Do you sand before cleaning a deck?

Sanding a deck before staining provides a clean, smooth, and absorbent surface for stain and paint to adhere to. It is a key part of cleaning and preparing a deck for finishing. Most decks take two passes with a power sander; the first with 20 to 50 grit and the second with 60 to 80.

Why you shouldn't pressure wash your deck?

Wood decks are especially vulnerable to power washing because the pressure exerted by the power washer can lead to splintering. If there is any area on the deck where the wood is already beginning to split apart, power washing it will exacerbate the problem and cause the split area to expand.

Power washing VS Sanding Deck - See the difference!

Can you ruin a deck by pressure washing?

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.

Should you sand your deck before staining?

Sand the Deck

If you plan to stain the deck, sand the surface before application to make the wood better absorb the coating. Use an orbital sander to remove any old gloss and smooth out any rough areas on decking boards. You may need to use a sanding sponge on the railings or balustrades.

Does sanding ruin pressure treated wood?

Sanding pressure-treated wood is actually contraindicated because, as Sand & Stain warns, you'll end up partially removing the protective coating created by the pressure treatment, and the wood will look terrible.

Should you pressure 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.

How long after pressure washing can you sand?

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.

How long do you let a deck 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.

How much does power washing a deck cost?

The average cost to power wash a deck ranges from $119 to $244 with most homeowners paying around $0.35 per square foot. To power wash, stain, and seal your deck, expect to spend between $0.50 and $1.50 per sq. ft. or $0.95 per sq.

Do I need to wash deck after sanding?

After sanding, power-wash the deck and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before staining. Sanding exposes porous wood that's ready to soak up the stain, but this isn't possible if the wood is full of water.

How much does it cost to sand a deck?

The cost to sand a deck is $280 on average. Most homeowners spend between $210 and $350 for a 200-square-foot deck, which takes about seven hours to sand. If you choose to sand your deck yourself, you'll need to purchase an orbital sander, which costs $75 on average.

Is it better to stain or paint pressure-treated wood?

Pressure-Treated Wood Needs Protection

Applying stain to pressure-treated wood offers an additional level of protection that homeowners don't want to be without. Stain offers another layer of much-needed protection from insects and decay, as well as from mold and mildew.

What type of sander do you use to sand a deck?

A random orbital sander is a specialized tool that sands wood in an elliptical pattern. It's the most efficient sander to use when refinishing a deck, as they're easy and practical to use.

How do you remove Green from pressure-treated wood?

White distilled vinegar: White vinegar is a popular natural cleaner that can be used both inside and outside. Simply combine one gallon of water with one cup of white vinegar and scrub the deck with the solution to remove algae, mold, and mildew.

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 happens if it rains after sanding deck?

It shouldn't make too much of a difference that it rained after you sanded it down as long as it still has pores to absorb the stain. I always recommend placing a large tarp over the area so that if it does rain, you don't have to worry too much about your work.

How do you sand down a deck?

Sand the entire deck with 80-grit sandpaper. Use a palm sander and 80-grit paper to sand in corners and under rails where the larger machine won't fit. This is a good time to sand the railing with a palm sander, if you plan to refinish it.

Do I have to seal my deck after pressure 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.