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 do I put on my deck after pressure washing?

The best way to protect a wood deck is to give it 2 to 3 thin coats of a quality decking oil. You need 2 coats of oil if your deck is undercover but you'll need 3 coats if your deck is exposed to the weather. Make sure you use a deck brush applicator to apply the oil, not a roller or lambs wool applicator.

What do you put on wood after pressure washing?

After you've power-washed the entire deck, rinse all of the wood with plain water to dilute and neutralize the stripper. If there's still debris trapped between deck boards, such as leaves or twigs, remove it now (Photo 3).

How long after power wash deck do you seal it?

After completing the deck power washing, wait 24 to 36 hours before applying sealer. If the weather is cool or humid, wait 48 to 72 hours. The deck must be thoroughly dry to ensure deep penetration of the sealer.

How long after pressure washing deck Can you paint?

Done frequently, this procedure will allow the homeowner to avoid power washing. The deck must be dried for at least twenty-four hours before painting or staining; forty-eight hours is ideal. Do not paint or stain a deck if there is high humidity or the temperature is above seventy-nine degrees.

Pressure Washing and Re-Sealing my Deck

What if it rains after I power wash my deck?

Just as you should not stain a deck that is wet from pressure washing, you do not want to stain your deck immediately after a rainstorm. Rain leaves the wood wet and affects the way that the stain adheres. It is important to only stain the wood after it has dried completely.

How long after pressure washing Can I stain?

After a deck has been power washed it will have some retained moisture within the wood. It's important to let the wood dry thoroughly so none of the water that soaked into the wood gets trapped under the stain. In perfect drying conditions, 48 hours is enough for the wood to get to where it needs to be before staining.

Should I sand my deck after power 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. Treat the deck surface, the railings, and the edges of boards as different tasks, varying the sanding techniques for each.

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 long does a deck take to dry after washing?

A basic rule of thumb for DIY deck builders, homeowners, and professional contractors is that roughly 48 hours is an adequate drying time for a newly washed deck.

How do you finish pressure treated wood?

Allow the wood to dry completely and otherwise prepare the same ways you would when staining. To help the paint adhere, use a bristle brush to coat the surface with a primer designed for exterior use on pressure treated wood. Using a brush, apply at least two coats of latex paint to see best results.

How often should a deck be power washed?

Frequency. 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.

How do you fix fuzzy wood?

If your wood does get fuzzy, go down a grit or two with the sandpaper (120-grit is a good place to start) and sand out the little furs. The way to avoid fuzzy wood is to make sure you don't sand with a paper finer than 150 grit. And don't use a scraper either.

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.

Is it better to sand or pressure wash 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.

Does pressure washing ruin wood?

Wooden decks are highly vulnerable to severe damages when you subject them to power washing. The pressure that the pressure washer exerts on the deck surface leads to splintering. This problem mainly occurs when there is a section on your deck where the woods show the signs of split apart.

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.

Should I sand or clean deck first?

It is important, to begin with, a power sander and always finish by hand to reach difficult areas. Remember no more than 60 or 80 grit paper. The next step is to clean the wood thoroughly after the sanding. Deck cleaners, also known as deck wash are used to lift dirt and unsightly mildew which accumulates over time.

Can I just power wash my 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.

Should I sand my deck before sealing?

DO repair, wash, and sand your deck before sealing. Proper prep is key to successfully sealing a deck. Repair or replace any loose or broken boards, so that future breaks or cracks won't create hazards. Then, wash the deck using a power-washer to scrub the surface clean.

How many coats of stain should you put on a deck?

We always recommend two coats of stain for any wood project, but you should only apply as much stain as the wood can absorb. Extremely dense hardwoods may only be able to absorb one coat of wood stain. The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much as the wood can absorb.

How long should a deck dry after rain before staining?

Applying Stain

Remember, no rain 24 hours before you apply stain and no rain 24 hours after the staining project. Assuming the deck is dry and thirsty for stain, it's time to make your deck amazing. When applying stain, a pad, brush, roller, or rag can be used to apply the stain.

How long should a deck dry after staining?

With the temperature above 60 degrees, an oil-based deck stain typically dries in 4-24 hours. Most can take rain within 12 hours though as water will not “wash” out the oil stain from the wood. Wait 24-72 hours for full cure before walking on the deck and replacing furniture.

Will rain damage a pressure washer?

You might think that while a pressure washer is off, it cannot get damaged by water or rain. But in reality, leaving a pressure washer unit outside in the rain will cause corrosion and can even damage the appliance.