How to Clean, Renew and Seal a Wood Deck in One Day

you know sometimes a deck like this looks so bad it seems like there's just nothing that can be done with it but restoration of this deck is not only probable but it's virtually guaranteed it's been several seasons since this deck last received any TLC as a result the wood is dried cracked and discolored and the previous finish is badly chipped peeling and in heavy traffic areas mostly worn away another troublesome symptom is protruding nails caused in part by the deck boards repeatedly getting wet and then drying out a process that can actually push the nails upward so the first step is to reset the fasteners flush with the surface using a hammer and drift pin to avoid denting the wood itself the deck boards also have two additional problems they've weathered badly from years of exposure to Sun rain and dirt and they're made even more unattractive by the patches of the previous stain that remain to help correct both of these I'm going to clean the deck using a power washer the power washer needs a water supply which will come from a garden hose attached to the inlet port on the water outlet side I'll attach the high-pressure hose then connect it to the power1 power washers typically have interchangeable tips that create a fan-shaped water pattern for this project I'm using a 15-degree nozzle which will provide a more aggressive cleaning action to avoid damaging or etching the wood though it's important to keep the one moving at all times and to hold it at least six to eight inches from the surface when using this tool properly the results are immediately visible now this came out pretty well just with the power washer but I'm going to take one additional step here I'm going to apply a deck cleaner and brightener just to take off any residue and lighten up some of the darker spots before beginning I'm wetting the grass and shrubs tear the deck this will dilute any cleaner that runs off the edges I'll also repeat this after completing the cleaning and brightening step this three-in-one wood cleaner from Thompson's WaterSeal removes stains from dirt mildew algae and fungus eliminates tannin and rust stains and brightens the wood bringing it back closer to its original color when using any deck cleaner cover arms and legs put on rubber gloves and wear eye protection pour the cleaner undiluted into a sprayer screw on the top then pump 25 to 30 strokes to build up the pressure on warm days like this I pre wet the deck surface to keep the cleaner from drying too quickly then spray on the cleaner and brightener I found that cleaners like this perform best if they are scrubbed with a synthetic bristle brush this works the solution into the wood and helps loosen surface particles leave the cleaner brighten around the surface for 10 to 15 minutes then rinse the deck using a garden hose or power washer now things are looking very good except for a few areas where the old stain is stubbornly clinging to the surface I removed some of the largest spots using an orbital sander and 80 grit paper because water applied to bare wood will nearly always raise some grain I also sand the handrails making them smooth to the touch sanding is an optional step it isn't always necessary to protect the deck and keep it looking good I'm using Thompson's WaterSeal waterproofing stain this product contains elastomeric polymers that help the drive stain expand and contract with the wood during temperature fluctuations reducing cracking and peeling before sealing the top deck surfaces I want to coat the sides using a brush that's narrow enough to fit into the spaces between the boards my preferred tool for applying a sealer is this deck staining pad a long handle allows me to do the entire job standing up what's important here is to bring the pad into contact with the solution but not submerge it then use the ribs on the pan to distribute the material evenly across the surface the pad allows me to work the stain and sealer well into the wood assuring a good bond I usually apply the material to three or four boards at a time always moving the pad in the direction of the grain rewetting the pad frequently ensures an ample coating that's evenly distributed this sealer also has acrylic polymers which greatly improve resistance to scuffing and Marri another thing I like about this combination stain and sealer is that it can be applied to damp wood this means cleaning and coating can be done in the same day this applicator incorporates a small brush into the pad making it possible to apply sealer to the deck board sides at the same time the top surface is being coated it also has an onboard container which does away with a need to dip andrey wet the had the thumb dial and trigger determined the flow rate to the applicator head I prefer a smaller pad when it comes to applying material to railings and balusters on vertical surfaces apply the sealer from the bottom to the top to avoid drips and runs this sealer dries to the touch in about two hours and its coating is resistant to mildew and UV damage from the Sun because it's semi-transparent it does an excellent job of concealing any color variations in the wood itself creating a blended yet natural look well although it may have looked hopeless in the beginning you've got to admit this turned out beautifully and it's a project that you can do in a single day [Music]

Channel: Ron Hazelton

Views: 2,920,500

Keywords: restore wooden deck, Stain, Deck, home improvement, do it yourself, ron hazelton, deck in a day, renew your deck

Id: FouLgxHoluk

Length: 6min 51sec (411 seconds)

Published: Mon Jul 13 2015