What do I put on my deck after pressure washing?

Clean off overspray

Rinse the siding and windows with clean water at low pressure to remove chemical residue. A deck brightener will return the wood to its newly sawn color and make it more receptive to the stain. Use an oxalic acid–based brightener, which is available at home centers and paint stores.

Should I power wash my deck before sealing?

Pressure washing is the best way to prepare your deck for sealing. 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.

Can I power wash my deck and not stain it?

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.

Does power washing damage a 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.

What if it rains after I power wash my deck?

If it looks like rain, cover the deck in a tarp to avoid extra seepage. If standing water is left after you power wash and scrub the deck, squeegee it off the surface of the wood or soak it up with towels to avoid soaking into one place.

Do you have to seal a deck?

A backyard deck is the perfect platform for good times, but that wooden surface needs a proper sealant to protect it against the ravages of sun, rain, and temperature fluctuations.

Is it better to sand or power wash a deck?

DO sand your deck before sealing.

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. Then seal the deck to protect from cracking, cupping, and warping.

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.

Can you power wash a pressure treated deck?

How long do you let a deck dry after power washing?

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.

What is best to seal a deck?

Thompsons Waterseal Advanced Natural Wood Protector

As one of the best water seal products available, Thompsons will go a long way to preserving your deck from mildew and water damage. It will also help with UV damage and color fading over the long term.

What PSI is needed to power wash a 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.

Should I seal my deck after staining?

Most of the time, stains also contain a protective sealant. It’s a good idea, though, to re-seal your deck (or check that it needs to be re-sealed) once a year. Water-based stains can adhere to water or oil-based coatings already present on the wooden surface. Water-based stains can be cleaned up with water.

Can you power wash a wet deck?

Once wet, you can apply a cleaning solution that is designed for pressure washers and wooden surfaces using a low-pressure soap nozzle. While the pressure washer can easily lift up small stains, you may need to use a scrub brush on tougher ones, especially those found in hard to reach areas like corners.

How do you clean deck before sealing?

When Should I seal my deck?

For most decks, sealing once each year is a good rule of thumb. Depending on the condition of your deck this can be adjusted, but keep in mind that you should never go beyond three years maximum before re-sealing and staining.

What is the best time of year to stain a deck?

The best time to stain your deck is either the spring or the fall. If you stain your deck in the summer, make sure you do it out of the direct sunlight. Applying a deck stain in direct sun will cause the stain to dry to quickly and can result in premature stain failure.

How much does it cost to seal a deck?

Hiring a handyman, contractor, or deck company to clean and seal a deck average about $2-$3.50 sq. ft. ($300-$525 for a 10’x15′ deck or $640-$1,120 for 16’x20′), depending on local rates, deck condition, the height and location of the deck, and the number of levels, railing, stairs, and other components.

Is it better to stain or seal a deck?

Staining a new deck will provide a more uniform color or tone to the wood, while sealing will help maintain the natural color. However, wood that is sealed will still fade over time but will continue to show the natural wood grain.

How long will an untreated deck last?

10 to 30 years
A deck made of untreated wood can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years. Decks made of treated wood and composite materials can last as long as 50 years.

How often should you seal a pressure-treated deck?

every year
A: Some owners of pressure-treated structures assume the wood needs no protective treatment, and this view at one time was encouraged by manufacturers of the wood. However, most pressure-treated wood should have periodic sealing against moisture, preferably every year or so.

What happens if you don’t seal your deck?

It is highly unlikely that the deck will rot, splinter or decay if you choose not to have it finished and you can always choose to stain and protect the deck at a later date.