As the name suggests, deck stripping is a method of removing oil or stains from wood in its original state. Both methods are commonly used to remove unwanted finishes and to create timber deck restoration from decking or other wood surfaces, especially if many layers have been applied over the years and the wood grain is no longer visible and looks like painted wood.
If you are restoring an abandoned outdoor deck or one that was previously covered in paint or stain, you may need a stain remover or paint remover. To remove stubborn algae and mould stains, you can use an all-purpose cleaner and a household cleaner.
Rinse the deck thoroughly after using this chemical, as it can eat away at the wood, causing premature washout and greying. Oxalic acid is not effective against mould, so you can use it after cleaning your patio with a bleach-based cleaner.
Oxalic acid products, often found in “bridge brighteners”, remove the discoloured surface wood fibres and dark tannin stains that can appear on mahogany and cedar decks. If you have painted or treated wood such as pine and want to colour your decking, the exterior siding should be cleaned with paint thinner and then cleaned. If your deck already has a clear coat or clear stain, skip the paint stripper and clean it with a wood deck cleaner. So, choose your wood siding colour carefully because deck recovery siding absorbs a lot of heat and retains it longer than regular wood.
If your deck is newer and the wood still has much of its original colour and sheen, staining the deck can add a colourless sheen. For older decks, or if you want to give the wood a whole new colour, a translucent or coloured stain is the best choice.
When staining a deck, it is best to apply the stain with a special stain brush, which applies the stain to the surface of the deck and helps control the evenness of the application. Water-soaked in the wood means oil and wood stain should do the same.
If you want to preserve the colour of your wood flooring, use natural oil. Helps remove grey/black stain from wood and restore natural colour. For longer-lasting results when restoring your deck, clean upholstery in spring and fall with a manufacturer’s cleaning product.
Prepare your wood deck for a complete inspection and restoration You should clean your deck every year. The final step in restoring a deck is to coat it with a fresh coat of deck oil or wood stain. Use a commercially available deck restoration product to remove old grey wood from the surface and restore the original colour and beauty of the wood.
It is effective in removing the iron stains and brown-black tannins often found in cedar and mahogany bridges. You’ll apply the bleach with a spray bottle, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse for 20 minutes with a garden hose or a light pressure washer. If you are satisfied that all areas of the deck are clean, allow the boards to dry completely for a few days before applying the appropriate coatings. Once the entire deck has been scrubbed and washed, let the boards dry and review the results.
If you want to remove the old antifouling coating, you would choose a paint stripper. The stripper’s job is to penetrate deep into the wood to remove previous stains, opening up the wood’s pores in the process.
This will remove any weathered wood fibres, any oils or tannins and restore the natural colour of your deck. In recent years, several new decks and wood stains have come on the market that allows you to prepare and paint your deck in one day. A deck restoration project like this can be completed in two days, but it’s best to spread the work over two weekends to make sure the wood is completely dry before applying the stain.
Finishing a deck is a fairly time-consuming process, as the paint or varnish must be completely dry once you can use the deck. You can do the prep work in one day and then apply the repair paint over two days the next weekend.