Cleaning my deck: before and after.
#1
07-25-16, 02:50 PM
Cleaning my deck: before and after.
I've been using bleach and water with pretty good results so far on an old deck before I restain it maybe next month.
I just read you shouldn't use chlorine bleach on a deck as it hurts the wood. Is this true? what should I use instead?
I just read you shouldn't use chlorine bleach on a deck as it hurts the wood. Is this true? what should I use instead?
#3
07-25-16, 03:25 PM
Should I use oxygenated bleach or a cleaner with it? What about the old stain that's still on there here an there? Should I just put a solid stain on top after cleaning and skip the stain remover?
Thanks
I gotta post some pics, just haven't had the time.
Thanks
I gotta post some pics, just haven't had the time.
#4
07-26-16, 03:14 AM
Pure bleach will destroy wood fibers but a bleach/water solution is very effective and pretty much all I use. As long as you wet the deck, mix the solution no stronger than 50/50 and rinse well - there shouldn't be any problems. Oxygenated bleach is dummy proof but costs more.
Hard to say without seeing the deck but often it's ok to stain over the old weathered stain with a similar or more opaque stain. The main thing is to remove any stain that isn't adhered well. Pics would be nice - http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html
Hard to say without seeing the deck but often it's ok to stain over the old weathered stain with a similar or more opaque stain. The main thing is to remove any stain that isn't adhered well. Pics would be nice - http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html
#7
07-26-16, 12:53 PM
Post a pic or two after you clean the deck that way we'll better know what type of stain will be best.
It's possible it might take 2 treatments to get it clean, stubborn areas can be scrubbed with an old broom.
It's possible it might take 2 treatments to get it clean, stubborn areas can be scrubbed with an old broom.
#8
07-26-16, 02:42 PM
Thanks, I've got a scrub brush on a handles that I bought from "big box store". There's a website that says to use a "deck brightener" after cleaning to "adjust the ph" back to wood after using bleach to clean. Is this a good idea? Are deck brightener's good to use?
Thanks for all your help so far!
Thanks for all your help so far!
#9
07-26-16, 03:04 PM
IMO deck brighteners are rarely needed if you clean with bleach as the bleach solution almost always lightens the woods color.
I never heard of adjusting the PH after cleaning decks or siding, the main thing is to rinse off the cleaning agent.
I never heard of adjusting the PH after cleaning decks or siding, the main thing is to rinse off the cleaning agent.
#10
08-13-16, 10:00 PM
Cleaned deck to prepare for solid stain, is this clean enough?
I used bleach and water 50/50 or so and then rinsed with hose. Is this coming out ok to put a solid stain on top?
#11
08-13-16, 10:18 PM
Group Moderator
#12
08-14-16, 03:31 AM
A little hard to tell if the dark areas are just wet or need to be cleaned a little better. It's always best to remove all the mildew as doing so generally puts off it's return longer. Other than that you should be good to go as long as the wood is dry.
#13
08-14-16, 10:56 AM
Thanks, Yes the deck was a little wet when I took the pics. It looks a lot different today now that it is dry. When I get home I'll take another pic.
Basically there is a lot of algae also on the deck because on the lower deck we have a pool. Will a little bit of algae die underneath the stain or do I have to get everything off? I'm going to do a solid stain.
The 4th board over from the left on the top picture was WET and not algae as it may look here.
Basically there is a lot of algae also on the deck because on the lower deck we have a pool. Will a little bit of algae die underneath the stain or do I have to get everything off? I'm going to do a solid stain.
The 4th board over from the left on the top picture was WET and not algae as it may look here.
#14
08-14-16, 01:10 PM
It's best to remove all the mildew and algae before you apply the stain! Coating over it will slow down it's return but it will come back faster than it would if it had been removed. Also the stain's bond can be suspect if you apply it over algae.
#15
08-15-16, 08:49 AM
Group Moderator
A little late to the party but, like others, I use a regular chlorine bleach solution to clean my deck. Agreed on removing all of the algae before staining.
#16
08-21-16, 06:03 PM
Here comes my new stained deck! How's it looking?
It's BEHR Waterproofing solid stain, Barn Red.
I'm gonna hopefully do the part with the furniture on it tomorrow and then I've gotta clean and stain the lower deck and rails in September that attach to the pool.
NOW Hopefully I won't get any RAIN overnight!!
It's BEHR Waterproofing solid stain, Barn Red.
I'm gonna hopefully do the part with the furniture on it tomorrow and then I've gotta clean and stain the lower deck and rails in September that attach to the pool.
NOW Hopefully I won't get any RAIN overnight!!
#17
08-22-16, 02:13 AM
Oh NO! It's 5am and pouring on my new deck! I managed to cover part of it with a plastic tarp. Will survey the damage today when I wake up! Luckily I only have 1/2 the deck done. But there are a few uncovered places getting pelted with rain right now. I finished applying the 2nd coat at about 8pm and it's now raining from 3am-6am according to the weather.
It was actually very lightly sprinkling at 1am so it had about 5 hours to dry. It was slightly tacky when I was putting the plastic tarp over it, but not wet or anything.
It was actually very lightly sprinkling at 1am so it had about 5 hours to dry. It was slightly tacky when I was putting the plastic tarp over it, but not wet or anything.
#18
08-22-16, 03:21 AM
The 2 main things the rain can do to fresh stain is wash some of it away and/or leave unsightly spots. Sometimes the spots will wash or weather away but generally the fix for either is to apply another coat of stain ...... but maybe you'll get lucky and it will look ok when the sun comes up
#19
08-22-16, 07:33 AM
Thanks marksr! I looked at it this morning and I had tons of water on the tarp which I managed to dump onto the unstained part of the deck. We got poured on for a few hours here. There doesn't look like there was any damage as far as I can tell, even to the uncovered areas!
It still feels tacky though if you walk on it, which of course I won't be doing regularly now.
Oh, by the way, the picture below was after the first coat of stain only.
It still feels tacky though if you walk on it, which of course I won't be doing regularly now.
Oh, by the way, the picture below was after the first coat of stain only.
#20
08-22-16, 09:39 AM
the picture below was after the first coat of stain only
Humidity and/or cool temps slow down drying/curing times but it should get back on track once the sun pops out.
