How much pressure washing is necessary before staining my 5 year old deck?

Question

I'd like to stain my old deck. I began pressure washing and the wood lightened up considerably. The more I wash the lighter it gets but it's quite time consuming. How do you determine how much "washing" is enough? Thanks for any good advice.

Answer 1

You dont want to wash it to the point of splintering the wood.If you havnt chosen a stain yet i would go with Behr Clear or Behr Natural.Its a very good sealer and protects against uv,algea and other parasites.

Answer 2

I have tried deck cleaning solution and have found that oxyclean and a brush will do the same thing. Pressure washing pine boards with a high pressure washer will blow away some of the patina of the wood and raise the grain. So be careful. Using the cleaner will reduce the amount of pressure that will be necessary to clean the wood. good luck.

Answer 3

Here is a simple solution to your problem......go to Walmart or your nearest hardware store and buy a gallon of "Deck Wash". You simply spray it on, let it set a few minututes, and spray it off. I have used this product many times with good results.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

You want it lighter- mop with clorox and water solution. Once is all the pro's pressure wash. (it cuts the layer of crud off)

Answer 6

once is enough