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.
Related Articles. Power washing a deck is a quick and efficient way to get it ready for painting or staining, but it isn't a necessary prerequisite. In fact, in some situations, it isn't even a good idea, because power washing can chip and gouge wood.
Power washing can be used to clean cedar as long as the sprayer is set at a low pressure to prevent damaging the wood's soft surface. Once cleaned and allowed to dry, the wood can then be painted using a urethane-acrylic house paint.
Taking your time is key to power washing a deck successfully. Now that the wood has been cleaned and stripped of grime, you can sand it and apply your stain of choice. Power washing a deck before staining will allow the wood to absorb the stain better and deeper.
Can pressure washers be used on cedar siding? As long as the sprayer is set to a low pressure, pressure washing can be used to clean cedar. It is important to avoid damaging the wood's soft surface, so using a low pressure and not working too closely to the siding is necessary.
Prepare your cedar siding by washing it with soapy water to remove any dirt or dust (if any has accumulated). After you have washed it, wait for it to dry before applying any stain to the cedar.
The Cedar Bureau recommends using a solution no stronger than one-part bleach to three parts water. Apply it with a pump sprayer and let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off with a garden hose. Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles.
Stained Wood
A pressure wash pulls stain right off wood surfaces. If stripping stain from your deck is the task you are trying to accomplish, then blast away! But if you intend to keep stain on wood, don't use a pressure washer to clean it.
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.
Before you apply stain, make sure the surface is clean (no dust, dirt, wood fibers or grease), dry and free from mildew. When a surface is not clean, stains and other finishes have trouble sticking and may end up peeling. You can remove dirt with warm water and detergent, but mildew problems require more.
Apply the Cedar Wash solution starting at the bottom of the wall and work your way up. Work only an area big enough so that the Cedar Wash is on the wall for about 10 to 15 minutes. Gently scrub the wall with a soft bristled brush to remove stubborn stains and heavily soiled areas.
Simply put, Oxiclean is an all-purpose cleaner that incorporates hydrogen peroxide to remove the toughest stains, debris, and organisms such as mold or mildew. Whether your siding is aluminum, cedar shingles, or vinyl, it can be cleaned using products such as Oxiclean.
A: Yes. The answer is simple enough, but it really should be remembered that it's important to remove all dirt and contaminants from the surface of wood to ensure proper stain penetration and maximum durability of wood stains. These cleaning tips will help you properly prepare your deck before staining it.
We completely agree. You don't want to incur any chipping or pealing or cracking so staining within a 2-3 month period is best. Cedar Deck Association adds a great quote on finishing exter cedar decks: “Decks should never be allowed to weather before finishing.
Wash the Wood
Allow it to dry before staining. Wash the pressure-treated wood with a deck cleaner, scrubbing the wood surface with a brush while wet. Use a pressure washer if the wood has tough stains. Allow the wet cleaner to soak into the wood for about 10 minutes or to manufacturer's directions.
No matter the type of wood, we always recommend waiting 24-48 hours after rainfall or cleaning to make sure the structure is dry prior to staining.
You can also use a dish soap and water mixture to clean your deck. Fill a big bucket with water and dish soap so you have a good, foamy consistency. Pre-rinse your deck with a garden hose, and then use a soft scrub brush to work the solution into the wood, ensuring that it doesn't dry out while doing so.
Pressure washing is a great way to remove these deep stains that are otherwise pretty difficult to get rid of, especially for South American hardwood decks (Tigerwood, Camaru, or Ipe). Otherwise, a garden hose will generally be your best bet.
The high-pressure spray from a power washer, also called a pressure washer, effectively wears off the surface layer of the wood, removing old finish, gray wood and stains in one fell swoop. It also removes debris from between the decking boards, which helps prevent the growth of rot and fungus.
Can you pressure wash cedar siding? Yes, you can pressure wash cedar siding by using a low PSI pressure washer or adjusting a pressure washer to its lowest PSI setting. This protects the cedar from being damaged from too high of pressure because it is softwood.
Cleaning wood siding
A high-pressure power washer can dent metal, and on wood, it can force water under the surface, which can damage a piece of wood siding. It can also damage whatever is under the wood siding and potentially cause mold.
Cedar shake siding will grow algae and mold if it's not cleaned once in a while. Algae and mold will cause deterioration and discoloration to your cedar siding. Much like a wooden deck, you can use detergents and a pressure washer to blast the grime away and reveal the beautiful cedar color within.
You can use water mixed with a bit of mild detergent for a basic cleaner. If you need a stronger cleaner, you can dilute bleach with water for a cleaner that will accentuate the natural luster of the cedar. This is particularly effective in the removal of mildew. Wipe the wood gently, and avoid excessive scrubbing.
Although cedar is a softwood like pine, it absorbs stain better than pine, especially when treated with a pre-stain wood conditioner. Indoor and outdoor cedar furniture are stained the same way. However, clear coat polyurethane, which gives the wood a shiny, smooth finish, should only be used on indoor furniture.