How to Pressure Wash a Deck Before Staining & Maintenance Tips in Thousand Oaks, CA

Deck maintenance is generally a job tackled when the weather is nice, spring is optimal but some get it done in summer too. In any case. A big part of the maintenance is pressure cleaning, whether you need to refinish or not. Pressure washing offers your deck a superior level of clean that removes the dirt, dust, mud, and even mold buildup. Today we at McKay’s Painting would like to discuss maintenance of your deck.

Power Washing Deck to Remove Stains etc.

As mentioned, pressure washing is the most effective method to reviving your deck and getting to the maximum level of clean. A simple pressure washing can rejuvenate your deck. If you are also looking to refinish, pressure washing is an important step to ensure the refinishing is of hi quality. When doing the pressure cleaning yourself it is important you do so carefully. Some equipment, depending on the size, can produce 4,000 psi of water pressure. If the settings are not correct, you can cause severe damage. Before you start, ensure the trash and surface debris swept off and removed and all the clutter is clear off. If you choose to conduct the pressure washing, apply the following tips.
1) Use as low as pressure as possible that is still effective. Soft wood, like cedar for example should be around 500-600 psi where hard wood cab as high as 1200-1500 psi.
2) Utilize the fan tip, if not available, carefully opt for the rotating tip.
3) At least 24″ and never closer than 12” away from the wood deck, and away from people and glass, start the water pressure by depressing the trigger and feathering it into range of about 12-18″ from the deck.
4) Test the pressure washing in an inconspicuous area, such as a stair tread, if the strength is too much and you etch the wood, the stair tread is easier to replace.
5) Work with the grain of the wood and work from the house outward. Spraying lengthwise with the deck boards and slightly overlapping each area to avoid obvious seems. Though the goal is to clean the wood without ruining it by etching or eroding the soft wood fibers, keep in mind that when wood get s wet the fibers will create a rough surface. Handrails can present a real problem if this occurs because people will get splinters easily. If after your power washing service you did a decent job without causing damage, you can spot sand where you might have had a minor mistake. In the event you are refinishing, you will need to sand the whole wood deck.

How to Restore a Weathered Deck with Refinishing

For refinishing, sanding will give you smooth boards, remove the splintering, and open the wood spores to let the finish soak in. Sanding is important when reapplying a new finish, especially if you are changing the color or the type of finish. There are paints, stains, and sealer options for your deck and if you use grit sandpaper too fine, the finish will not absorb easily and look sloppy in the end. Sanding guidelines:
– Do not use higher than 100 grit sandpaper for handrails.
– Use 60-80 grit sandpaper for the deck surface.
– For more efficiency, use a 5” pad random orbital sander.

Exterior Painting & More in Ventura, Ojai, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills & Santa Barbara California

To ensure your deck is maintained with best quality and superior results, call McKay’s Painting. Not only can we ensure the power wash cleaning is immaculate but that the sanding is done correctly and if you need a refinish that will be completed with perfection, especially if any repairs are needed. Call McKay’s Painting today.