So i have my first wood deck next week. Are there any tips for doing it? Do i hit it with a descent amount of pressure or do the chemicals do the work. I see different techniques used. Also what chemicals are best for the job?
BermudaOne Pressure Washing & Restorations
Richmond, VA
804-617-1488
http://pressurewashingresource.com/vBulletin/showpost.php?p=22957
This was a recent thread on deck cleaning. Hope this helps, if any questions just ask.
Technique is very important, in the beginning it’s probably easier for you to use your house wash mix to clean the deck, just give it some dwell time and then follow the board all the way down without stopping, if you do then start over so you don’t leave any marks. Do all of them in the same direction, with a 40 degree tip, We use to hit 2 boards at a time with low pressure. Then later on you can use a sweeping motion to go faster
They don’t want stripper right? just a cleaning. You can call me or post questions , be glad to help.
Eventually you will probably want to use a sodium per carbonate, neutralizer & brightener, after learning some more about chemicals and what works best.
Matthew Adkins
Adkins Cleaning Solutions
336-338-8705
Greensboro, Nc
All great advice.
The only thing I would add is. What condition is the deck in? Is it sealed? Is it stained? Is the homeowner planning on doing any of those things after? All of those things play a factor in how to clean and prep a deck.
House wash works pretty good depending on what condition things are in. If you look at all the “deck cleaners” on the market, they almost all use SH as the active ingredients. No reason to spend 10 bucks a gallon for what you can get for much less.
Thanks! I see a lot of guys dont use SH but i did a test on my deck an the only way to remove the first an mildew was SH. All the other stuff barely effected it. An hitting wood with high pressure is a nightmare. Hard to prevent lines from showing
BermudaOne Pressure Washing & Restorations
Richmond, VA
804-617-1488
Go with the grain. Go as far as you can steadily and evenly. If you have to stop, lift the wand up slowly while still moving. Do not stop abruptly. Feather your strokes in. When starting up again start up high with the wand . and slowly come down while you are moving the wand and feather in. It takes practice, BUT, for gods sake don’t stand in one place and do little sections at a time. Keep moving to prevent lap marks and stop lines. You really shouldn’t be using that much pressure that the stop lines are a real problem. You can probably find something on youtube that will give you an idea. It’s really just common sense. Think about how you can prevent uneven cleaning and stop lines. It will all make sense after a few decks. Also you will have an urge to start cleaning the deck without a good dwell time. Just wait it out. If you start too early the first ten minutes will discourage yo because you will think it is harder than it really is. All of a sudden it gets a lot easier because the cleaner will have hit the sweet spot where the dirt is loose. Remember always lift off slowly and feather out as you are leaving the wood or come down slowly while moving, Even on spindles and rails.
Oh and one last tip. Point the wand away from the deck or anything fragile before you pull the trigger!
Awesome thanks, also what is the best chemical to use? An should I use a hand pump to apply it? I see guys put wood brightener on as well. This custo, er just wants it cleaned so she can have it sealed the next week.
Nick R.
Bermuda One Pressure Washing & Restorations
www.bermudaonerestorations.com
804-617-1488
Richmond, Va
,
I used to use Sodium percarbonate. Then citric or oxalic to brighten. See if you can find a formula with SH in it, someone here will give you one. I haven’t done decks since 2003, so I can’t advise you on that. If you are in a pinch. Home depot’s deck cleaner is an oxalic based cleaner with surfactants in it. It works. But I think it’s like $10 a gallon. You downstream it. Just remember to wait a sufficient amount of time for the cleaner to work. Rinse good, because of the surfactants and whatever else that is in it. It seems that you are going to be doing some decks. Do research, look on youtube, and once you get some cashflow, stock up on the proper cleaners and brighteners. The beauty of the home depot stuff is, you don’t need to use a pump up to apply it, or the brightener, since it already is oxalic. It’s not the most ideal product to use but it will work for you.
One more thing. Keep the deck wet while you are trying to clean it. The longer it is wetted down the easier it is to clean. Just don’t rinse the cleaner away before it does it’s job.
Be sure to rinse really well when finished, I know a few guys have had white haze and the wood dried out because the bleach wasn’t rinsed well enough,
I use f10 as my cleaner and f8 for my neutralizer and brightener. Both downstreamed and Both from pressure tek
Matthew Adkins
Adkins Cleaning Solutions
336-338-8705
Greensboro, Nc
How well do both of those products do? There both kind of pricey. I wonder of starting out there is anything i could just grab from lowes.
BermudaOne Pressure Washing & Restorations
Richmond, VA
804-617-1488
They are professional grade products. They work great, expensive yes, but you can do several decks with them.
You can buy deck cleaner from lowes to get by but like the guys said its basically over priced bleach. If your downstreaming then I would just buy regular 8.25% bleach. If you get time and want to talk more detail, call me or reply on here and I will call you.
Matthew Adkins
Adkins Cleaning Solutions
336-338-8705
Greensboro, Nc
can i use my surface cleaner, use a 4 gpm on a wood deck
@Ryan1
Please stop renewing old threads. They are there for reference but many of the original posters may not be active any longer.
And no, it is generally accepted to not use a surface cleaner on a deck.
BUT, with the right tips you might pull it off…
I feel like I have said this to you recently… use the search bar. Literally type your question in to the search bar and you’ll find your answer. So much easier than waiting to be spoon fed an answer. You’ll also learn more by researching it yourself.
