Denver decks take a lot of abuse. Over time, wear and tear will affect your deck's appearance. You must inspect and maintain your deck to make it last. Every few years plan on cleaning and resealing your deck as coatings do not last forever. The first coat of finish is the crucial one for your deck. The wood must be less than 20% moist. To get optimum results, moisture content really needs to be nearer to twelve or fifteen percent. Although lumber that has been pressure treated might look dry, it's actually likely to still be wet internally. Don't apply a finish to treated wood for 4-6 weeks. You can apply finish onto the wood when it absorbs water.
Begin with a thorough inspection of the deck. You should check for any marks or changes in color. You can use mild detergent or soap from around the house to remove stains as necessary. If any mildew is found, scrub the area with a combination of water and household bleach, or you can use a commercial deck cleaning product. If you have a dirty deck then you will want to try to clean it using a pressure washer. You can find a pressure washer at any store that rents out utilities. Make sure you follow the safety precautions before you start. Use a pressure washer to clean the whole surface of the deck. Let the deck dry and rewash as necessary. If you happen to find wood that has gone rotten make sure that it is substituted for good wood.
Similar to any project, safety is most important when remodeling your deck. Since the process of sanding involves the removal of material it creates airborne dust. You should wear safety glasses or goggles, work gloves, a work apron or close fitting clothing and an approved dust/mist respirator. Use 120 grit sandpaper to sand the deck's surface and make it rough. If you want your finish to better penetrate, sand the wood. A sanding pole will speed up the process and save your back. All Purpose sandpaper is perfect for light sanding and removing rust.
Use a broom on the deck and then use water to rinse so you get rid of any bit of dirt. The cleaner the deck is, the better the finish will penetrate the wood. Allow the deck to air dry. After that put the stain or paint on the deck. For safe application it is important to refer to the manufactures directions. Make sure you are periodically wetting the edge and making sure the finish does not completely dry up. Apply as many coats as necessary. There are clear finishes that will require you to apply many times prior to the first coat drying on the deck. Remember to put a minimum of two coats on the open end grain. A dry day with some cloud cover provides the best environment for coating and sealing your deck. Too much sun will dry out the finish before it has penetrated the wood.
DOWD RESTORATION is a knowledgeable and trusted contractor in Denver. For answers to all your questions about deck restoration, Give us a call - 303-522-8730.
Begin with a thorough inspection of the deck. You should check for any marks or changes in color. You can use mild detergent or soap from around the house to remove stains as necessary. If any mildew is found, scrub the area with a combination of water and household bleach, or you can use a commercial deck cleaning product. If you have a dirty deck then you will want to try to clean it using a pressure washer. You can find a pressure washer at any store that rents out utilities. Make sure you follow the safety precautions before you start. Use a pressure washer to clean the whole surface of the deck. Let the deck dry and rewash as necessary. If you happen to find wood that has gone rotten make sure that it is substituted for good wood.
Similar to any project, safety is most important when remodeling your deck. Since the process of sanding involves the removal of material it creates airborne dust. You should wear safety glasses or goggles, work gloves, a work apron or close fitting clothing and an approved dust/mist respirator. Use 120 grit sandpaper to sand the deck's surface and make it rough. If you want your finish to better penetrate, sand the wood. A sanding pole will speed up the process and save your back. All Purpose sandpaper is perfect for light sanding and removing rust.
Use a broom on the deck and then use water to rinse so you get rid of any bit of dirt. The cleaner the deck is, the better the finish will penetrate the wood. Allow the deck to air dry. After that put the stain or paint on the deck. For safe application it is important to refer to the manufactures directions. Make sure you are periodically wetting the edge and making sure the finish does not completely dry up. Apply as many coats as necessary. There are clear finishes that will require you to apply many times prior to the first coat drying on the deck. Remember to put a minimum of two coats on the open end grain. A dry day with some cloud cover provides the best environment for coating and sealing your deck. Too much sun will dry out the finish before it has penetrated the wood.
DOWD RESTORATION is a knowledgeable and trusted contractor in Denver. For answers to all your questions about deck restoration, Give us a call - 303-522-8730.
