Should I strip my deck?

If the water beads up (breaks up into tiny drops) and just sits there, then too much sealer is present and you will need to strip it. If the water remains in a puddle and begins to absorb into the wood within 10 minutes, then the coating has worn off enough that you can restain or reseal.

Is it necessary to strip a deck before staining?

Water-based stains need to be stripped off before you apply a new finish, while oil-based stains can be recoated after you use a deck cleaner. To test the stain: Apply a small amount of deck stripper to a small area on your deck.

Is it better to strip or sand a deck?

In almost all instance sanding back your deck to bare timber will give you the best results when compared to stripping agents but the cost factor and job site surrounds will need to be taken into consideration when making your final decision.

Do I need to strip my deck before repainting?

No need to remove all deck paint without stripping, but scuff sanding is recommended before repainting, allowing new paint to grab and hold even better. So there you have it! Great news if your current deck paint is holding up, needing an additional coat. You only need to give it a good scuff sand first.

Should I strip my deck before sanding?

Ideally, applying a light wood stripper and then pressure washing in a board by board manner is highly recommended to clean the surface and open up the wood grain for staining. After washing the deck, if you feel it is too rough then go ahead and do some sanding when it has thoroughly dried out.

How to Refinish a Deck | Sand It or Strip It?

Should you pressure wash a deck after sanding?

After sanding, power-wash the deck and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before staining. Sanding exposes porous wood that's ready to soak up the stain, but this isn't possible if the wood is full of water.

Is it worth sanding a deck?

Once dry, these wood fibers can remain raised and may cause splinters. For this reason, light but thoroughly sanding your wood deck is a necessary step before staining or sealing. This crucial step will ensure that your refinishing job gives great results.

Can I paint over already painted deck?

Yes, as long as the old deck paint is still in good condition, you should be able to paint right over it. But if the old paint is cracking, peeling, or otherwise damaged, give it a light sanding to even the surface before you paint.

How much does it cost to strip and repaint a deck?

A small 10-foot by 10-foot deck can cost between $200 and $500 to paint, while a much larger deck measuring 16 feet by 16 feet can cost between $500 and $1,500. On average, one can expect to pay between $2 and $5 per square foot when painting a deck.

Why strip instead of sand?

Stripping a finish is faster than sanding to remove it. This is one I come across often. People tell me in one way or another, that they are going to sand off the finish or paint. So then I point out that stripping is faster, and in the case of paint could even be safer than sanding.

Why do you strip a deck?

Strip and Renew Wood Before Restaining

Solid-color stains protect wood decks and look great when new, but even the best solid color deck stain eventually flakes and wears away. At that point, they need to be scraped and stripped off before the deck can be recoated.

Can you sand a weathered deck?

Sand the Deck

Use an orbital sander to remove any old gloss and smooth out any rough areas on decking boards. You may need to use a sanding sponge on the railings or balustrades. Use 60- or 80- grit sandpaper on the main deck boards, and use 80- or 100-grit on the handrails.

How long after stripping deck can I stain?

Most wood surfaces will be dry enough for a stain application 24-48 hours after the wood prep.

Can you use a pressure washer to strip a deck?

The truth is that pressure washing makes it much easier to strip your deck than you may imagine. Keep reading to learn how pressure washing can be the best way to rid your deck of old paint, wood stain, ground-in dirt, and even mold and mildew.

Can you paint over a previously stained deck?

A stained deck can be easily painted over or given a new shade of stain by dulling the old finish with sandpaper, wiping down the deck with de-glosser, and then priming and painting or topping with the new shade of stain.

Can I paint over peeling deck paint?

NEW PAINT/PRIMER WILL NOT MAKE OLD PAINT STICK BETTER: Putting new paint overtop of old paint–old paint that has started to peel–will not bond that paint to the surface. The new paint WILL bond to the old paint . . . but if the old paint is starting to fail, it will eventually peel and take the new paint off as well.

Should an old wooden deck be resealed and repainted or do I just replace it?

In severe cases, your deck can even begin to rot away, forcing you to spend unnecessary amounts of money to have the failing components replaced or even have your entire deck rebuilt. To prevent this from happening, we recommend that you re-stain your deck no less than every two to three years.

Is it better to paint or stain an old deck?

Paint allows you more color options, as where stain is limited to shades of brown. Because paint fills gaps and cracks, it hides the flaws of a weathered or old deck much better than stain does. It's easier to clean a painted deck rather than a stained one.

How do you redo a deck that has been painted?

How often should you repaint your deck?

On average, decks should be refinished every 2-3 years.

Can I paint my deck without sanding?

Don't skip the sanding: Scraping rarely removes all the paint from the existing deck, and it's not meant to. After scraping away loose paint, it's likely the wood will still have large areas of stuck-on paint, and that's okay because if it's not peeling, the new paint will still adhere.

Does sanding ruin pressure treated wood?

Sanding pressure-treated wood is actually contraindicated because, as Sand & Stain warns, you'll end up partially removing the protective coating created by the pressure treatment, and the wood will look terrible.

What is the best sander to redo a deck?

A random orbital sander is the best tool to sand a deck because it tends to be lighter and easier to use than other sanders. Random orbital sanders are also generally kind to the wood of a deck; belt sanders, by contrast, can gouge softwoods.