I have been hired to stain a deck come spring time. I know the first step is powerwash, but my question is how to appy the stain. do I put it on w/ a roller, paintbrush, or rag. do I have to wipe off the excess after said amount of time?
“It is like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer: it feels so good when you stop”
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Let's focus on that powerwashing first. Some argue it causes too much wood damage. It does clean, but at a cost. The most recent suggestions I've seen focus upon using chemicals to lift the dirt. And which chemicals depends upon the surrounding vegation.
Google "deck powerwashing."
And then, research the type of "stain/sealer" best suited for your climate.
Application is commonly done by roller, brush, and/or spray. Usually more than one.
Cover the surrounding walls, hardscape, and vegation.
wish I had a sprayer, guess ill go w/ roller
"It is like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer: it feels so good when you stop"
The material used becomes the issue then. You'll want to use a stain/sealer that can be sprayed with a Hudson garden sprayer. The best unit to use would be an aicd type sprayer (3x the price), so's you can use solvents to clean it. But they're just like the Hudson's.
But that would make the process must faster. Back roll after spraying.
should i soak the roller in the stain before back rolling.
FHB should have an article on this. I don't belive they had one.
"It is like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer: it feels so good when you stop"
I don't believe it's ever a good idea to "soak" a roller in anything.
But use a pan, if for no other reason, to have something to squeeze out excees from the roller. Begin your backrolling with a clean roller, but return over the area several times to provide a complete even coating. That's the purpose of backrolling - to even the coat.
when i said soak, I ment get the stain on it first.
"It is like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer: it feels so good when you stop"
can i use one of those sprayers that you pump manually, then spray, then pump, then spray. oneo of those typically used for weed killer, except the large multiple gallon ones.
"It is like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer: it feels so good when you stop"
I would use CAUTION! with the pressure washer. make sure you start out slowly until you find an appropriate method. usually, it would be something like two courses of 4" board per pass. start the gun before the board and follow it through to the end (not always practical) if you are too close you will leave lap marks that won't show until its dry.
the purpose of pressure washing should be to remove dirt. if you're trying to achieve that new(er) look, you should look into wood brighteners.
some products our two coat deals while others are one and done. follow manufacturers recs.
when applying i like to use a brush. a roller only gets the top edge/facing edge of whatever you're doing. brush bristles can work the cracks between boards for a much nicer finish. if you do choose a roller be careful of bubbles.
p.s. finish at the stairs or doorway :)
That's what we call a Hudson sprayer. A garden sprayer. Hudson makes some of the better ones.
But the one you'd use in a perfect world would be an acid staining sprayer. The same thing, but with solvent and acid resistant parts that don't erode.
This has come up b4--the roller vs. this :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FPAPMI
The pad works wayyyyyyyyyyyy better than roller, rag, brush or whatever. It's made for it.
Pressure wash, yes, but be careful and use a 20degree fan or bigger--not too close to the surface and angled or you'll really rip it up.
'Waters Painting' my dad's business--we used to use a tip that spun 360degrees we called 'the chipper.' Not recc.
Then after the surface is really dry--like several days in hot dry weather--knock any rough spots down with 80grit.
Then spray the stain on with the garden sprayer, as reccom. previously. Follow up as you go along with the stain pad. The fuzz face of the stain pad really gets it in there, especially on rough surfaces, and the pad itself is a sponge that holds a lot of material so it's not slopping everywhere. "Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
one last question. this has never been stained before, just weathered, should I sand it over w/ some 120 or 220 grit? Belt (3x18) or ROS (5")
Ductape can fix EVERYTHING!!!
Floor sander.
don't really want to rent, and it won't get the planks as well because they are slighty differing heights
Ductape can fix EVERYTHING!!!
The rent's cheep. You pass the cost, plus an upcharge, on to your customer. Whom is happy to pay because he gets a superior job.
And the sander will level those differing heights out quick.
Your customer will be so happy!
ok, the belt floorsander or the circular flood sander. the deck is an elongated octagon mabey.
BTW there is a pool in the center of the deck shoul I cover it or try to sand before they take the cover off.
Ductape can fix EVERYTHING!!!
Whichever you feel more comfortable with. Try out both at the rental place. Make sure they show you everything about how they are used and controlled.
Cover.
Since I'm a small boy, do you think it would be much easier to use a orbital one. the belt would probably drag me accross the deck
Ductape can fix EVERYTHING!!!
Orbital? Like a rectangular palm sander on steroids? You could easily handle that. Home Desperate has those. About 60 to $70 per day. Plus sanding grids. About $6 each.
Avoid the big 24" circular things like the janitors use at school. Some boys can handle them, but they're bigger than I.
...should I sand it over...
I've sealed several decks, none of which would have benefited much from being sanded. And if I had asked the HO if they wanted the "premier" job which cost more because it included a full day of sanding, they would have declined.
It's a bunch of wood sitting out in the weather. It's gonna take a beating. Be sure you know what your goal is in terms of how good it needs to look when you're done.
Check the manufacturer's directions. Some stains like Sikkens don't want you rolling or spraying.