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To open the wood grain so it absorbs stain or paint, sand the deck using 20 to 50 grit sandpaper on the first pass and 60 to 80 grit on the second pass on a belt sander or orbital floor sander. Use the same grits to sand railings, posts, and stairs using palm or orbit sanders.
Do I have to sand deck before staining?
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.
Should I pressure wash or sand my deck before staining?
Now that the wood has been cleaned and stripped of grime, you can sand it and apply your stain of choice. Power washing a deck before staining will allow the wood to absorb the stain better and deeper. After that, you can begin enjoying your deck, but you should inspect it about every year.
What grit sandpaper should I use to sand a deck?
Sand the Deck Use 60- or 80- grit sandpaper on the main deck boards, and use 80- or 100-grit on the handrails. After sanding, vacuum the deck thoroughly to ensure that dust does not settle on the new finish.
Can I sand my deck with a floor sander?
Sanding your deck with a floor sander It is possible to use a floor sander to sand your deck, although we still advise you to use a hand-held belt sander for best results. Just make sure to go slow and steady to get an even finish, and make sure all parts of the deck have been sanded down.
How long does it take to sand a deck with a floor sander?
In general, it will take you 8 hours to sand a deck that is 25m2, using a belt sander. But there are a few factors that can affect the time it takes to sand your decking.
What if it rains after sanding deck?
It’s important that you make sure there is no chance of rain when you begin to sand. If the wood gets wet after it’s been sanded, but not before you’ve had the chance to stain or paint it, you’ll be back to square one — you’ll need to wash and sand it all over again.
How long after power washing can you sand?
Sand Your Deck Before Sealing After you’ve pressure washed your deck, you’ll need to wait for it to completely dry. Sometimes, this can take as long as 48-hours. Once it’s dry, you’ll want to sand your deck lightly. This is necessary to remove any splinters or fuzzy patches that pressure washing can cause.
Can I pressure wash my deck instead of sanding?
That being said, sanding is a lot of work. You can get the same clean, fresh surface with a good pressure washing. A pressure washer removes the deteriorated finish and some of the decayed wood fiber leaving a like-new surface after the wood dries.
What grit sandpaper should I use to remove stain?
Stain is notoriously hard to remove from wood. Some types dye its surface, while others carry pigment deep into the pores. The only real solution is to remove the top layer of wood by sanding, and light-duty sandpaper just won’t cut it. The best all-purpose sandpaper for removing stain is 100-grit.
Can you sand stain off a deck?
To avoid stripping or sanding the old stain off your deck, thoroughly clean and rinse it, and then let the wood dry for 24 to 48 hours. Apply the same (or darker) stain color or tint from the same manufacturer. Otherwise, you’ll need to strip or sand the old stain out.
Should I wash my deck after sanding?
Remember no more than 60 or 80 grit paper. The next step is to clean the wood thoroughly after the sanding. Deck cleaners, also known as deck wash are used to lift dirt and unsightly mildew which accumulates over time. Most deck cleaners contain soaps to help them clean effectively.
Can you sand down decking?
Sanding is only practical when your garden decking is smooth, with no grooves. If you have grooved decking, like most people, sanding won’t remove the finish from the grooves. If you want to re-treat your decking with a sealer, you need to remove oil-based finishes with white spirit.
Should I sand or strip my deck?
Sanding is preferable where less penetration is required and the deck is flat, but the process requires additional labor and time to achieve consistent results. A stripper can often be the best option for larger decks, even though the cost will be significantly higher.
When should I sand my deck?
Sanding a New Deck A new deck should season for 30 days or more to allow it to dry to the outdoor climate. Some pressure-treated lumber can take up to half a year to dry enough to absorb sealant or stain. Use the water test and sprinkle some water on the boards. If the water beads up, you need to wait longer.
How long can you wait to stain after sanding?
After you’ve opened the grain by sanding, the wood more easily absorbs any new finish you apply. The grain stays open for only a short time, however, so you should apply the finish as soon as possible after you’ve finished sanding. For best results, you shouldn’t wait longer than 48 hours.
How long should wood dry before sanding?
2. The temperature and humidity will tell you how long the wood takes to dry before you can continue sanding it. On average, it’s going to take two to three days for the wood to properly dry (about 1/16 an inch below the surface level/workable exterior of the wood).
