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How to Sand a Wooden Deck Sweep the deck with a hard bristle push broom. Mix a solution of warm water and detergent in a bucket and use it to mop the deck. Sand the deck with an orbital floor sander. Sand corners and areas under benches with a palm sander and the same grit of sandpaper you used with the floor sander.
What kind of sander should I use to sand my deck?
A random orbital sander is a specialized tool that sands wood in an elliptical pattern. It’s the most efficient sander to use when refinishing a deck, as they’re easy and practical to use.
How do I sand my deck before staining?
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.
What do you 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.
Is it better to sand or power wash a deck?
DO sand your deck before sealing. At that point, lightly sand the surface to remove splintery or fuzzy patches caused by pressure-washing the deck. A pole sander with 80-grit sandpaper will suffice; a power sander is overkill. Then seal the deck to protect from cracking, cupping, and warping.
Can I use a floor sander to sand my deck?
Some homeowners will want to rent a big floor sander to do a large wooden surface like a deck floor. Don’t do that. Floor sanders can only sand surfaces that are perfectly flat, and deck boards are slightly curved. That means it will take off too much in some sections and not enough in others.
Can I sand my deck by hand?
Most homeowners find it entirely possible to sand using an ordinary hand power sander, though patience is required, especially with a large deck that may need several days of work.
How long does it take to sand a deck with an orbital 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 much does it cost to sand a deck?
The cost to sand a deck is $280 on average. Most homeowners spend between $210 and $350 for a 200-square foot deck, which takes about seven hours to sand. If you choose to sand your deck yourself, you’ll need to purchase an orbital sander, which costs $75 on average.
How do you clean 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.
Do you powerwash a deck before sanding?
Splintered, cracking, or just plain rough wood should be sanded first, then pressure washed to open the wood’s pores and allow penetration of the stain. Deeply grooved wood that has mold, moss and other growing things filling the cracks will need treatment with a deck and siding cleaner.
Can you pressure wash 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.
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.
Should I sand pressure treated wood before staining?
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. Once the wood has dried completely, it’s ready for a coat of transparent or semitransparent stain.
Should I use a drum sander on my deck?
Use an Orbital Sander—Not a Drum Sander An orbital flooring sander is safe to use on decks, and it’s faster and easier than hand sanding. A flooring drum sander removes too much material too quickly to use safely on a deck. Most decks are made from softwoods, and the surface is more uneven than an interior floor.
