Table of Contents
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.
Should I wash 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.
How much should I sand my deck before staining?
The cost to sand a deck before staining is $30 to $50 per hour and takes 3 to 10 hours, depending on the surface area. Decks in great condition only a light sanding with an orbital floor sander. A heavier sanding is necessary if the wood is warped or has water damage.
What kind of sander should I use on 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 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 are the different types of sandpaper grit?
While you can find many differently graded sandpapers available, most sanding projects call for papers in the following grit ranges: #60–#80 Grit: Coarse. #100–#150 Grit: Medium. #180–#220 Grit: Fine. #320 Grit: Ultra-Fine.
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.
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 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.
Do I need to power wash 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.
When should I sand my deck?
The deck should be sanded after it is stripped and before a coat of stain or paint is applied. A solid stain or paint commonly lasts for five years and a transparent stain for one to two. If water doesn’t bead on the deck, then it is being absorbed. A sure sign it is time to sand and protect it again.
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.
Can I sand 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.
Can you use a pole sander on a deck?
Sanding the Deck Sanding by hand with a pole sander is the safest method for both you and the deck, but can be very slow. The deck must be very dry and you must wash off the dust afterward, so you may want to sand before cleaning if your deck is not particularly dirty.
Should you 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.
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.
Should I sand new deck before staining?
Sanding is more for the feel of the deck than to prepare it to accept a new stain. But sanding definitely won’t hurt anything. 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.
Do I need to sand 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.
