Deck Sanding & Refinishing

Denny Crane · 05-23-2019, 11:08 AM

Any film forming product such as a solid stain or paint on a horizontal surface such as a deck, railing, or fence will peel over time. Over time the number of layers that build up and the weight of the product will become inflexible and lift. If you have solid stain you are stuck, unless you want to strip it down to bare. Behr makes a pretty good deck stripper that you apply with a pump sprayer then a strong wash with a powerwasher. It's worked well on floors but it might be too much work to do railings. A clear or semitransparent will not peel, but it's good for only 2-3 years. UV light kills semitransparent stains, but at least it won't peel. One exception though. Sikkens makes a nice SDR stain that I use on my PT deck and fence, however it has a slight sheen after a number of year applying and flakes. Eventually I needed to use the Behr stripper and sand the floor with an orbital sander. Bottom line, every solid product will peel, so if you have a choice while it is still bare, pick a semi or semi solid product.
DC

garysanfran · 05-24-2019, 08:46 AM

How does anything "dry" here?

Hillcountry · 05-24-2019, 09:21 AM

We used a “restore” product on our deck a few seasons ago. As expected, the part of the deck the deck that gets full sun along with being the high traffic area that gets vigorously, shoveled, snowblower, etc. has deteriorated slightly but not to the point of being ruined. The covered porch part looks as good as when we rolled the product on. The deck is 15 years old and a board here and there is slowly rotting and we have replaced a half dozen of the 2x6 boards. Next step will be either full floor replacement (if the substructure is still good).
Looking at a synthetic product for the re-do. Not sure what yet.

05-23-2019, 11:08 AM	#1
Denny Crane Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 100 Thanks: 28 Thanked 21 Times in 17 Posts	Deck Stains Any film forming product such as a solid stain or paint on a horizontal surface such as a deck, railing, or fence will peel over time. Over time the number of layers that build up and the weight of the product will become inflexible and lift. If you have solid stain you are stuck, unless you want to strip it down to bare. Behr makes a pretty good deck stripper that you apply with a pump sprayer then a strong wash with a powerwasher. It's worked well on floors but it might be too much work to do railings. A clear or semitransparent will not peel, but it's good for only 2-3 years. UV light kills semitransparent stains, but at least it won't peel. One exception though. Sikkens makes a nice SDR stain that I use on my PT deck and fence, however it has a slight sheen after a number of year applying and flakes. Eventually I needed to use the Behr stripper and sand the floor with an orbital sander. Bottom line, every solid product will peel, so if you have a choice while it is still bare, pick a semi or semi solid product. DC

05-24-2019, 08:46 AM	#2
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,639 Thanks: 727 Thanked 705 Times in 363 Posts	Letting the wood "dry"... How does anything "dry" here? __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

The Following User Says Thank You to Denny Crane For This Useful Post:
garysanfran (05-23-2019)

05-24-2019, 09:21 AM	#3
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,419 Thanks: 1,664 Thanked 786 Times in 466 Posts	We used a “restore” product on our deck a few seasons ago. As expected, the part of the deck the deck that gets full sun along with being the high traffic area that gets vigorously, shoveled, snowblower, etc. has deteriorated slightly but not to the point of being ruined. The covered porch part looks as good as when we rolled the product on. The deck is 15 years old and a board here and there is slowly rotting and we have replaced a half dozen of the 2x6 boards. Next step will be either full floor replacement (if the substructure is still good). Looking at a synthetic product for the re-do. Not sure what yet.