Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining - Deck Stain Questions and Answers https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/ Deck Stain Help Forum Discussion Board en-US Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:56:30 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12901 Wed, 14 Aug 2019 20:28:02 +0000 854

All finished with the TWP Cedartone 101 application.  Just putting the metal balusters and gate back on are all that is left.  I loved working with this stain.  Way better than the junk I used in years past.

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers KCMO816 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12901 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12743 Wed, 03 Jul 2019 22:03:47 +0000 60-80 grit. We have never tried the circular saw down the middle. Not sure if it will work well.

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12743 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12737 Wed, 03 Jul 2019 16:14:20 +0000 I've been using a palm sander, but it isn't quite enough to repair some several year old power washer damage marks.  I thought I might try a belt sander to make the job easier and quicker.  What grit do you recommend for sanding down the marks?  They appear to be near the surface and are not deep.

Second, some of the spaces between deck boards are pretty tight.  Is using a circular saw with a wide tooth a good idea to run down the board gaps to widen those tight ones?

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers KCMO816 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12737 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12724 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 18:02:55 +0000 You are welcome.

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12724 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12723 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 17:59:35 +0000 His hobby is wood working in character and real life and knows all about all in terms of wood.  Great show (Parks & Rec).  Reading a lot of posts here and your replies, you just remind me of him.   Thanks for all the information Mr. Deck Stain Help.

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers KCMO816 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12723 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12722 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 17:50:40 +0000 Weather all, prep all, then stain all is really the easiest. If you want to not weather, then you could go ahead and final prep and then stain now but those new boards will need another coat in 6-12 months. No, not familiar with Ron. I assume he is super smart and knows everything?  👍 

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12722 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12720 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 17:29:11 +0000 Great, thank you.  Just to clarify as I am not seeing information about a deck with both new and old wood (sorry if the info is there and I missed it).  I should let the entire deck weather for the rest of summer after I finish sanding or are you saying to just let the new boards weather for the summer (i.e. stain entire deck now except for new boards)? 

I need to put the balusters back on asap for safety reasons, so maybe I can go ahead and stain the baluster support boards and put the balusters back on and let the rest of the deck weather?

side note, I picture you as Ron Swanson and read your replies in his voice (I hope you are familiar with the character).760 

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers KCMO816 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12720 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12718 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 16:00:49 +0000 Have you seen this about new wood?: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/

As for the grooves, it is not an issue if sanded off. You may want to finish the sanding. Let it weather through Summer, clean and brighten for final prep. Lightly clean and recoat the floor next year.

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12718 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12715 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 14:34:14 +0000 First, this site is awesome and should be the only online decking information available as so much misinformation is spread.  I only come to this site for my answers now, so THANK YOU.

 

Thank you for the prompt reply to my questions.  Much appreciated as I am in the thick of this project now.  Since my post, I had to replace about 1/3 of my cedar deck boards due to rot on the ends where the screw holes were.  My cedar deck is only about 9-10 years old, so I am not really sure why or how so many were bad as I thought cedar was resistant to this sort of thing.  It probably has a lot to do with the amount of southern sun this deck gets and the wild weather swings here in Kansas City.  Anyway, my follow-up question is do I need to do any special prep on these fresh cedar (sanded, not rough cut) boards prior to staining?  I thought about hitting it with a quick 80 grit pass with my orbital sander.  Oh, and one last question.  I am removing all previous stain, completely, as I want to switch brands and bases (water to oil).  I need to sand the cedar 6x6 posts to help get the remaining stain off.  These posts have a grooved texture to them, however, in order to get the stain off, I will ended up sanding most of that grooving away.  Is this okay?  I have attached some pics of the current state, I didn't take any prior to beginning.753,756,758,759,754,755,757

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers KCMO816 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12715 RE: Cedar deck prep / sanding and staining https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12712 Sun, 30 Jun 2019 12:14:03 +0000 That is not true. Rain does not harm sanded decks and actually helps to open the pores, not close it. Yes, you will need to clean and brighten the wood.

]]> Deck Stain Questions and Answers Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-stain-questions-and-answers/cedar-deck-prep-sanding-and-staining/#post-12712