Hi! Would love some input please from those in the know:
Cedar deck installed in late fall of 2011 with one coat of Olympic stain applied by light of a headlamp (unfortunately). Summer 2013, Techniseal deck wash applied with scrubber to remove wearing stain and some mildew. Did a fanstastic job. Deck then sanded to looks like new condition. Contractor staff hired to apply Olympic oil-based stain pour stain into tray on deck causing splatter and put a brush down on the deck. They apply stain in a patch to cover the spots, using the last of a not-well stirred can and then run out of stain. The next day they stain over the entire surface trying to "blend" the two coats of a one-coat product. Two rounds of Olympic stain stripper and power washing later, still patches where the two coats were applied. This week I will return to my knees, armed with scrub brush, and apply my original super product of Techniseal Wood Cleaner to remove the rest of the stain (I did a test patch).
It's Ottawa, Canada: the forecast is rain all this week and into next when the temperatures start to drop below 10 degress celcius during the day, 3 degrees at night. Question: should I try to sand and stain now if I have an open dry day, although it may be cool, or should I leave the deck unprotected over the winter, sanding and staining in the spring (likey dry and warm enough by June)??
Thanks!
Broke and heartbroken in Ottawa.
I would wait. This way you are not in a rush and have a potential problem again. It will not hurt the wood to go through one winter.
We're having a hard time with weather, too - just finishing a new western red cedar deck this week. Had hoped to apply TimberOil (honey) right away but we're looking at 40-45 degree forecasts and lots of cold rain! I guess we're better off waiting until spring, but should plan to both clean and brighten the wood before application? (Is it true that had we been able to get to it this year, we could have gotten away with a light cleaning - no brightening?)
You should clean and brighten new wood no matter what. This opens the grain and removes the mill glaze.
Thanks for the tip; will do! Great site 🙂