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Deck Stain Questions and Answers
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Topic starter
02/09/2014 4:36 am
Hi, I live in Ontario, Canada, where the winter is pretty long and harsh. My plan is to stain my deck & fence this fall (Sept 2014) if I can find time to do it.
My cedar fence was built in Oct 2013 and it natural colour has somewhat faded and become whiter. It will be re-styled in about a week or so, by adding some new pieces of cedar to one of its sides. I'm guessing after this is done, the colour difference between the old lumber and the new lumber will be pretty noticeable.
My deck was build in May 2014 using PT.
Here are my questions about staining them:
1. Do I need to use cleaner and brightener on both my deck and fence? If yes, is Restore-A-Deck kit be a good product to use?
2. Do I need to sand?
3. Do I need to pressure wash?
4. Is Armstrong-Clark semi-transparent (Amber or Cedar colour) stain a good choice for both my deck and fence?
5. Is it better to wait until next spring (May 2015) because of the new cedar pieces going on my fence?
6. If I can't find time this fall and have to wait till May 2015, does any of the above change?
7. If I purchase the above products (cleaner, brightener, stain) now and can't find time to do the job this fall, can I store them and use them next Spring?
8. Are any of the above products (cleaner, brightener, stain) going to destroy my plants next to the fence?
Thanks!
Topic starter
05/09/2014 12:56 am
Thanks for the quick response. Got some follow up questions:
1. What kind of psi do I need to use for the pressure wash on PT? How about cedar?
2. If I wait till next spring, wouldn't my cedar fence become more grey? Would cleaner & brightener bring back the original cedar colour?
3. Can cedar become grey even after being stained? Will it be noticeable through semi-transparent stain?
4. Does cold winter cause more damage if the wood is not stained?
5. For #8 from my original question, water will still flow into the soil when I'm rinsing the fence after cleaner/brightener is applied. Is that okay for the plants?
6. For applying the Rad kit, is spray the best option? How about applying stain?
Thanks again!
05/09/2014 4:56 am
I've searched and can't find much on which Pump Sprayers to work,
1. I want to spray Twp ( undecided if 100 or 1500 on new pt pine)
2. I've seen recomendations for hudson and chapin sprayers but I would like to know a model number, don't know which are the ones with fan tips.
3. Are brass wands more effective than the plastic ones?
4. Would a backpack sprayer be a good choice? What model number?
5. Can same sprayer be used to clean and brighten the fence, then washed and dried to spray the stain?
05/09/2014 12:44 pm
Quote from jhyang23 on September 5, 00:56
Thanks for the quick response. Got some follow up questions:1. What kind of psi do I need to use for the pressure wash on PT? How about cedar?
2. If I wait till next spring, wouldn't my cedar fence become more grey? Would cleaner & brightener bring back the original cedar colour?
3. Can cedar become grey even after being stained? Will it be noticeable through semi-transparent stain?
4. Does cold winter cause more damage if the wood is not stained?
5. For #8 from my original question, water will still flow into the soil when I'm rinsing the fence after cleaner/brightener is applied. Is that okay for the plants?
6. For applying the Rad kit, is spray the best option? How about applying stain?Thanks again!
1. PSI is relative to how close you are to the wood. You can use a 3000 psi washer but you will need to be 10-12" away from the wood. This would drop the psi to 1200-1500 which is ideal.
2. Cleaner and wood brightener will remove any graying and restore color
3. Eventually after years the stain will fade. The wood does not become gray under the stain unless you use a clear (no color).
4. Yes and no. One season will not hurt. Many season will
5. You will be fine with the runoff
6. Use a pump sprayer for applying cleaners. You can use a pump sprayer for stain but you will need to back wipe to ensure it is even with a brush or stain pad.
05/09/2014 12:48 pm
Quote from eric365 on September 5, 04:56
I've searched and can't find much on which Pump Sprayers to work,
1. I want to spray Twp ( undecided if 100 or 1500 on new pt pine)
2. I've seen recomendations for hudson and chapin sprayers but I would like to know a model number, don't know which are the ones with fan tips.
3. Are brass wands more effective than the plastic ones?
4. Would a backpack sprayer be a good choice? What model number?
5. Can same sprayer be used to clean and brighten the fence, then washed and dried to spray the stain?
We normally use steel sprayers with grass fittigs as contractors as they last much longer. They do cost about $130 though. We like Chapin 1979 or their 1949.
They also make a plastic version for minimal use. I am sorry but I do not know the model for these. Might want to contact Chapin.
We do not use back backs as they will leak sometimes and this can get on the persons back.
You can use the same sprayer for all.
