Deck newbie confusion - Deck Stain Stripping Questions and Answers

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 10:35:21 +0000

Sealing will not prevent termite damage and redwood is naturally resistant to termites. You could always have it sprayed by a pest control company. We do not know of a way to make railings more stable outside of rebuilding them.

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Rose T. — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 04:58:52 +0000

Thing is, we pulled up some railings off the ballasters and found termite damage. There was also some termite damage at the posts. Is there any way to prevent that in a redwood deck or is that just life?

Also, what would you use to make the ballasters and railings more stable - is there a Simson fastener you recommend or have another approach?

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 10:43:17 +0000

No need.

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Rose T. — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 01:36:29 +0000

To prevent rot and termite damage, would you recommend that I put any type of sealer on the end of the deck boards or the unseen part where the ballasters meet the railing? If so, what brand?

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 13:36:41 +0000

Rain will not harm anything. Try a semi-solid color so the wood blends better. Armstrong Clark.

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Rose T. — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 07:35:24 +0000

@administrator

After the wood has been sanded (to remove the paint), is it ok if it gets rained on during the 1-3 month seasoning time? Or does rain mean I need to sand it again (I read this on another site). What stain to use if there's a combo of new and old (sanded) wood?

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 12:58:18 +0000

Posted by: @rose-t
And one more:

Does the grade of redwood have much to do with the longevity of the boards or is it primarily a cosmetic choice?

Just comsmetic.

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Rose T. — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 22:00:24 +0000

And one more: Does the grade of redwood have much to do with the longevity of the boards or is it primarily a cosmetic choice?

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Rose T. — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 21:59:16 +0000

Thanks for the info! More questions... 1) Ok if I leave the Copper Green on the boards while they weather? Will cleaning and brightening remove it? 2) If old boards are sanded, will they weather at the same rate as the new ones (so that the stain will match between the old and new boards)? If not, any remedy besides replacing boards? 3) If 80 grit removes the paint, do I still need to finish with 60 grit? 4) Can either a belt, palm, or drum sander be used to remove the paint? 5) Would it be helpful to start with a paint stripper (which?) before sanding? 6) My deck gets 80-90% full sun throughout the day. Maybe 30 days of rain/year. Which stain is best for that? Is it safe for plants and animals? 7) If you recommend Restore-A-Deck as the brightener and cleaner, is it safe for plants and animals? 8) Do boards only need to be replaced if they're rotted through or soft/squishy? 9) How do I know if the boards are seasoned enough for staining? Thanks again - I would be happy to pay for this info.

RE: Deck newbie confusion

Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 12:35:47 +0000

You do not need to pressure wash prior to sanding. Copper Green is not needed and will probably not help as well.