Gazebo re-stain

Post some pictures.

Hello, and thank you for responding.  Hopefully the photos will come through.  there should be 13 of them.

apologies for all the photos, jsut want to give as much info as possible.  You can see the wear on some of the photos, as well as the mildew/mold (I think).

Also just found this, so I'll add it:

1. Deck Location State: Georgia
2. Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade: Full Sun all day (no trees)
   
3. Wood Type: Pressure treated, various sizing
4. Mold or Mildew Issues: Some
5. The reason for Previous Stain Failure: Not sure how to answer this.
   
6. Previous Coating? If so brand name and type of stain (Transparent, Semi-transparent, Semi-solid, Solid Stain): Unknown

You need to use a deck stain stripper. Apply this and then pressure wash off. Do it in sections. Once fully stripped, rinse all wood well and apply a wood brightener. The Restore A Deck Stain can be applied to damp wood. You can use that if you want or another option would be TWP stains but that will be applied to dry wood, about 48 hours after prep.

I was planning on using the RAD stripper and brightener, then follow with the RAD stain.  This looks like a big job, so in terms of "wet" vs "damp", should I plan apply the stripper, pressure wash off, then apply the brightener, rinse off, then apply the stain in sections?  For example the top of the gazebo (that little poke out tower on the top), should I concentrate on just that from strip to stain?  then move to the ceiling- strip through stain steps?  The wet and damp part has me concerned.  FWIW, I am planning to put on two coats of stain.

OR should I strip the whole thing, pressure wash the whole thing, then brighten and rinse, and then "section" section the staining part?

Is this a full one day, full two day or full three day task?

Also--Would it be best to spray the stripper and the brightener with a pump sprayer?  I am assuming so.  BUT with the stain- should I use a roller and brush, or pump sprayer and brush?

You do all the prep first before staining. You can break up the staining in sections. Start from the top down.

Could be a day or two to do all the work. You apply the prep products with a pump sprayer.

Just ordered one of the RAD kits, and a brush.  Now questions on pressure washer psi:  

I could use a couple of pressure washers-

1- 2600 psi, 2.5 gpm

2- 4200 psi, 4 gpm

Which one should I use? 1 or 2?

I think I saw on this site to use 1500 psi, but then on the RAD site to use 800 psi??

What degree tip should I use? 25? 40?

Am I correct to assume the wider the tip, the less psi I would get on the surface of the gazebo. and then the further the tip is from the gazebo, the less psi I would get?  So then which tip at what distance?

Use 2. It will wash faster. PSI is relative to how close you are to the wood. Using a 4000 PSI pressure washer is only 4000 at the tip. When you are 8-12 inches away, it drops in half and will work. 25 or 40 will work.

Thank you. 

How bad is the stripper, brightener, and stain on the metal roof?  I am bound to get a little bit of the stripper and brightener on the metal roof. 

Would you recommend I brush the strip/bright onto the spindles of the top roof protrusion (see photos above), to avoid getting the strip/bright solution on the roof? 

Will it be OK to have the "rinsed" solutions go down the roof if I keep plenty of water on the roof?? 

The stain should be easy enough to keep off with a brush

Yes, use a brush. The brightener may "lighten" the metal if the metal is tinted. Getting stain on it will just look sloppy. If you rinse well and quickly, it will help a lot from any potential issues.