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28/08/2017 7:03 pm
We live in Alabama and last year we stripped (Lowe's) 8 yr old oil based stain using a powerwasher. We then stained the deck with Behr Premium water base stain. One year later it looks terrible, covered with mold and mildrew and we have had to replace several rotting boards. See attached photos. We want to remove it and start over with something else that actually will look nice for over a year and keep the mold and mildew off. It is really bad where a tree shades the deck. I have tried a couple of products to remove the mold but they didn't work. I am hesitant to use bleach because we have bushes that grow where the water from the deck runs off and I don't want to kill them. Suggestions for a stripper and a better stain that will last longer?
28/08/2017 8:01 pm
Behr can be a stubborn stain to strip. You will need to remove as much as you can with a deck stain stripper and pressure washing. Sand any that is left off and then apply a wood deck brightener to neutralize the stain stripper. Once the deck is prepped, you let dry for a few days.
For prep, try Restore A Deck Stripper Kits
For stain, try the Defy Extreme or TWP 100 Series.
22/09/2017 6:53 pm
The pictures above look exactly like my deck in NJ. I have replaced 20+ boards and the Olympia stripping product I used did absolutely nothing. My pressure washer took more off just using the water than it did with the solution applied. I did power wash the entire deck to get all the mold and dirt off. I still have a few questions:
1. Can I just sand down the entire deck at this point and then re-stain?
2. Do I need to get a better stripping solution (thinking Restore-A Deck and then the Brightener) and do the entire deck and railings with that first?
3. When I do sand with a professional rented sander from Home Depot can I go over the new treated wood I just installed or does that ruin it? If I can't do I have to sand the old decking boards by hand with an orbital sander so I don't touch the new boards?
4. Lastly do you think TWP 100 would be a good stain for a deck in NJ that is in the sun for the majority of the day?
Thank you and I love your website-it has been immensely helpful for a first-timer like me!!
23/09/2017 2:49 pm
Thanks so much. Really appreciate the help!!
23/09/2017 3:07 pm
Sorry one last question. I just purchased the TWP 1500 stain and in the instructions it says to give the new wood 4 to 12 months to age before staining. So my questions are:
1. Do I need to absolutely do that?
2. If I do need to wait that long should I wait to sand the entire deck (new and old boards) until the Spring now?
3. Will the deck be ok all winter long (old boards) if I leave it alone until then?
4. Should I sand all the old boards, railings, and spindles now and just leave them that way until the Spring or wait until the Spring to do everything together?
Thanks!!
24/09/2017 3:01 pm
Again many thanks. Your website is awesome and so helpful!!
