Stripper Failed to Remove All Deck Stain – Next Steps

Hi everyone. I have a 4 year old IPE deck, approximately 400 sq. feet, which has been cleaned and treated every year with Penofin Hardwood. Over those years, the finish has become uneven, my guess in large part due to me stupidly using a garden sprayer to apply 2 years ago per the instructions on the label (what I get for trying something different) Anyway, this year I thought it was about time to strip, clean and brighten, so I could start from scratch.

This past weekend I used Penofin’s products for doing just that and the results were, for a lack of a better word, horrible. The stain was completely removed in some spots, partially in others, and apparently not at all in the rest.

So, I’m wondering what I should try next. I was considering either trying to strip (yet again) or bite the bullet and sand the whole thing. To complicate matters a bit, we’re having a b-day party for my daughter in 2 weekends, and with rain in the forecast for a least part of one, time is short.

• Stripping again – should I try this again, and if so, what product should I use? Any tips for getting it completely stripped?
• Sanding – how long with a 5’’ ROS could I expect this to take? After sanding, do I need clean and brighten?

Opinions on how to proceed are greatly appreciated. Thanks!