| A beautiful wooden deck, properly
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| | restore a deck very
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| maintained, can add
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| | close to it's original color.Add approx.
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| greatly to the aesthetic and resale
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| | 5oz. acid to each gallon of water.Citrus
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| values of a home.Just look around, decks
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| | Acid- Used on hardwoods.Oxalic Acid-
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| are almost everywhere. Not just
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| | Primarily used on redwoods.Phosphoric
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| houses but both municipal and commercial
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| | Acid- Used when an unfinished deck has
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| facilities use
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| | turned
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| wooden decks and walkways extensively.
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| | "gray".I'm very hesitant to suggest a
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| Because of this
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| | pressure level when it comes
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| pressure washing decks can be a great
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| | to cleaning decks because it's just so
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| profit center for your
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| | subjective. One deck
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| business or even the whole business.The
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| | will have harder wood than another
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| great news is that decks need
| |
| | andother decks will have softer and
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| maintenance. As beautiful
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| | harder areas on the same
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| as a wooden deck can be it can be a real
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| | deck. In this respect only experience
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| eyesore if not
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| | can really guide you.
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| properly maintained.Why Decks Need
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| | As a general rule of thumb use the least
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| MaintenanceWhen a wood deck absorbs water
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| | amount of pressure
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| the natural resins and color
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| | that will get the job done.Test pressure
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| can be washed out over time.The
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| | on an inconspicuous area of the deck. The
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| combination of wood and water creates a
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| |
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| food source for
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| | underside works well for thisExcessive
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| mildew, fungus and mold promoting their
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| | Pressure.Excessive pressure will cause a
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| growth. Wood and
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| | deck to "furr".This is the
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| water combined with dirt and even air
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| | appearance of small hairlike fibers
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| pollution will also
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| | protruding from the
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| contribute to the proliferation of
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| | wood.. Your customers will not like the
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| mildew, fungus and molds.
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| | way this looks and
|
| One thing to remember is that a wet deck
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| | light sanding will be required to
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| with a thick
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| | correct this condition.Ready, Set,
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| coating of mildew is very slick and
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| | Go!Soak the area to be cleaned
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| slippery. This creates
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| | thoroughly. This serves several
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| one heck of a "slip and fall" liability
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| | purposes but most importantly, the deck
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| problem. Keep this
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| | must remain damp
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| in mind when speaking to the decision
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| | throughout the entire cleaning
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| makers of commercial
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| | process.Apply cleaning chemical with the
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| and municipal facilities.Learning
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| | applicator of your
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| CurveThere is a learning curve involved
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| | choice.When just starting out a pump up
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| when getting proficient
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| | type sprayer will
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| enough to clean/seal/restore wood decks
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| | work nicely. Allow your chemical to
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| for the public. It
| |
| | dwell for 15-20 minutes.
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| is best to learn on your own deck or on
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| | Do not allow to dry. If necessary spray
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| the decks of close
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| | more water or
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| friends and relatives. When learning
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| | reapply chemical.If you've sufficiently
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| make sure to do more
| |
| | dampened the deck and haven't dawdled
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| than one. Different decks can present
| |
| | this shouldn't be a big problem.Clean.
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| different challenges.InspectWhen
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| | Remember when cleaning use low pressure.
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| organizing your project or preparing your
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| | Never clean
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| bid make some
| |
| | against the grain or across the grain.
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| simple observations.Has the deck ever
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| | Feather each pass.
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| been sealed? Is there old sealer that
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| | The pressure used should be enough to
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| needs to be stripped and reapplied?Do I
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| | remove dead wood but
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| have all the chemicals, tools and
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| | not enough to cause "furring" Experience
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| equipment required
| |
| | will be your best
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| for this project?( we will include a
| |
| | teacher.Rinse deck thoroughly removing
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| sample list at the end of this article)Is
| |
| | all chemical. Apply
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| there any damaged or rotted wood that
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| | neutralizer/brightener solution, wait
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| needs to be
| |
| | 10-15 minutes and
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| replaced?( Now is a good time to
| |
| | rinse well again.If you are going to
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| measure.)Are the any missing or loose
| |
| | seal wait 24 hours if not 48. If you
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| bolts, nails or screws?Are there any
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| | chose your day well rain won't become a
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| adjacent bushes or plants that need to be
| |
| | problem."Furring" Happens.Sometimes
|
|
| |
| | "furring will become apparent even at low
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| protected?Are there any electrical
| |
| |
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| appliances, outlets, light fixtures
| |
| | pressures. These short hair like fibers
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| or telephone jacks?Note: these will have
| |
| | are the result of a
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| to be sealed water tight. Remember
| |
| | "tearing" action on the wood. These will
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| water and electricity is a dangerous
| |
| | probably be gone in
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| combination. Decks in
| |
| | 2-3 weeks but your customer will want
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| upscale neighborhoods will probably
| |
| | them gone sooner than
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| contain most of these
| |
| | later. Give them a light sanding with a
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| challenges. Make sure the circuit
| |
| | bronze metal
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| breakers will be
| |
| | scrubbing pad. Use bronze, steel wool
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| accessible to you prior to
| |
| | can leave rust
|
| starting.BeginningOk you've cleared
| |
| | stains.What not to leave behindHere is a
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| everything from the deck and placed it
| |
| | general list of things to bring to your
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| far
| |
| | job site.
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| enough to be out of harms way. You've
| |
| | Some of this may not apply to you. The
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| locked out the circuit
| |
| | point is to always
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| breakers that provide electrical service
| |
| | work with a job list to avoid the
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| to the deck area.
| |
| | embarassment or expense of
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| Outlets, fixtures and jacks have been
| |
| | missing that tool you need right
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| sealed water tight.Close proximity plants
| |
| | now.Pressure Washer- Cold water gas
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| and bushes have been protected with a
| |
| | machine 5.5-11HP commercial
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| clear plastic tarp.Loose bolts. nails
| |
| | grade unit.(Hot Washers are also used
|
| and screws have been tightened or
| |
| | but at very low temperatures not
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| replaced.with galvanized
| |
| | exceeding 110F)Hoses- Sufficient lengths
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| fasteners.Rotted or damaged wood has been
| |
| | of both pressure hose and supply
|
| replaced.Only now are you really ready to
| |
| | hose.Brooms/Blower- A stiff bristled
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| begin.Clear the Deck of Dirt and
| |
| | push broom (not metal)
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| DebrisWith a stiff bristle broom or a
| |
| | and/or a gas powered leaf
|
| leaf blower clear all loose
| |
| | blower.Chemical applicator - Pump-up type
|
| dirt and debris from the surface of the
| |
| | sprayer or Flo-Jet type
|
| deck..What Chemicals to UseSodium
| |
| | sprayerMixing Buckets - 2or3 5 gallon
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| Hydroxide ( a high caustic chemical) is
| |
| | plastic mixing buckets.Mixers- Drill type
|
| very popular
| |
| | chemical mixer.Respirator- Cartridge type
|
| with professional deck cleaners. Because
| |
| | with spares(When working with high
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| this chemical does
| |
| | caustics and acids)Face and Eye
|
| most of the work very low pressures of
| |
| | Protection- Some type of helmet with face
|
| 500-1200 PSI can be
| |
| |
|
| used which helps avoid the condition
| |
| | shield.Cordless Drill- With phillips
|
| known as "furring".Safety note: Always
| |
| | screw bits and chuck large
|
| wear headgear with face shields and
| |
| | enough to acommodate the chemical
|
| cartridge type respirators when working
| |
| | mixer.Hammer- If nails are required.Deck
|
| with high caustic or
| |
| | Screws, Nails and Bolts- As required, use
|
| acidic chemicals. This is not a
| |
| | galvanized
|
| suggestion it's a must.While Sodium
| |
| | only.Duct tape, Clear plastic
|
| Hydroxide is a very effective chemical it
| |
| | sheeting,Cardboard- To protect
|
| will
| |
| | areasExtension Cords- Must be adequate
|
| darken or may even blacken the deck.
| |
| | length and gauge. 12 gauge
|
| Because of this the PH
| |
| | minimum.Electric Rotary Sander- With 60
|
| will have to be neutralized with a mild
| |
| | and 80 grit sandpaperKnee Pads - You
|
| acidic solution.
| |
| | didn't think you'd always be standing
|
| Acids used are Citrus,Oxalic or
| |
| | when
|
| Phosphoric.These acid solutions will act
| |
| | sanding did you?Remember practice makes
|
| as brighteners. Neutralizing
| |
| | perfect get out there and start
|
| the PH of a high caustic cleaner will
| |
| | learning.
|
