Fence and deck cleaning

Danny Bates

Danny Bates

New member
Since I have started doing residential I have been asked to clean and stain some fences and one large deck. I turned them down. However I am now in a position I can start doing them. So my question is, whats the best chems to use to clean the grey weathered fences and the best strippers to use on decks. I have all the right equipment as far as sprayers etc. I think i'm gonna go with Ready Seal for the stain/sealer, but other than that I have seen so many different cleaners and strippers used it's confusing me. So, all you wood guys help a brother out !!
 
Use a percarb cleaner like Restore and neutralize with a brightener like an oxalic acid or citric acid.

If you need to strip off an old staining or sealer that is still on the surface fairly well you may need to step up to a stripper then but the percarb will remove most sealers that weathered. For caustic free strippers Stripease works very well or you could use a sodium hydroxide based stripper.
 
Here is a deck I stripped yesturday. I used a caustic mix to strip the old stain off and used oxalic acid to neutralize and brighten!!!

Even had a visitor at my jobsite!!!! Although I think he was casing the joint, he still stopped in to say hey!

This deck had a stain finish on it that was several yrs old.... it was in pretty bad shape but the cleaning turned out pretty well for me (I thought anyway)
I will be back on Monday (if the weather permits) to put the stain and seal on it!!!
 

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Richard Fleming said:
Here is a deck I stripped yesturday. I used a caustic mix to strip the old stain off and used oxalic acid to neutralize and brighten!!!

Even had a visitor at my jobsite!!!! Although I think he was casing the joint, he still stopped in to say hey!

This deck had a stain finish on it that was several yrs old.... it was in pretty bad shape but the cleaning turned out pretty well for me (I thought anyway)
I will be back on Monday (if the weather permits) to put the stain and seal on it!!!
Click to expand...

Hey Pat Norman,,,,,,,,enjoyed the phone call and conversation. Looking forward to seeing you at the Alabama Round table again this next yr and hope we can run into each other out in the field before then.
 
Richard Fleming said:
Here is a deck I stripped yesturday. I used a caustic mix to strip the old stain off and used oxalic acid to neutralize and brighten!!!

Even had a visitor at my jobsite!!!! Although I think he was casing the joint, he still stopped in to say hey!

This deck had a stain finish on it that was several yrs old.... it was in pretty bad shape but the cleaning turned out pretty well for me (I thought anyway)
I will be back on Monday (if the weather permits) to put the stain and seal on it!!!
Click to expand...
hummmmm, I wonder who the "special" guest was ? :victory:
 
Great job cleaning up that deck!
 
Richard Fleming said:
Here is a deck I stripped yesturday. I used a caustic mix to strip the old stain off and used oxalic acid to neutralize and brighten!!!

Even had a visitor at my jobsite!!!! Although I think he was casing the joint, he still stopped in to say hey!

This deck had a stain finish on it that was several yrs old.... it was in pretty bad shape but the cleaning turned out pretty well for me (I thought anyway)
I will be back on Monday (if the weather permits) to put the stain and seal on it!!!
Click to expand...


Nice work Richard. The "ox" sure is a show stopper. What type of seal are you going to use?
 
I am going to use Thompsons Water seal------the type that has the stain already in it. (requested by the owners)....I am planning on finishing it today, this afternoon, if we do not have any rain today!!!
Thanks guys for the comments. I love cleaning wood. It looks so good when your done.
Here is a video clip I have been working on, havent go the music to it yet, trying to find the right song, but thought it was neat to put it together. (you willhave to humm something to yourself while you watch it....LOL)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLW4EZ9JEko
 
EdEdgar said:
I like the way you attacked it with two units. Where do you get the oxalic acid?
Click to expand...

I have a buddy of mine that has his own chemical business---he supplies to car washes....The last bag I got he was able to get it for me.
But me and Russ get bulk chemicals from a supplier in Birmingham!!!
 
CarolinaProWash said:
Are you really serious??? :sarcastic: Definitely NOT the choice of a professional.
Click to expand...

Like I said,,,,it was requested by the customer......but since you have put your 2 cents in, why dont you give me a nickels worth and give me your recommendation of what I should use,,,,,then next time I will up sale my customer on a better product.
Thanks in advanced.
 
Rich, Roger and Celeste are two very informative people and they are amazing at what they do! I would definitely take notes from these two if you are interested in doing any type of wood restoration. Check out their website. That is world class quality!
 
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