Expert Contributor Written by Tom Rafferty Rafferty Painting & General Contracting
Do-It-Yourself
Deck Powerwashing Tips
T
he current public health and safety crisis and governor’s shelter-in-place order has, for many people, at least one benefit: More time to concentrate on home improvement projects that have been on a back burner. As days get longer and warmer, we naturally gravitate outside. How about using some free time to make your deck look its best? Below are some “tricks of the trade” to help accomplish that goal. 1. Buy the Right Power Washer When purchasing a power washer, the two most important features to consider are PSI (pounds per square inch) and GPM (gallons per minute). Power washers with a 3000 PSI are on par with professional-grade machines, which typically are between 3000-4000 PSI. The true power of these machines, however, is determined by their GPM. Some homeowners who attempt to powerwash their own deck give up when the project becomes much more time-consuming and labor-intensive than they anticipated. This usually happens when the power washer they bought at a home improvement store has sufficient PSI but its GPM is only 2-2.5 compared to professional units whose capability range is 4-5 GPM. Remember when shopping for a power washer: GPM determines efficiency. 2. Pre-Treat the Deck Equipped with the right machine, now it’s time to buy some
household bleach and a garden sprayer. Fill a 3-gallon garden sprayer with a solution of 50% bleach and 50% water, and spray down the deck. You’ll immediately see the wood turning color, from the weathered look to almost like-new wood. This step can be completed using a small power washer because the bleach solution will do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. When using bleach, remember to protect anything you do not want sprayed! 3. Choose a Stain A semi-transparent stain usually looks great, but it won’t have the longevity you want, and you’ll find yourself having to repeat the process sooner than you’d like. To prolong the life of the power wash and sealing job, it’s best to use only solid stain. 4. Seal Your Deck with the Stain Unfortunately, when sealing your deck, there aren’t many shortcuts: You just have to roll up your sleeves and get to it! When applying the stain, it’s best to use a 9-inch roller and brush. You can use the rollers on the spindles as well, to save time when doing this step. 5. Enjoy! Your deck is now ready for entertaining family and friends… something we may all have taken for granted until recently. Perhaps social distancing will have an unexpected benefit: We’ll be more appreciative of our good health and opportunities to share food, fun and good conversation in person with our loved ones. M
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