How To Refinish Wood

How to Refinish a Wood Deck - Buildipedia.com™

When is it time to refinish your wood deck? Sometimes it’s hard to tell. Use the “splash test” to see if your wood deck needs attention. Take a glass of water and splash it on the most heavily traveled areas. If the water beads up and sits on top of the wood, then refinishing is not required. If the water soaks in and darkens the wood, then it’s time to get on that deck maintenance before any serious damage is done. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, as he demonstrates how to refinish a wood deck.

If the water soaks in and darkens the wood, the inner fibers of the wood are getting soaked like a sponge every time it rains. When the sun finally comes back out, the wood dries again, and that “soak-dry-soak-dry” cycle means that the wood expands and contracts constantly. Eventually cracks will appear, harboring mold, mildew, algae, and all sorts of destructive organisms. When that soaked-in water freezes and thaws in a cold winter, the damage can be even worse.

It all starts with a good cleaning. You wouldn’t paint your car without removing all of the debris on the surface, would you? Think of your wood deck the same way. You’ll first need to remove all of the stains from dirt, mildew, mold, and algae, along with any residual deck stain or waterproofer to make sure that the new waterproofer will be able to do its job right.

Luckily, cleaning your wood deck is not the labor-intensive project it was 20 years ago. These days, we’ve got plenty of help in the form of off-the-shelf cleaners and waterproofers formulated to kill biological contaminants while cleaning off dirt and old coatings.

Wood Deck Cleaner Options Be on Buildipedia!

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Using a strong spray from a garden hose or a pressure washer, rinse the area well. Remove the plastic draping from plants and rinse them with water as well.

Depending on the type of coating you’re going to use, you’ll need to let the deck dry from a few hours to a few days before applying the waterproofer. With a standard clear or tinted wood protector as well as an oil-based semi-transparent or solid stain, the wood deck will need at least 48 hours to dry before the waterproofer is applied. Newer formulas, like Thompson’s Water Seal Advanced Wood Protector, can be applied to damp wood, so your deck will only need to dry for 3-4 hours before applying them. Just make sure to read the manufacturer’s directions for the waterproofer you select.


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How To Refinish Wood - Bookshelf

Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics

HOME IMPROVEMENT How to refinish hardwood floors By JAMES P. SCHENLEY THERE ARE THREE REASONS why you should take on the job of refinish- ing your own ...

Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics

LD floors that are worn or have been painted can readily be refinished by ... If the wood has no paint or finish on it, apply one coat and let it dry for ...

How to refinish wood siding with latex paints

How to refinish wood siding with latex paints

FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY"« MADiSON, WT5~TM USDA FOREST SERVICE RESEARCH NOTE FPL - 0232 1976 HOW TO REFINISH WOOD SIDING WITH LATEX PAINTS By EDWARD A. ...

Better homes and gardens

Better homes and gardens

THEPILLSBURYCO T970 ' continued How to refinish wood furniture many cases, the steam swells the wood fibers and returns them to their original state. ...

The Family handyman handbook of home improvements & remodeling

The Family handyman handbook of home improvements & remodeling

Here are a variety of treatments— from simply refinishing the old wood to ... HOW TO REFINISH WOOD FLOORS Floored by the look of your hardwood floors? ...

Daily Note Directory


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In this how-to we'll discuss the basics of the refinishing techniques most likely to be used by do-it-yourselfers. Items Needed for Stripping ...

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Lowe's provides tips on how to remove the finish, use chemicals, prepare the wood, staining and finishing.

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