I'm looking to refinish my deck, which is over 25 years old and has been stained and coated several times. My deck is over 600 square feet, and I'm wondering if I need to completely strip it before applying a new finish. The last coating didn't turn out great, and I was planning to power wash it and do some sanding as needed. I'm concerned about the amount of work involved and the chemicals required for stripping. Honestly, I'm not excited about the idea of a total strip, and my shoulders are already hurting just thinking about it. Is it really necessary, or should I just hire someone to take care of it? Thanks for any advice!
3 Answers
I’d recommend pressure washing first to see if the current finish is up to your expectations for the new coat. If it looks good enough, then you’re all set to go! It’s always good to check before diving into a lot of extra work.
If the existing finish holds up well under a power wash, it might not flake off easily when you apply the new coat. Worst case, you'll just have to power wash it again to remove any stubborn bits, which is a lot less effort than a full strip. Just a heads up, this advice is best applied to opaque finishes.
If you plan to use a transparent stain, you’ll need to either sand or strip the old finish for the best results. For semi-transparent stains, a good pressure wash and light sanding might be enough, but it won't look as nice. If you’re going for a solid stain, just power wash and go for it. It all depends on the type of finish and wood you’re working with. Just remember that stripping chemically can be easier than sanding, but it does take a bit of time and effort, especially on your knees.