Using a exterior stain stripper is typically needed if the old stain or sealer has failed by peeling, wearing unevenly or when changing brands of stain. A stripper will aid in removing the old stain by softening the bond between the stain and the wood cells. This allows easier removal with a light pressure washing or stiff scrub brush.
The process of using a wood stain stripper is incorrectly considered difficult. In fact it will save a substantial amount of time while reducing the any chance of damage to the deck with a pressure washer.
How to strip a exterior stain:
- As previously mentioned, a stain stripper should be used if the old coatings has failed unevenly or if changing brands of stain. If not then using a deck cleaner may be sufficient. If unsure please feel free to ask a question here: Deck Stripping Questions
- Remove all furniture from the area. Wear protective clothing, gloves, and eye wear.
- Mix the Deck Stain Stripper using the manufactures directions. In many cases it is best to test effectiveness first by applying to a small section. Reason is that all not deck stains are created equal. Many are more difficult then others to remove. Testing first will determine if it will remove the finish or if you may need to use a stronger stain stripper.
- Apply the stain stripper with a pump up sprayer. Best to do sections of 200-400 square feet at a time. Saturate all wood then wait 10-20 minutes. Test wood to see if slippery. This means that stripper has loosened the stain from the wood. If not reapply the stain stripper one more time.
- Lightly pressure wash or hand scrub all stain from the wood. Take care to wash with the grain of the wood whenever possible.
- Repeat if needed until all stain has been stripped from the wood. Spot strip any difficult areas that did not come clean the first time.
- Very important to thoroughly rinse all wood and surrounding areas to remove the wood fibers, dirt and grime.
- Apply a wood brightener to neutralize the deck stain stripper and restore the pH balance of the wood. Failure to apply a brightener will leave the wood in a high "caustic" state that will deteriorate the new deck stain faster then normal.
If you have any deck stripping questions please ask below. All questions are typically answered within a day.
Comments (11)
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Deck stripping
I am in the process of stripping my deck. When the deck dried it looked good but when I added the brightener and the deck was wet there is a film that i can scrape with my finger nail and then when the deck dried it was gone again. It rained and the deck was wet and I noticed the film again. It this normal? Maybe I just never noticed this before.
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March 21, 2012
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We have a deck in the front of our log home. The stain is very deteriorated and must be replaced. What is one of the best brands of a stain stripper and also a good wood brightener? The current stain is an oil based grey. We are also replacing all the lattice and railing on the deck.
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March 11, 2012
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re: Life span of a deck
Most decks last about 20 years before needing to be replaced.
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March 07, 2012
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Life span of a deck
I have a 20 year old deck. I can't get it to look anywhere as nice as i would like. What is a typical life span of the wood(pressure treated)? I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. The deck gets all elements and types of weather.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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March 07, 2012
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re: home owner
Paints or solid (opaque) colored stains cannot be stripped easily or effectively. Deck Stain strippers work on transparent and semi-transparent coatings not solids.
In your scenario you will probably need to sand it all off.
In your scenario you will probably need to sand it all off.
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March 06, 2012
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home owner
We bought a house with a very large deck, gazebo, and lots of railing. It is stained a dark brown - it is really like paint - you can barely see any wood grain at all. The decking is wearing so that some exposed wood shows. Most of the railing and gazebo is thickly stained. I want to restain it - preferably with a transparent or semi-transparent stain. But, all old stain must be removed. What do I do?
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March 06, 2012
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re: Staining over stain
If you opt to re stain with a solid/opaque stain then you do not need to remove 100% of the old finish.
Take inconsideration that opaque stains lie on top of the wood. This is the main reason it peeled. Most likely it will peel again next year if you apply another opaque stain.
Take inconsideration that opaque stains lie on top of the wood. This is the main reason it peeled. Most likely it will peel again next year if you apply another opaque stain.
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September 01, 2011
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Staining over stain
We applied an opaque "redwood" color stain on our deck last year and it didn't hold up. This is a 12+ year old deck, which had previously been successfully stained with a transparent stain. For whatever reason, this opaque stain started peeling this year. We've gone a few rounds with a stripper and a pressure washer and scrub brush, but I'd say we have only completely stripped 50-60% of the stain. There are no more flaking or peeling areas. Our next step was going to be sanding the deck, then applying brightener and restaining. Here's the question: if we opt for another opaque stain in the same color family, can we skip the sanding (we would do light sanding to remove any splintered areas, but would NOT try to sand off all of the remaining color.)I'm very wary of using the wrong sander in the wrong way and doing more damage than good.
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August 31, 2011
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re: owner
Chris-
I would look at the HD80 Stripper. Very effective and priced well.
To neutralize/brighten I would suggest the companion product Citralic.
Unfortunately nothing removes solid stains effectively or easily. Stain strippers are most effective on transparent and semi-transparent finishes.
I would look at the HD80 Stripper. Very effective and priced well.
To neutralize/brighten I would suggest the companion product Citralic.
Unfortunately nothing removes solid stains effectively or easily. Stain strippers are most effective on transparent and semi-transparent finishes.
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June 05, 2011
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owner
looking for a powerful deck stain stripper to use proffessionaly . been useing sherwin williams stain sealer remover and found it expensive and sometimes innefective particularly with solid stains possibly reformulated no voc . also neutralizeing with revive and white vinegar useing acid sprayer for both. what do you recomend for products and application tools ?
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June 04, 2011
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