When planning a new finish for your decking or other wood surface or attempting a repair following damage such as peeling or flaking you will first need to strip any existing coatings from the surface.
This is not as difficult or as laborious as you may expect and can actually be carried out quite quickly and simply. Depending on the finish that was previously used, you will need to use different products.
What tools do I need to strip my deck?
You will need the following tools to strip your decking:
How to strip decking with Prepdeck
- Work in areas that can be completed in 15-30 minutes.
- First apply Prepdeck wood stripper (in dilution recommended for your wood type – see the packaging) with a synthetic brush to the area to be stripped or cleaned and leave it to work.
- After an appropriate time test small area with a nylon scrubbing brush to see if the finish or dirt is lifting.
- If it is lifting then scrub the area with a stiff nylon brush, deck brush or use a Power Washer at 1000-1500 psi (70-103 bars) depending on the type of the wood. (Always work in the direction of the grain.)
- Next rinse with copious amounts of fresh water, using the highest pressure from the water source available or use a Power Washer at 500-1000 psi (35-70 bars) working in direction of grain. (Rinse adjacent areas at same time). The use of hot water makes the job easier.
How to strip decking with Aquanett
- Apply a thick coat of Aquanett wood oil remover over the whole surface to be stripped. For large areas work in smaller zones.
- Then allow product to work (max 5 minutes).
- Next, scrub surface with stiff nylon scrubbing brush while flushing with water, alternatively use a pressure washer (max. 60 bars / 870 psi).
- Thoroughly rinse the surface after stripping with fresh clean water.
- After stripping and rinsing, surfaces must immediately be treated with Net-Trol while still wet to neutralize the surface.
Make sure you neutralize your wood!
Once you have finished stripping the deck you will need to neutralize the wood because paint strippers are strong chemicals which if remaining on the surface it can prevent finishes from adhering correctly or cause blistering. This is a simple process and can be completed using Net-Trol wood cleaner.
- Firstly, wet the surface with clean water.
- Next, apply Net-Trol with a synthetic brush.
- Once applied, scrub the surface with a stiff brush.
- Leave it for 10-20 minutes.
- Then finally scrub the surface whilst rinsing with water.
What next?
Your decking is now ready to apply a finish but you should ensure that you leave the wood to dry for at least 48 hours first. We would recommend using a high quality protective treatment to ensure your deck stays at its best. There are a range of different options depending on the look you are going for – all of our Owatrol solutions provide excellent protection against damage caused by UV rays and moisture.
- Textrol penetrating wood oil which penetrates, saturates and protects from within whilst maintaining and enhancing the natural look of the wood (you could also use Deks Olje D1 if your decking is hardwood)
- You could use Solid Color Stain as your finish. This is a brilliant long lasting paint which is available in a wide variety of colors and shades.
- If you would prefer a water-based finish then try Aquadecks matte wood finish which is available in 3 shades.
If you have any other handy tips or advice, please feel free to leave a comment below. We love hearing from you!
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