Deck Stripping information and why you have to strip decks from Sun Brite Supply of Maryland.

Thorough cleaning of any deck or fence is essential to get good results when sealing or staining. If the wood was previously sealed, the common practice is to strip off the old sealer to remove stain and other products on the surface. We do this to get back to the actual wood. All sealers are designed to bond best to the wood itself (rather than to bond to an aged layer of the old sealer). By stripping off at least the “coating” portion of the old sealer, we can eliminate most reasons for premature sealer failure.

If the “coating” portion of the old sealer remains on the surface, the new deck sealer can penetrate down into the wood. This results in a couple of situations that could lead to premature failure of the new finish.

The first of these problems is a reduction of the permeability of the overall sealer layers. Permeability refers to the ability of the sealer to breathe. If we clog the surface with several layers of sealer, each layer comes a little closer to closing off the wood from breathing. In that case, the wood retains humidity. This could lead to rot, as discovered in a recent class-action lawsuit against a major manufacturer of sealers. This could also lead to peeling and flaking, as the trapped humidity tries to push its way up through the layers.

The second problem is bonding. As stated earlier, most deck sealers are designed to bond to wood fibers to some degree. Many sealers can also bond to themselves (such as a second coat). If we try to apply one sealer over top of another brand (or type) of sealer, there is no guarantee that the new sealer will bond to the old sealer. If this occurs, the new sealer could flake and peel off within months. Most sealer manufacturers are reluctant to stand behind the performance of their product unless it is applied to bare wood.

Further, sealers that are designed to penetrate, when forced to dry on the surface without penetrating, will fail by design. What I mean here is that a penetrant is not meant to stand up to wear like a coating does, so when you force a penetrant to act as a coating it fails. This happens when the penetrant can’t penetrate – and it dries on the surface.

There is at least one more reason to think about deck stripping every time you run across a previously- sealed deck. The reason you are being called in to do your magic is that the customer is unhappy with the performance and/or looks of the current sealer. Leaving that old sealer in place seriously limits how good you can make the deck look with a new finish. If you leave old stains, the new look won’t be much better than the old look.

For all of these reasons, seasoned professionals always strip decks that have old sealer on them. Exceptions are made if the Deck Tech was the person who applied the previous sealer and he or she knows exactly what the sealer is on the wood – AND the sealer manufacturer says it’s OK to recoat over an old layer.

How do you know if there is an existing sealer on the wood? Believe me, it is not always obvious. Cheaper products contain little or no UV protection, so a deck can look like a grayed-out neglected deck within a year of being sealed with an inexpensive product – particularly if it was a clear sealer. There are two things professional Deck Techs do to find out if there is any existing sealer that should be stripped off the wood. The first is to inspect areas that get no sun. A hint of color on the underside of a board is a sign of previous sealer. The second is really the acid test for existing sealer and is called the Splash Test. Sprinkle a little water from your fingertips on to the dry wood on a vertical surface. If the droplets soak into the wood right away, you don’t need to strip. If they form little droplets on the surface of the wood, then you have to strip the wood. Remember using penetrating deck stains like ready seal will allow you to avoid the headaches of deck stripping.

Deck Stripping information from Sun Brite Supply

When deck stripping keep in mind, like most refinishing jobs, excellent PREPARATION is the KEY to success. Prep right, and the deck will turn out GREAT. Rush through prep, skip a step (or two) to save money and/or time, and the deck won’t look nearly as good.

Remove Deck Stripper
If your stripping sealer or stain from a deck or other wood surface then you want the best stripper possible. This super-concentrated stripper for oil-based wood sealers, stains and oil-based paints is about 30% stronger than previous formula. One gallon makes up to 5 depending on job needs. Provides coverage of +/- 150 sqaure feet per gallon. Cut your time when when removing failed stains and sealers while making more money with this deck stripper!

Wood Britener
This wood britener works wonders, it brightens wood quickly and effectively with a combination of acids. Use this britener when you need to neutralize wood after using alkaline cleaners or strippers and brighten wood to a natural, new appearance. This britener works on high-tannin woods like cedar right in front of your eyes! Pressure-treated responds within hours. This wood britener also eliminates water stains, nail bleed, and other cleaning challenges.

Safe Wash
Super concentrated, environmentally friendly percarbonate wood cleaner. This percarbonate works with a gentle action it will not strip existing finish from sealers or stains. The powder dissolves quickly and completely, so it won't clog your nozzle.

Our Percarbonate does not contain any fillers, so a little goes a long way.

Severe Strip Deck Stripper
This stain and sealer remover is unbelievably hot! It strips old deck stains and finishes the first time, every time. Made for the toughest stripping jobs out there. Works on all oil-based deck sealers, semi-transparent deck sealers and solid color stains, even most varnishes and urethanes.

Take a look at this HOT deck stripper for just a fraction of the cost of many of the powdered deck strippers on the market. You can easily adjust the strength to match the job, too, just by adding more or less water when you mix it.

Several contractors use these products as their primary deck strippers and briteners on wood restoration jobs.
These deck strippers cut through sealers and stains so fast (sometimes just a minute or two) that you can begin the wash process right after applying.

Caution: Like all extreme deck strippers, these products can damage latex and acrylic house paint. For experienced contractors only, please.

Sun Brite Supply is the leading distributor of Deck Sealers like Ready Seal and Flood's Spa-N-Deck. We also carry Black Knight power washers and other high quality pressure washers, including a full line of pressure washing supplies and equipment like the Deckster deck sprayer.

Contact us today for all of your pressure washing needs! Or stop by our showroom in Atlanta, Georgia or our Gaithersburg, Maryland location in Montgomery County today!

For more FREE power washing tips and information, visit this page!

To save time and money on shipping, get everything you need from one of our local stores!
Or if you can't find a store near you, all of our deck strippers and pressure washing supplies are available on our online store!

Note: On-line prices may be higher due to shipping costs. For the best deals visit our local pressure washing supply stores!