How to Resurface Redwood Decking
Redwood is valued for its warmth, natural beauty, resistance to decay and workability, making it a favorite material to use for decks. Correctly cared for, a redwood deck can last more than 20 years. All decks need maintenance, and to maintain the beauty and strength of your redwood deck, expect to clean and refinish your deck every two years. It is relatively easy to do, but set aside a few days for each step and wait for warm, sunny weather. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Metal putty knife
- Hammer
- Stiff broom or leaf blower
- Stiff fiber scrub brush
- TSP (trisodium phosphate)
- Household bleach
- Rubber gloves
- Oxalic acid preparation or wood brightener
- Rollers, brushes, or sprayer
- Deck stain
Instructions
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Clean and repair the deck
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1
Use the edge of a metal putty knife to loosen debris and dirt between the boards, as a sharp knife could damage the wood.
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2
For loose nails, hammer them back flush with the wood. For missing nails, replace them with galvanized screws and set them just below the surface of the wood.
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3
Remove dirt and debris with a stiff broom or leaf blower.
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4
Using gloves to protect your hands, scrub the deck with a stiff fiber brush using a solution of one cup TSP, one cup household bleach and one gallon of water. Scrub small sections at a time in the direction of the grain and rinse frequently.
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Let the deck dry for two or three days before going to the next step.
Color restoration
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Restore the color if your deck still has stains or gray-looking wood and you want a newer look to the redwood.
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Apply a color restorative/brightener such as an oxalic acid product to remove stains and revive the original colors of the redwood by brushing, rolling, spraying or using rags.
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Let the deck dry for two or three days before going to the next step.
Refinishing the deck
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Use a high-quality stain that includes a mildewcide, UV protection and water repellent for best results. Slightly tinted transparent stains will last longer and shield redwood better than clear stain. Penetrating, oil-based finishes are well-absorbed by redwood so are most effective. If you would like a more uniform appearance, use a semi-transparent stain.
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Apply the stain with a brush or roller on a windless, dry day.
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Keep the kids and pets off the deck for two or three days until it's completely dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Follow all manufacturers' recommendations.
Never mix ammonia and bleach, as this creates a toxic poisonous gas. Do not use pressure washers to clean your deck unless you are experienced with using them to clean wood surfaces, as it is easy to damage your redwood with a pressure washer.
