How to Use an Orbital Sander on Deck Boards
Over time your deck can begin to look weathered and worn from the effects of rain and sun damage. If your deck begins to look unattractive, try restoring it using an orbital sander on the deck boards; you can be pleasantly surprised by what is lurking just below the surface of your weathered deck. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Deck cleaner
- Hammer
- Orbital sander
- Sand paper, varying grits
- Vacuum
- Work gloves
- Stain
- Clear coat
Instructions
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1
Prepare the deck for sanding by sweeping all dirt and debris from the deck and cleaning it with a deck cleaning solution. Check for "popped" nails and countersink them back into the wood.
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2
Prepare the orbital sander. Depending upon how weathered your deck boards are, start with a sand paper grit between 36 and 80--use 36 for very weathered decks, and 80 for less weathered ones. Load the paper onto the orbital sander. Depending upon the sander, loading instructions may vary; consult your operations manual.
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3
Turn on the sander and slowly work it around the deck. Work in small sections of 90 to 100 square feet. When the sander looks like it isn't sanding as well, replace the sand paper and keep sanding until the entire deck is sanded.
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4
Vacuum the deck boards to remove all dust and debris. Load a 100-grit sand paper into the sander and sand the entire deck again.
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5
Vacuum the deck boards again and load a 220-grit sand paper into the sander. Sand the entire deck one last time, then give the deck one last vacuum. Your deck boards should now look fresh, sanded, and almost like new.
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Stain and seal the deck with a color and finish of your choice. Perform regular deck maintenance to ensure the deck stays looking its best.
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Tips & Warnings
If protruding nails aren't properly set back under the surface of the deck, they can damage the orbital sander.
Orbital floor sanders can be tough to control. Work at a slow and steady pace to prevent damage to objects from the floor sander.
