Redwood decks do not come cheap these days. It is important to keep your redwood deck clean and well maintained so you can continue to enjoy your deck for years to come. One of the most important things you need to protect your redwood deck from is water damage. When water soaks through the surface of the deck, your deck can crack. Cracks can lead to rotting.
One thing you can do to protect your redwood deck from water damage is to apply a high quality redwood stain. The stain will seal the deck and prevent water from soaking through the surface of your deck. Here is a simple step-by-step plan for how to stain redwood decks.
The first thing you will want to do is to clean the old stain off your redwood deck. Also spot treat stains or oil and paint spots. You can use deck stain cleaner or remover to scrub off the spots.
After you complete your spot treatment, wet your redwood deck down with a hose. Some people use a power washer, but a power washer can cause damage to the wood. If you do decide to use a power washer, be sure to run it on the gentlest cycle to prevent damaging the wood. Next use a cleaning solution of deck cleaner mixed with a detergent. Pour your cleaning solution onto the deck and scrub with a brush.
While you are applying the cleaner, be sure to scrub and wash small areas so that the cleaner does not dry on the wood. Scrub an area thoroughly and then rinse it off with your hose. Repeat this process until you have thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed your entire redwood deck.
Let your deck dry completely before applying the redwood stain. This process can take up to three days. Make sure your redwood stain is also a sealant. You don’t need to buy two products. Apply the redwood stain in cool weather. Morning is usually a good time to do this. Make sure you apply plenty of redwood stain to not only make it look great but also protect it from water and weather conditions.
It is a good idea to stain your redwood deck once every few years. Many of the stains claim to last for as many as five years, but you probably want to stain your deck more frequently than that to keep it well maintained and to prevent water damage.
Mon, Mar 16, 2009
Decks