akela
journeyman
Reged: 08/30/06
Posts: 75
Loc: Toronto, ON,CA
|
|
I have an old unfinished cedar top deck that has greyed over the years. I want to refinish it and restore it to its original cedar colour and then seal and treat it to avoid it greying again. I have tried using Thompsons Heavy Duty Deck wash as suggested by my local retailer. This was able to remove the food stains and the dirty stains but the deck still lacks lustre. Can I sand the deck much the way you would sand an oak floor. I have been told this is not advisable though. Any suggestions on revitalising my deck would be greatly appreciated.
--------------------
You only fail if you don't try!
|
CabinConnection
Big Foot
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 21286
Loc: The Indianhead's Left Nostril....
|
|
Due to the slight cupping of the decking, any "floor type" sander will knock off the high areas and flatten the decking. You'll also (possibly) sand enough off to get down to the fastener heads, which would then be a RPITA. And on top of this all, the floor sanders won't get into the corners and depending on your railing, get under it.
I've taken a hand orbital sander (palm sander) to cedar decks before and with careful sanding been able to make them look close to new again. But that was to make some new replacement boards less obvious on a 2 year old deck, and the whole process was VERY time consuming.
Recommendation?
Clean once in awhile and leave the nice grey "color", or start applying various deck stains and commit to doing this every year or so.
--------------------
"Until one has loved an animal...
part of their soul remains unawakened"
|
Able_Dog
Veteran Spadster
Reged: 12/07/03
Posts: 13006
Loc: N Georgia
|
|
My partner sanded down a deck and porch, total of about 400 sf with a 5 inch orbital sander. Had to set some nails a little deeper as CC said they will be a RPITA and tear up disks.
I checked with HD for a large rental orbital floor sander and they have a warning with then "NOT TO BE USED ON EXTERIOR DECKS". Why I don't know.
It didn't take a great deal of time (it was PT SYP), cedar would probably go faster, but you do have to deal with the fasteners first.
|
akela
journeyman
Reged: 08/30/06
Posts: 75
Loc: Toronto, ON,CA
|
|
I have heard that sanding them is the the last resort, apparently youdamage the cedar fibres when sanding. Driving the screws in deeper will be a RPITA but at this stage it may be a neccessary RPITA. I am just worried about damage to the cdear planks as the placks do not all run the same direction. The deck was created with the planks running diagonally and meeting at centre point of the deck. This would be a double RPITA.
--------------------
You only fail if you don't try!
|
akela
journeyman
Reged: 08/30/06
Posts: 75
Loc: Toronto, ON,CA
|
|
I have heard that sanding them is the the last resort, apparently youdamage the cedar fibres when sanding. Driving the screws in deeper will be a RPITA but at this stage it may be a neccessary RPITA. I am just worried about damage to the cdear planks as the placks do not all run the same direction. The deck was created with the planks running diagonally and meeting at centre point of the deck. This would be a double RPITA.
--------------------
You only fail if you don't try!
|
CabinConnection
Big Foot
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 21286
Loc: The Indianhead's Left Nostril....
|
|
Quote:
Recommendation?
Clean once in awhile and leave the nice grey "color",
--------------------
"Until one has loved an animal...
part of their soul remains unawakened"
|
Able_Dog
Veteran Spadster
Reged: 12/07/03
Posts: 13006
Loc: N Georgia
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Recommendation?
Clean once in awhile and leave the nice grey "color",
Or clean and use an opaque cedar stain. Try it in an out of the way spot first to see if you like it. If you go that route you'll probably have to re-do it every 2-3 years.
I'd be inclined to go with CC's "clean it and learn to love the gray patina", but I can't see it from here.
|
CabinConnection
Big Foot
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 21286
Loc: The Indianhead's Left Nostril....
|
|
Quote:
apparently youdamage the cedar fibres when sanding.
Never heard this before... I doubt it's accuracy.
--------------------
"Until one has loved an animal...
part of their soul remains unawakened"
|
Able_Dog
Veteran Spadster
Reged: 12/07/03
Posts: 13006
Loc: N Georgia
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
apparently youdamage the cedar fibres when sanding.
Never heard this before... I doubt it's accuracy.
I had a little trouble with that one too. Would that also mean you couldn't thickness plane cedar because you would damage the fibers?
|
CabinConnection
Big Foot
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 21286
Loc: The Indianhead's Left Nostril....
|
|
akela - are you possibly confusing sanding with pressure washing cedar decking? Overly aggressive pressure washing will damage the wood...
--------------------
"Until one has loved an animal...
part of their soul remains unawakened"
|
FranS
The Boss Mare
Reged: 01/21/02
Posts: 40070
Loc: Riverside, CA
|
|
didn't scholastica use a bleach mixture and a scrub brush to clean out the dirt mold, that turns the wood gray, on the fence at her church? i think she posted pics. she got it back to the original color.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
