I rented a pressure washer from Home Depot and to my immediate delight it did wonders for the dingy concrete patio and vinyl siding. I thought, "Wow, just imagine what a job it would do on the wood deck!" And just as I thought, the dingy deck was revitalized. I was quite pleased until I noticed that the "dirt" coming off the deck looked a lot like wood fiber and after closer inspection, it was wood fibers! The washer began stripping what appeared to be a thin layer of wood off the top. Of course, I didn't realize any of this until after I had 75% of the deck cleaned.

Now I have small indents from the washer starting up and lite and dark areas from uneven back and forth motion. I believe with a little sanding it will even out but I've made one he!! of a weekend project for myself once the deck dries out.

Lesson: With great power washer comes great responsibility

 

It could've been alot worse. It didn't eat your truck !

 

If you're not careful, some power washers have enough Ooomph to cut into concrete! Some can even blast water through cinder blocks.

Let's hope others don't make the same mistake you did. Who knows? Maybe you just saved somebody a lot of elbow grease this weekend.

 

I suffer so that others may thrive

 

I've been thinking of taking up sky diving. You want to give it a shot first and let me know what to watch out for?

What are you going to do with the deck? Sand it down?

 

Dennis,

I can tell you right now that the first step is a doozie!

I think that if I go over it with a belt sander, that'll even everything out and blend the lite and dark areas. Unless you look for them, they're hard to pick out. I know they're there so that'll urk me until it's right. Besides the deck was over due for sealer anyway. I may even go ahead and stain it.

The up side is some of our exterior wood tirm is pealing and way overdue for repainting. I think the pressure washer is the no fuss answer to getting everything down to the bare wood.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Sean,

Go back to Home Depot and rent a floor buffer/sander....get some 120 or 80 grit sanding pads, it will be much easier than a belt sander and much faster too....only one instruction: keep it moving.....you'll get great results and after the pressure wash and sanding the wood will definately be ready to accept preservative..............