Please share any questions you may have. Myself or others would be happy to help you. Apologies for the lack of action footage. Equipment malfunctions occurred during this project. Check out our Channel page for more How-To Videos and Homestead content. Thank you!
I noticed you have dogs. Do you know if there are any dangers with the products used being washed off into the grass? Did you prevent your dogs from going into the yard for a while? Thank you!
@@caxxie1 No issues with our dogs other than their nails putting minor scratches into the deck wood! The product had good ratings as far as not damaging nearby plant life. Any of the runoff is so heavily diluted by the amount of water required to rinse the product off. If anything, I'd just make sure your pets don't drink any water that pools from run-off, but otherwise I'd think you'd be just fine, Sabrina.
What is in the booster and did you think it was a must have or can you get away with out using it ? Strangely enough the home owner bought this product before I sent them your video and they sent me a pic.of the product they want to use and all be damned if it's not your sponsor and if they are not sponsoring you they should be or at least giving you a coupon code for a discount, anyway if the booster is needed I'll have to contact them to find out what it is, so as I can compleat this task tomorrow !
Very thorough overview. What would have been helpful was some POV video of actual techniques (sanding, prep coats, staining) just as a sanity check for non-expert DIY watchers. You explained what you were going to do, then cut to the finished product, without filming the “doing” part (except for a couple pressure washer clips). Still very helpful, but just a suggestion for future content.
He ain't want y'all to see them Mexicans knock that job out when it turned out to be a damn job and a half. No offense to the Mexicans either, I work right beside em and learn a lot.
I'm a licensed contractor in Northern California. Great use of terminology, makes it easier to understand how to follow the procedures. I have a very similar deck, at my house, that needs restoration. Thanks for the video.
Looks very good. I prefer latex stain which goes in deep and fills in all cracks to make it look almost new again. My deck is 22 years old and that is how I maintain it.
Amazing job! Going thru this right now with a 20 year old deck that had a red solid stain on (previous owner applied). Had a local guy pressure wash and he did a terrible job removing old stain claiming it was the best he could do. He rushed thru to get to the next job. And his Ready Seal stain samples soak right in to the older wood. Not going to use him for staining. Looking at this Restore a deck now. Your color is exactly what we want. Thanks. Very helpful
So sorry to hear about your poor contractor experience. I too was told that stripping old stain isn't an option, until I found the Restore-A-Deck product. It's not magic, it certainly requires some elbow grease and careful planning, but it can be done. This project was my first experience with any type of deck maintenance. If I can do it, anyone can. Future maintenance is also much easier than staining a neglected deck. Applying a top coat of the same stain every 2-3 years will make maintenance much simpler than full restoration. Good luck on your project!
I just pressure washed my deck yesterday, 20 some years old with old stain and the stain wasn't even all that thick. I don't know what yours looked like afterward, but ours was very hard to get the stain off, most did not come off and we had it as high as the pressure would go without damage to the wood.
One of, if not the best explained youtube video presentation I have seen. Clear, no stutter, straight and to the point and task. Very well done - Can now do an excellent job on my deck.
Looks really good. Different process than professionals would use due to labor costs of a multiple step process. We would drum sand decking, palm sand all other areas, pressure wash, brighten, stain x2, be out of there next day by lunch.
@@ourlifeedited6441 no, i watched for two years before I actually did it lol. I stained mine last year, and it still looks great this year. Probably will do a soft wash every year for green mildew, but I expect the stain to hold up for at least a few years (5?) the way it’s held up so far.
Just was wondering I noticed you had grass and other trees around it harm the grass of the trees I have a lot of hostas underneath my deck and I really don't want to lose them I was wondering if the stripper harmed anything also you being that close to the water with runoff is it okay to be by ponds and lakes I have a small pond in the back that does have fish?
The product is fairly eco-friendly. Not 100% but also not insanely toxic. I also have hostas underneath the deck and runoff from the chemicals did not harm any of the plants. I sprayed all the plants with water when I was done just to be sure. As far as the pond, it does have fish and everyone on the pond uses fertilizers on their lawns. That is probably more toxic than the deck chemicals are. I think you'll be just fine. Good luck with your project!
Very informative. Starting my deck tomorrow. It's a 21 year old deck in the same condition as this video. Ironically I by happen ordered Restore-A-Deck Stripper and Brightener because of the great reviews, however didn't know they sold the Stain. I messaged the company and they said it was okay to use any Stain with their products except Ready Seal Sealer/Stain. Anyway great video my friend. I really needed this because my deck is as large as this one. Thanks a lot
This video should suggest blowing or rinsing the sand off after sanding and if elite extra oil stain was used that’s very important as oil could last so much longer but harder to apply
Thank you, Lisa! I just got some caulk that was crack and mildew resistant. Also looked for caulk that was stainable or paintable. You can also just look for colored caulk that is close to your deck color. Good luck with your project!
This was very informative and helpful. Our deck is about the same age and looking the same way, so I've been on the fence about having it completely rebuilt or just trying to restore it and get a few more years out of. This video has encouraged me to go ahead and restore it and make that a project. Thank you!!
The brightener sounds like basic bleach to me, which will in fact brighten wood. My last time I refinished a deck I went another route. After I steam cleaned everything, I ground down a 3/4" rebars to fit the heads of 16 penny nails that were used to build it. Then I went down to the hardware and returned with two hard working laborers. Giving each cheap protective gear and cheap knee pads and two gauges that I used to checked the depth of each nail head, they would have to be sunk 3/16" from the surface of the board. Some were, most weren't. So the guys loved the rods I made making it easy to use. They ended up teaming up and using my shop hammer (2.5lbs) they were sinking the nails in one swing. In 3 hours there were done. Then I gave one guy a Harbor Freight multi tool and a box of 80 grit diamond pads to sand between the rails and balusters, and the palm sander to complement it. And I would take the big belt driven sander and bring it to bare wood in just a few passes. Then I air blasted the deck again and using epoxy, we were combing the epoxy down into the cracks and torching the bubbles. Those guys left at about 3pm with $100 each and returned the next morning and began sanding sanding again, until wood. Didn't take much more than an hour. Then I air blasted it clean and then with both of those guys standing by with extinguishers, I burnt my deck. Then I sealed it with Thompson's water based stain. But I would have to re treat it every two years.
Great video! We are wondering how durable the stain has been after this length of time. We are in the process of removing the previous product from our deck before applying new stain. So far we have worked for a month on our 32 year old deck in preparation for staining, so we want a quality product that lasts. Thanks in advance for any tips you have.
Great job on your prep work - that's nearly as important than the stain itself! I moved about 14 months after completing this project. We have dogs with sharp nails. They run full speed on the deck and I notice small scratches on the stain surface just outside the door. There was some light fading in spots the following summer. It wasn't bad but certainly not as perfect after a year. Decks really need re-stained every 2-4 years if you want a great look. If you stain regularly, it won't be as big of a project as a neglected deck. I'm planning a new deck staining video later this summer. Good luck with your project!
@@jonjon34ful it held up well. Like any stain, they all begin to fade but not to a level that it has to be restained. I try to put on a fresh coat of stain every 2-3 years. Then you don't have to strip stain and it makes the process faster than a full restoration.
Im trying to do my deck but i used bondo wood filler on rough patches and cracks I really love the honey teak the austtalian gold oil but it leaves the white showing through the stain. Any tips beside using solid paint?
Thank you. It took me a few weekends as I was working alone and was allowing for extra drying time. You could complete this in a long weekend if you have some help. It'll also go much faster if you don't need to strip a previously applied stain. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls Thanks for responding. I have a 22 year old deck that has never been stained. It’s really dirty and needs some repairs. Was thinking about replacing till I saw your vid. Think I’ll try the product you used. If it does as well as it did on yours I’ll be very pleased. Thanks again.
Hi there, I have a 20yr deck that was painted by the previous owner. I want my deck to look like yours. To remove the paint, I decided to by a diamabrush to remove the paint coat. What shouldbI do next after the paint os gone?
This is a great video, thanks! I’m trying to restore a very old and weathered wooden bench. I’m sure it has a lot of water damage, it’s been outside in Utah weather for almost 15 to 20 years. Any advice on the best way to restore it? Im very new to this, so any advice, no matter how simple, would be really appreciated. Thank you!
Thank you! I would think the same principles that I applied to the deck would apply to your bench. If possible, give it a good power wash, being careful not to damage the wood. After it dries, give it a thorough sanding. Fix any damaged boards by caulking or replacing, then apply your stain or paint. Good luck!
Thank you! I like using the stripping product to remove the old stain if the new stain I'm applying isn't the same color. Any kind of deck sealing material only lasts a season or two so if it looks like it's ready to be stained again I wouldn't worry so much about trying to remove a sealer. Good luck with your project!
According to the manufacturer, the Restore-A-Deck Stripper will not work on paint or solid stains. You could carefully use a power washer, sand it off, or you can use a chemical stripper. Avoid products containing methylene chloride. Although these work fast, they are extremely powerful and should only be used by professionals. The least toxic strippers to use are limonene-based strippers. Good luck!
We want to restore our deck too! The previous owners did a quick paint job to sell the house, turns out they did a terrible job and it’s peeling up like crazy. We want to get the paint off and then restore it like this. Any tips there?
Thank you, Krys! Unfortunately I rushed this video and my tripod broke early in filming so I wasn't able to capture all the footage I would have liked. Good luck with your project!
The tip you were using is called a Turbo Nozzle. It is primarily used to blast gunk off of stone and concrete. Never use one on wood. Ever. You were fortunate that your machine has very little power, but even so, a turbo Nozzle can destroy your wood.
I chose to use caulk as most wood fillers were more susceptible to cracking. I looked for an outdoor rated caulk that was close in color to my stain color. You could use an outdoor rated wood filler but I would look for one that is crack resistant, stainable or at least close in color to your chosen stain.
Thanks for uploading. Good job! This deck's condition is pretty similar to mine. I can smell strong odor from the crack of the deck which really bothers me a lot. I guess it's caused by fungi. One question, there are leaves and debris keep falling onto our deck from trees in my neighbour's backyard, which I cannot control. would the stain be ok during the second application if there are debris and leaves staying on it since I cannot keep sweeping them off for 8 hours especially on a stain-curing deck. Thanks!
Thank you. When you are going to stain a deck, planning around the weather is crucial. Spring would seem ideal because of the cool temps but all that rain and wind are bad news. The deck in this video was under a very large and messy tree. I don't know your exact situation, but most likely in the middle of the summer on a calm day would be your best bet where leaves won't be falling. Rigging up a tarp of some sort to give you some temporary protection might also be a good idea. Regardless, after you stain, try to keep the deck as clean as possible. The debris on the deck holds water and leads to staining and mildew. These are the situations that they never explain in the "Stain a deck in just 1 day" type videos. There are a lot of variables to consider. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls wow. Thanks for your tips! I will have to make a good plan to get everything ready. You also remind me that I should sweep it more often. Thanks 🙏
you did a very thorough job. i'll be doing something similar but probably with less tediousness. i understand that i won't get your results, but that's ok. nice work
Thank you. Not every deck would require this much effort. Virtually all stain jobs look the same upon completion. Typically, the more prep work you do the longer it will last though. Your deck may be in better shape or not have old stain that needs removed first. Do what makes sense for your individual situation. Good luck with your project!
Wow great job. I now have a decision to make 1) hire someone to restore my little 12 x 10 ft porch or 2) do it myself and go broke buying the equipment to get the job done. What do people like me usually do who can put manual labor in but don’t have the right tools?
My apologies. I was working solo on this project and my tripod was not cooperating. Applying the stain is very simple. Select the application method that you'd like to use and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
I am planning on restoring my deck. It was not properly treated the first time around and it is sliptering in many areas. 2 questions. What the days or week process for this (how long did it take from start to finish) and what would you suggest for slipt areas? Your deck look so amazing btw.
Thank you! I worked mostly alone, so I split these steps across 3 weekends. It could easily be done in 2 weekends or even a single weekend if you have some assistance, depending in your deck size. I had splintering as well. I pulled some of the large, loose pieces and caulked large gaps. I did light sanding on some of the rough patches. For really bad boards, its best to replace them. The next time I work on my deck, I plan to replace my most worn boards. Preparation is crucial for a successful outcome. Take your time. Some DIYers like to brag about how quickly they completed a task. Quality is important! Applying the actual stain should be the easiest step. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls Thank you so much for the advice and taking the time to answer. I will do that, plan and take some time to really treat the deck. I want to do it right thw firat time and i may have to replace a couple of boards. Planning on starting this project soon. No assistance just me and the birds watching me..lol. I'll throw an update soon. 😊
I worked entirely alone. I did this over the course of about 3 full weekends. Some claim you could do this project in a single weekend, but I like letting the deck dry for a week after power washing before applying the stain. Every deck is different. With even just one assistant, this could easily be competed in one or 2 weekends.
Held up well. Just looked for fade, Crack, weather resistant. Also made sure they were paintable/stainable or if not, pick a color close to your stain.
What stain would you recommend for a 30 year old deck? I used a solid color and not happy with the results. It shows dirt and footprints that are nearly impossible to clean off.
Once you use a solid stain, you cannot use a semi transparent without completely stripping the stain and starting over, which can be tough. I'm not a fan of the look of solid stains. I prefer semi transparent, or just painted. I think painted works well on older decks as you can hide damage and repairs easier. I may paint my deck the next time its due for maintenance. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls Completyl starting over, meaning what you’ve shown in the video? I believe I have a solid on ours it’s peeling badly. We recently moved in and I was going to apply a resurfacer, but it looks to be in similar condition as yours. Didn’t even think of the caulk.
Neither had I. It still requires some manual effort with scrubbing after the stripper is applied. If you follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly, it works like a dream. Good luck!
I used a pump sprayer to apply the stripper to all of the deck surfaces prior to hand scrubbing them. For applying the stain to the deck itself, I decided to use a large sponge that could be attached to a pole. It was contoured so that it would reach between each board. You can find these at your local hardware store. I hope this helps!
Thank you. I completed this project solo. There are many videos online of how to restore a deck within a single day. I found those videos to be mostly click-bait. If you had a large crew, and began at 6 AM and worked in perfect weather, maybe it would be possible. When using more than just stain, such as the stain stripper, brightener, etc. they can require that the deck dry before moving to the next step. Due to weather and working alone, I performed all my preparation one weekend, and did the stain the following weekend. This was a large deck with stairs. A simpler deck may allow you to move quicker. I would say if you had ideal weather and an assistant, you could complete something like this in one weekend. Good luck! Let me know if you have other questions.
I don't believe the product that I used to strip the stain is mean to strip paint. Depending on the shape of the deck, you might be able to power wash the paint off if it's chipping off already. You'd need to use a paint thinner to get the paint off. Good luck!
Be careful sanding or power washing decks made with treated lumber from around 2005 and earlier. They were treated with CCA, which contains arsenic. You don't want to breathe that or get it in or on you, kids, pets, plants, etc.
I just wanted to confirm, did you also SAND the deck and then do two coats of stain, or did you forego sanding and then two coats? I am getting mixed messaging on my choices about sanding and how many coats. Thanks!
I sanded the deck using a pole sander. The only reason for doing so on an older deck is that sometimes power washing, even at low PSI, can rough the boards up a bit. It's a cheap/quick/easy step. Going all out would be using a belt sander, which probably has the best results, but is a costly investment if you don't have one. I used some fine grit sandpaper for all of the spindles.
@@Aprons.Overalls thank you -- I've been doing the railings with a palm sander, and there are some rough spots from powerwashing and wood filler I'd like to touch up so might be better off renting something to get it done faster. The restore-a-deck folks suggested that if I sand the deck, I should only use one coat of stain, but you did two coats with no problems it seems.
@@myspcm101 found your comment and it was very useful as I begin this process, thank you! How did your deck turn out? I’ve read conflicting opinions about sanding, some say it lessens the effectiveness of the stain so I’m torn.
I'll try to get a video posted showing it here 8 months later. It has held up well. I get direct sunlight on it all day, year round. The stain has faded some right outside of the door leading to the deck. This is due to my dogs who take off at full speed when we let them outside and their nails dig into the wood. This was a problem before tge restoration as well. I'm planning to apply a quick touch-up to correct this. All other areas of the deck have held up great. I'll try to get an updated video soon so you have a visual. I don't believe the fading is due to the stain.
@@stollay DO NOT USE SOLID STAIN. Your ease of maintenance is going to turn into having to sand the deck to remove solid stain. You can reapply oil based stain. If solid starts chipping and peeling, which it will, you can't just put more on it. Enjoy your $5000 deck refinishing job for a 20x20 deck.
Do some research and avoid using cheap materials if you can. Spending more money does not guarantee you are getting a quality product. If you are hiring somebody to do the work, make sure they know what they are doing and get multiple quotes. The preparation is the most crucial part of the process. Any deck can look good shortly after staining. Proper preparation leads to the deck looking better longer. Good luck!
Please share any questions you may have. Myself or others would be happy to help you. Apologies for the lack of action footage. Equipment malfunctions occurred during this project. Check out our Channel page for more How-To Videos and Homestead content. Thank you!
I noticed you have dogs. Do you know if there are any dangers with the products used being washed off into the grass? Did you prevent your dogs from going into the yard for a while? Thank you!
@@caxxie1 No issues with our dogs other than their nails putting minor scratches into the deck wood! The product had good ratings as far as not damaging nearby plant life. Any of the runoff is so heavily diluted by the amount of water required to rinse the product off. If anything, I'd just make sure your pets don't drink any water that pools from run-off, but otherwise I'd think you'd be just fine, Sabrina.
@@Aprons.Overalls Thanks for replying!
No problem. Good luck with your project!
What is in the booster and did you think it was a must have or can you get away with out using it ? Strangely enough the home owner bought this product before I sent them your video and they sent me a pic.of the product they want to use and all be damned if it's not your sponsor and if they are not sponsoring you they should be or at least giving you a coupon code for a discount, anyway if the booster is needed I'll have to contact them to find out what it is, so as I can compleat this task tomorrow !
Very thorough overview. What would have been helpful was some POV video of actual techniques (sanding, prep coats, staining) just as a sanity check for non-expert DIY watchers. You explained what you were going to do, then cut to the finished product, without filming the “doing” part (except for a couple pressure washer clips). Still very helpful, but just a suggestion for future content.
Thank you for the feedback. My tripod bit the dust during this project and working alone, I wasn't able to film a lot of the action.
He ain't want y'all to see them Mexicans knock that job out when it turned out to be a damn job and a half. No offense to the Mexicans either, I work right beside em and learn a lot.
I'm a licensed contractor in Northern California. Great use of terminology, makes it easier to understand how to follow the procedures. I have a very similar deck, at my house, that needs restoration. Thanks for the video.
Glad it was helpful!
Do you know if the deck cleaning system is something I can go get at lows or HD Or must I order it from the company ? Thanks
You have to order from the Restore-A-Deck website. They also sell on Amazon. I have links to their products in the description.
Looks very good. I prefer latex stain which goes in deep and fills in all cracks to make it look almost new again. My deck is 22 years old and that is how I maintain it.
Amazing job! Going thru this right now with a 20 year old deck that had a red solid stain on (previous owner applied). Had a local guy pressure wash and he did a terrible job removing old stain claiming it was the best he could do. He rushed thru to get to the next job. And his Ready Seal stain samples soak right in to the older wood. Not going to use him for staining. Looking at this Restore a deck now. Your color is exactly what we want. Thanks. Very helpful
So sorry to hear about your poor contractor experience. I too was told that stripping old stain isn't an option, until I found the Restore-A-Deck product. It's not magic, it certainly requires some elbow grease and careful planning, but it can be done. This project was my first experience with any type of deck maintenance. If I can do it, anyone can. Future maintenance is also much easier than staining a neglected deck. Applying a top coat of the same stain every 2-3 years will make maintenance much simpler than full restoration. Good luck on your project!
I just pressure washed my deck yesterday, 20 some years old with old stain and the stain wasn't even all that thick. I don't know what yours looked like afterward, but ours was very hard to get the stain off, most did not come off and we had it as high as the pressure would go without damage to the wood.
as a first time home buyer, these videos are life savings! thank you technology and your video XD
Looks great! I find no matter what you do the stain only lasts maybe 2 years on the flat surfaces,railings lasts longer.
same issue
One of, if not the best explained youtube video presentation I have seen. Clear, no stutter, straight and to the point and task. Very well done - Can now do an excellent job on my deck.
Thanks, Bob! You made my day. =]
I totally agree Bob
Looks really good. Different process than professionals would use due to labor costs of a multiple step process. We would drum sand decking, palm sand all other areas, pressure wash, brighten, stain x2, be out of there next day by lunch.
Turns out I watch this video every year!
Welcome back!
So this is an annual process?
@@ourlifeedited6441 no, i watched for two years before I actually did it lol. I stained mine last year, and it still looks great this year. Probably will do a soft wash every year for green mildew, but I expect the stain to hold up for at least a few years (5?) the way it’s held up so far.
@@BreadCasket awesome, thanks!
Just was wondering I noticed you had grass and other trees around it harm the grass of the trees I have a lot of hostas underneath my deck and I really don't want to lose them I was wondering if the stripper harmed anything also you being that close to the water with runoff is it okay to be by ponds and lakes I have a small pond in the back that does have fish?
The product is fairly eco-friendly. Not 100% but also not insanely toxic. I also have hostas underneath the deck and runoff from the chemicals did not harm any of the plants. I sprayed all the plants with water when I was done just to be sure. As far as the pond, it does have fish and everyone on the pond uses fertilizers on their lawns. That is probably more toxic than the deck chemicals are. I think you'll be just fine. Good luck with your project!
Very informative. Starting my deck tomorrow. It's a 21 year old deck in the same condition as this video. Ironically I by happen ordered Restore-A-Deck Stripper and Brightener because of the great reviews, however didn't know they sold the Stain. I messaged the company and they said it was okay to use any Stain with their products except Ready Seal Sealer/Stain. Anyway great video my friend. I really needed this because my deck is as large as this one. Thanks a lot
Why can you not use Ready Seal?
This video should suggest blowing or rinsing the sand off after sanding and if elite extra oil stain was used that’s very important as oil could last so much longer but harder to apply
You did an amazing job!! Love the colour and all the work you did! Beautiful
Thank you!
We just bought a place w/ a similar deck. This looks great, but seems like a LOT of work. Ballpark, how long did this take you?
It's not as much work as I made it out to be. If your deck doesn't have existing stain on it, it can be done in a weekend or 2. Good luck!
Great video! Could you share what caulk you use to fill the boards that were crack?
Thank you, Lisa! I just got some caulk that was crack and mildew resistant. Also looked for caulk that was stainable or paintable. You can also just look for colored caulk that is close to your deck color. Good luck with your project!
Looks great 👍 mines 600square feet and 20 years old pine😮 got my work cut out for me 😔
This was very informative and helpful. Our deck is about the same age and looking the same way, so I've been on the fence about having it completely rebuilt or just trying to restore it and get a few more years out of. This video has encouraged me to go ahead and restore it and make that a project. Thank you!!
How did the restoration project go? I'm in the same boat, 2 years later
The brightener sounds like basic bleach to me, which will in fact brighten wood. My last time I refinished a deck I went another route. After I steam cleaned everything, I ground down a 3/4" rebars to fit the heads of 16 penny nails that were used to build it. Then I went down to the hardware and returned with two hard working laborers. Giving each cheap protective gear and cheap knee pads and two gauges that I used to checked the depth of each nail head, they would have to be sunk 3/16" from the surface of the board. Some were, most weren't. So the guys loved the rods I made making it easy to use. They ended up teaming up and using my shop hammer (2.5lbs) they were sinking the nails in one swing. In 3 hours there were done. Then I gave one guy a Harbor Freight multi tool and a box of 80 grit diamond pads to sand between the rails and balusters, and the palm sander to complement it. And I would take the big belt driven sander and bring it to bare wood in just a few passes. Then I air blasted the deck again and using epoxy, we were combing the epoxy down into the cracks and torching the bubbles. Those guys left at about 3pm with $100 each and returned the next morning and began sanding sanding again, until wood. Didn't take much more than an hour. Then I air blasted it clean and then with both of those guys standing by with extinguishers, I burnt my deck. Then I sealed it with Thompson's water based stain. But I would have to re treat it every two years.
Great video! We are wondering how durable the stain has been after this length of time. We are in the process of removing the previous product from our deck before applying new stain. So far we have worked for a month on our 32 year old deck in preparation for staining, so we want a quality product that lasts. Thanks in advance for any tips you have.
Great job on your prep work - that's nearly as important than the stain itself! I moved about 14 months after completing this project. We have dogs with sharp nails. They run full speed on the deck and I notice small scratches on the stain surface just outside the door. There was some light fading in spots the following summer. It wasn't bad but certainly not as perfect after a year. Decks really need re-stained every 2-4 years if you want a great look. If you stain regularly, it won't be as big of a project as a neglected deck. I'm planning a new deck staining video later this summer. Good luck with your project!
The deck looks REALLY good .....
Beautiful job was wondering what color you chose for stain I'm in the process of doing mine nw
I used the Light Walnut stain color.
@@Aprons.Overalls how is it a year later?
@@jonjon34ful it held up well. Like any stain, they all begin to fade but not to a level that it has to be restained. I try to put on a fresh coat of stain every 2-3 years. Then you don't have to strip stain and it makes the process faster than a full restoration.
Thank you for such a great overview of your project. I also appreciate your patience with knuckleheads in the comments sections.
Im trying to do my deck but i used bondo wood filler on rough patches and cracks I really love the honey teak the austtalian gold oil but it leaves the white showing through the stain. Any tips beside using solid paint?
You did a great job!! Beautiful! How long did the whole process take?
Thank you. It took me a few weekends as I was working alone and was allowing for extra drying time. You could complete this in a long weekend if you have some help. It'll also go much faster if you don't need to strip a previously applied stain. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls
Thanks for responding. I have a 22 year old deck that has never been stained. It’s really dirty and needs some repairs. Was thinking about replacing till I saw your vid. Think I’ll try the product you used. If it does as well as it did on yours I’ll be very pleased. Thanks again.
Fantastic video. How did you clean everything again after you used the fillers/caulk and sanded it?
Hi there,
I have a 20yr deck that was painted by the previous owner. I want my deck to look like yours.
To remove the paint, I decided to by a diamabrush to remove the paint coat. What shouldbI do next after the paint os gone?
After the paint is removed, I would still go through the same process I went through to clean and prepare the wood for stain.
This video helped me out a lot with my deck that was in the same condition.
Thank you, Stan! Makes my day reading comments like this. Glad you got some help.
Please, indicate what brand and color you used. Thank you.
It's a semi-transparent stain from Restore-A-Deck. The color is Light Walnut. Good luck with your project, Darcy.
Thank you. Onward!!!
This is great! So thorough. Thank you!
You're welcome!
This is a great video, thanks! I’m trying to restore a very old and weathered wooden bench. I’m sure it has a lot of water damage, it’s been outside in Utah weather for almost 15 to 20 years. Any advice on the best way to restore it? Im very new to this, so any advice, no matter how simple, would be really appreciated. Thank you!
Thank you! I would think the same principles that I applied to the deck would apply to your bench. If possible, give it a good power wash, being careful not to damage the wood. After it dries, give it a thorough sanding. Fix any damaged boards by caulking or replacing, then apply your stain or paint. Good luck!
Wow looks amazing! What color stain did you use for the floor?
Dang you did great!! This was an excellent video!! Thank you.
Thank you! 😇
How can you tell or test if it has been sealed in the past? Great video!
Thank you! I like using the stripping product to remove the old stain if the new stain I'm applying isn't the same color. Any kind of deck sealing material only lasts a season or two so if it looks like it's ready to be stained again I wouldn't worry so much about trying to remove a sealer. Good luck with your project!
Does the restore-a-deck stain stripper work on old paint? If not, is there another product you would recommend for old, painted wood?
According to the manufacturer, the Restore-A-Deck Stripper will not work on paint or solid stains. You could carefully use a power washer, sand it off, or you can use a chemical stripper. Avoid products containing methylene chloride. Although these work fast, they are extremely powerful and should only be used by professionals. The least toxic strippers to use are limonene-based strippers. Good luck!
We want to restore our deck too! The previous owners did a quick paint job to sell the house, turns out they did a terrible job and it’s peeling up like crazy. We want to get the paint off and then restore it like this. Any tips there?
Great video. I would have liked to see all the tools you used.
Thank you, Krys! Unfortunately I rushed this video and my tripod broke early in filming so I wasn't able to capture all the footage I would have liked. Good luck with your project!
What type of sand poler did you use for the deck? What grit did you use - 80? Assume you pushed down any nails sticking up?
The tip you were using is called a Turbo Nozzle. It is primarily used to blast gunk off of stone and concrete. Never use one on wood. Ever. You were fortunate that your machine has very little power, but even so, a turbo Nozzle can destroy your wood.
What is the material of the deck? Pine? What is stain and color? Very informative!
Thank you! Yes, I believe the deck is pine and we chose the Light Walnut stain color. Thank you for watching! 😄
Do you recommend using Calk like you did or...wood filler??
I chose to use caulk as most wood fillers were more susceptible to cracking. I looked for an outdoor rated caulk that was close in color to my stain color. You could use an outdoor rated wood filler but I would look for one that is crack resistant, stainable or at least close in color to your chosen stain.
Great results!!! What stain and transparency did you use? It looks just exactly like the one on my deck but don't know what color was used.
Thank you! It's a semi-transparent stain from Restore-A-Deck. The color is Light Walnut.
How is it holding up year later?
Hello thank you for sharing how to do this, but what type of stain did you use,was it a solid or semi-transparent and what color???
You are welcome. We used a semi- transparent stain. Color is Light Walnut. There are links in the video description.
@@Aprons.Overalls I didn't even think to look for links, thank you.
So about 10 days to complete, got it!
Thanks for uploading. Good job! This deck's condition is pretty similar to mine. I can smell strong odor from the crack of the deck which really bothers me a lot. I guess it's caused by fungi. One question, there are leaves and debris keep falling onto our deck from trees in my neighbour's backyard, which I cannot control. would the stain be ok during the second application if there are debris and leaves staying on it since I cannot keep sweeping them off for 8 hours especially on a stain-curing deck. Thanks!
Thank you. When you are going to stain a deck, planning around the weather is crucial. Spring would seem ideal because of the cool temps but all that rain and wind are bad news. The deck in this video was under a very large and messy tree. I don't know your exact situation, but most likely in the middle of the summer on a calm day would be your best bet where leaves won't be falling. Rigging up a tarp of some sort to give you some temporary protection might also be a good idea. Regardless, after you stain, try to keep the deck as clean as possible. The debris on the deck holds water and leads to staining and mildew. These are the situations that they never explain in the "Stain a deck in just 1 day" type videos. There are a lot of variables to consider. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls wow. Thanks for your tips! I will have to make a good plan to get everything ready. You also remind me that I should sweep it more often. Thanks 🙏
Great video! Was this cedar or pressure treated wood deck?
Did not catch it what stain and brand did you use looks good
It is a semi-transparent stain from Restore-A-Deck. The color is Light Walnut. I have links to the products in the video description. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls that's pressure treated wood right ?
@@booostedtc Correct. :)
Getting ready to do mine thanks for the vid
Looks great! doing mine this weekend! Thanks for the great video!
you did a very thorough job. i'll be doing something similar but probably with less tediousness. i understand that i won't get your results, but that's ok. nice work
Thank you. Not every deck would require this much effort. Virtually all stain jobs look the same upon completion. Typically, the more prep work you do the longer it will last though. Your deck may be in better shape or not have old stain that needs removed first. Do what makes sense for your individual situation. Good luck with your project!
My problem is the old wood spindles . Mine are old and have lots of mold . Any suggestions ?
Wow great job. I now have a decision to make 1) hire someone to restore my little 12 x 10 ft porch or 2) do it myself and go broke buying the equipment to get the job done. What do people like me usually do who can put manual labor in but don’t have the right tools?
You could look into just renting a power washer for the day. It's about the only tool that I used in this project. Good luck!
beautiful! PLEASE I HOPE YOU SEE THIS.. WHAT COLOR IS THIS. THIS IS THE COLOR I WANT
Looks Amazing!!! What was the color of stain/brand you used?
Thank you! I used the Light Walnut stain color.
Looks awesome! I’m so glad that I found your video.
Can you use the same method with treated wood ( lumanized) or how ever its spelled
Restores the deck SURFACE. Bad joists, rusted nails, screws, dryrot, warping are other issues which must also be addressed prior to surface finishing.
no really? it doesn't replace screws and stuff I didn't know, thanks
What color stain did you use? it's lovely.
The stain is semi-transparent and it is their "Light Walnut" color.
@@Aprons.Overalls Ah, thank you, I though maybe that was the one. I am following along and rehabbing my own 30 year old deck. Fingers crossed!
Dude thats amazing. Good job!
how much something like this would cost to get done professionally?
I believe that the stripper is sodium hydroxide (lye) & the brightener is sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach)
I love how they try to keep the ingredients a secret.
Quick question: What about underneath the deck? do you restore underneath the deck to protect from weather as well?
Apologies for the late reply. There is no need to stain the underside. Surfaces with standing water are the most important to protect. Good luck!
so showing how you applied the stain would be a bit nice to watch
My apologies. I was working solo on this project and my tripod was not cooperating. Applying the stain is very simple. Select the application method that you'd like to use and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Along with the sanding
I am planning on restoring my deck. It was not properly treated the first time around and it is sliptering in many areas. 2 questions. What the days or week process for this (how long did it take from start to finish) and what would you suggest for slipt areas? Your deck look so amazing btw.
Thank you! I worked mostly alone, so I split these steps across 3 weekends. It could easily be done in 2 weekends or even a single weekend if you have some assistance, depending in your deck size. I had splintering as well. I pulled some of the large, loose pieces and caulked large gaps. I did light sanding on some of the rough patches. For really bad boards, its best to replace them. The next time I work on my deck, I plan to replace my most worn boards. Preparation is crucial for a successful outcome. Take your time. Some DIYers like to brag about how quickly they completed a task. Quality is important! Applying the actual stain should be the easiest step. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls Thank you so much for the advice and taking the time to answer. I will do that, plan and take some time to really treat the deck. I want to do it right thw firat time and i may have to replace a couple of boards. Planning on starting this project soon. No assistance just me and the birds watching me..lol. I'll throw an update soon. 😊
Great job. Where can i buy the material ?
What was the total labor hours start to finish? And elapsed time?
I worked entirely alone. I did this over the course of about 3 full weekends. Some claim you could do this project in a single weekend, but I like letting the deck dry for a week after power washing before applying the stain. Every deck is different. With even just one assistant, this could easily be competed in one or 2 weekends.
@@Aprons.Overalls 3 full weekends? Are you kidding me ? I’ll just leave it natural
Also....you used deck stain verses a sealer???
For the stain I used, there was no need to apply a sealant.
When do you use stain versus oil
What caulk and wood filler did you use? And also - how did they hold up?
Held up well. Just looked for fade, Crack, weather resistant. Also made sure they were paintable/stainable or if not, pick a color close to your stain.
What stain would you recommend for a 30 year old deck? I used a solid color and not happy with the results. It shows dirt and footprints that are nearly impossible to clean off.
Once you use a solid stain, you cannot use a semi transparent without completely stripping the stain and starting over, which can be tough. I'm not a fan of the look of solid stains. I prefer semi transparent, or just painted. I think painted works well on older decks as you can hide damage and repairs easier. I may paint my deck the next time its due for maintenance. Good luck!
@@Aprons.Overalls I'm also thinking having the deck professionally redone and switching to an exterior paint, since it's easier on cleanup.
@@Aprons.Overalls You're not kidding that the solid "stain" is tough to remove. It's horrible!
@@Aprons.Overalls Completyl starting over, meaning what you’ve shown in the video? I believe I have a solid on ours it’s peeling badly.
We recently moved in and I was going to apply a resurfacer, but it looks to be in similar condition as yours. Didn’t even think of the caulk.
it looks great how much something like that cost ?
Power washer will push the mildew into the wood, you first apply primer to kill the mildew then power wash
What brand - do you remember. Walnut is quite dark as the wood. But I liked your choice.
Thank you.
Did you apply the stripper via the pressure washer?
Cool Video, deck turned out beautiful.
Thank you! I hope it helped.
so, how does one get all this done and keep a regular job?
After I used the water pressure to wash it of . Do I have To sand it?
You can, but not required
@@Aprons.Overalls thank you best video
I never saw a stripper pull off the old stain from the deck. You got my hopes up.
Neither had I. It still requires some manual effort with scrubbing after the stripper is applied. If you follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly, it works like a dream. Good luck!
My experience thus far has been that the stripper really does nothing. The power washer just rips all the stain off on its own.
lol … it's her "day job".
Hi did you use pressured sprayer for applying stripper? And what tool did you use for applying stain on deck floor?
I used a pump sprayer to apply the stripper to all of the deck surfaces prior to hand scrubbing them. For applying the stain to the deck itself, I decided to use a large sponge that could be attached to a pole. It was contoured so that it would reach between each board. You can find these at your local hardware store. I hope this helps!
Pro Moves Can you maybe share a link for the sponge?
Great job.
Thank you, Matthew!
What kind of stain did you used ? Color
Great video, thanks!
Good luck with your project! 😀
Looks good
Looks great!
Looks great! How long did this take you? Was it just you or did you have help?
Thank you. I completed this project solo. There are many videos online of how to restore a deck within a single day. I found those videos to be mostly click-bait. If you had a large crew, and began at 6 AM and worked in perfect weather, maybe it would be possible. When using more than just stain, such as the stain stripper, brightener, etc. they can require that the deck dry before moving to the next step. Due to weather and working alone, I performed all my preparation one weekend, and did the stain the following weekend. This was a large deck with stairs. A simpler deck may allow you to move quicker. I would say if you had ideal weather and an assistant, you could complete something like this in one weekend. Good luck! Let me know if you have other questions.
I loooove your view!!
Could you use this same technique and stripping product to remove painted wood on a deck?
I don't believe the product that I used to strip the stain is mean to strip paint. Depending on the shape of the deck, you might be able to power wash the paint off if it's chipping off already. You'd need to use a paint thinner to get the paint off. Good luck!
Very helpful video. Thanks!
Be careful sanding or power washing decks made with treated lumber from around 2005 and earlier. They were treated with CCA, which contains arsenic. You don't want to breathe that or get it in or on you, kids, pets, plants, etc.
good job!!
How about underneath? Did you paint that as well ?
No, there is no need to since the bottom side of the boards don't ever have standing water on them or exposure to sunlight.
And did you use both additives for the stripper the gel and booster?
Why did u not get another nosel for the power washer ?
The machine I was using does not use universal tips. It was a poor oversight on my part. It's a lesson to use the correct tools for a job.
What color of the stains are you using
I just wanted to confirm, did you also SAND the deck and then do two coats of stain, or did you forego sanding and then two coats? I am getting mixed messaging on my choices about sanding and how many coats. Thanks!
I sanded the deck using a pole sander. The only reason for doing so on an older deck is that sometimes power washing, even at low PSI, can rough the boards up a bit. It's a cheap/quick/easy step. Going all out would be using a belt sander, which probably has the best results, but is a costly investment if you don't have one. I used some fine grit sandpaper for all of the spindles.
@@Aprons.Overalls thank you -- I've been doing the railings with a palm sander, and there are some rough spots from powerwashing and wood filler I'd like to touch up so might be better off renting something to get it done faster. The restore-a-deck folks suggested that if I sand the deck, I should only use one coat of stain, but you did two coats with no problems it seems.
@@myspcm101 found your comment and it was very useful as I begin this process, thank you! How did your deck turn out? I’ve read conflicting opinions about sanding, some say it lessens the effectiveness of the stain so I’m torn.
Hey, how has the deck held up so far? Can you update us? Thank you!
I'll try to get a video posted showing it here 8 months later. It has held up well. I get direct sunlight on it all day, year round. The stain has faded some right outside of the door leading to the deck. This is due to my dogs who take off at full speed when we let them outside and their nails dig into the wood. This was a problem before tge restoration as well. I'm planning to apply a quick touch-up to correct this. All other areas of the deck have held up great. I'll try to get an updated video soon so you have a visual. I don't believe the fading is due to the stain.
@@Aprons.Overalls I'm considering grabbing the solid stain. Looking for a lower maintenance solution. Looking forward to the video. Thank you!
@@stollay DO NOT USE SOLID STAIN. Your ease of maintenance is going to turn into having to sand the deck to remove solid stain. You can reapply oil based stain. If solid starts chipping and peeling, which it will, you can't just put more on it. Enjoy your $5000 deck refinishing job for a 20x20 deck.
Great video!
Nice job
Stain?..semi?..color?latex?
Thank Youfor sharing. I'm looking to have my deck done. Any recommendations I live in GA?
Do some research and avoid using cheap materials if you can. Spending more money does not guarantee you are getting a quality product. If you are hiring somebody to do the work, make sure they know what they are doing and get multiple quotes. The preparation is the most crucial part of the process. Any deck can look good shortly after staining. Proper preparation leads to the deck looking better longer. Good luck!
What part of GA are you in
Dallas