Pressure Wash Deck Sydney

A beautiful wooden deck, properly maintained, can add greatly to the aesthetic and resale values of a home.

Just look around, decks are almost everywhere. Not just houses but both municipal and commercial facilities use
wooden decks and walkways extensively. Because of this Pressure Wash Deck Sydney can be a great profit center for your
business or even the whole business.

The great news is that decks need maintenance. As beautiful as a wooden deck can be it can be a real eyesore if not
properly maintained.

Why Decks Need Maintenance

When a wood deck absorbs water the natural resins and color can be washed out over time. The combination of wood and water creates a food source for mildew, fungus and mold promoting their growth. Wood and water combined with dirt and even air pollution will also contribute to the proliferation of mildew, fungus and molds. One thing to remember is that a wet deck with a thick coating of mildew is very slick and slippery. This creates one heck of a "slip and fall" liability problem

Inspect

When organizing your project or preparing your bid make some simple observations. Has the deck ever been sealed? Is there old sealer that needs to be stripped and reapplied? Do I have all the chemicals, tools and equipment required for this project? (We will include a sample list at the end of this article).  Is there any damaged or rotted wood that needs to be replaced? (Now is a good time to measure.) Are the any missing or loose bolts, nails or screws? Are there any adjacent bushes or plants that need to be
protected? Are there any electrical appliances, outlets, light fixtures
or telephone jacks?

Beginning

OK you've cleared everything from the deck and placed it far enough to be out of harm’s way. You've locked out the circuit breakers that provide electrical service to the deck area. Outlets, fixtures and jacks have been sealed water tight. Close proximity plants and bushes have been protected with a clear plastic tarp. Loose bolts, nails and screws have been tightened or replaced with galvanized fasteners. Rotted or damaged wood has been replaced. Only now are you really ready to begin. Clear the Deck of Dirt and Debris with a stiff bristle broom or a leaf blower clear all loose dirt and debris from the surface of the deck..

What Chemicals to Use

Sodium Hydroxide (a high caustic chemical) is very popular with professional deck cleaners. Because this chemical does most of the work very low pressures of 500-1200 PSI can be used which helps avoid the condition known as "furring".

Safety note: Always wear headgear with face shields and cartridge type respirators when working with high caustic or
acidic chemicals. This is not a suggestion it's a must. While Sodium Hydroxide is a very effective chemical it will darken or may even blacken the deck. Because of this the PH will have to be neutralized with a mild acidic solution. Acids used are Citrus, Oxalic or Phosphoric. These acid solutions will act as brighteners. Neutralizing the PH of a high caustic cleaner will restore a deck very
close to its original color.

Add approx. 5oz. acid to each gallon of water.

Citrus Acid- Used on hardwoods.

Oxalic Acid- Primarily used on redwoods.

Phosphoric Acid- Used when an unfinished deck has turned
"gray".

I'm very hesitant to suggest a pressure level when it comes to cleaning decks because it's just so subjective. One deck will have harder wood than another and other decks will have softer and harder areas on the same deck. In this respect only experience can really guide you. As a general rule of thumb use the least amount of pressure that will get the job done. Test pressure on an inconspicuous area of the deck. The
underside works well for this Excessive Pressure.

Excessive pressure will cause a deck to "fur". This is the appearance of small hair like fibers protruding from the wood. Your customers will not like the way this looks and light sanding will be required to correct this condition.

Ready, Set, Go!

Soak the area to be cleaned thoroughly. This serves several purposes but most importantly, the deck must remain damp
throughout the entire cleaning process. Apply cleaning chemical with the applicator of your choice. When just starting out a pump up type sprayer will work nicely. Allow your chemical to dwell for 15-20 minutes. Do not allow to dry. If necessary spray more water or reapply chemical. If you've sufficiently dampened the deck and haven't dawdled this shouldn't be a big problem. Clean. Remember when cleaning use low pressure. Never clean against the grain or across the grain. Feather each pass. The pressure used should be enough to remove dead wood but not enough to cause "furring" Experience will be your best teacher. Rinse deck thoroughly removing all chemical. Apply
neutralizer/brightener solution, wait 10-15 minutes and rinse well again. If you are going to seal wait 24 hours if not 48. If you chose your day well rain won't become a problem.

"Furring" Happens.

Sometimes "furring will become apparent even at low pressures. These short hairs like fibers are the result of a "tearing" action on the wood. These will probably be gone in 2-3 weeks but your customer will want them gone sooner than later. Give them a light sanding with a bronze metal scrubbing pad. Use bronze, steel wool can leave rust stains.

Remember practice makes perfect get out there and start learning. Steve's Deck Rescue P/L provides a wide range of professional renovation & repairs of decking to domestic and commercial clients across Sydney. If you’re looking for exceptional decking whether it’s Deck Refinishing Sydney, Timber Deck Maintenance Sydney, re oiling deck and hardwood or outdoor decking in the western suburbs of Sydney, you can trust Steve's Deck Rescue.