Should A Deck Be Sanded? If So, How?

Question came in saying that they were told you should not sand pressure treated pine decking. Is this true? Should a deck be sanded and if so, how? Let’s listen to the “Wizard of Wood” discuss this in detail. Does it close the pores or cells of the wood shut? Can a deck sealer or deck stain penetrate through a sanded deck? Let’s listen to the answer! Thank you for watching and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the channel. #decks #youtube #wizardofwood #deck #sanding #deckrestoration #deckrepair

[@charliefoxtrot7219]

@wizard of wood, You suggest letting a sanded deck sit for 3-5 days prior to staining. What if you're in coastal Oregon and it rains often? Sometimes we don't have 3-5 days between rains.

[@wizardofwood]

@@charliefoxtrot7219, doesn’t matter if it rains, the 3-5 days of “weathering” allows the wood cells to open back up for when the weather is appropriate to stain. I promise you a deck that is sanded and stained right away will not hold up as well. Better the prep, better the end result.

[@charliefoxtrot7219]

@@wizardofwood Not trying to play gotcha. What's your recommended dry time from rain to staining? Say temp 70- 80 degrees.

[@wizardofwood]

@@charliefoxtrot7219, all good I appreciate the questions. I have addressed this in other videos. This is a question best answered with a moisture meter. It depends on time of year and moisture in the air as well. If it is sunny and 70-80 degrees you could likely stain the next day. Now, manufacturers put “days or hours” on their directions because they know most people don’t have a moisture meter. By stating 48-72 hours, they cover their butts. When it is warm out, you will get reading less than 15% moisture the next day in many cases.

[@charliefoxtrot7219]

@@wizardofwood Thank you

[@BuildswithBrian]

Hi Mr wizard, appreciate your videos a lot, I do have a question, how would you prep a new pressure treated deck for a penetrating oil stain finish ( like penofin) Built my deck in August 2024 and would like to stain this spring

[@wizardofwood]

@@BuildswithBrian, great question! Regardless of whether you have prime decking or knotty, this spring will be good to seal your deck. Many people wait and then just seal the deck without cleaning and brightening. Organic growth like mold, mildew, and algae can actually attach to the wood after 30 days of a cleaning so you will need to perform the two-step process. This is easy though, apply your deck cleaner and allow to dwell for 10 minutes or so and rinse off. After rinsing apply the wood brightener immediately while the wood is still wet or re-wet as needed. The wood brightener will do two things for you. The first is brighten the wood back to the tone when you got it. The second and most important is the brightener is an acid and will help open up the pores or cells of the wood to better accept the new sealer on the new wood. I do tell people that new wood is not as “open” as even slightly aged wood. Your first application may not last quite as long as subsequent coatings. With Penofin, make sure you do not over apply. Good luck with the deck!

[@BuildswithBrian]

@ great, thank you sir! So no need for sanding yet. Any particular cleaner or brightening products that you might recommend?

[@wizardofwood]

@@BuildswithBrian Typically I use my own proprietary products (Deck Restoration Plus) - these are used by my workers on every restoration job we do. www.deckandwoodstain.com/shop/cleaners

[@kenttheboomer721]

Chemically damaged stain (unrinsed oxalic acid) neess to be sanded? Then can just be reatained?

[@wizardofwood]

@@kenttheboomer721, best is to re-rinse the oxalic acid brightener. If there is a white haze or salt on the deck you may need to lightly redo the deck and rinsing again thoroughly. Should not affect the need or not of sanding the deck.