The Best Way to Strip a Deck

Unsealed Wood

• Unsealed wood need not be stripped but should be cleaned regularly to remove pollen, dirt and spills that can mar the surface. A solution of tri-sodium phosphate, available at your hardware or home improvement store works well. Applied with a pump sprayer, left to sit for 10 to 20 minutes and rinsed clean with a gentle pressure washing, TSP will keep unsealed decks looking like new. Water pressure should be maintained between 900 to 1,000 pounds per square inch to avoid damaging the natural wood fibers.

Sealed Wood

• Stripping sealed wood requires the application of a deck/cleaner/deck stripper containing sodium hydroxide. Precautions must be taken to avoid contact with adjacent shrubbery, grass, windows or exposed skin as sodium hydroxide is extremely caustic. A pump sprayer may be used to apply the chemical but the applicator should be discarded after use. A period of 15 minutes or so is required for the stripper to soak into the wood. A gentle rinsing with a pressure washer set at the same psi as in section 1 completes the stripping process.

Sanding

• The next step involves sanding the surface of your deck with a random orbital sander loaded with 60-grit sandpaper. This equipment can be rented at your local tool rental outlet. In wood that is deeply grained, a subsequent rubbing with extra fine steel wool is recommended. A deck brightener, containing oxalic or citralic acid, should be applied to the wood surface and left for a period of 10 minutes before rinsing in order to restore the wood's natural pH balance.

Sealing and Staining

• Once your deck has dried thoroughly, it may be restained and sealed using products and directions available through your local hardware or home improvement store. A paint tray, a roller affixed to an extension pole and a smaller brush for smaller areas like rails and posts will make your job much easier.