This post was updated on July 24, 2025
Hi, I am Scott Paul, an exterior wood restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in stripping and removing exterior wood and deck stains. My Deck Stripping tips are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing. See here for more info about me.
How To Remove an Old Deck Stain
Restoring an older wood deck starts with proper preparation. Skipping this crucial step can cause your new deck stain to fail prematurely. Regardless of the brand or price of the stain, it won’t hold up if applied to a surface that hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned and prepped. When dealing with an old coating that needs removal, using a quality deck stain stripper is essential. This article highlights why a stain stripper is a key part of the restoration process and how it sets the stage for long-lasting results.
I always appreciate your input, so feel free to comment below with pictures of your deck stain projects.
One of the biggest mistakes DIY homeowners make in cleaning and preparing a wood deck for stain is not removing all remnants of old deck stain. Any failed deck stain left on the wood will prevent the new stain from properly penetrating the surface. The new deck stain will sit on the wood instead of diving into it. Deck stains do not adhere to each other well, so this causes the newer deck stain to begin flaking and peeling off the deck generally in a year or less.
Even if you can’t see any old deck stain but know there was some on the wood at one time, it’s vitally important to remove it. Splash some water on the wood and see if it absorbs into the wood or if it beads up and sits on top. Beading up would indicate some old failed stain on the wood that needs to be removed.
Scott’s Steps to Removing a Deck Stain
- Deck Stripping Materials
- Choose Proper Deck Stain Stripper
- Steps to Stripping a Deck
- Brighten the Wood
- Ask Me Deck Stripping Questions
1. Materials Needed for Deck Stain Removal
- Proper Deck Stain Stripper
- Gas-powered pressure washer
- Pump sprayer for applying
- Scrub brush to agitate
- Protective Equipment: Gloves and eyewear
- Plastic sheeting to protect plants and home
- Wood Brightener to neutralize when done
2. Choosing a Deck Stain Stripper
To remove old deck stains from the wood, you have to use a deck stripper. A quality deck stripper will break up and soften any old stain allowing it to be washed away. Below, I will break down the 3 most common deck finishes we see when stripping a deck.
Semi-Transparent Oil-Based Stains
Semi-transparent and transparent, oil-based clear coatings are easy deck coatings to strip and remove. They come off better with any high-quality decking stripper.
My Pro Tips: These coatings are penetrating and fully show the wood grain. They do not mask the grain or dry to film on top like a shiny varnish.
Semi-Transparent Acrylic Water Based Stains
For hard-to-remove stains such as water-based acrylic or silicone-based stains, several applications and longer dwell times may be necessary. Take note that many stain brands like Behr, Valspar, and Thompons lie about their opacity for their semi-transparent water-based stains; they, in fact, look and apply like an opaque solid stain. These stains should be treated like solid stains, not what is written on the can. If unsure, ask me below for tips with pictures.
Scott’s Pro Tip: See here if you need to remove a Difficult to Remove Deck or Wood Stain.
Solid Color Stain Stripping
Solid color deck stains are opaque coatings that fully or mostly mask the wood grain. Most deck strippers will not remove solid stains or paints, so if this is the case, you may have to sand the old stain or use a paint stripper to get back down to bare wood again.
Scott’s Pro Tip: How To Remove a Solid Color Stain
Deck Stain Stripping: Deck Stain Stripper Reviews
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3. My Steps to Stripping a Deck
Failing Wood Deck Stain
See below for my steps when we are stripping a customer’s deck
- Protect the house and any surrounding plants with plastic or poly tarps.
- Remove any patio furniture from the deck and surrounding areas.
- Prewet deck with water.
- Mix the stripper, if needed, in a bucket and transfer it to the pump sprayer if applicable.
- Apply the stripper to all flooring first. If a large deck, break it up into sections.
- Wait 5-45 minutes for the deck stripper to activate. You will know when it is working by using your scrub brush to agitate it, and the stain becomes loose from the wood. Keep the stripper from drying during this process.
- Pressure wash all deck flooring using a pendulum motion and about 8-12 inches from the wood. Rinse well when done.
- Repeat Steps 5-7 with vertical wood.
- Apply wood brightener when done. Rinse well with water 20 minutes after.
My Pro Tip: The dwell time depends on the type and brand of existing stain. For instance, most semi-transparent oil-based stains will be removed more easily than semi-transparent water-based wood stains.
Pressure Washing Tips for Deck Stripping
Pressure washing can speed up the deck stripping process, but it should only be used by those with experience. Improper use can damage the wood and result in costly repairs. If you do choose to use a power washer, follow these guidelines to avoid harming your deck:
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Always use a deck stain stripper. These products do 90% of the cleaning work. The power washer should only be used to rinse off the loosened grime—not as the main cleaning method.
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Treat the power washer like a rinse tool, not a scrub brush. Use it to gently wash away the cleaner or stripper, not to grind dirt off the surface.
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Use a sweeping, pendulum-style motion. Work with the grain of the wood and never pause or reverse direction without lifting the wand. Failing to maintain a smooth motion can leave permanent “stop marks” in the wood.
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Keep pressure between 1200–2000 PSI. Even if you’re using a 3000 PSI machine, distance matters. Washing from 8–12 inches away will reduce the effective pressure to a safer level for wood surfaces.
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Exercise caution. If you’re unsure about your technique or have never used a power washer on wood before, it’s best to hire a professional. Incorrect use can permanently damage your deck.
4. Wood Brightener to Neutralize Stain Stripper
Once the deck has been washed with a stripper and the old deck stain is gone, it is necessary to brighten the wood using a wood brightener. The deck stripper will darken the wood and raise the pH level. Brightening the wood back to a natural state and lowering the pH to a more acidic level will restore the appearance and give the new deck stain the best chance of lasting as long as possible.
A properly cleaned and brightened deck should be allowed to dry for several days before a quality deck stain is applied. Taking these measures and using a deck stripper and deck brightener before staining will give you much better and longer-lasting results.
5. Questions on Stripping a Deck?
Are you still unsure of what deck stain you have on your wood and the proper deck stain stripper to use to remove it? I am here to help and guide you. Ask in the comments below, and you must include some pics so I can offer proper advice.
Quick Expert Recommendations and Insights
Here are some tips we recommend you follow to make deck stain removal a swift, painless process:
- Use a deck stripper if you are working with wood that has previously been stained. If you are working with a new wood surface or there is no stain on the deck, use a deck cleaner. If you are unsure about what to do, you can ask questions below.
- Remove all furniture from the area
- Wear protective clothing, gloves, and eyewear before going near the product. Mix or use the deck stain stripper according to the directions on the label. Test a small section of your deck before applying it to the whole area, as deck stain strippers vary in effectiveness. You may need a stronger formula if it doesn’t work on the tested area. See here if you need to remove a Difficult to Remove Deck or Wood Stain.
- Apply the deck stain stripper with a pump-up sprayer in sections of 100-300 square feet at a time. Saturate all the wood with one coat then wait 10-20 minutes. If the surface is slippery, that means the stain stripper is working to break the bonds effectively. If the surface is not slippery, apply another coat of the stain stripper and wait longer.
- Using either a brush or pressure washer, remove the old stain from the deck. Take precautions to wash with the grain wood whenever possible.
- Repeat this process until all of the old deck stain has been removed from the deck. Spot strip any sections where the stain didn’t come off the first time.
- Thoroughly rinse all wood and surrounding areas
- Apply a wood brightener to restore the pH balance before staining.
Pro Tip: The Best Stripper to remove a solid color deck stain is the RAD PaintStrip Solid Stain Stripping Gel.
FAQs
How to remove deck stain without chemicals?
The best way to remove deck stain without chemicals is to sand the deck. Where semi-transparent deck stains have faded power washing the deck and spot sanding areas of thicker stain is typically sufficient. When removing a semi-solid or solid deck stain the entire deck may require sanding, but be careful not to over-sand. Over-sanding the wood compromises its integrity and can lead to early deck failure.
Will deck stain come off concrete?
Applying a deck stain can be messy and sometimes you can spill or drip on your concrete or brick pavers that are under or around your deck. Once this happens, it is not easy to remove. We have found that using a deck stain stripper and pressure washing will remove much of the spilled stain but not always as concrete can be very porous. Another option is using a graffiti remover cleaner. You can find these at your local paint store. Popular brands at Goof Off or Mostenbocker’s Lift Off.
I have a 650 sq ft deck with solid acrylic stain. What’s the best and easiest way for remove the solid stain? It has 3-4 layers
Kyle, stain strippers will not remove this so best is to sand it all off.
What kind of sanding tool do you recommend?
Power sanding with a drum sander. Might want to consider a two-toned deck if you have railings: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/advantages-to-having-a-two-toned-deck/
Great forum – thanks! 10 year old Cedar deck. Semi stain on it and have used stripper and brightner. Still areas of old stain color showing up. 1) Should I just sand the rest off or redo stripping? 2) Want natural cedar look – what’s best stain to show it off? 3) How long for stain to dry before it rains? I want to finish and stain this weekend but afraid it’s going to rain Mon/Tues….Thanks for your help!!
Send a picture of the current condition.
Will do
I have purchased Behr #64 stain and finish remover for removing Thompson’s Weather Seal semi transparent stain. Do you believe it will be an adequate combination?
We have never used Behr’s stripper on Thompsons. Behr is an average stripper and we normally do not use it. Posts your results if you can.
Can I use deck stripper to do wooden pieces of furniture as well?
I have some wooden, stained, wind spinners and I see a different method online for removing stain from furniture.
Depends on what type of coating you are trying to remove from the furniture? Deck Stain Strippers will not remove varnishes or polyurethanes.
Do I need to cover painted siding and plants when using RAD stripper? Or can I just pre-wet them as long as I don’t spray solution directly on to them.
You should be okay with prewetting and rinsing any overspray.
let me make sure I got this . I have a solid stain on my deck . it needs to be redone . just clean and get any peelings off and reapply solid stain again?
Yes, if you want to go with another solid stain.
I keep getting mixed info about whether I need to remove ALL of the old solid stain or just the loose stuff. I’m willing to put down another solid color if it means I dont have to remove all the old stain. I have used a floor sander and paint strippers, and there’s still probably 30% of the paint left on the deck. The next step im considering is using a belt sander and going board by board. Any advice?
If you are reapplying another solid stain then you do not have to remove all of the current solid stain. Just what is loose.
if i use deck stripper, my deck is built on a roof will that ruin my roof
Most likely it will not but depends on the roof material.
How long can I wait to use a neutralizer after stripping or can I wait to neutralize sometime later before staining?
Soon as you are done with the stripping and you have rinsed the deck from all the residue. While the wood is still wet.
Brighten right away for best results.
Can you address starting over with a solid stain deck that is peeling? Also the spaces between the boards are tight so the cedar boards have cupped.
Thank you
Solid stains will have to be sanded off if you desire to go with a penetrating semi-transparent coating. Since the boards are cupping, you may want to consider repalcing the flooring and leaving proper spaces between the boards. this way you can skip the sanding and start over with fresh wood.
Any advice on how to remove sherwin williams superdeck elastomeric off a cedar deck??,thanks!
Sanding is probably the only way to remove.
Pretty sure from previous posts that I'm going to be using armstrong clark stain on my stripped brightened and sanded deck and rails. I'm not getting involved with the nearly 70 spindles this year maybe in the spring. It looks like the old spindles have a redish semi solid stain. Could I just go over them in a darker semi solid or solid stain without all the prep work I did on the deck and rails? I was thinking of black. Or could I just paint over them?
Look at doing a two-toned deck. See this article: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/advantages-to-having…
We just sustained a brand new beautiful cedar terrace fence with Behr Redwood stain – 2 coats – and what looked fine with the one coat test, now looks bright orange and garish. What products do you recommend we use to strip this and start over? It was absolutely beautiful unfinished and now looks almost painted and artificial. We would love to go back to something similar to what is was before or at the very least toned down and protected from the elements somewhat. Does Thompson’s Waterseal change the color significantly? And is this something we could use after stripping?
Thank you for your help.
I forgot to ask in my last post . . . After removing the old stain & using brightener, how long does the deck have to dry before restaining our deck & how long after should it not get rained on? Thanks!
Wait 48 hours after prep or rain before applying the stain.
We stained our deck last spring ('15) – (deck was built in '14) with Thompson's stain/sealer – semi transparent I believe. By fall the stain was coming off & wearing in multiple spots. It now looks absolutely awful!! Should we use a stripper & also what stain/product holds up the best/longest? We don't want to be doing this every other year!
Thanks for your help!
Yes you should strip and remove to start over. Brighten after. Try a penetrating stain that is not prone to peeling. TWP or Defy extreme.
I am in the same boat. Thompson’s semi transparent looked very good when applied to new boards which were purchased from an indoor storage facility, they were dry and had stained all sides with 2 coats last September. now that winter has passed the stain has begun lifting out of the boards.
I've painted. My decking and now tried to power wash it all paint off, it's very grubby looking and all chipped. We have tried to power wash it off with great difficulty and also been advised sanding decking will ruin it completely. We wanted to try decking remover but there is so many reviews about sanding decking, and decking remover we don't know what is best results…please help ?? we won't give up but nothing seems to be helping
The only way to remove paint off a deck is to sand. Strippers will not be very effective in removing.
Had my deck stained with Thompson's semi-transparent color 2 years ago. It's rubbed off the floorboards, railings, and steps but the spindles look fine. I want to restain the entire deck. A contractor told me the best way to go is to have him remove all the floorboards so he can sand them and to stain the deck a darker color. Can't I just power wash the floor to get the remaining stain off?
Power washing alone will not remove all. Try a stain stripper with the pressure washing.
Don't ever use Olympic deck cleaner. It dried out the wood on my deck so badly large splinters are peeling off
used a semi-solid stain, color rewood. turn out orange. how can i remove the semi-solid stain?
Stain strippers, pressure washing and sanding after to remove.
We are stripping our deck for the third time in 6 years. Previously used Behr semi transparent stain and it just never adhered properly. First time we used it, it was over unfinished cedar. It failed the first year. The second time, we used the same product because we thought we had maybe done something wrong in application. Again it just didn't seem to sink into the wood. Started peeling within about a year. We are getting ready to strip, and prep for stain AGAIN! I have just been reading comments and see that we should not use solid stain on horizontal. Bought it already! It is so hard to find knowledgeable staff in big box stores! If we switch to using semi transparent again, Any tips or tricks for us? Weather is looking pretty hot this coming week. Will that be a problem?
Shelley
Use a penetrating semi-transparent. One that soaks into the wood instead of filming on top of the wood like the Behr does. This makes future receipts easier to do. Armstrong Clark will do this and also can be applied in hot weather and direct sunlight.
I can only order this on line. I have this week off only so I will need something I can buy locally. I'm just outside of Vancouver Canada
Sorry, but we have no idea what you can buy locally and that is of good quality.
Hi Shelley, we are living your experience and live in Nanaimo. Could you please update us on what you ended up using and how it’s holding up after this past winter….greatly appreciated!
If you do want to go solid stain, cobalt adhesive solid stain is the way to go (Works well on horizontal or vertical). You do not even have to strip your old stain completely, just cant have peeling. The goes on like high grade paint and adheres well. Will last 5 years more or less, depending on sun and shade this is in in illinois weather. I apply with 3/4 18" nap roller.
I stained my deck last summer and don't like the color. I am not too experienced and feel like I caked it on. It looks like paint. I would like to remove it and re do it. Even if it is a darker color.
DO I powerwash first and then apply deck stripper?
Any feedback is appreciated.
If over applied and looks like a paint, then deck stain strippers probably will not work. You may need to sand it all to get it fully removed.
Have 2-3 yr old stain that I had to sand areas to get rid of a residue and high spots. I also sanded over everything lightly (all w/ 60 grit) to try to get it more uniform. I'm planning to strip it now but would rather not re-sand. 1) Do I need to sand after stripping? 2) Also, so I need to use a power washer to get all of the stripper off before brightening and staining? Likely using Jomax or Defy stripper (used defy prior but not sure I can get it on a holiday). 3) Do I need to mask off my wood siding house?
1. No but you should clean and brighten after the sanding.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
Can you tell me what kind of sander to get. We've tried stripper to remove stain but It's not removing all of it. Everytime we go to rent the sander, someone different at Home Depot tells us a different type sander to get. We only want to do this once!!!
Drum sander.
We have a 20 year old large deck. Have stained it 3 times since owning in 2004 and are in process of doing it a 4th time. Part is exterior and part is covered. Covered deck flooring looks like new, very smooth with hardly any scoff marks so thought we would skip it this time around. Exterior has few places where it is wearing off, banisters still look pretty good. First time around we tried semi-transparent stain that only lasted a few years, if that. Nice guy @ Big Box store recommended we go with a solid stain as he said it will last 4+ years. Fortunately the solid stain has not peeled much except in a few places where you can "force-peel" it up in fairly large somewhat-thickish pieces. We have used deck cleaner but we have never used a brightener (just never knew about it). We have never sanded much, if any. QUESTION: #1. Since deck cleaner won't remove the solid stain altogether (or at all) should we be sanding EACH & EVERY time we stain IF we plan to just keep this same solid stain (ONLY keeping solid because it has lasted longer in humid SE, and longest-lasting possible stain is our main concern at present). Greatly appreciate your advice 🙂
If using a solid stain again you do not need to remove all. Just the dirt and loose stain.
Thanks – that is great news!
btw: Do you recommend trying to FLIP the boards if we want to do a semi-transparent the next time around in lieu of having to do a stripping + sanding job?
We are not fans of flipping.
Is that because "the bad" would then be on the bottom? Our boards are @ least 2 stories above ground with dirt and a few weeds underneath; not sure of the impact of that.
It will show lines where the undersides sat on the joists.
THANKS AGAIN 🙂
Hope next place I live has a plain old cement patio and no decks. LOL
Spoke with a guy yesterday who said do NOT flip boards IF your deck was installed correctly… in other words, if end of boards they look like they are "FROWNING" on the ends (sides turn downward) that is the CORRECT way; if "smiling" on ends (sides turn up) then boards were installed wrong side, may be okay to flip but of course consider condition, any cracks, etc first.
I have an archway over the entry to my house that is wrapped in cedar. The builder put some sort of clear coat on the cedar, unfortunately I do not know the specifics. After 3 years, the sides exposed to the sun are fading significantly and the clear coat appears to be flaking badly. The sides not facing the sun still look nice. I need to re-cover this thing soon. Would a deck stripper such as that described in the article be the first step to repairing my archway. Followed by a brightner, then a stain? I will probably use Olympic mountain cedar because that is what is in my cedar fence that is holding up nicely to the Florida sun. Any brand recommendations on the deck stripper?
Ben, with out knowing the type of clear coating he used, it is impossible to say what if anything will will. A deck stain stripper will remove a penetrating clear sealer, but it will not remove a polyurethane. Do you have that? Shiny with no pigment? If so you will need to sand it off.
When the coating was first applied, it definitely popped, but I never really considered it shiny. It just looked like bright natural cedar, it was great. Definitely no pigment to it. I suppose I can try the stripper and see what happens. If it doesn't work, I can try sanding. I was hoping to avoid that because the cedar still has some texture to it that I like, but I suppose I might not have a choice.
I used an acrylic sealer by the Nanotec on my Ipe front porch. It has now worn off in places and I need to strip it so that I can use a proper sealer on it. Will Restor-A-Deck stripper remove the sealer? Also what do you recommend as a sealer for Ipe wood? Thank you!
I am sorry, but we have never heard or used a product called Nanotec. Not sure if it will work well or not. Once removed, use Defy Hardwood or IPE oil.
Thank you for your response. What would be the best stripping product to use to remove acrylic sealers in general.
RAD Stain stripper or HD80.
Based on all the comments and replies below, I am understanding that a stain remover will most likely only work on areas of the deck that are peeling or cracked? and that any solid areas will require sanding as the stain remover won't penetrate ? Am I correct. I have deck railings that I need to re-stain. Some areas are peeling from improperly reapplied stain and some areas are solid. Other areas need a reapplication of the stain due to exposure that has caused discoloration and mold. Bottom line is, my deck railings are all over the place and I need to get down to the bare wood again and try to get it looking good again. My problem is, I'm not sure where to start or what to do in each case. Any help is appreciated.
Stain strippers remove transparent, semi-transparent, some semi-solid stains, but will not remove a solid color deck stain or deck paint. What type of stain do you have?
I have a semi-transparent stain. I now understand better what you meant by the word 'solid'
Hey I have a deck work that was accidently stained with a solid traditional cedar stain. Luckily, I only did the railings of the deck. The client wanted to change a semi-transparent cedar tone for the whole deck. I was wondering if there is any possible way to take off the solid stain off from there? And the deck is originally a semi-transparent stain. What should I do about this?
You have to sand it off the railings. Might want to consider a two toned deck:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/advantages-to-having-a-two-toned-deck/
Thanks
Help!!! I have a large deck and I pressure washed 2 year old stain that was peeling everywhere. (Whoever applied it must have done it on a hot day). Anyway, I purchased Rez stripper to remove the stubborn areas. It did not work at all. I tried various times to see if it was just a matter of damp wood etc. The stain is a very dark brown. I want to restore with a clear coat finish to showcase the wood. Question – Can I just rent a large orbital sander to remove the rest? Will it remove this stubborn wood stain?
hard to say if a stripper will work or if sanding is the way to go for removal. Is it more like a solid stain? If so you will need to sand to remove.
How do you strip railings and spindles
Spray on stain stripper and pressure wash off.
The contractor claims that he applied according to the instructions on the can the Penofin Verde product to my cedar deck, which was constructed last summer and was clean, dry and had never been sealed or stained previously. My deck is now a tacky as well as unsightly mess. The Verde has beaded in many places, continues to stink a full four days since application, and has ugly grayish-white patches around the cedar knots. I think it was both the quality of this product and the careless application of it that made for this disaster. Perhaps Penofin Verde should not be applied outdoors. The weather was perfect, temp wise and no rain through all this time. So the variables for harm lay with the product and perhaps the contractor did not adequately wipe it down. He claims he did, however. Terrible stuff. I give it one star at best.
I would blame more the Penofin then the contractor. The verde is very oily and can be a pain to work with.
same with our deck Class action suit would be in order
Penafin is a bad product
Trying to file class action suit !!
Need more Penafin ruined customers to join
Viennakid@aol.com
I have a tiger wood deck with maybe three coats on Messmers natural transparent finish for hard wood decks on it. I just striped the deck using restore a deck stripper and the tiger wood turned black like it burned it. I thought that the stripper may be pulling all three layers to the surface. So i i pressure wash the stripper off and re treated a small area. It only turned blacker. I made sure to follow the directions and made a 5 gallon pail of stripper. Will using the brightener turn the tigerwood back to it natural "brownish red color. Can send pictures if needed.
You have to brighten after using the stripper! The Stripper darkens the wood and raises the pH balance while the brightener neutralizes the stripper and lower the pH balance,lightening the wood. This should have been done right away.
Sanded my deck that had a build up of semi transparent stain that was very dark and now want to go to a light driftwood color but you can still see the old ceder color between the boards . What can I do to remove this?
You will have to strip or sand it off.
Used a stain stripper (Jasco) to remove stubborn stain, then pressure washed and brightened. The areas that I used the Jasco stripper have left a light residue and has caused areas of the deck to look blotchy. I intend to apply TWP 100, but want to remove the residue to give the stain the best chance to adhere. What should be used to remove the residue? Jasco recommends odorless mineral spirits, but I'm fearful that that will cause me more problems. Thoughts?
Sorry but no idea as to what the residue is. Might want to use their suggestion as we are not familiar with the Jasco Stripper.
My deck was power washed by a professional recently with a deck stripper and then a brightener was used. Most of the deck floor and top railings and steps are still gray and and there is still black algea spots on the posts. Also, it looks like all the previous semi-transparent stain that I used was not completely removed on numerous spots.My understanding is that all the gray has to be removed before any staining can be
My deck was power washed by a professional recently with a deck stripper and then a brightener was used. Most of the deck floor and top railings and steps are still gray and and there is still black algea spots on the posts. Also, it looks like all the previous semi-transparent stain that I used was not completely removed on numerous spots.My understanding is that all the gray has to be removed before any staining can be
done. Why didn't the gray come off? I don't want him to finish
it until all the gray is removed. Can it be removed completely?
Hard to say for sure. Sometimes when stripping all when not come off. We shoot for 90-100% removal when we strip.
Christine,
Amongst other things (electric, plumbing, finish carpentry,…) I do many decks each year (new, repair, rebuild, tear out and replace with stone patios).
So, like many things in life, it depends. Generally speaking for wood decks that have aged (perhaps too long) in the sun (turned gray- that is the UV breaking down the wood fibers), there is no amount of stripping, brightening, and power washing that will remove all the gray, all the the old stain, and perhaps the algae.
Having said that, what was the agreement you had with your contractor/handyman?
Did he/she guarantee all gray, etc. would be removed?
Did you see how the stripper was applied? Was it scrubbed in with stiff bristle brushes?
Usually a rinse after this step is sufficient unless the deck is in extremely poor condition.
Similarly when the brightener was applied – brushed and gently rinsed?
Your deck may be a candidate for sanding (commercial 12×18 and hand sanders) – it may still not get all the gray but it will provide a better prep fro the next staining.
On an older deck you may not be able to go with the same color and start thinking about the next darker colors.
Your deck may be a candidate for new deck boards and/or rail caps.
I just used a stripper product (Jomax) and it did a good job of removing most of the old stain and clear products that were applied and had failed by the previous owners. However, there are a few spots, primarily in rougher areas and in knots, where there is a small amount of clear (?) protectant still there, mostly in little specks.. Most boards are nearly 100% clear, but there are grey specks here and there. I am going to stain with TWP100 in a honey color. I have not used a pressure washer, only high pressure garden hose as was suggested by the stripper product as ok. I also have not used a brightener as the wood color looks good to me… Is one necessary? What will it look like if I stain over a few spots that are slight grey specked? Thanks!
Yes you should brighten to neutralize the stripper and lower the pH of the wood. If still gray spots then they will probably show through the stain. Not a big deal.
This is a great article for a first timer – thank you! I do have a question or two, though, if you don't mind. I just bought the house a year ago and the deck was already in bad shape. After various projects I'm finally getting ready to do something about it, except I don't even know where to begin. I'm under the impression that I need to clean and strip the wood properly before staining, except I can't tell what type of coloring was used. Solid stain? Paint? Is there a definitive way to tell? Or do I treat them both the same? Will a pressure washer take this off or do I have to sand the entire deck? (That might take a month!)
I also found a recipe from thisoldhouse.com for a deck cleaner using bleach and powdered laundry detergent. And of course, a good scrub brush. Is this recommended, or should I use a more commercial product and chemically strip my deck? There's so many options! And last, but not least, my deck will be exposed to intense california heat in the summer and snow in the winter. Is there a particular brand of stain that holds up well to that? My impression from your article is that I should use a solid stain. And should I top it with a water sealant? Sorry for all of the questions, I'm so new to this and nervous about messing up my beautiful home. Thank you! -Taryn
How to prep and what to use depends on what is on the wood now. Best for you to post a picture in our forum area so we can see what it is.
Do I need to strip off all of the old stain? I am using Behr Premium Deck Over over the same product. Some of the areas more exposed to sun have peeled. I was going to just sand those areas smooth but thought is might be easier to use a stripper only on the peeled areas. Will this work or do I have to strip the entire deck?
Strippers will not remove the Deck Over. Just sand and reapply same.
I put a semi transparent wood stain on my deck in an area about 3x6ft…I do not like the color…what can I do to put a different color on the deck?
Pat
You will have to strip or sand it off so there stain is removed. Which depends on what stain brand and type you used.
Have a major problem …… I own a pressure treated deck …. Approximately 10 years old …. and I applied Thompson's WaterSeal (Waterproof PLUS clear Wood Protector) on my greying deck. I cleaned the deck first with a deck cleaner …. don't want to hear about what I should or shouldn't have done …. I need to remove the cleaner from deck as the WaterSealer has darkened the original light grey tone of the deck so much so my wife hates it …. really hates it!
Question:
What's the best way possible to remove the Thompson's sealer to somehow get the old look back?
I'm at fault for presuming the "clear" version of the sealer would not affect the outcome of the colour …. just need some serious professional advice as to how to regain the old look of the deck …. have to agree with my wife, I don't like the look …. please advise me on what to do next (deck stripper, sanding, etc?)
Thanks ….. Please hurray, my wife is pissed 🙂
You cannot remove the Thompsons without removing the old weather graying look as well. the only way to get it off is to strip it and that will remove the graying.
We have a cedar deck that we finished with linseed oil and varithane. It went moldy.
We sanded that off and replaced with a semi transparent stain that is peeling off. I am in the middle of stripping that off with a wood stain and finish stripper from Behr. Any suggestions how to treat the cedar once i have it stripped?
Once stripped you should apply a wood brightener as the final prep. Stain with TWP or Armstrong Clark.
I have a Defy semi-transparent stain on my deck now. If I use a stripper, will it remove all of the stain right down to the bare wood? Or will there be some remnant of the stain remaining? I will be using the same stain again.
Most but probably not all will come off. Try to remove as much as you can. A little leftover stain should not hinder the new coating.
Wanting to remove old solid color stain and put on semi transpareint stain to match house, old stain has been on about 4 year , plan to strip then sand ? Any sugestions would be helpful including whats the best kind of sander? Its about a 30'x20' deck thank you
Strip with the REstore A Deck Stripper. Sand with a drum sander for the floors and orbital and belt sanders for the railings. Brighten all wood when done and heavy rinse with water.
We have 10+ years, grooved decking. My husband in his wisdom has been staining it year after year with fence panel stain. It doesn't flake but is patchy. I'd like to Restore it to its natural colour as I don't like the current reddish brown colour. From the comments and feedback given, stain remover might help, but sanding seems to be the way to go – correct me if I'm wrong! It's the grooves I'm concerned about, any advice or tips on how best to get rid of the build up stain. The decking has never been sanded! I'd like to avoid replacing it, as the wood is sound.
There is nothing that will remove this fully from striping due to the buildup. You will have to sand and that be very hard due to the grooves. Replacing may be your only option to full removal.
Our wood deck has restore with a stucco texture. We are in desperate need of doing it again. Do I need to sand it first or do I have a way of putting another smooth texture restore over it?
You have to remove it and that will require sanding.
We will be sanding off chipping and peeling solid color stain from our deck. Do we still have to clean and brighten it also, does the sanding prep it for stain?
Yes you will need to clean and brighten for the final prep.
How can I get Penofin stain semi transparent off a bench I just put on the bench a few days ago and got water spots so I sanded it and want to get the rest of the stain off with a Stripper? What can I use? Please help !!!!
Strip if off with the Restore A Deck Stripper and use the brightener when done.
Taking over after someones else's failed attempt. They apparently put on Flood CWF oil based semi transparent over the top of the exact same stuff after only pressure washing once. Did not remove the old stain (same brand, type) now it is barely present on some spots and has a thick tacky glossy buildup on the railing, balusters, and near the edges of flooring. I usually have only done a first application after i have built the deck, so this is new ground for me. Where do i start?
Strip off as much as you can first. Hopefully most or all will come off. If not you will need to sand. The difficult areas to remove will be the shiny spots.
Bought a house a with a new cedar deck(9 months old). Previous owner had put sealer on the knots in the wood…not the entire deck. He said he didn't have time to seal the deck before the winter rain started. So ..he decided to brush sealer on the knots only.
Now….I want to remove the sealer,mold and mildew..and finish the deck properly. Which deck stripper do you recommend??
Do you know what sealer he used?
I used the Sherwin Williams brand (Deckscapes) stripper to strip off the remaining semi-transparent stain I used that failed. I followed up with a power washer to attempt to remove all stain. Unfortunately there are a few pesky areas that won't come up, even after multiple attempts. There are also areas I'm unable to reach with the power washer (behind spindles, back of railing, etc.) that the stain hasn't been removed. What are your recommendations? Should I use a small detailing sander to remove the reaming stain? Thanks!
Depends. How much in % came off and what stain brand are you using for reapplication.
I would estimate 90 -95% of the stain was removed with the stripper and power washer. I followed up with a brightener and plan to sand the entire deck prior to staining. I just want to ensure the last bit of stain will come off with a sanding. I plan to re-stain with the TWP 100 in a dark brown color similar to what I used before.
I have the same problem—I have used DEFY Stain Stripper to try and remove the existing stain from my deck. About 80% of the stain has been removed after multiple applications. I would like to use the same stain that was used before (it lasted pretty long, just finally defeated by wear and Seattle weather). Do I have to get the rest of the old stain off, since I'm using the same stain again?
No not all needs to be removed if using the same stain brand.