Repaint My Deck - DIY Chatroom

**Floorwizard** · 05-26-2007, 04:41 PM

Whoever painted the deck before I purchased it did a bad job. After the paint gets even just a tad moist from rain it starts to peel. So now I have alot of bare spots like such....

So I have decided to use my power washer and blast this stuff off my deck. But I am wondering if this is a good idea. I would like to know just how bad a mess this will make. I am sure there will be some seriouse paint chips all over, and there are rocks below the deck.

I just want to get this paint off and repaint later this summer.
Any recommendations?

ron schenker · 05-26-2007, 05:19 PM

Looks likes there's no primer under the paint, that's why it's peeling off. Power washing will get most of it off depending on how many PSI you've got. and it will make one heck of a mess below. You might want to consider sanding it all down, then priming and painting. If you decide to pressure wash, you can always cover up everything below with some 6 mil. poly or drop cloths to help collect all the flying chips of paint. From the pictures, the rest of the deck paint looks to be in good condition. Is the wood pressure treated?

jms · 05-26-2007, 05:27 PM

florcraft

If you are worried about the mess power washing may cause then you
may be better off using a sander and scraper to get loose paint off your deck. just remember just because you powerwash does not mean
you won't have to sand and scrape after. the key is in the prep work
this may take a little longer than you may think, but is well worth the time.Take your time and do it right.

05-26-2007, 05:51 PM

I'd use a stripper on it like Flood Powerlift. Hitting it with too much pressure from your power washer will tear up the wood. And you'll probably need a fair bit of pressure to get it all off. With the stripper to lift it first, you can use a bit less pressure and avoid tearing the wood up so much.

**Floorwizard** · 05-26-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Is the wood pressure treated?

I do not know.

Quote:

just because you powerwash does not mean
you won't have to sand and scrape after

I am confident that I will need to sand and scrape eventually. I am just sick of it raining and having peeled paint stuck to my shoes. It comes off with minimal pressure.

Quote:

you can always cover up everything below with some 6 mil. poly or drop cloths to help collect all the flying chips of paint.

I thought about that, but I figured 6 mil poly will be like a swimming pool full of paint chips eh?
But what else to do.....

05-26-2007, 06:49 PM

Put down some mesh, like garden netting. It'll let the water pass through but catch the paint chips.

jms · 05-26-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florcraft

I do not know.

I am confident that I will need to sand and scrape eventually. I am just sick of it raining and having peeled paint stuck to my shoes. It comes off with minimal pressure.

I thought about that, but I figured 6 mil poly will be like a swimming pool full of paint chips eh?
But what else to do.....

GET ON WITH THE WORK!
Things don't happen by them self. Try putting some runners down. while talking about it.
take care
jeff

**Floorwizard** · 05-26-2007, 09:07 PM

Actually part of the deck is done.
windy real bad right now which is making the paint chips fly too far.

will try again tommorrow.

**slickshift** · 05-27-2007, 07:03 PM

Thin canvas drops to catch the chips
They'll get damp but water'll soak through
Powerwash anything off that will come off

Sand the rest
If you guys have one of those floor machines with the metal mesh grinder screens for concrete floors (I think it's used mostly for prep, sorry, the technical term escapes me-but being in flooring maybe you've seen/have them), well they've got screens for decks too
You'll have to set all the nails (they don't like nails), and it goes a bit slow, but it works

If you don't have enough left to warrant that, then scrape off the rest
Use a good scraper, I'd suggest Hyde's 2 1/2" Maxx Grip Tungsten Talon Heavy Duty Carbide Scraper, (and 2 Edge Blade)
It frikin rocks

Rotary sand what's left (if at all poss. but a random orbital will work also...just not as well for this job)

Do not "paint" the deck when the time comes
If you want a solid color, get a solid stain
I'd recommend Behr

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
J/K
I'd recommend Sikkens or a comparable quality