This Old House general contractor Tom Silva breathes new life into a weather-beaten wood deck. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Tom helps a homeowner clean his dirty, weather-beaten mahogany deck and prepare it for staining. First, Tom sprayed regular water over the entire deck so that detergent wouldn’t get absorbed into the wood. Next, using a garden-type pump sprayer, Tom sprayed a biodegradable detergent and water mixture onto the deck, scrubbed it with a stiff brush, and rinsed it with a garden hose. With the entire deck cleaned, Tom applied a borate to prevent any future growth of mildew. Next, Tom left the homeowner to apply a mixture of stain and polyurethane to add color and protect the deck against the weather. Later, up in the loft, Tom showed Kevin some other options for staining and sealing a wooden deck.
Shopping List:
biodegradable wood cleaner [ used to clean the wood surfaces
borate [ used to kill algae on the deck
oil-based deck stain [ for protecting and tinting the deck
oil-based exterior-grade varnish [ mixed with the stain for extra weather protection
five-gallon bucket [ for mixing the borate solution
2-inch-wide painter’s tape [ used to mask off areas you don’t want to stain
Tools:
backpack pump sprayer [ for spraying on deck cleaner
long-handled, stiff-bristle scrub brush [ for scrubbing the deck clean
long-handled sponge applicator [ used to apply stain to the deck
cordless drill [ with paint-mixing paddle [ for mixing the borate solution
Tom used an environmentally-friendly deck detergent and borate solution to clean and protect the deck against mildew. Both were manufactured by Bora-Care [
About This Old House TV:
This Old House is America’s first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes—one step at a time—featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information, so that whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you’ll know the right way to do things and the right questions to ask. Our experts Norm Abram, Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey, Roger Cook and host Kevin O’Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.
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How to Clean and Restain a Deck | This Old House