Deck Doctor

 

How do I sand a deck?  Answer 10

 

Sanding is the cure for fuzzy deck syndrome, but there are two things to remember. First, the wood has to be bone-dry for the operation to work. Allow two or three good drying days after pressure washing before sanding. And second, use a random orbit sander spinning an 80-grit disc to do the job. No other hand-held sander combines the power and maneuverability of this tool when it comes to decks. As a final step in the deck prep process, sanding leaves a smooth, thirsty surface -- an ideal base for a long-lasting deck finish. Resist the temptation to sand with a finer grade of paper. 80-grit may seem too coarse, but it maximizes surface absorbency. It's the one to use.

In the time it takes to sand a few square feet of deck with an inappropriate sander you can strip hundreds of square feet of peeling mess with ease. And that gets you back on your deck chair faster, which is what decks are all about in the first place.

A downside of power washing a deck is the wood gets slightly 'fuzzy'. The force of the water actually tears the surface fibers leaving a fuzz or fur on the surface that you need to sand of before you can finish the deck.

Just don't try to sand the deck immediately after power washing it, let it dry for a good three days before attempting to sand. Use this time to set any nail heads that may have popped up in your deck boards and decide what color stain you want to on your deck. Once the deck is thoroughly dry, use relatively coarse sandpaper (80 grit) on your random orbital sander and go over the entire deck, working with the grain. This will get rid of the fuzz, leaving you with a nice smooth surface and wood fibers that are wide open and ready to receive the new finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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