First, I know deck questions are posted here often. I’ve read over old posts and done a lot of online research. I think my questions are specific enough that I’m not just going over the same basic things.I’m a petite woman with a wreck of a deck that is long overdue for stripping, sanding, and staining. I have figured out what is considered the ideal process and reduced it to something I can physically manage. I have several questions and while I feel it’s a lot to ask internet strangers for so much advice, just getting a couple answers will make a big difference.Step 1: Strip opaque stain (thankfully it’s already half gone)Questions: I live in a watershed area. Any recommendations for an effective eco-friendly cleaner? Is 2-step cleaner important/worth it?Step 2: Power washQuestions: Is power wash necessary? Can I just hose it down and scrub the tough spots?Step 3: Hammer down nails for even surfaceNo questions! ;)Interlude: Two days to dry outQuestions: I’m on a mountain above a reservoir and literally every morning through the summer a thick fog ascends from below that dampens the deck. The deck is NEVER dry. And yet, the previous owners managed to stain it. People live all around me with beautiful stained decks. How do they do it?? This is one of my biggest obstacles with this project.Step 4: SandingQuestions: I’m thinking of renting a Random Orbital Floor Sander, even though any vendor will be a long drive away. Hopefully I’ll spend two days working over the whole deck and return the sander at the end of the second day. The driving time and cost will be worth it to save my back, shoulders, knees, neck, and wrists from the labor of sanding by hand. Good plan?Step 5: Applying stain & sealerQuestions: I want a natural grey-wood look. The deck is 30 years old so I’m thinking I’ll go with a high-quality oil based semi-solid. Do I really have to use a brush or sprayer for semi-solid stain, or can I use a roller? (As with the sander, trying to save my body from the pain it went through when I painted the entire (one-story) house on my own.) Are two thin coats sufficient? Is backbrushing necessary?Thank you all so much for reading!! via /r/DIY http://bit.ly/30NREA3
