Cannon

What is the process on a new deck? Here is what I think it is... feel free to shoot holes in it and give me other methods that work. 1. Let it age over a winter. 2. Clean it with 1/2 water, 1/2 bleach and dawn soap. Here is where I have the most questions... Is Sodium Percarbonate an option here? What else??? I have heard of an "EFCxx" product. (some name similar to that anyways) 3. Brighten with Oxalic or Citric acid... Is this optional if certain chemicals are used in the cleaning process? 4. Seal. As long as I'm here... what are the best sealers for semi-transparent and opaque? I have used Ready Seal and I liked it... but I assume some customers will want an Opaque finish.

What are the best chemicals and methods for cleaning a house? The chems I plan on using now are Bleach, Cascade and Dawn. Is there something better? The method is still up in the air. I have 24' extendable wand. I could put a chem tip on that... or I may buy an X-jet... or I may look into a Shurflo sprayer. Also, I'm not sure it people just spray on chems, let it sit and then spray it off.... or if a brush is used to clean the side of the house.

I'm wondering if people use a surface cleaner or just a wand for deck stripping????

I just watched the $150 video tapes on house washing. On the tape he suggested a multistep approach to house cleaning... If I remember correctly it was bleach... soap... seal coat... (there may have been a rinse after each chemical application also) Anyways, I was hoping to clean houses in less steps... such as all chemicals mixed and applied in one step, rinse... and then perhaps a sealer. What does everyone else do? Remember, I'm new so give me the specifics. THANKS!

Thanks for the replies! The tapes are advertised on different web sites and the cleaner times magazine. The tape is "Exterior Housewashing with Brian Hegarty". The tapes did answer some questions for me but the $150 was way to high. I have done my own deck, roof and driveway this fall. I have neighbors, friends and family all lined up for next spring. I'm just trying to learn everything I can so I don't waste a lot of time and money.

I need XXL gloves. Am I going to have problems finding gloves that fit? Any suggestions on websites... or should I just research the ones listed previously?

I have questions on these two chemicals... where do I get them, how do I apply in Deck and House washing. 1. Thickener 2. Emulsifier

Thanks for the help! Now how do you mix them? I assume that you can't store a solution with a thickening agent in it. Is it safe to mix it right before you apply? How long does it take to thicken? I am concerned about gumming up my sprayer.

I read on some thread from Beth and Rod that they used a thickener in the application of their stripper. I think it made the spray thicken so it would stick better and not evaporate so quickly. I read someone else talking about an emulsifier in their House wash. I have a chemical company called Hawkins in the Twin Cities here... I'll talk to my Hawkins rep about thickeners and emulsifiers....

I know there are product out there to strip & brighten decks... but does anyone just go directly to a chemical manufacturer and get their own mixture? I think I could get by a lot cheaper if I bought in 55 gallon drums or 50 lb bags of Sodium Hydroxide, Oxalic Acid and Sodium Percarbonate and Sodium Hypochlorite. Is anyone else doing this? If you go this route... how are you mixing the various chemicals? How much water? What other ingredients do you add? How do you apply... sprayer, E-jet, chem nozzle?

When you wash a house, do you squiggy (that can't be right) the windows? Do you go in the house and clean the inside of the windows?

Some replies touched on this.... Do I take a different approach on wait time and chemicals used if I have Pressure Treated wood vs. Cedar?

Ron P, Do you thing McDonalds doesn't try to lower their inventory cost whenever and where ever possible.

Paul B, You said to remove Mill Glaze With Oxalic acid or some other product... Does the Oxalic Acid become the first step then? Do you follow up with bleach or Percarb to get the PH back to nuetral? Will HD-80 followed by Oxalic Acid work for Mill Glaze?

How do I know if a deck still has Mill Glaze on it?

Could I get a copy also? sci@rconnect.com