fireandrain

Redwood 1x2, yes, you heard it right, 1x2 decking coming back to life again! This picture is after a "tester" shot of DS'd brightener. I'll be back tommorow to continue stripping (more decks on the other side of the house) and brighten everything back up. So far, I feel pretty good about how this one is going. I was armed with boost, but didnt seem to need it. Again, thanks to all of you awesome woodies who have helped me prepare for this one, my 1st acrylic strip. I appreciate it greatly!!!

Never thought I could be so happy to see that redwood go black!

Gettin at it for the 1st rinse, this stuff peeling off, blood pressure getting back to normal. So enthused that I thought I'd one-hand it and snap a picture with the other hand while I shot the deck... Had to.

5 minutes into dwell time, bucklin up real nice, smile returning to me face! Its budgin'! Hallelujah!!!!

Okay now, which one of you has been referring these nasty acrylic jobs to me? After bragging three weeks ago that I hadn’t seen an acrylic in years, I’ve come across 5 in the last two weeks! I’m going to be starting the “Ughhh” job this week and just entered contract on another one today. This one will especially fun as the main redwood deck is 30’ off the ground with no stair access. I don’t mind setting up ladder access on a job like this, however the trouble with this one is that ALL of those patio furniture and potted plants will have to stay on the deck through the course of the project. Homeowner does not want to bring them inside (cant blame them, very nice interior with all kinds of breakables around). I’m thinking I’ll be gathering everything and stockpiling on one end of deck, covered up real well, then alternate. PITA, but I can live with that, or, rather, my helper can. I gave the HO the big ‘deep penetrating vs. film forming’ lecture and built a proposal that should allow enough wiggle room to make me comfortable. The verticals are going to loads of fun as usual. Anyways, any ideas on what this film forming junk is? Previous deck guy advertises that he uses 'enviro-friendly' products, hoping it isn't that timber pro stuff, had a heck of time with similar finish in the past. Oh, and also, the lady of the house like the look of the current finish, sort of a honey color. That will be new for me as well...

I'm thinking of RS gold? Like I said, the clients "quite like" the color thats on their now. Love to make them happy!

My first big acrylic strip, I feel mildly excited. I must be nuts. Im wondering what the point in getting into hardcore SH/Boost stripping would be if I am, in all likelihood going to need to be doing some heavy defelting afterwards anyways. I hear you Kevin on the issues you raised regarding sanding not getting into cracks,etc.. Makes sense. These 1x2, yes, 1x2 redwood deck boards are pretty darn close together for the most part. MOst of it look like a friggin' interior hardwood floor! I wont have any verticals to contens with, just redwood handrail "caps" on top the steel verts. And, yeah, as you can ascertain from some of the photos, I wouldn't be able to get a big drum sander around those handrail footings. Best I can tell, should be fairly straight forward though with an orbital. Advantages (as I see it) w/ a Sanding Approach vs. Stripping Regiment 1. Screws in floorboards are already sunk beneath the surface of the floor boards. 2. Floor boards show little to no cupping/warping, even. 3. I built plenty of margin in my bid for the extra cost of renting a drum sander, paper,etc.. Anyone else have an opinion on this? Thanks

Can someone remind me why I am not going to be sanding this deck instead of getting messy with strippers. Nothing against getting messy with strippers, especially the two from last night, but with little to NO cupping on these deck boards, and with all of the screws ALREADY sunk beneath the surface, why would I not just hit this thing with a drum sander?

You must have a big date tonight,eh?

I'm off to tackle this one next week...finally! Cant wait, what a wonderful time I shall have!

Now I've seen some pretty old and raqgged redwood decks in my time, but never seen a 90 yr. old redwood deck attached to it's joists with finish nails! Is that whole deck tied down with those fin. nails pictured,Rick? Honestly though, Ive come across a few old heartwood redwood decks that look pretty similar in condition to your new play thing,Rick. Usually date back 30 yrs. or so. Redwood can really look beat if neglected, but comes right back with talents like yours,Rick. have fun!

Wish I saw more PT and cedar out here,Rick, I'd be tapping your brain daily! Never seen a PT deck out here, did a cedar last year, behaved well. Possibly heartwood on that one, certainly old growth,though. The heart I see out here is close to knot-free and ridiculously expensive. Suppose thats a good thing. I'd prefer to still be able to walk in an old growth redwood forest, not much of it left out here. People who visit Northern California are always raving about the redwood forests of the north coast, leave believing theres still alot of it up there. Not true. Most of the old growth in Northern Cal. is limted to the 'beauty strips" the logging co's have been so kind to leave bordering all of the major tourist highways up there. Dont get me started. Our redwood forests were VERY poorly managed in the last 100 yrs. Having said that, I enjoy living in a 10 yr. old Victorian framed in full dimensional 2x3 redwood! If I'm ever cursed with a house fire here, I imagine the only thing standing will be my old redwood framing... Have fun with that one,Rick. I imagine you are gong to be working with RS Redwood Only formula? Does the trick with respect to preventing the redwood from going black on you.

Rick, Looks like redwood to me. Thats all I see out here in No. Calif. All sorts of redwood out here, old and new. Surprised to see it out your way, but my .02 is redwood, Rick. It will look fabulous when you get through with it!

Rick, would you be so kind to pass along the tel # of your helper to us? I'd like to offer him a position with us, I'll double his current pay and give him a year of free surfing lessons on the sunny beaches of California. If he's single, I will also hook him up with a half-dozen of the hottest California surfer girls to better enjoy his leisure time while he's out here. Good help is hard to find...

My deckster and Ready Seal, two my greatest discoveries. Thanks TGS...

When spraying Ready Seal, I have a guy follow me with a sprayer full of simple green to wet the overspray that gets on the house. Wipes off easy enough, and we just keep moving. Having said that, we tarp most everything off around us when spraying. Used to cut in on areas right up against the house, but never was happy with the extra labor involved, not to mention the lapping issues. Seems to work well for us. Never sprayed next to a vinyl siding structure,however. In that case, overspray a bigger issue that needs more attentiveness. Also, same helper moves along with me with a 2x4 piece of luane board...the splatter board. Helps with tight spaces, reduces over spray.

LOL. Thats good stuff, Rick. I think this whole country has a history of wackiness.... in one way or another. I always chuckle a bit when folks from the east coast mention earthquakes... Like I've said before, I'll take a good rumble every 15 or so years over that humidity and that nasty east coast winter of yours! :) Ya' know, in all seriousness, Im not a BIG advocate of life in California...too damn expensive and overcrowded for my tastes. I prefer a nice rural setting surrounded by a few hundred acres of pristine wilderness... tough to make a living out there though... Lots of nice areas up in N.Calif... Rambling... Seems like everyone I meet around here is originally from the east coast! And they are all terrified of the next big earthquake... cracks me up. people are funny.

Man, you east coasters have it rough with that rain issue! Never realized how lucky we are out here in California in the summer... I think I've had to deal with the rain issue twice in the last 3 years. hope your deck survived that ordeal!

Man, I never should have said that "I never see acrylics out here anymore"! In the last week I have seen two already! Ughhh. Anyways, I promised this prospective client a quote in the next day or two, and I'm really scratching my head as to whats going to be involved in getting these redwood decks back from the acrylic graveyard! Ive attached a few pictures, the HO said that he had his deck "done" (done in more like) "recently" and thats all he could tell me. I told him that he needs to be prepared for some serious work on the strip work but that,with the right sealer, he'll be in better shape in the future. Am I right in guessing that this is an acrylic? I realize that we are all in mostly different markets that define our pricing structures, but I would love it if a few of you might chime in on what you would bid on this project. That would be helpful. Oh, and I plan on forwarding some of Rafal's recent acrylic strip pics in order to give the HO a better idea of what we will be up against...

As I was spraying my last deck of the week on Friday (in 100+heat nonetheless) the rather dizzying thought came to me to get more advice on the best way to protect ourselves from the harmful short and long-term effects of fumes...stripping, and especially spraying sealers. Maybe some of us could take a minute to share their advice on respirator set-ups. Best low-cost solutions as well as best overall protection performances. Maybe links to the best place to get our hands on these pretty important preventative health care tools. I, for one, get pretty aggravated with my $50 3M respirators when Im spraying my sealers. You know the story, hot, sweaty, fogged up goggles (painting a pretty picture,eh?). I've got a pretty big head and really get frustrated with the fit of most of the respirators out there. Furthermore, seems like Im still smelling fumes even with it on! I'll admit, I haven't taken good care of my lungs in the last 20 years and getting the big "C" word is on my mind pretty much every day. My grandfather had sever pulmonary conditions and I can here him lecturing me from heaven every day. I really would like to add a solid respiratory protection system to my tool kit. I don't want my legacy on this great forum to be that of the guy who loved wood restoration more than he did his own life! Anything one might add to this discussion is greatly appreciated.

Thats rough! Pretty rough here in No. California today as well...

Im as curious as Kevin is about that... How many of us wear full face respirators as opposed to the type Kevin says he wears ( no face shield..)

Thanks Rod. I had a look at these this morning, looks like they run around $75 online. They look great!

Thanks Rick. I'll look into adding those strippers to my tool belt for this one! No, I did not do any tests before bidding this job. I know. Last time I do that. I'm building my tester spray bottles this weekend. Sage advice.

Update on this project.. Cause' Im sure your all DYING to know! I bid the project just under $4K and am in contract to begin in mid July while the HO's are on vacation in Europe. I may have lost my mind here, but Im actually really looking forward to the challange on this one. As I've said before, I don't see many acrylics in my market. I'll admit that I was feeling pretty hesitant about taking this one on at first. After reviewing all of the expert input on this thread, as well as MANY others in past threads, I really feel like I need to take this one on in order to improve my confidence w/ acrylics. I'm hoping I built enough margin in this to make this a paid education rather than just...an education. We'll see.