Suggestions to get rid of dirt/stains on PT from joists

[tomsteve 0]

Hey all. Been a lurker here for some time and have gained valuable knowledge to help me make some pretty dirty surfaces look pretty darn good. Now I have one I'm not sure about what to use and before start throwing chemicals at it, thought it would be wise to ask for advise.

So, I'm going to be adding on to my neices existing 12 by 16 deck making it a 20 by 24. To save some money for her,Instead of replacing the 2 by 6 PT that's on the existing deck( she's owned the house for three years. I did what I could with what was there to make it look better, but it I don't think it was ever properly taken care of. And it just ended up looking good ish)I'm flipping all the deck boards over. The bottoms were in very good shape except for one thing- every spot the boards were on a joist there's a pretty good dirt stain. I've gone over an area with just my pressure washer alone( no chemicals) which cleaned it up pretty nice, but still have the dirt stains where the boards were sitting on the joists.

So, before I go making mess a d wasting money throwing this that and the other at it, do ya have any recommendations for what I can use? I'm thinking there still might be the possibility that I won't be able to completely get rid of the stains?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[steven 37]

Ya if you can not remove those it is going to be a problem. imagine one long line when you flip them over.  After you set the boards down and have them fastened go ahead and use a light hydroxide mix and strip the entire deck for uniformity, mix in a little sh to remove the mold. If the marks do not come out try lightly sanding them, if everything works well, when you sand them they should be the same shade as the stripped portion without the stains.

 

Might work, might not. the problem with wood is that no one ever really knows what its going to look like until its done. What you see when its wet will be totally different when its completely dry.

 

of course this is just my opinion.

Edited July 30, 2015 by steven

[RPetry 564]

^^^

 

Very good advice.  Read it twice.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Sanding after washing would be a likely result.
These stains have been created by dirt as well which if anyone has seen planter rings on decks can be difficult if not impossible to remove.

The minerals catalyze in the wood to begin degradation of the wood fibers and discolor them permanently.

 

Rod

[tomsteve 0]

Thanks all. Steven, that is pretty much what I was thinking to do but just wasn't sure.And yes, there's one long line across the entire deck..at every joist. I was trying to think of a way to call it some form of art of maybe a new design style, but it just didn't work! :)

Beth nRod, I was thinking that,too. Since its been there for many years I was thinking the dirt/grime might be deeper into the wood thanjust washing will take care of. Last night I had already decided to rent a drum sander, but will still wash it thoroughly first. This is still going to be less expensive that replacing 12' by 16' worth of deck. Might me laborous, but I'm good with that. Nice weather out for the job!

I'll get some before,during and after pics for ya's. Since I have 6 boards I'm going to replace A d they aren't screwed down I'll get some pics of them to show what years of lack of maintenance can do.

Really a great site here and your advise is greatly appreciated by both me and my neice and her husband.

[RPetry 564]

Tom,

 

If you own, know someone, or can rent a planer that will handle the board dimensions, do it.  Fast, easy, and the wood will be "brand new".

[tomsteve 0]

Tom,

 

If you own, know someone, or can rent a planer that will handle the board dimensions, do it.  Fast, easy, and the wood will be "brand new".

since I happen to own a planer and a metal detector, and since I have all the boards up,flipped, and only partially screwed down, thats a heck of an idea! I think that just may be a viable solution. Thanks!!!