Surface Cleaner on decks?

[Cannon 14]

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

[Brian Keating 14]

I never use a surface cleaner on wood. First it is way to much pressure. I use between 500-1000 psi when cleaning/stripping a deck. Second it is not good to go against the grain. You will leave swirl marks.

[JimCrossley 14]

Cannon,

I ran a test last week with a Whisper surface cleaner (with a skirt - no wheels) at 950 psi. I worked fine. The wood was PT pine and is about 10 years old.

I am going to run my second test next week. I am going to test the techniques I am developing over the next 6 months and if all goes well, I will publish a paper on the topic.

The key is to start moving the surface cleaner and then engage the trigger for pressure. KEEP the surface cleaner moving. Use a gauge to make sure you know exactly how much pressure you are applying.

Experiment on your own deck before you do any commercial or residential work.

Hope this helps.

[ron p 500]

reg the pressure with the tip size's not the reg. You want volume of water and as little pressure as needed.

The right chem also help's.

[Mike Williamson 198]

Brian:

As ron mentioned, all you need to do is replace the tips in the surface cleaner to lower the pressure.

[Howard 50]

I use my surface cleaner on decks, set my pressure at between 1000 and 2000 psi, that way when it gets to the tips (2) at the cleaners I'm running between 500 and 1000 psi at each tip. works like a charm and dosen't leave any marks on the wood at all.

Howard

[ron p 500]

it also help's to have a wide spray pattern

40 deg for me

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

It depends on the type of wood too... on hard woods it's different than it is on soft woods. Personally, we have used a surface cleaner on certain decks, but there are very many we would not use one on. It depends on the deck, the condition and age of the wood, and the kind of wood it is. That's been our experience. Otherwise you do run the risk of damage if you don't know what will work and what won't.

Beth :groovy:

[Atlantic Power Washing 14]

The only time we us ours on decks is when there a large area to cover, I wouldn’t waste my time on smaller decks like 10x10. We cleaned a 5,600 sq ft deck (camping resort) about 5 years ago and I used the wand on the whole thing. It took me three days. We cleaned that same deck 2 years ago and this time we used the whisper on it and it only took a day. It does take practice but you will eventually master the technique .