BEFORE YOU STAIN A NEW DECK/FENCE...ALWAYS DO THIS! ("Soft Wash" New Wood + Lumber BEFORE STAINING!)
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
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OAK CITY COATINGS is an excellent residential/commercial painting company in the RALEIGH, NC area. Nick O'Keefe, the owner, is a paint expert who provides all clients with top-notch advice about paints and coatings for their home or property.
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ALWAYS DO THIS...Before You Stain a New Deck/Fence! ("Soft Wash" New Wood + Lumber BEFORE STAINING!)
Staining a new deck, fence, or other exterior structure is always a good idea. But many people rush straight into the staining process without taking the proper steps before hand. This short video from The Honest Carpenter and Oak City Coatings will show you how to prep a new deck/fence with a "soft wash" process!
Adding stain and sealant to a new fence or deck helps extend the life of the outdoor structure by protecting it from cold/wet weather and harmful UV rays.
But before you stain, you should subject the fence or deck to a "soft wash." This is when you scour and clean the fence with a light chemical bath.
Nick uses Sherwin Williams Superdeck Revive. (This liquid cleaner contains oxalic acid.)
www.sherwin-williams.com/home...
Revive cleans off stains, mold and other pollutants. It also scours off "mill glaze," which is caused by hot saw blades crystallizing resins and liquids in certain types of wood.
To soft wash a fence or deck, just rinse it down first to flush off dust and some grime. Then, lightly coat the fence with Revive, or some similar product.
Nick uses a pressure washer to apply about 1 gallon of Revive to 100' linear fenceline.
Let the Revive sit for 15 MINUTES!
Flush the liquid cleanser off the surface of the new lumber with fresh water. This will leave your fence/deck looking brighter and cleaner. It'll also prepare the fence/deck to receive stain more evenly!
Thanks for watching!
The Honest Carpenter - Jak na to + styl
I was taught to let the wood "season" for at least 4 summer months, then lightly power wash it with a mild detergent and rinse, then let it dry of course before applying stain. I usually install and leave it sit for a year before I wash and stain. It lets the wood dry out more, since treated lumber is usually wet.
I often wondered why staining new outdoor timber was such a hit and miss affair. This answers that. Thanks for this great insight for us DIY'ers.
Thanks Ethan for these videos from quality contractors. Very useful information.
I really appreciate the hand sprayer option
I was a residential painter for a long time and even I never knew you could even stain treated lumber. But 95% of my work was interior only with the occasional front porch/door needing paint. Ya learn something new every day!
This channel is one of the best for fairdinkum honest advice. Thankyou.
Thank you, Stingy! 😄
I have been using Behr SemiTransparent Waterproofong Stain & Sealant for years on cedar fence panels from Home Depot. I've use the Chocolate, Cappuccino a coat of Chocolate followed by Cappuccino. The colors on the pamphlet are not accurate I had to return a couple that were too red and they're usually not returnable once mixed. I use a broom to remove the dust, sand particles etc. and stained it right away. It covered beautifully with two coats and I have never had any problems with peeling or separating. I re-stain it every three or four years and it it looks great. I am getting ready to purchase four 6x8 board on board panels to extend my fence to the end of my property. I use a roller and a sponge that has a handle to do the inner part of the pickets. I think about getting a sprayer since it looks faster but I have tried it before and it was messy and it takes time to learn how to use it and I don't want to make a mistake and have to fix it.
I have stained my fence a few times for the past 20 years. My last stain was using used 0W20 oil (learned from youtube). It gives the best results at the cheapest cost. I just asked the mechanic to give the used oil during oil change. Also, 0W20 is pretty thin; no mixing with diesel fuel is needed. Used oil also has much less odor compared to my previous wood stain.
Thanks for the advice Ethan, as usual, stay safe.
In the wood restoration & pro staining industry… Soft washing your fence is not “always necessary” but is absolutely beneficial at times.
It definitely does NOT hurt to “gently” clean your fence prior to staining 😀 Applying diluted Oxalic Acid (aka Sherwin Williams “Revive”) is the second step to soft washing a fence.
Before you apply Oxalic Acid (wood brightener) we like to apply one of many “sodium” based chemicals to the fence to remove any mold, mildew, organic growth, etc. We in the wood restoration industry typically caution home owners & DIY’ers to tackling soft washing their own fences & decks because these chemicals are no joke & may do more harm than good if applied incorrectly.
Best advice for everyone wanting to stain any fresh raw lumber…
1. If the wood accepts water within seconds it will accept stain.
2. If you do not see mold, mildew, organics, etc simply check the fence or deck for an ideal moisture content of below 15%
3. The most important/ critical..
Apply the correct stain & do it immediately (weeks) after the fence has been installed..
The best stain to use (unless by a lake, river, etc) is a penetrating oil based semi-transparent stain
This stain is NOT sold at your local home improvement stores…
You got this !!!
Make your project look amazing!
I heard this same thing from the guy who installed my fence this summer.
Application a penetrating oil
Maybe you can help. I hope so!
I asked for. 5’6’ treated 2x6 lumber.
I got untreated lumber (covid supply chain) and I’m in AZ. He said to let it dry.
He never came back. It’s dirty. I feel I should use termite spray first. I want to paint, not stain.
Should I follow the same process, but replace the stain step with paint?
@@genghis_connie
Paint NEVER belongs on fences or decks
Never …. 🤮☠️
If it’s untreated lumber… soft wash it first, let it dry, then stain
There are lots of penetrating stain option colors you will like
@@stainxpert So I paid for some guy to do an awful job resulting in what I don’t want at all.? Super.
HOW has the industry not found a workaround for this? Am I only seeing painted fences because they’re treated?
How can I figure out if they are or are not treated? I saw raw, I sanded wood, but I’m no lumber expert. I’ve done projects with wood, and this looks like untreated decaf.
The fence has been sitting for 3 years.
This DIYer is hoping to replace a fence next year 🙂
I've never liked when outdoor wood turns grey, so thank you for the advice!
Hello
I’m a long time pressure washer here
Are you aware that properly pressure washing the fence can give the fence an almost like new look?
I built my deck using Siberian larch and used only oil to treat it, still looks good after almost 10 years.
That's a heck of a combo, Niklas! Can't source much larch around here, I'm afraid 😅
@@TheHonestCarpenter it's readily available and among the cheapest alternatives here in Sweden, only pressure treated pine/spruce is a cheaper lumber usable for outdoor decking.
Finally I've found a construction material that's cheaper on this side of the pond.
One could think that Baltic birch plywood would be cheaper around here, but the prices I've seen is actually almost twice the price compared to the online prices published by the big box stores in USA.
Imported wood is expensive, but nice if you can afford it. My buddy build his deck with Brazilian iron wood and is so dense he needed tungsten drill bits when he needed to drill a hole.
Great tutorial and explanation addressing why it's important to do the prep. Watched yours bc I'm going to do my virgin fence this week, it's been in place 4 months now.
Great time to take this step, N! Good luck with the project! 🙂
Me too!
Anxiously waiting for your video on staining tips
As a relatively new subscriber I am enjoying your channel very much. Well done!
Thank you, David!
Here in Tucson, Arizona, decks don't last too long. But here's some good news. I was inspired by your shower head replacement video and replaced mine. I bought a High Sierra 1.5 GPM shower head. Made in USA and provides a great shower.
That’s awesome, Martha! I always like to buy USA-made products when I can-we need to bring more manufacturing back here. Glad the video helped! 🙂
GREAT VIDEOS, lots of information in a short time 👍
Thank you, Charles! I always try to pack in the info 😄
My family is getting a new fence installed as I'm typing this. The contractor told me I'll need to stain it myself and I came across your video which was very helpful! 😊 Thank you!
Our new fence is a treated pine fence. I read one commentor say they stained their fence 40days after install. I'll give the fence a wash a week after install and stain the fence around 30days after the wash.
If there are any other tips that aren't in the video, I'll appreciate the comment.
Don’t Stain over wet treated lumber make sure it’s dry if you buy from a big lot store most likely it’s wet.
Thanks for the info was spot on.
Some people also think pressure treated doesn’t need to be stained or coated to provide protection well it needs protection too.
Always informative!👍
What a great video. I learned a lot and thank you for doing this!
Very helpful. I learned something. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve read from one stain/sealer company just to use 3 to 1 water /bleach , rinse before bleach dries. Do smaller sections. I might this a try on my newer treated fence, Thanks for the vid
Thanks for the advice and information. I’m staining a fence.
Put mine up about this time last yr. Has gray weathering and the bher all in 1 did very little. Still has weathered look and green hue from pt.
In addition, using KDAT PT lumber is the ticket for finished surfaces, such as fencing and decking.
Great, great content and great video. Great simple explanation! I love it. Quick question. We had a new fence put in our yard last year and this year we’re having it stained so we began the process a couple days ago. We had a professional company come into a soft wash. The owner is out of town next week. so the question is what is a good time pre-wash and actual fence staining ? I don’t want us to have rewash the fence before they stain it. Thanks.
This is super helpful, thank you! Is there need for a primer on treated wood?
I nearly splouched out my coffee seeing in writing "Thank you Nick and Jesus" 🙂
Great advice and tips thanks
Great video! Thanks.
Thanks for sharing that!
I just pressure washed my 'old' deck. I don't like using chemicals, but would this wash work on it to clean up the defects?
ps: anxious for your new staining video...weather is changing here! You always make videos on exactly what I'm challenged with!
Great info and tips!
Great advice. Thanks so much.
Thanks, Doug!
It costs a lot more, but cedar doesn't required the time and steps (it won't hurt to wash it down before staining of course). Plus, it's will be much truer, won't warp, and looks much better.
How soon after installing fence should I stain? Great video!
Great info, good stuff to know.
Brilliant, knew nothing of this however I can point to a deck that failed in 18 months !!!
Kindest
Bob
England
Seen that myself before, Bob!
Great content. Thanks. I am going to use the process for a wood chair.
Thanks Maria! For an object that small, you may be able to just get away with light sanding for prep (if it’s going to remain indoors). 🙂
thanks. Will only sand it then. 🙂
That's a dam good lookin fence Nick and Jesus got to work on.🤣👍🍻
How do you know WHEN the deck lumber you purchased was treated? How do you verify?
Great, thank you
Would it be good to use this before staining outdoor redwood or cedar furniture?
A recommendation for newer inexperiened homeowners: don't cheap out. If you value your time, then bite the bullet and spend the money on a good power washer. We restained over 160 feet of cedar fence -- twice -- during the time we owned our previous home, and was glad for having a power washer each time. If you have to do the job in 90+F degree heat, or have carpal tunnel in your wrists, you are going to appreciate being able to get the job done as quickly as possible. Furthermore, you're likely to use the power washer for other stuff.
I had a new fence installed this summer and the guy who installed it said, absolutely, under no circumstances should you do any of this. He said after the last nail has been place in the last picket, start applying the stain immediately. Even the guys helping him said they had never heard that before, but he swore up and down that you want to make sure you stain and protect the wood as quickly as possible, because the elements start going to work on degrading the wood right away and the sooner you stain it the better.
You'll end up locking in the moisture from the treated lumber, causing it to rot from the inside out
Great tip! Thanks
Thanks, Logan! 😁
Hello, would this also apply before I stain my patio cover? Thanks
Can you use revive on a previously stained surface? If not, what should i use?
Great timing on this video. I'm building a deck with western red cedar. I wasn't going to stain but was going to add a clear coat. Do you think sanding would also be helpful before putting the finish on?
You only need to sand if you want to get rid of hairy fibers or old finish. Otherwise deck cleaners will clean and open the wood enough.
@@EricPotratzM Great. Thanks.
Question: if i soft wash my fence, how long do I have to get the stain on it after a soft wash? Also, if I plan to stain front and back, do I have to soft wash and stain both sides together? Or can I do one side at a time? Will soft washing the back side of a washed and stained panel negatively affect the stained side? Thank you.
Great video! Any chance you will cover how to restrain a deck or fence that has been previously stained/sealed? Is the process different? Are the prep products different? Does previous stain sealer need to be stripped off either chemically or via sanding?
Unless recoating wood previously stained with penetrating oil it is preferable to remove all the pre-existing stain. This can be a difficult process if the previous stain was acrillic and/or uses water to wash brushes. You will need a sodium hydroxide based stripper and follow the directions. After you've done all that proceed exactly with the procedure used in this video. Very important, do not skip this step. Recoat your deck with it penetrating oil to make future recoatings easier.
Excellent request, I would like to see a video covering the re-staining process! If I wash a stained deck with an Sodium Hydroxide cleaner(with surfactant), do I still need the Oxalic brightener if there is no bare wood? Obviously, I'm not going to strip a perfectly maintained deck every 2 years to re-apply the same water based, Superdeck stain I use.
Thanks for the informative video, I'll definitely do this when I repair my outdoor deck.
Good to hear, W! 👍
What's better for stain a new fence OIL SUPERDECK TRANSPARENT OR WOODSCAPES SEMITRANSPARENT?
Recently had an Australian spotted gum deck laid, and had to have it oiled, stripped, and re-oiled. Came out with tiny black speckles as if someone had spilt graphite drops on it in the oiling. My guesstimate is that our deckers didn't pre oil wash it down. I was highly griefed. Fully intend to strip it back, wash and re-oil it myself in twelve months time. What peeved me most is that I requested they do it properly without cost being a factor, or let me do it myself. I learnt my lesson...no criticism of their pride or job, but they just weren't good at putting the 'shine' into their wood finishing. It's the little things that can make or break a job or project finish.
Is this soft wash prep also the same if the fence already has a sealer and we are 're-sealing/staining' ?
What steps would be taken with untreated cedar pickets and cedar framing here in Louisiana?
Good video. Where is the staining process ?
Thank you! Should bushes/shrubs be covered with tarp to protect from cleaning solution?
Yes you can cover them. We are careful about that due to being cautious about snapping any branches. We flush the grass and shrubs around the area with water first and then again after application and then again at the end. This is what one of my colleagues who runs pressure washing classes for washing companies around our area recommends.
Is this process also recommended for exterior items like a garden bed, small animal trackers and such? Is it safe if nibbled on by any animal? I've built Rabbit Tractors, Hutches, etc. and wanting to make sure they look good and more importantly last a while.
Thank you! This is exactly what I needed to know. I've never heard of this before and will be staining a deck/stairs I rebuilt not long ago so this was definitely need to know. I don't want to take somebody's money if I don't know what I'm doing.
Glad it helps, JJ! Good luck with the job! 🙂
@@TheHonestCarpenter how many days wait between cleaning & painting?
So I can clean the new fence as soon as it’s done to speed up the drying process?
The fence I have is mainly for decoration and curb appeal rather than privacy I want it to look perfect, is sanding my pine 1x6 horizontal fend boards a bad idea ?(non deck board)
Can I use Revive before staining a new cedar fence with an oil-based stain (i.e. water and oil don't mix)?
I'll be staining/sealing a cedar wood garage door that is not pressure treated and has been fully sanded. Any reason to use cleaning solutions and not just water to open the pores?
Hi I want to ask a question. Is there any way to brace a cabinet to the wall that has baseboards? The cabinet is far away from the wall because of the baseboard. Thank you
As always, great info! I gotta do this next month so I'm happy you covered this topic!
Thanks, Jordan! 😄
Like your contents 👍
What about cedar? If it has the proper moisture content, would it be neecessary in Louisiana?
So should you use the same technique before resealing it every couple years?
You do seem to be honest, I hope you are 👍👍👍
What is best sealant for new deck?
Great vid. As always. Quick question?
It's strange that the treatment gets so diluted when using pressure washer but had to be applied. way somehow? Any chance he mentioned why this was our whether it was possible to mix in some water to squeeze some more use out?
JD, I don't think he added water to the bucket, just the cleaner.
@@jobacuda4472 but doesn't that bucket only get pulled into and mixed with the water source the pressure washer is connected to? I've never used a pressure washer like that, only w water straight, but I can make the assumption that it MUST, bc with the volume of water coming from the gun it would empty that bucket in 10 seconds. No?
And even IN the bucket, didn't he say mix it 5:1? That I have to go back and check but I think i can recall him diluting there also.
Is the chemical necessary on new cedar fencing?
I'm confused. How long do I wait to stain after this treatment? My fence is about 5 years old.
What does this do to the lawn below?
Hola! 🖐This is a very informative as well as instructive video. I built a "Pallet Wall", I did nothing to the slats - zero sanding, etc. It's on 4"x4"s and framed with 2"x4"'s for a total of about 75' long. Would you recommend that I spend any amount of time, energy, or money on sealing it? Thanks. Take care and have a good one, Adios! 👊
Thanks Grampies! I bet it’ll prolong it’s like to seal, since there’s a good chance the pallet wood isn’t pressure treated (just heat treated). But if it’s holding up as is, you could just let it go as long as possible as well!
@@TheHonestCarpenter hmm, maybe I'll try one section of it just to contrast - compare. Thanks.
So wash it right after install and then wait about 60 days to stain?
Should a termite treatment be done to the fence wood also before or after?
Applying a penetrating oil based stain with an insect repellent will do everything you need
Great tip! Question: does the sun exposure have an impact on the 15 min rest period before rinsing? Should it be avoided to do it under the sun? thanks
Thanks, Ben! No, from what I understand about the product, it should be fine for sun exposure. 🙂
@@TheHonestCarpenter Great. Thank you!
Good advice. I think that oxalic acid will kill mold spores. I've stained decks and fencing without really cleaning the wood and black mold splotches start showing through semi-transparent stain after a few months (despite stain manufacturers claims of mildew resistance). Looks ugly and you realize you just wasted a lot of time and expensive stain.
What about cedar wood fence
or u can just use light sandpaper, clean dust with preasure gun or use brush and wood is ready.
Any video with Jesus in it is a great video! 😎😁
More reason to consider resin products I suppose.
Wow - I didn't know you had to wait to stain treated lumber. I literally just finished building new steps for my deck and front porch, and was planning to stain immediately. How do you know when the wood is ready to stain?
Yep, the copper-infused liquid in the treated lumber will reject stains and finishes, Lee! You usually want to wait several weeks at least. But a good rule of thumb I've heard from painters over the years is to let it dry out until it's dry to the touch--then put a few drops of water on the surface. If it absorbs quickly, then it's probably capable of taking in stain/finish.
@@TheHonestCarpenter correct!
Only the fence posts are treated. The fence boards are not and they are green i.e. not kiln dried. You need to wait for those to dry out as well - I was told at least a month in dry weather. I waited over the winter and it stained great (fence was put in late previous summer).
@@meperson you can also buy treated fence boards as well
Is there any risk to clean wood with water before stain process? How many hours/days we need to wait between water treatment and stain process?
Water is not our friend when it comes to staining….
“Moisture” is the concern
Best rule of thumb… if the moisture content is below 15% you are ready to stain
You can purchase a moisture reader for $30 - $40 at your local big home improvement store or online
Thank you, JESUS!
You can thank Jesus when you're standing before Him explaining why you're unaware that He told you:
"..not to be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap" [Galatians 6 v7]
Does this product harm plants and lawn on the neighbors side? With the open slits between pickets and a pressure washer applying the product it will certainly penatrate to the neighbors side.
No scrubbing just rinse it off?
Can you think of any viable way to paint pressure treated lumber using a latex paint with a good primer first? General thinking is that it's a total no no but I want some treated wood framing to match white vinyl lattice that I installed
Yes, use a high quality exterior wood primer and then top coat it with an exterior paint to match.
Painting outside wood with a film forming coating like paint is a death sentence for your wood. After a Time certain areas will peel While others adhere strongly. Making subsequent coatings uneven. Totally removing that stuff is almost impossible and you will always have an uneven and peeling coating. Penetrating oil does not do any of that while preserving and beautifying the wood.
We painted our treated fence posts, as well as the whole fence, with white "Color Palace" (15 yr guaranteed) paint. It's a Walmart brand, but actually made by Sherman Williams. We got over 20 yrs outta that 1st paint job, & are now just repairing the fence where some of the pickets/posts rotted out... crazily enough the paint, prior to pressure washing, looked great & still matched the vinyl siding for color & wasn't peeling, so we've bought the same kind to repaint after repairs are done.
As for the pressure treated posts... once painted with a coat or two they never pealed or anything, but I will put one caveat on my comments. We used brushes, not a sprayer, to apply the paint back then, & we'll do the same this time too. I know it takes more time & product, but I truly believe it's also what allowed for the job's/paint's longevity & durability~ Just saying
Hope this info is useful to someone...
Ohhhh, that was semi-gloss exterior BTW
For my deck and fence is there a stain that would keep the look of raw wood with a matte finish or oil finish? I don’t like red or dark stain. I like a white washed matte look. (Natural look). Thank you for this video.
For staining there are a lot of different color options with a lot of different companies. We use quite a bit of TWP stain. They have a clear that we use when no color is wanted and they also offer a few different lighter more natural options.
Agreed. TWP or Ready Seal. Both are easy to apply Goof Proof and work well. The first application may only last a year or two but it will be better after that.
Crew member "Haysus" 🤣
Does anyone ever do the cleaning and some of the staining before building the fence or the deck? I have a small landing planned for my house and I intend to apply finish before construction. My thought is that the edges and bottoms of the boards will also be coated. All I should have to do at the end is touch up any fresh cut ends. (Since there are some carpenter bees in the area, I will apply something to the bottom of the boards to discourage the nests.) What are your thoughts?
I put my deck boards on around three years ago and never stained or anything. Is it too late to seat it? Thanks
Absolutely not! I would recommend a pretreat from a stain manufacturer and then stain / seal it. Better late than never!
I spray everything with TriSodium Phosphate.
You should still use oxalic acid after the tsp. You'll be absolutely amazed at how it brightens the wood.
What if we sand the whole fence before staining? Is that enough? My fence is half the size, much smaller sqft.
You can just use light sandpaper, clean dust with a pressure gun, or use a brush and the wood is ready.
I've owned my building for 4 years now. Will this work for restoring my wood before staining ? Some of the wood is already discolored.
It’s really just a cleaning process, Ronnie, so I think it can only help. Won’t eliminate old warpage, but staining can always help, and you’ll definitely want to soft wash the lumber after all that time!
This type of product will bring back a lot of natural wood colors from your aged wood. It won’t be “new” but it helps a lot!!
should you do this for an already stained fence/deck?
What do mean ?
so is it ready to be stained after 1 day of drying or 30 days?? video had conflicting points
Typically 36 - 48 hours
A moisture meter is absolutely required to use before applying an a penetrating oil based stain from Tennessee