to strip or not to strip - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Traditions · 06-06-2007, 09:06 PM

This may be a dumb question but I don't do alot of decks. I basically do new construction and everyone is using that composite crap. Anyhow. I have a homeowner that wants their deck restained with same color. it is not a solid body stain. I powerwashed the deck already and got a good majority of the stain off. However, there are places it didn't come off. Also the spindles didn't come off at all. Will it be ok to just stain over the existing stain? Like I said. Dumb question. Just curious. The HO Stained over the top of it the last time and was happy and didn't even powerwash. I just didn't think it would penetrate much over the existing stain. He doesn't want a solid body.

plazaman · 06-06-2007, 09:47 PM

why not try a test area and see how it looks?

**slickshift** · 06-06-2007, 10:43 PM

Usually in a case like you are describing, I can go right over it after a good cleaning

Richard · 06-07-2007, 05:23 AM

Dude...you'll be fine. All your doing essentially is adding more coats to the deck. You're not changing products, so you're fine.

When I have decks like this I use SW Deckscapes Stain and Sealer Remover first, then the stain (even if it's the same product/color)

But yeah, no problems

PressurePros · 06-07-2007, 09:33 PM

Every deck we do is done one way. All previous product is emulsified and removed via low pressure. An acidic balacing stage is then done. Handrails are sanded and the deck is deflted. Finally a super high grade semi transparent oil stain/sealer is applied to the wood.

For you guys that are full time painters.. How does this sound for an interior job? My prep is two coats of latex wet-on-wet over whatever is there. No sanding, no caulking, no patch work, paint over outlets and go. I underbid all paint guys by 300%. I'll do a six room interior repaint for $950.

I'm real cranky tonight so I don't want anyone to take it personally but I am sick of painters bidding next to nothing on decks because they do not do them right. Its like the guy that bids above on the interior repaint and gives professional painters a bad name.

Joewho · 06-07-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PressurePros

go. I'll do a six room interior repaint for $950.

COME ON DOWN!!! "Bob Barker".........

KENNEDY · 06-08-2007, 06:51 AM

Right on Ken! All previous finishes need to be removed with the proper chems and low pressure. We lose jobs all the time to other contractors that will somehow sell the client (mabey price) on just pressure washing with their 3500psi machine and a coat of Deckscapes. Every year we get more and more calls to refinish 1 year old severly faded and failing stain jobs. We as painters need to take time to educate ourselves on higher end (and better) exterior wood finishes and technique and can learn alot from pressurewashing contractors like Ken who do nothing but wood refinishing.

GoodPainter · 06-08-2007, 10:22 PM

Yeah I gave an estimate to a guy for his deck to be refinished
he just paid $1200 for 1 coat interior
I told him $550 for the deck and he said last guys did it for $125
I said goodluck.

Traditions already said going from solid to transparent stain
You must strip and do it right

MakDeco · 06-09-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PressurePros

Every deck we do is done one way. All previous product is emulsified and removed via low pressure. An acidic balacing stage is then done. Handrails are sanded and the deck is deflted. Finally a super high grade semi transparent oil stain/sealer is applied to the wood.

For you guys that are full time painters.. How does this sound for an interior job? My prep is two coats of latex wet-on-wet over whatever is there. No sanding, no caulking, no patch work, paint over outlets and go. I underbid all paint guys by 300%. I'll do a six room interior repaint for $950.

I'm real cranky tonight so I don't want anyone to take it personally but I am sick of painters bidding next to nothing on decks because they do not do them right. Its like the guy that bids above on the interior repaint and gives professional painters a bad name.

I do decks at a premium price because I new before reading your posts the last 6 months ( I usually agree with your posts 100%)that to do a deck right takes time and money. I do not get a lot of decks because of my price but let me say that in the area I am in, its deck companys doing the decks at cheap prices because even they are not doing it right.

I price a deck out at 1200$ not too big low to ground two steps off no railings, remove finish and seal with Sikkens (that's what I use here) they got a price from a Co that just does decks. 550$ I saw it after they did it a few weeks later when I was working in the area, they washed it and applied what ever they use right over previous finish so you could tell where the bare spots were and where the previous finish was not removed. The funny thing is tho the HO thought it looked great!

I want to know what a deck only Co does in the winter here in Chicago ??