surface cleaner on wood - Power Wash Network "The Power Wash Contractors Forum"

Dan S · #1 (**permalink**) 03-17-03

What is your results (If-any) on using surface cleaner on wood decks?

oneness · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-03

I have never done this, but have posed the question elsewhere a few weeks ago. Most of the feedback I got was negative. I'm curious if anyone here has tried it and what happened?

Aplus · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-03

It just seems to me that a surface cleaner would leave undesirable marks on a wood deck. Even if the pressure is throttled down via different tips, there are still going to have to be marks from going across the grain. Using my wand, I always go with the grain only, when washing.

A surface cleaner is not able to get to all of the decking surface, especially in corners. Trying to manuever under railings and such cause you to slow down a little, and maybe have to stop and start the cleaner. It just seems that there would be issues blending in the areas that are wand washed, with the surface cleaner washed.

I will have to someday wash a wood deck with a surface cleaner to prove to myself it is effective. I need to some how find a wood deck to test on.

And nobody has yet stepped onto the soapbox to tell us they themselves washed a wood deck with a surface cleaner, and were truly satisfied with the results.

Until I see otherwise, my thoughts right now are that it could be difficult to blend in the different cleaning techniques so that everything is prepared uniformly.

ron · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-03

my 2 cents.
I would use the surface cleaner on PT but not on anything else.
Number one most decks that are big enuff to want to use a surface cleaner on are made of pressure treated here or TREX.
That brings up another question that you could add to your pole.
Who uses a surface cleaner on TREX?
iF YOU USE THE RIGHT CHEM AND A GIZMO LIKE A pitchwitch You would'nt need a spinner to save time.
When i fist started doing wood i duct taped a wood dowel to the end of the lance. It stuck out the right distance so i could'nt get any closer to the deck. Then i just walked it down each board untill i got the feel.
One thing a lot of contractors overlook is making custom langth wands. The other is failure to remember distance from tip to surface is a real way to reg pressure.
If useing a spinner was not good for wood, why would they make adj. height surface cleaners?
im sure it's not just for clay.

oneness · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-03

A-Plus:

Good point about blending in the wand areas with the surface-cleaned areas. I hadn't thought about that. I haven't tried it either, just thought about why I had never heard anyone mention doing it while I was doing my own deck a couple months ago.

doug mckenzie · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-03

I HAVE USED A SURFACE CLEANER ON WOOD(ANY KIND) EVEN WHITE CEDAR, FOR YEARS! YOU DO HAVE TO CUT IN WITH THE LANCE. SOMETIMES I JUST USE THE LANCE. MOST TIMES (WE CALL IT THE SPINNER) WE USE THE SPINNER, DOES GREAT JOB AND IS FAST NO QUESTION. ONE THING THOUGH OUR'S HAS NO WHEELS! I DON'T SEE HOW ONE WITH WHEELS WOULD WORK ON A DECK. YOU MUST KEEP THE SPINNER MOVING AT ALL TIMES. SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO KNOW AND LEARN. IT'S SOMETHING LIKE A FLOOR POLISHER. YOU GUY'S THAT WERE IN THE SERVICE KNOW ABOUT THAT. I WOULD RECOMEND IT, I WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT IT. SUDS MCKENZIE

Dan S · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-03

SO you are saying to take off whells?

didnt think of that ...

what about 500 psi ?
tops 1200 ............................

doug mckenzie · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-03

the spinner i have is made with a fiberglass skirt that slides on the surface. i don't know about the one's with wheels. on mine the nozzles are(i'm going to guess)1.5-2.00in from the surface.
the nozzles are verry small (gpm/2) I THINK you have to have good water flow for the thing to work. the psi and water flow has to spin and clean.I ALSO know if it dosen't spin you WILL mark up the wood.500-1500 psi?i don't think this will work
we use full pressure, hot water.3000,5.5 gal/min . o.k. at the end of 200 ft. of hose it's less psi. that's what we do.YOU MUST KEEP THE SPINNER MOVING AT ALL TIMES! suds mckenzie

mhpoole · #9 (**permalink**) 04-04-03

my god i would hate to see what a deck would look like using one of those things. I always use a wand. Can someone post a pic of a deck in the process of being cleaned with a surface cleaner?

Dan S · #10 (**permalink**) 04-04-03

no-pic/s but ......... I used one for the first time on a deck today .......... worked great !! the deck wash 16x40 with a tree in the middle .. and a bench seat .... they just wanted it cleaned and no sealer ... They are going to seal it themselfs ...... If I ever get up that way again I will take the camera ...