Decks

[bennettbike]

I am fairly new to the pressure washing industry.
I am currently residential and use a Northern Tool 4000 PSI 3.5 GPM cold water pressure washer. Its the one with the cat pump (not being cocky just explining which one it is)

If I was to do a job for an unpainted deck, would I ruin it running 4000 PSI ? Could I use no chemicals?

Help, I appriciate any feedback.

Max Lewin (MLPW Pressure Washing)

 

[lowxclass]

ive heard that 300-800 psi is perfect for woods...and 4000PSI would damage the wood!!!

 

[RogerG]

First rule of wood: LOW PRESSURE
Second rule: NO HOT WATER NEEDED

Over 1000 PSI will irreparably damage the wood - it will tear out all the soft wood and leave valleys. You really should not even need to go to 1000.

If there is NOTHING on the deck, no old finish or mill glaze (if it's new wood), you will at least have atmospheric dirt and a good likelihood of some microbial growth that may not be visible at this point. Mark sells the Wolman line of cleaners and SunBrite supply carries the Extreme Product Solutions line of cleaners (our personal preference). Some contractors use bleach with success. We would not use the no chemical approach as you will not be killing off any spores that may have found their way into the wood. If you seal over mold/mildew, your product will fail and you'll be learning stripping before it's time.

You HAVE TO KNOW what you're doing with any chemicals or you run the risk of damaging the fibers.

Best of luck in your new venture.

Celeste

 

[bennettbike]

Thanx Rog / Low,

I think Im going to wait until I tackle decks since Im really just starting.

I could reaserch then try my own deck.

 

[therock]

I have Not Done Deck Wood Yet...

... but what I have noticed is my M-5 X-Jet nozzle when set to fan is a few hundred or more psi. I keep an inline psi gauge on my machine. I'll post post the exact numbers the soon. I'll be doing some work tomorrow.

 

[TheHoodGuy]

I am fairly new to the pressure washing industry.
I am currently residential and use a Northern Tool 4000 PSI 3.5 GPM cold water pressure washer. Its the one with the cat pump (not being cocky just explining which one it is)

If I was to do a job for an unpainted deck, would I ruin it running 4000 PSI ? Could I use no chemicals?

Help, I appriciate any feedback.

Max Lewin (MLPW Pressure Washing)

Don't worry, I don't think anyone would think you are being cocky with that machine. Please read more beofre you touch a deck.

 

[5 Star Johnny]

Cat pumps are great! However, with that much psi, I would have tried to get something with more GPM (5.0 - 5.5).

Do more research before you start ripping up wood. Roger's right, anything over 1,000 psi will damage soft wood fiber. Knowledge of what the chems actually do and how to apply them is paramount.

Good Luck!

 

[bennettbike]

hehe

yes, i will stick with concrete for now. Ide rather not ruin any reputation ive built... hahah if any.

still trying to get this thing off the ground

 

[Mark@BSD]

wood is not so hard

Sodium hydroxide to strip out old sealer.....oxalic acid to neutralize and brighten. If used correctly, you could rinse with garden hose...I've know I've done it. Low pressure with 60 degree tip rinses really well. Strip it, rinse it, brighten it..bada bing bada boom!

Good luck

 

[smittie1984]

Even though your talking an untreated deck. I will testify for a chemical I got from Sunbrite for when you want to wash treated and stained wood but not strip the finish off.

I believe it is called safewash or something like that. I got it from Sunbrite in Lawrenceville, Ga. The guy there seems to know chemicals really well. It was also a powder chemical and I mixed it in Hot water in my bath tub.

I used it on a stained deck. Had almost that cherry stain to it. But I used it in an upper class community in Smoke Rise, Georgia. Or near Stone Mountain for the Locals. But an area littered with old oak trees and tons of Mold, Mildew and Moss. It worked fairly well. I didn't charge them for the deck and I explained to them that the reason I didn't charge them was because I was experimenting. I did charge them for the house. They were fine with that.

I also did another deck one time and they wanted the "Green Stuff" off. I told them the only way I could do it is by using bleach to kill it off and that there aren't many chemicals out there that can kill the mildew and keep the finish. Luckily she was getting her deck restored and the deck man was taking care of that. I tried using HP to get the green off but resorted in using bleach and that solved the whole problem.
I used my pressure washer. An 11hp Cat Pump with about 3000psi and 4.5gpm. Or something along that line. I think it might be more PSI. Anyways I used a White Tip and stayed far enough back to I would reach both edges of the 2x6 (Guessing) pieces of lumber. It took most of the green off and didn't seem like it hurt the finish that much. The customer was happy with it. Though I felt I could have done a better job.