My deck is looking pretty rough after 3 years. I rented a pressure washer and got it cleaned up but now I'm second guessing if I should sand it before staining or if the pressure washing was enough. Don't want to spend 12 hours sanding if I don't have to. Anyone know if there's a shortcut here or am I just being lazy?
Three years is about right for needing a refresh. After you pressure wash, let it dry for at least 3-4 days depending on your weather. I jumped the gun once and stained too early, total mess. Pro tip: do it in the fall if you can so you're not competing with summer heat.
Pressure washing is the way to go before staining. I did mine two years ago and the difference is huge. Just be careful not to strip the wood too much if it's softwood. After you wash it, give it a few days to dry completely before you stain or you'll have problems with adhesion.
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How rough we talking? Like peeling stain or just dirty? I've learned the hard way that sometimes you need to sand after pressure washing to get the old stain off properly. Rough surface + stain doesn't always stick well.