Construction Contractors Community

expertwasher · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Maryland

Hi everyone, newbie on the forum so bare with me if I do or post something wrong.

I need someone to tell me what the best way to clean a redwood deck is? I don't want to damage it and surely can't afford to replace it. It is covered with a greenish mold / mildew and appears to have some fuzz or hairy stuff growing on the rails, which is my biggest concern. Is there a special cleaner for redwood decks and is the wood any more fragile than regular treated wood decks? Any input will be appreciated.

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

Honestly I wouldn't touch it until you have more experience. Is it your deck or a customers?

I'm not trying to scare you but wood is very easy to screw up if you don't know what you're doing. You don't want to use more than 1000 psi on wood or you'll have a severe case of the wood fuzzies. No hot water or the same thing will happen. What is on the deck now? Has it ever been sealed? Knowing this will help in deciding on what chemical to use.

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Providing Deck Cleaning Indiana, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

expertwasher · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Maryland

I think I'm going to take your advice and walk away from this job. It is for a customer not a home project for myself. The fact that I don't even know where to start with this type of project is proof enough that I need to leave it be. I never knew cleaning decks would involve so much.

Maybe Barry could hold some classes here on how to clean various things around a home, just a thought.

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

I will post a deck cleaning 101 thread when I get some time.

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Providing Deck Cleaning Indiana, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

Be my guest brotha. You've got some post catchin up to do Very Happy

Man I'm glad I don't have to target key words like "ipe" ....lol

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Providing Deck Cleaning Indiana, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

Restore-A-Deck · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 18

Barry, you know what the worst thing is? Every homeowner, deck builder and otherwise has a different way to say ipe and I don't want to come across as rude by pronouncing it the right way (e-pay) during conversation. I have heard:

Eye-pay
ehh-pay
I.P.E (as in an acronym for something else)
ipe (as in "ripe", "gripe" etc)

I have finally resorting to calling it brazilian walnut or ironwood.. safer that way Wink

Barry, do you guys get hardwood decks out there in Indiana? Here in PA they are catching on like wildfire. I have done cambaru, garapa, purpleheart, ipe like I mentioned, as well as mahogany. People are building decks from everything under the sun these days.

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

Wow that's awesome. I once saw a Brazilian teak deck up in MI while out on an estimate with Jrod, man that thing was gorgeous. I wanted to restore it for free just for the pics.

In my area we do not have woods like that and to be honest with you, we don't even have many cedar decks. I've done one cedar deck in 3 years, the rest are all PT. This is the reason I believe why deck restoration isn't huge in my area, not like other areas. Even up in MI where Jrod is, there are a lot of cedar decks and people realize they have to take care of them so he does well up there offering that service. Most people I talk to around here still have a false belief that you don't have to seal PT lumber because its already treated. I explain to them its only treated to keep bugs from eating it not to protect from water and sun damage. So between customers being uneducated and PT lumber being cheap, deck resto isn't real popular in my area. We still manage to do a handful a year but not the numbers you or others do.

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Providing Deck Cleaning Indiana, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

FCPWLLC · Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Lexington, KY

I don't see much Ipe Deck Cleaning in Lexington, KY. Ken with Pressure Pros does alot of Deck Cleaning. Cambaru, garapa, purpleheart, ipe, as well as mahogany.... WOW

I personally like House Washing and Vinyl Siding Cleaning myself.

Barry, .... How is Pressure Washing in Indiana treating you?

Ken, Barry, You guys hiding from Michael? LOL

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

Pressure Washing in Indiana has been good this season but residential is coming to an end. I'm picking up some fleet work, you know that high volume low margin crap, to keep the bills paid this winter Laughing

Not hiding from you, just trying to get a jump on you Rolling Eyes

I hope to make a RT this fall/winter and see you and others again.

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Providing Deck Cleaning Indiana, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

Bryan C · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 18

I have to agree with you Barry. PT is all that I come across too. Grey PT decks and fences. I honestly don't think homeowners realize that it will turn grey and when it does, they are suprised on how much it is to treat and restore them.

Love the last few posts - had me laughing pretty good...

sealerguy · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 4 Location: COMMERCE MICHIGAN

We recently completed a mahogany deck restoration job in bloomfield hills michigan, there's not a large number of hardwoods in the area, but enough to get a few here and there. I would like to share a photo but I need some photo loading 101, I have them all in a file, any suggestions?

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

Welcome to the board.

I don't believe you can upload pics on the forum as of right now. I hope by "recently completed" you meant like last fall. It's a little cold up there right now Razz

Do you do a lot of cedar decks up there?

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Providing Deck Cleaning Indiana, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services