How to sand a deck before re-staining
Index
Having a BBQ or chilling on a timber deck is super relaxing and ideal for those long summer weekends while you are trying to spend some time outside and enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of your home.
If you have a deck, you would be aware that the timber or wood needs regular sanding and restaining to keep the deck in good condition and ensure the elements and outdoors don’t ruin the wood.
The sun and rain can make your deck look worn out and bleached from the sun. However, staining your deck regularly will keep the boards in good condition and ensure your deck looks as good as new for many years.
If you’re considering sanding your deck ahead of restaining, we’ve outlined the basic steps so you can get the job done right.
Want to find a decking specialists in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?
How to sand a deck before restaining
We’ve put together the steps of sanding your deck before restaining in a step by step format.
- Get your deck prepared
First off, you will need to prepare the deck for sanding by checking all the screws and nails in the deck to make sure that everything is safe to sand. By checking all the screws and nails are secure, you won’t run the risk of ruining your sander when you get to the next couple of steps. If you do find any rogue nails or screws, you will need to screw or nail them back in securely.
- Pressure clean your deck
If you have mould on your deck or you need to remove any grime, you can also use a pressure washer on the surface to clear it off. By using a high power pressure cleaner and some deck cleaner, you can ensure your deck is super clean before you start sanding it back with the belt sander.
- Use a belt sander on the deck
In this next step, you will bring out the big guns to get your deck sanded. With a belt sander, you will need to carefully work backwards and forwards along the grain of the boards of the deck. Start with a coarse grade of sandpaper and then gradually get to smoother grit sandpaper to make sure the sanding job is super smooth.
- Finish off the sanding job by touching up the edges
Once you have done all of the boards, now is the time to sand the edges and corners of your deck to make sure everything is even.
After you have swept off any of the particles from the sanding, now it is time to get your stain on the deck.
How much does a sander cost?
If you are in the market for a belt sander for your decking project, the average cost for a sander is around $150 to $300.
If you are happy to hire a belt sander for the weekend, you can hire them from your local hire business for around $50 per day or $120 for the weekend (pick up on Friday, drop off on Monday).
Want to find a decking contractor in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?
Alternatively, if you would rather not sand back your deck at all, there are plenty of handy professionals that are available on a project or hourly rate to help you with your decking project.
To find a quality professional to do your deck sanding project for you, have a search on online directories to review recommendations.