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Who all will be cleaning and staining Decks this Spring?

Liberty SoftWash · Feb 4, 2012

As a painting contractor we do alot of them.

jcstomper · Feb 4, 2012

Roof Cleaning By A&E wrote:
As a painting contractor we do alot of them.

We do a lot of them.. and have been getting a lot of deck lighting installs also. great money in them.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

I have a few lined up, did more than I thought I would last year ... didn't have a sprayer so I'll be better equipped this season.

Do you guys have any recommendations for sprayers?

@ Joe - If I get any light install requests in Mont Co I'll send them your way.

Liberty SoftWash · Feb 4, 2012

12 v 2gl a min should work.

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · Feb 4, 2012

Did around 40 decks last summer. Brush almost exclusively. I will spray lattice and sometime spindles. Never used the 12 volt sprayers, seems like a neat idea. I own a few graco sprayers. Home depot sells I think it's a 195 or 395es. Works good.

jcstomper · Feb 5, 2012

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA wrote:

@ Joe - If I get any light install requests in Mont Co I'll send them your way.

Thanks a ton man!!! I'll reciprocate if anyones looking out that way.. i do have some family in west chester.

donniedawg · Guest

Decks are how I got my start in 1992. We clean & stain over 500 decks each season.... 320 for one property management company, every 2 years. Everything is Hand Brushed, Wolmans F & P.

I love decks ! ! ! $$$$$

gutterdog · Feb 5, 2012

For us Decks are big money. I dont try to be competitive price wise. I don't sell many, we don't skip anything.

Price it to where I Want to do it.

donniedawg · Guest

If you have other deck contractors in your area that are spraying.... maybe consider Hand Brushing and PUSH that aspect ? You can get nice 5" or 6" brushes at SW, screw them on a broomstick.... and fly through the deck floor..... Thats what we do....

-- Edited by donniedawg on Sunday 5th of February 2012 11:32:39 AM

guest

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA wrote:
I have a few lined up, did more than I thought I would last year ... didn't have a sprayer so I'll be better equipped this season.

Do you guys have any recommendations for sprayers?

@ Joe - If I get any light install requests in Mont Co I'll send them your way.

Mike try your local Sherwin Williams Paint Store. They have professional equipment. Buying a paint sprayer from home depot would be like buying a pressure washer from home depot. I bought mine from SW 14 years ago and it still works. A paint sprayer will make doing decks a piece of cake.

guest

donniedawg wrote:
If you have other deck contractors in your area that are spraying.... maybe consider Hand Brushing and PUSH that aspect ? You can get nice 5" or 6" brushes at SW, screw them on a broomstick.... and fly through the deck floor..... Thats what we do....

-- Edited by donniedawg on Sunday 5th of February 2012 11:32:39 AM

Donnie that's what we do, we use the Sherwin Williams 6" Wood Scape brushes and brush all the flat surfaces, then we spray the spindles, of course we have our method to protect from overspray too! I can complete aprox 400 sq ft or more of deck in a 1 1/2. I would have about 1 1/2 hour in cleaning. 3 hours total. aprox $500-600 or more.

a 400 sq ft deck is not common in Jersey though so most jobs are usually around $1500 or double that.

guest

honestly it seems that their is a very limited window of opportunity for refinishing decks though, because it's not a good time to do them untill the pollen (yellow powder substance) has completely fallen from the trees which isn't untill the end of May,

through my experience most people don't even want to bother doing them say around the end of July because at that point their back yard is open and ready for summer so they will just wait till next year, not all but most.

Their really not educated about how important it is to preserve their deck.

jcstomper · Feb 5, 2012

Donnie that's what we do, we use the Sherwin Williams 6" Wood Scape brushes and brush all the flat surfaces, then we spray the spindles, of course we have our method to protect from overspray too! I can complete aprox 400 sq ft or more of deck in a 1 1/2. I would have about 1 1/2 hour in cleaning. 3 hours total. aprox $500-600 or more.
a 400 sq ft deck is not common in Jersey though so most jobs are usually around $1500 or double that.

thats exactly how we do it... roll or brush flat surfaces, spray the spindles and lattice

John Burdine · Feb 7, 2012

best stain sprayer on the market is the deckster made by sunbrite, hands down. its a 12v with a cart that lets you mount the bucket, both the gun and the pump have adjustable pressure. they also make a hurricane brush for those windy days (i have the older model tho, so its kinda finicky).

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

John Burdine wrote:
best stain sprayer on the market is the deckster made by sunbrite, hands down. its a 12v with a cart that lets you mount the bucket, both the gun and the pump have adjustable pressure. they also make a hurricane brush for those windy days (i have the older model tho, so its kinda finicky).

that's what i'm thinking ... thanks guys!

guest

John Burdine wrote:
best stain sprayer on the market is the deckster made by sunbrite, hands down. its a 12v with a cart that lets you mount the bucket, both the gun and the pump have adjustable pressure. they also make a hurricane brush for those windy days (i have the older model tho, so its kinda finicky).

John you can not compare that deckster to an airless paint sprayer.

Jason LWRC · Guest

We plan on bidding a few decks this year. Not experienced in pressure washing and staining besides my own. I'm just concerned with damaging the wood with too much pressure or not being prepared to do it right. We make it a point to make sure a top notch job is done no matter what, so I reckon I better get to getting educated.

donniedawg · Guest

Jason, The key is in the cleaner and the pressure.... We use wolman's powdered deck cleaner (I get a FAIR price and it's easy to use) and then apply with a 12v sprayer for big decks, or a pump-up for smaller ones. Let the cleaner sit for 15-20 minutes. We use no more than 1000psi... a yellow 30 degree tip, and when washing.... use the fanning method... lifting up at the beginning and end of each stroke. This eliminates the lines you see on many homeowners decks, who attempt to clean themselves.

Staining - Oil Based- Wolmans F&P..... We always hand brush.... big 5" or 6" brushes.

I sprayed many years ago.... won't ever do it again....

If you are going to spray stain..... Prep, Plastic, blue tape, drop cloths, and windex will be your best friends.

Jason LWRC · Guest

@Donniedawg - Hey man, that is some great insight and information. I know it'll be worth our while to get started in this field of the business and having experienced people willing to help is why I'm here and proud of this forum. Thanks again.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"