How Deck Sanding Makes a Noticeable Difference To Your Deck

When you’re getting your deck refinished, you’ll most likely have to consider if you should get deck sanding done as part of the service. While many consider deck sanding optional or unnecessary, you should consider the positive impact sanding your deck may have on the overall life and quality of your deck.

Here are several benefits for getting you deck sanded as part of your deck refinishing project:

1. Helps get rid of splinters

As long as your deck’s been around, it’s been absorbing water. Over the years, this water has seeped through your deck’s surface and created splintering. You might not think of splintering as a big problem, but it can lead to unsightly splinters, which in and of themselves can cause injury if you ever walk barefoot on your deck.  Or even cause tripping at times if the splinters get large enough. Sanding smoothens the deck’s surface to give you an even, splinter-free surface to walk on.

2. Gives your deck a better finish

If it’s been a while since you last got your deck stained or painted, it’s likely faded or chipped due to natural wear and tear. While you can choose to reapply a fresh coat without addressing the chipping/wear problem, it won’t likely look great, and chances are the chipping and wear will look even worse being covered over.  Instead, sand the surface down, removing all chipping and smoothening the surface.  Once this is done, you’ll have a blank canvas that can absorb the stain or paint evenly, and likely come out looking almost brand-new.

3. Helps in the early identification of problems

Since deck sanding is an extensive process that requires you to touch and see every little detail of the deck, you’ll be able to identify anything that may require additional repairs. You’ll find everything from loose nails and screws to underlying rot and mildew. Obviously, the sooner these issues are discovered and addressed, the simpler the repair is likely to be.

What are the steps in our deck sanding process?

1. First we’ll need to be sure your deck is prepared by removing any furniture, plants, or other items from the deck, then sweep or blow off any loose dirt or debris.
2. We’ll use a combination of sandpaper; typically, 60-grit, 80-grit and 100-grit. The 60-grit sandpaper will remove the old finish and smooth out the wood, while the 100-grit sandpaper will create a smooth finish for the new stain or sealer.
3. We’ll then sand the deck, usually with a power sander.  We always sand in the direction of the wood grain, and we ensure we sand all surfaces of the deck, including the top, bottom, and edges of the boards.
4. Once we’re done sanding, we’ll blow off the deck removing all the dust.
5. In most cases, we’ll now sand again with 100-grit sandpaper to really get that smooth surface we’re after for the new stain or sealer.
6. In the final step, we’ll apply new stain or sealer and determine if more than one coat will be required to complete the final process.

Deck sanding services in the Portland metropolitan area

If you’re in need of deck refinishing or deck sanding services, give NW Surface Cleaner a call today.  We offer free estimates to ensure you are comfortable with the services we provide. We treat your deck with the skilled hand of a craftsman and take painstaking care to ensure our solution fits your deck perfectly. Additionally, we only use eco-friendly products and low-impact methods. Click here to schedule your deck refinishing project now.