re-staining cedar deck – questions

I have a cedar deck in very good shape that I want to re-stain in the next couple weeks, maybe this weekend. The deck platform is a little worse for wear with the sun and traffic and other areas look ok.

My questions are:

Do I need to strip the old stain off? (the previous homeowners left the can for reference so I know what brand and type it is, purchased a can of it and tested in a non-noticeable area and it looks just about the same in the non-faded areas).

Then do I need the brighter? The wood doesn’t look aged at all.

I know I will need to sand a couple areas and the deck is in full sun so there isn’t any mildew, so is it just a brush and water and hose it off?

We never sand unless the area we are staining is really rough. Otherwise get some rollers and brushes and get after it.

after muliple years or cedar deck joy/refinishing my process is this buy deck bright at menards..i’ve used a few this 1 is the best..spray it on with a hard sprayer..power wash..this will return the cedar to original look..let it sit for 2-3 days to dry..take the can of stain left over and buy another can..even after striping the same stian should be used ..have at it.the pads work great.consider a second coat esp on stairs

Guessing you will get some good advice soon enough… but I never heard of anyone sanding. I power wash carefully so not to tear into the soft wood, and re-apply after it is dry. I am not using a full color changing stain, a clear that does add a deeper color, but not fully tinted. Still can’t see sanding. They do use deck cleaning chemicals…. never used as the power washer does the trick, and I have known other to kill vegetation next to the deck with the cleaners.

This is what I use on my house which has Cedar Sideing. I really like it.

http://www.menards.com/main/paint/exterior-stain/wood-stain/semi-transparent-stain/ultra-advanced-semi-transparent-deck-fence-siding-stain/p-1489269-c-7956.htm

That is the same stain that I use. The gallon can.

http://www.ppgpittsburghpaints.com/our_products/stains/sun-proof_alkyd_oil_toner/index.htm

So deck cleaner and the above stain and I’m ok?

The sanding was to hind some major skuffs. Let me know if I should leave them.

So hose? (I have really good water pressure) Or pressure washer?

No need for power washer if you use the cleaner. Generally regular waterms pressure will be enough.

If you don’t have a pressure washer, I’d urge you to clean the deck with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate). It comes in a powder form – think of it as a safer/milder bleach. They’ll have it at Menards or any hardware store near the stain. You mix the stuff (it’s a powder) with warm water and then clean the deck using stay-brite 3M green scrubbing pads. Yeah, a little more labor than just “spray and pray”, but it does a much more thorough job.

I have a cedar deck that is about 15 years old – about 975 square feet of walking surface – and it’s a labor of love keeping that thing looking sharp. (It’s the 149 spindles that I really hate staining.)

Okay, enough bragging about my large deck.