How to know if your deck or wood surface needs a 'cleaning' or 'stripping'? Do a 'Splash Test'!

In this video the "Wizard of Wood", Everett Abrams, discusses how he gets calls about grayed or weathered wood that does not accept stain. The Wizard discusses products like Thompson's that get even seasoned contractors who think the wood just needs to be cleaned when in fact in needs to be stripped to remove the "barrier" that keeps the new stain from penetrating the wood surfaces.

Check out the video and see what the Wizard has to say to make your next deck or wood restoration project go much easier! Make sure you subscribe to the channel and check out the Wizard's other videos for more helpful information to help you become successful!

[richardpowers]

Money! Well explained, Everett! Thank you

[anonymousdude]

My education in organic chemistry agrees with you. Thank you for your content.

[anthonyholloway]

Very good delivery and knowledgeable! Subbed

[Thestainxpert]

Great information 😀
Thank you 👏

Ditch the tripod & buy a camera with built in stabilization… you can walk around, pan in and out, move as needed on these close ups without the footage looking off

[bolittle_C]

what chemical would you be using just to clean the wood?

[JDL_]

I have been searching for a longer lasting practical solution to our fence problem and I like doing things right the first time. Your products fit my needs.
I have a 6' cedar fence with spaced 1x6 cedar pickets on one side, not boxed. 165' total of fence. The 10 years old fence boards are in great shape other than the lichen, no stain ever applied on it when we purchased the home. 1/3 has heavy lichen on it on one side. We are trying to decide if we should put the money into it to restore or bite the bullet and put up a vinyl fence. Will the restore work well on the lichen or do we need the stripper. And how do you recommend estimating the cost of just the products to restore, brighten and stain with your products per foot or 8' panel?

[tonymeans]

Just bought a house with a deck around a pool that has not been touched in probably 7 years water is soaking in but the wood still has red stain on it. Standard 5/4 decking. I want to go with a lighter stain. Splash test does not bead up. Planning on replacing a few boards, stripping, scrubbing and sanding until all of the red is gone and then finishing with a light Grey or sand color. Any suggestions?

[melaniec]

What does it mean when you stain your deck, and several days later, it rains, but doesn't bead up everywhere? It just beads up in some areas. I've never done this before but, I power washed my 5 yr. Old deck that has never been stained before but, started turning gray and I never got around to staining until now. I stained with Berh semi-transparent stain and sealer on pine and after it rained, I went to check it out. I noticed it only beaded up on some areas. Is that normal or did I do something wrong? Help!

[marutinandan]

hi - We recently got a new deck painted. the deck was built on the fall of last year and we got a Sherwin William's Super deck semi solid. We took help of a contractor and he used rollers for the deck base. They did two coats of the product after a gap of a day. It rained heavily after the around 30 hours after the second coat and rained again a day after. What we are noticing is water is water is getting stuck in some areas of the deck. There is enough space between the woods, however the water is on the same piece of the wood. Not sure what to do next I have called the contractor and is he going to take a look, but wasn't too sure what's causing it.