O.T. Deck question

[Aggiebow88]

Ok, The house I live in had a previous history of negelct. I have gradally fixed up most of the stuff.

next project is the deck. It is made with 2X6's covering it. It is sound but VERY weathered and rough, surface cracks etc. It it a LARGE deck (guessing around 1600 sq ft) and would cost a fortune to replace the boards. I am thinking about buying a planer and removing and re-surfacing the boards to re-use them and then treat to preserve.


Thoughts?????

Suggestions????

[refugioco]

I have used a rented floor sander from Home Depot and done this job. I just had to drive a few nails that were a little high first.

[rjet]

Have you tried stripping it with a power washer?? You will be amazed at what that will do for a weathered deck.

[Sticks&Strings]

I think I'd try the wood floor sander first too. Lot less work and probably about the same cost. Then pressure wash to rid it of the dust and seal.

[Aggiebow88]

Tried the power wash thing last fall. TOO weathered,,

The sander thing is a thought,,,

Anyone else?

[JTS]

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=439791&fr=

[Aggiebow88]

ttt

[crittergitter]

i am tearing down a a 35 x 44 deck made of 2x6 and 4x4 now. i am going to re use the 2x6 for the floor to a storage room

[dao57]

sand then seal, chase any loose boards with deck screws instead of nails, good luck!

[Atfulldraw]

I've used the planer method....

It's probably a little faster, and more thorough than sanding. You will end up having to hand sand alot of areas (around posts, steps, etc.)

You will also likely use up a lot of sanding belts, but you can probably do the whole deck with one set of planer blades.

Of course, in the future you will also have to plane down any replacement boards.

And use screws when you put it back down. Square drives are my favorite.

You will end up with a HUGE pile of sawdust.

[Huntindad]

Check with mudslinger... I think he builds decks.

[tomkat]

just sanded a wood floor for stain and used a sander the moved left to right about an inch the pad measured 18" x 12", turned out real nice . I used a 80 grit you would need something heavier.

[rjet]

That looks great tomkat

[ElWhompo]

Sander is prolly the easiest method, however, if you plan on stayin a bit, and don'tind droppin the extra $$$, replace the boards with Trex composite boards. You won't be dissapointed and you shouldn't have to go thru this chore again.