Not a good idea using that high powered washer. Do Not Do That.

Its not mildew,the wood is showing its age thats the gray color.

I agree the Woodrich Folks are good to work with. The finish has a twp background. I my own self have been working with it on my outside stairway. After 4 mo I do see a little gray happening near the cedar knots on the post wrap. I have Garapa top/bottom/cap rails that show no gray at all but I put on two coats right away.

I havent used this product on a deck laying flat to the sun, I am thinking the S American lumber could have used the second coat.
Very intersted in your Project not maney use Cumaru to the point of pluging,pictures if you can.

I know how to keep the S American lumber finish good for 3/5 years but I get so much total S(it over here talking about it I steped away from any outdoor finish question.

J.

John,
If I am not suppose to use a power washer at low pressure to remove grey on new stained wood then how can I remove it before I put a second coat on it? Here is a direct link to my pictures. http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/mfrunlimited/Deck%20Construction/

Here is a link that might be useful: Deck construction

That is a nice Project Man.

Here is how I do it. A 14'' buffer ya know a floor machine with a scrub pad. The pads come in different levals for what your doing the green should do it.

An olalic acid wash. I buy the pure form in 50lb bags but the woodrich guys sell a much milder product that I can remomend. Mix it up in a 5 gal bucket put it on with a big nap roller on a pole. Run the floor machine over your deck keep it wet. Garden hose wash be sure and remove all the brightner. Let it dry,put on the finish.

Ghesss I cant belive I am doing this again.... But you have a really nice deck going on most excelent attention to detail.

Outdoor finish. With woodrich and twp its a build coat product. The first coat is not going to last all that long, the wood will have to get used to its new home. I have noticed woodrich stuff is a little shine building coats but it sets up about the same as twp. Spending time and doing work is what it takes to get a long lasting finish using either one. The more coats the longer it takes to set up.

Use the sprit of a sound mind,work with the finish on test material. Really its not all that hard it just takes some thought while your doing it.

I do not recomend any other outdoor finish far a building coats go. The pinofin/supperdeck,cabots ect are a total different base and dont even think about the one coat forever guys that stuff is a complete scam.

I have a masenramduba deck out back of Butler Manor put in right after 9 11. I have used the above way twice it looks really goood right now, in fact I am very pleased with the red/brown color.

With a deck that size the cost of the floor machine imo is well worth it. Any biger size buffer is hard to cotrol on a uneven surface like deck boards but the 14'' works like a dream.

I am not going to respond to any posters claiming what I do cant be done,or something else works soooooo much better,or I Never have to redo my finish,or the one time forever stuff is just that. This is what I have done,it works for me and has for 15 years. John Mon

Hey John, Hope all is well! I did 450 sf Ipe deck and Gazebo w/ lots of help reading your posts! You have lots of patience! (And George is the man!)

I went w/ your idea of TWP (origional) and deck seems to nned finishing every year on horozontal part, except inside the Gazebo.

I origionally sanded the whole deck w/ 80 grit,and then two coats the first year, then a new coat last year. I know it will need one this year. Should I oxlic acid wash first, or what do u like to prep for a fresh coat of twp?
thanks , Dave

Twp 100 series instrustions call for wet on wet that is two coats right away. I have found one coat works just as well as two on a new project. The oxlic wash will help before a recoat,keep in mind this is not a stripper its a brightner,Anyway when building coats dont glob it on your looking for several light coats.

On my project out back I pushed twp just to see what it would do. The cap rail has 5 coats and now is a simi gloss but the last one took around 4 days to set up.No lifting/pealing at all also I never stripped any of it.

I put the finish on with a paint pad on a pole/brush the rails. Twp is a little thin keep working the stuff in bringing along the excess with you. When brushing do the same thing go back and brush out any runs there is never any reason for Me to wipe this finish down.

Geting a long lasting outdoor finish with twp requires work,a sound mind and good weather. Done corectley,or my way, the work will be rewarded with 3/5 years.
All this was done in Oklahoma,I cant see anyplace with more extreem weather changes than here so dont tell me how hot/cold/dry or wet it gets where you are but waiting for Good weather is defentley one of the keys.

I dont really have the track record with the woodrich finish yet but it seems to work about the same just takes longer to set up. I do love their stripper and brightner and will use them from now on as needed. J.