Cleaning a fence -- first time

tigerwash said:
Would Oxi-Clean work?




Is the oxalic always necessary? How do you mix/apply the caustic?
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Would Oxi-Clean work?

I never used it, but it would probably work. Your better off getting the cleaner formulated for decks from Russ Johnson or Bob W, whoever sells it.

Is the oxalic always necessary?

Yes. Sod. Hyd. Changes the wood PH, turns the wood really dark, sometimes even black. I don't think your customers would appreciate that. I had a deck restoration business from 1996-2003. I've got over 800 decks under my belt. I see a lot of people saying they clean with sodium hydroxide. Personally I wouldn't even entertain that thought, I only used it when stripping sealer. It wreaks havoc on the wood(especially cedar), turns it dark, causes fuzzies and extra work. Although it definitely makes cleaning easier, I cared about the customers property and wasn't about use extreme measures, just to make it easier on myself. To each his own though.

I'm assuming you just mix it with water and use a pump sprayer. that's how I did it when stripping a deck.
 
That looks like a PT pine fence... I would mix 2 parts 12% 3 parts water and a cup of sodium hydroxide and soap then wash then brighten after.
 
Nick L said:
I downstream caustic- I would go with Shane's suggestion, he knows best when it comes to wood.
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I don't use caustic unless I really have too like stripping old sealers of course. Like Ralph said caustic/stripper is very tough on wood. I've never used a pre carb cleaner cause the 12% mix has always worked for me. If 12% is mixed at the right strength not to strong it can be very effective without causing damage. I've started adding the caustic to my mix in the last few years and has worked great as a boosted up mix. I like a 12% mix when lots of mildew

If this is a yest fence for you try different methods and see how they work yourself in person. You can make a 12%/water/soap mix and try adding caustic. Depending how strong your 12% is you might need a 50/50 mix without caustic.



This deck for as bad as it looked was cleaned with that same 12%/caustic mix I gave you then brightened.






 
Great work as usual Shane.
 
Beautiful work Shane. Are all of those Gray Away stain?
 
Thanks Chris and T-Mac...

Yes I only use the Gray Away that was Cedar Dark on that deck.
 
Seymore_BlEaCh said:
I don't use caustic unless I really have too like stripping old sealers of course. Like Ralph said caustic/stripper is very tough on wood. I've never used a pre carb cleaner cause the 12% mix has always worked for me. If 12% is mixed at the right strength not to strong it can be very effective without causing damage. I've started adding the caustic to my mix in the last few years and has worked great as a boosted up mix. I like a 12% mix when lots of mildew

If this is a yest fence for you try different methods and see how they work yourself in person. You can make a 12%/water/soap mix and try adding caustic. Depending how strong your 12% is you might need a 50/50 mix without caustic.



This deck for as bad as it looked was cleaned with that same 12%/caustic mix I gave you then brightened.






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WOW! Those are some amazing before and after pics.
 
HavertysRoofCleaning said:
WOW! Those are some amazing before and after pics.
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Thanks Matt and Ted!

I love these kinds of jobs they always have the dramatic before and after effect for the portfolio.
 
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