Stripping Sikkens.....Tackle it or run from it?

[Mike Hughes]

I got a call from a lady selling her house, which has a cedar deck with Sikkens on it. She needs the job done asap, so I can't do it for her..........but I'm not sure I'd want to anyway.

What has your experiences been in stripping Sikkens? I know several of the strippers on the market today are said to strip Sikkens.......but I'm still leary of such a job.

This particular person went to Home Depot and spent the weekend trying to strip the deck themselves.....a futile effort.

Can a solid stain be applied over top of their half way stripped rails and spindles? Would it last? In that scenario, the floor could be stripped/sanded and the worst of it (rails/spidles) would not have to be stripped.

Is that feasible?

 

[Everett Abrams]

Mike,

I offer different prices for different results in this scenario. I offer to strip and sand the deck to get back to the wood, this is the highest price. I will also offer to go over with a solid or do as you suggested, a two tone deck. I use the Cabot Problem Solver as a primer first. I have a lot of decks out there that are solid rails and a natural floor. It is a nice look. I actually have seen where contractor's have come in and replaced the spindles rather than deal with the Sikkens.

We are actually stripping a Sikkens deck today for the first time. We will need to strip twice and will go back later in the week. The deck is now black.

 

[Dan S]

Mike ,

It is very easy to strip sikkens .......... The best thing to remember is DWELL let your "stripper" sit for 30mins keep it wet with product and then use a brush Then just rince with 500-700psi.

go to sherwin williams and get varnish stripper about 18bucks a gal ............. you dont need fancy chems to do this at all.

 

[Mike Hughes]

Use a brush? That makes sense, but what about spindles and all of the associated tight spots they create? Suddenly doesnt sound as easy....

 

[Dan S]

stiff brush one with a handel ........

spindels are also not a problem ........

same deal as deck spray your stripper on ,let dwell, then go around the spindels with a hand held scrub brush. DONT FORGET TO WEAR GLOVES.

It is not as hard as it seems ........

I will also try to sell them a re-seal of sikkens same color that way if you miss any it will blend in and look like new........

You can get more $ for this job then your average cuprinol or an oil bace stain . I would go with the sikkens two step!!

 

[Tim Smith]

HD80 has worked for me - it can really eat up the wood.