Painted CCA lumber Deck-- options for restoring?

13 years ago

Hello everyone-- first post here, but have viewed these boards for awhile now! Just moved into a new house-- have a large deck which appears to have been painted (very light-weight flaking green paint). I think it is paint-- will a solid stain lift off and flake at all, or will only paint? Looks like it has been years since anything was done to it (was previously a rental home). The deck is structurally sound, however, we just found out that it is made of CCA lumber. We don't have $10,000 to pour into a composite deck right now, so we are trying to figure out what to do. It doesn't appear like sanding is a good choice for CCA lumber. We have 3 young kids and don't want them around the toxic stuff. The deck does not look nice-- hunter green floor and red railings (what were they thinking??!) Anyway, any suggestions whatsoever on what to do? Is there any way to safely remove the paint so we can stain it? Or is paint the only option-- and if so, what is best? Several boards will probably need to be replaced since they have severe splintering/feathering. PLEASE HELP!!

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Comments (3)

john_hyatt
13 years ago
Preasure treated lumber is going to have splintering/feathering / cracking and spliting no matter how its fastened or what finish you use on it.

There is no danger to anyone who uses the sprit of a sound mind sanding cca lumber. A person has the same exposure eating a teaspoon of dirt right next to a cca post three times a day as they will incounter drinking three glasses of water every day.

That said, I would not sand a cca deck,to any high degree, that old there really is no point or anything to gain.Geting all the paint/finish out of that old weathered grain is not going to happen.(Hunter green and red sounds like a cool trip to Me.) I would not try to strip this deck either.

I vote for an oxalic acid wash,some scrubing,sand where needed with a 5'' orbital, two coats of a dark quality outdoor finish like twp dark oak.

John Hyatt www.deckmastersllc.com
taygirl
Original Author
13 years ago
John-- thanks for the reply. What is the benefit of using oxalic acid over a bleach cleaner or oxygen bleach? And do you think the twp dark oak (stain?) will cover up and penetrate through any green paint that is not removed? Thanks!
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john_hyatt
13 years ago
Oxalic is a brightner/conditioner/neutralizer. Its what the Big Boys use. I buy it by the 50 lb bag,any of the brightners on the shelf with oxalic in it will do.

Most Likely will. J.