Topic: 2 deck stain issues/questions

[NateF]

Have been doing wood resto for 3 years and haven't had either of these happen and now they both did on one deck. What a weekend..Haha

Cedar deck stripped and brightened with F18 and F8
AC Semi Trans Cedar Stain
Direct sunlight

1. My helper was cutting in around thee house and didn't apply the stain as heavy as I did with the truck brush on the rest of the floor.  Now there is a terrible looking line/lap mark where the two meet. I was thinkin about lightly applying some stain with rag to the light spots. Will this work or are there any other quick fixes to make this look decent?

2. Had to switch to another 5 gal pail of stain to finish part of the deck. I know I should have mixed them together but I thought I would finish with the first 5 gals. I don't know if it was from switching stain cans,over applying, or not mixing the new stain good enough but now an area of the deck almost looks like the AC mountain cedar semi solid. Can those boards be sanded down and re-apply the stain or will that look completely off? I'm kind of out of ideas on this one.

Any help would be appreciated on both these questions.

[bigchaz]

You may be able to fix the lap marks with another coat but with it being cured already its going to be hard to avoid the shinys.

How big is the job?  If the color is off I have to worry that stripping may be the only good option

[pressurepros]

Strip and redo.

[NateF]

I was afraid that is what you guys will have to say. Will do. Thanks for the info.

[moody1]

I had a similar problem with a semi-trans the other day.  This deck started to fail during my house and deck wash, so I felt responsible to at least try to "touch up" the deck.  I thought it was a solid, but it turns out that the last guy just put  the semi- trans on way too heavy.  It was Sherwin Williams water based stuff.  They had an old can, so I tried to get the same thing again.  Turns out that the wrong base was used to mix their old can, could not get a perfect match, mixed a new can and old can together to try and get as close as I could, and applied one coat over the failed part, and then one more coat over the entire deck surface.  Lap marks, lap marks, lap marks.  It turns out that they gave me the wrong color (it was their fence stain, urrggg).  Very close, but not exact.  I had to reapply another coat over everything.  I lost a lot of time and some money on this job, but the customers were very happy.  I know I am a newbie to deck stain, so feel free to tear me apart for how idiotic I am.  I learn and grow from it. 

P.S.  The area with several coats was still a slight bit tacky after three days.  It has been incredibly humid though.  Is that normal?

[pressurepros]

P.S.  The area with several coats was still a slight bit tacky after three days.  It has been incredibly humid though.  Is that normal?

You built a film that I give 3-6 months before its peeling and flaking. SW Deckscapes is junk.

[moody1]

That's fine with me.  They are thinking about having it stripped and resealed in the next year or two, and I told her the product they had was not a product I would use.  They are interested in having me do their deck.  I would still like to get a couple smaller decks under by belt, but I think these folks would be easy to work with.  I just got back from hanging door hangers (my first day of heavy work since getting pneumonia), and I am really tired.  If you have never had pneumonia, then keep it that way.  The effects on your respiratory system linger for a few weeks after the infection is gone.  I sounded like a 90 year old heavy smoker with my breathing, hacking, and coughing in the nearly 90 degree weather.  Got some good leads though.

[pressurepros]

I had it a month ago (peak season) and still have a lingering cough. It kicked me hard. I probably lost 30-40 job opportunities. Just goes to show you even with a strong business plan, management structure, systems and staff, I am still integral to my business. I hate that.

Hope you feel stronger soon, Mike. Don't overdue it.