Pressure Washing to Remove Paint

Look at your deck – if it’s seen better days, it may be time for a fresh coat of paint. But what if you no longer love the color it used to be? How do you remove the old to prepare for the new? Below are tips on how to use your pressure washer to remove paint from your deck.

1. Take all furniture pieces off of the deck.
2. Cover any plants/flowers with tarps to protect them from getting sprayed.
3. Remove any paint that has begun to peel. This can be done using a scraper or an iron bristle brush.
4. Apply the paint stripper using a paintbrush to a 10×10-foot portion of the deck to soften what’s left of the paint. Begin your work at the far end of the deck and work your way to the stairs. Let the paint stripper stay on for 15-30 minutes. Paint will begin to lift/bubble up. Once you notice this, grab your pressure washer.
5. Set the washer to 800-1200 pounds of pressure per square inch (psi). Adjust the spray to 3-feet wide and only use cold water.
6. While holding the washer 18-20 inches away from the deck, spray the portion covered in paint stripper; start with the rails and move down to the floor. Spray in a sweeping motion and make sure you follow the wood grain. Continue until all paint has been removed from the section.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 until all paint has been removed from the deck. You’ll need to wait at least 48 hours until you can apply stainer, sealer, and/or new paint.