Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Percarbonate and Sodium Hypochlorite are the three major cleaning agents used that in deck and log home restoration. Every chemical has its spot in the cleaning process, however, knowing when and how to utilize each one is repeatedly misunderstood.   Sodium Hydroxide, the strongest of the three, can be used that either as a mild cleaning solution or when blended properly, an active and aggressive stripping agent.

Sold over the counter, it is one of the major ingredients found in oven cleaners, dish washing liquid, stain removers, degreasers and deck cleaning solutions as good as a host of another products. Town municipalities even utilize it in the purification process of drinking water.   In deck and log home restoration it is used that to remove mildew, grayed out timber fibers and oil based stains and sealers. With ought dilution it can be applied to the timber preferably by spraying however also can be brushed on.

It is extremely important to remark that ought safety measures be taken when using this technique and entire instructions would be close followed. Never combine water into Sodium Hydroxide. Instead, always combine the chemical into the water unhurriedly and carefully. Mixing water to the chemical initial causes a recoil and reaction that makes an huge amount of heat and fumes. Protection And Safety goggles and gloves are mandatory as good as another protective clothing.

Also, this chemical will kill grass and plants as good as stain glass, siding and another surfaces.

If you’re not certain about how to utilize this product, it is strongly suggested to find a professional who does. This is not anything to play with.   If there’s no sealer on the deck or if simply traces remain, a mild decision of Sodium Hydroxide and a good surfactant can be applied and granted to live for a predetermined length of time. This lets the mixture to soften up the appear contaminants and degraded wood.

A scratch test can be preformed to define how simply the deck will clean up up.

If it is tough to remove, either more mixture will have to be applied and/or more live time allowed.

If it is resolute to be at a tip that it can be removed, next a pressure washer will be used that to remove a extremely thin stratum of the degraded timber and some stain or another contaminants suchlike as mildew, grill grease, flower jug stains, etc.   Care have to be taken when using a pressure washer.

If somebody is not widespread with using a pressure washer, final and irreversible damage to the timber can transpire causing expensive replacement of decking boards or handrails.

Actually, fewer than 1000 ps/iof pressure is needed. Water pressure isn’t as significative as water volume.

The more water, the more cleaning and rinsing power.

At the extremely least, 4gpm is required to properly remove the undesirable material. This precepts out the majority homeowner model pressure washers which commonly rate fewer than 3gpm (gallons per minute. )   Sodium Percarbonate is the equal chemical found in the accomplished and popular “Oxy Clean Up” products advertised on television.

A non-chlorine cleaner, it is a good option as a deck cleaning solution when a fewer aggressive cleaning or stripping is needed. Even Though it might remove a little stain residue that might be left intact, it is superior suited for the getting rid of mildew, dirt, light grease spots and gray, degraded wood.

It won’t harm grass or the majority surfaces if properly rinsed.

It is blended to a predetermined decision depending on the plainness and severity of the job, granted to live and lifted with a pressure washer as with the Sodium Hydroxide. With this product it is advised to simply mix what can be used that in a pair of hours as it looses it cleaning power.   This is a good, fewer aggressive cleaning solution that can be used that where there might be fragile plants and flowers in the area or animals in shut proximity.  Safer for the house owner to utilize than that of the more active and aggressive strippers, it will clean up the timber well quite that a sealer can be reapplied with propriety results.   Sodium Hypochlorite is chlorine found in illustrative and typical household bleach.used That as a disinfectant and sanitizer, it is wonderful in removing and killing mold and mildew.

It does tiny however in removing mud and another contaminants. Lots Of homeowners and a little less aware contractors utilize bleach to clean up decks and another wood surfaces.   There are a little things that need to be thought over when using this technique for cleaning wood.

The Majority importantly, chlorine bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) is one of the major chemical structures used in paper mills to brake down the timber fibers in the paper fabrication process. Chlorine disintegrates the lignin in the timber which is the glue that keeps the timber fibers together. One Time the lignin is lifted the fibers are reduced to a pulp that next is extruded across a serialization of rollers that expels the water and leaves a paper material after it dries.   The tip is that as well strong of a chlorine mixture can break the timber fibers in the deck or log home.

If bleach is poured on a part of timber and granted to live any length of time, you can get a adhere and really scrape away a salient greeting layer of the wood.

If you analyze it, you’ll find that it has turned the timber to pulp. Not simply does this break the wood, however it is nearly impossible to rinse entire of the bleach from the wood.

If you put bleach on your fingers and attempt to rinse it off, you’ll find that it is extremely slippery and very difficult to remove it from your fingers. This specifies a high ph level.

The equal thing is veritable with the wood.

As Result there ends up being a bleach or stripper residue left on and in the wood. Not the best situation to be applying a new finish. Inasmuch these chemicals are tough to absolutely rinse from the timber even after profuse amounts of rinse water, the timber will yet have a high ph level. To counter this, the timber has to be neutralized to below the ph level in order to cease any damage to the timber and as well keep from intervention with the new finish. To do this Oxalic Acid is used.

Applied by sprayer, the acid lowers the ph level of the timber and at the equal time brightens the wood. This process whether deliberate or not, is repeatedly overlooked by the house owner as good as the not informed painter for period of the deck or log home restoration process departure residual quantity of chemical in the wood.

Again, not the best situation to be applying a new finish.   Also, chlorine by itself does tiny for cleaning mud and another contaminants.

Therefore a detergent have to be added. TSP (trisodium phosphate) is a good cleaning agent if blended properly. TSP is a derivative of borax and care have to be taken when applying to some surface. Be certain to never allow it parched and dry on pane or certain metals.   Chlorine does have its spot in the cleaning process. Blended properly and applied sparingly, it is the ideal method of not simply removing mold, mildew and algae, however also killing the mildew spores deeply into the timber cells.  Used That properly, chlorine can do an wonderful job without damaging the wood, however it have to be used that correctly and have to be neutralized to reach good results without damaging the wood.   Remember, the key to a long durability stain is properly cleaned and parched and dry wood.  Something that will interfere with the work of the sealer; extant stains, dirt, mildew, chemical residue or moisture have to be absolutely removed using one of the cleaning methods, neutralized with an acid bath and granted to dry. Parched And Dry is specific as moisture content of at slightest 15% or lower.

Something higher and the oil stain won’t absorb properly into the wood.  And the more stain absorbed into the wood, the superior the work of the finish. Remember, preparation and more importantly, ought preparation, is the key to a good and durability finish.              

Keywords – Log home restoration