Wood restoration kits contain everything you need to clean and brighten your exterior wood to its natural fresh cut appearance. The National Forest Products Laboratory in Madison Wisconsin recommends using a percarbonate based cleaner to remove dirt, grime and grey weathered wood. A pH neutralizer can then be used to brighten the natural tannins.
Wood Restoration Kits for Removing Existing Stains or Sealers
If you need to remove an existing stain or sealer as part of your restoration process it’s best to choose a Wood Restoration Kit with a heavy duty stripper. These strippers are formulated to turn existing finishes back into a liquid that can be easily soft washed. The high pH of these strippers can darken some species of wood, like cedar, so your restoration kit will come with an acid based neutralizer. The brightener is applied with a pump up sprayer and then simply rinsed off with a garden hose.
Choosing the Right Sized Kit For Your Job
Woodrich Brand offers percarbonate based Wood Restoration Kits for up to 750 square feet. This is usually sufficient for a typical backyard deck. You can choose a kit for up to 3000 square feet for larger jobs. If you need help determining how much material you need for your job Project Support(link) is always standing by.
Tips for Working with Wood Cleaners
- Mix your materials in a 5 gallon bucket before pouring it into your pump sprayer. Strain out any undissolved material to avoid clogging your sprayer.
- Choose a sprayer with a red chemical tip, this will give you a nice fan pattern that is easy to control.
- Apply your wood cleaner within an hour or two of mixing. Percarbonate based cleaners will lose strength over time.
Tips for Working with Wood Strippers
- If your wood is hot from the sun, mist it with water to cool it down, this will save material loss due to evaporation.
- Apply the stripper heavy and give it time to work, wait for the existing finish to become soft like pudding.
- Perform a Scratch Test in several areas to be sure the finish is ready to be removed before you begin power washing.
- The stripper will only work while it is wet so mist it with additional product or water if it begins to dry.
Tips for Working with pH Neutralizers
- It’s okay to apply the Neutralizer to wood that is still damp from the cleaning process.
- If you are making videos, you will want to capture this process, the brightener begins to work on contact.
- Apply the brightener and give it several minutes to react before rinsing with a garden hose.
- It’s okay if the brightener dries on the surface, just be sure to rinse it off and allow the wood to dry before staining.
Conclusion
Woodrich Brand restoration kits make it easy to clean, strip, and brighten your exterior wood. Choose the right kit size for your project and follow the application tips for best results. Use the cleaner, stripper, and neutralizer as directed. With Woodrich Brand, your deck, fence, or siding can look like new again.