Stripping loose and peeling paint off a backyard deck can be a slow, hard, daunting job if you're just taking a metal paint scraper to it. Using chemicals to do it can create issues for the surrounding yard. One solution is to rent a power washer, which shoots pressurized water through a thin wand and nozzle. Power washers come with high enough pressure settings to peel paint off wood, which can make your project go a lot faster, with no chemicals. Your deck has to be made of hard, solid wood with no rot for this to work.
Set Up the Washer
For enough pressure to scrape off loose paint, you need a pressure washer rated for at least 2,500 psi (pounds per square inch of pressure). Renting one at 3,000 psi will ensure you have enough power, and you can always set the pressure lower. Make sure the available nozzle tips include a 15-degree nozzle; wider than that may be ineffective, and narrower can gouge the wood. Washers come in either gas or electric versions; either one is fine. In either case, get the whole assembly set up (engine, hose, wand and nozzle) before connecting your garden hose to it.
Preparation
Carefully assess the area on and around you deck before you start. Pressure washers will damage thin metal fixtures and soft wood siding like cedar shingles, and can cause catastrophe if you hit an electrical outlet with the stream. Make sure none of those things are in or near the line of fire. Paint chips are going to be flying everywhere and are a real pain to pick up, so spread landscaping fabric on the perimeter of the work area to catch the chips (the fabric will allow water to pass through). Put on goggles.
Stripping Process
Find an inconspicuous area of the deck and test the washer on it. Start with a 2,500 psi setting. Hold the wand and nozzle about a foot from the surface, at a 45-degree angle, and squeeze the trigger. Push the stream slowly forward on the surface, assessing its impact and adjusting both the pressure and the distance of the nozzle from the surface to find the proper combination. The stream should cleanly knock off all loose paint without gouging the wood. Once you've got it figured out, do the whole deck, working methodically from one side to the other. Direct the spray of water and paint chips toward the landscaping fabric as much as you can. Let the deck dry for 48 hours before painting.
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