Deck stain failed after one winter, pressure wash or strip first?

I sealed my cedar deck with a nice semi-transparent stain last September in Portland, and by March it was peeling in patches. I know some folks swear by just pressure washing the loose stuff and recoating, but others say you have to strip it all down to bare wood or it'll fail again. Which side have you landed on after dealing with this yourself?

2 comments

2 Comments

karen_sanchez491mo ago

Oh, I have been there! After my first failed attempt on our old cedar deck, I ended up stripping it completely down to bare wood because just washing the peeling spots left a weird patchwork look. For me, the extra work was worth it since the second coat lasted almost five years without a single bubble or flake. It takes a weekend longer, but you will save yourself from doing the whole job again next spring.

iris9271mo ago

Five years is impressive, honestly. But what did you use to strip it all the way down... chemical stripper or just a power washer on full blast? I tried the chemical route once and ended up with this sticky mess that took forever to scrape off. Also, did you sand between the bare wood and the new stain, or just let it air dry and go? I always wonder if that's the secret to making it last that long without peeling.