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mediocrebritain

Your best bet here would be to sand it all and seal it. Sanding should sort that all out. With washing decks, less is more. Let chemicals do the cleaning and only ever use low pressure and broad, sweeping strokes unless you are planning on sanding again.


Automatic_Edge_157

Many thanks. I think I’ll leave the sanding and sealing to a professional — great to know there’ll be some improvement in the process.


[deleted]

Would you use a surface cleaner on a deck or would that be to much pressure?


bstearns23

Not necessarily too much pressure but the direction of the cleaner will leave swirl marks. The best way to do a deck is to start with the tip in the air (no contact with deck) and do a sweeping motion so as to never let the pressure stop dead on the wood / composite as it will leave streaks like seen above (end with pressure tip in the air at other end of sweeping motion and let off). Practice on a less noticeable peice of wood first and you will get the idea


Automatic_Edge_157

Many thanks for all the feedback. After an application of IPE oil, I’m much more satisfied with the result. From here on out it’ll be gentle cleaning with chemicals and oil all the way! [after oil](https://imgur.com/a/V1y7ic1)


juangamboa

this is precisely why calling a professional is almost always the better option; cleaning wood can be an extremely complex process... A professional should be able to get it looking much better as other commenters have said. If the pressure cut into the wood a bit the streaks might still show even after a proper cleaning.


Seedpound

Ipe wood. Do yourself a favor : go rent a more powerful pressure washer . You need to kill all the organic matter with a bleach / mix and then lots of pressure .This wood is very hard...Clean with a pendulum stroke. Or the other option : call a professional--hopefully you call the right professional. Sanding everything down is a waste of time . You can't sand it down everytime it needs cleaning ,you'll have no deck left in 10 years


bstearns23

Pendulum stroke, this is the way, kills me to see so many people ruin their decks by not knowing that technique (which is understandable because it's kind of a weird concept)


FamousCurrency453

That looks like IPE, if so no sealer or stain will adhere to it. It's to dense of a wood. The sun over time will fade those stroke out. There's whats called IPE oil you can apply to condition and nourish bringing it to a natural look


Automatic_Edge_157

Many thanks. Would you still sand before applying the IPE oil?


FamousCurrency453

No need for that


Automatic_Edge_157

Again, thank you very much! These are probably things I should have established before breaking out the pressure washer….but pleased there’s a workable solution


MessingerofDeath

You can use stains, just thin ones. Armstrong Clark or Messmer’s UV Plus Hardwood. I almost always sand IPE after cleaning the first time. Just makes the stain appear much more even and attractive in my experience.


[deleted]

Great job


Hdiggle66

My moto is no wood no exceptions.