Four Basic Wood Restoration Recommendations from Everett Abrams the Wizard of Wood

Everett Abrams has become known as the "Wizard of Wood" by his customers for the amazing results Deck Restoration Plus achieves with their wood structures. He is also known by his peers for writing and instructing for multiple companies and organizations in the exterior wood restoration industry and beyond.

When it comes to wood restoration products, Everett explained: “I believe there are four basic recommendations regarding the chemicals and products most of us use, including oxygenated bleach, chlorine bleach, sodium hydroxide strippers, oxalic acid brighteners and other similar products and blends.”

1. Apply these products to wet surfaces only. 

Pre-wetting wood surfaces is a standard and the first step in exterior wood restoration (unless otherwise directed by a manufacturer). Water can act as a barrier so that when the wood is soaked, the cleaner will work closer to the surface, therefore becoming more effective at removing surface mold and mildew. This also keeps these chemicals from soaking deep into the wood and becoming harder to rinse out.

2. Apply the cleaner, stripper, brightener, or any other product to the wood surfaces and allow it to clean, remove an old coating, brighten wood, etc., so that we have great results. 

Applying the right product for the job and using the proper dwell times, we can restore wood surfaces with the least amount of pressure possible to get the job done. In other words, blasting wood with water and relying on pressurized water only is not wood restoration.

3. Rinse wood surfaces thoroughly. 

Any time a chemical is used, it should be rinsed thoroughly so that no chemical residue is left on the surfaces that may cause damage, dry out the wood, form salt residue, or even cause a failed coating. “The rule of thumb in our industry is rinse, rinse, and rinse again!”

4. Apply a coating that will help preserve and extend the life of the wood. 

This should happen regardless if the contractor or homeowner performs this work.