Tried using a pressure washer on my deck without checking the PSI first

I borrowed my buddy's electric pressure washer last weekend to clean my deck in Portland. Hooked it up, sprayed some cleaner, and started blasting away. After 10 minutes I noticed the wood looked shredded in spots like someone took a wire brush to it. Turns out his machine puts out 2000 PSI and I should've used a wider tip or lower setting. The deck's all fuzzy and rough now. Gotta sand the whole thing down before I can stain it. Anybody know a good way to fix that kind of damage without replacing boards?

2 comments

2 Comments

skylercooper18h ago

Yeah I read that Portland weather makes wood softer so it shreds easier under pressure.

beth_hart6815h ago

Well that explains a lot... maybe that's why I fell through my friend's porch last summer and completely destroyed my shin. Thought I was just clumsy but turns out the wood had it out for me too. If Portland weather can soften lumber I hate to think what it's doing to my bones... probably turning them into balsa wood at this point. Guess I'll stick to sitting on concrete from now on.