"Scott" wrote in message
...
I know I've asked the question before about whether a
do-it-yourselfer should
try pressue washing a 3-year old cedar deck by himself or hire a
professional.
I see where Target is selling a Black & Decker 1,600 PSI Electric
Pressure Washer
for $88.00. This seems like a good buy, since hiring someone to do
the deck
every few years would be around $100. My 3-year old cedar deck
greyed considerably
last winter, after being cleaned with bleach and re-stained
(Sikken Natural Cedar
stain)last year in the spring. Cleaning it by hand this summer
with bleach did
very little. The greying is only on the deck floor and top rail.
The verticals
are fine.

I'm wondering if it would be worth it to buy this unit now for $88
and use it on
my deck next spring, being careful not to spray too close to the
wood. If I'm
careful, is it unlikely I'll damage the wood?

Thanks!
Scott

Scot, I really can't answer your question about whether pressure
washing your deck yourself is a good idea, but I would like to offer
an observation I've made it the many years past.

I doubt if you would be satisfied with an $88 pressure washer and I
have found that Black & Decker tools are seldom satisfactory.

Personally, I wouldn't consider it. If I were going to get a PW, I
think I'd invest a bit more (3 times as much at least) and get
something more useful.

On the other hand if you are only going to use it once a year, that
is another consideration.

Also, have you thought about renting one? Probably cost less that
$35 for a half day. Then you do the job, return it, and you don't
have to store someplace for a year.

Just some thoughts.
Bob-tx