lbbss wrote:

I head conflicting advise on maintaining my deck. Some say you
damage the deck by pressure washing it.

The damage comes from holding the wand too close to the wood or moving
it too slowly, which removes some of the wood.

Does pressure washing it
remove the pressure treated chemical out of the wood?

No. The chemicals soak into the wood because of the "pressure" part of
pressure-treated. In really large pieces, like 8x8, it might not make
it all the way to the center.

Also, If you do
wash it is detergent required?

I recommend a detergent designed for wood decks, but it isn't a
government mandate or anything. _Do not_ use dish detergent unless you
want bubbles everywhere.

Our deck is in good shape except in a
few shaddy spots, it has mildew.

A little dilute bleach and a scrub brush should take care of that. The
people who sell you the deck wash can also sell you a "deck brightener"
which has some form of bleach in it. It will get rid of *some* of the
grey oxidation. You'll have trouble getting back to the original color
of the wood without taking off part of the wood surface.

I was going to pressure wash it
then seal it.

The sealer is optional, especially since you have pressure-treated
wood. PT wood is usually colored, so most people let it oxidize to
grey, not liking a green deck.

should I not pressure was the fence if I don't plan to
seal the fence?

You can certainly pressure-wash the fence, but it will be a big, wet
job. Most of the grey will go away, but it will be back again in a year.

Thanks.

You're welcome. Post some pictures.

p.s. I learned to power-wash decks by practicing on my own. I found I
liked the "rugged" look I got with aggressive power-washing. A smooth
surface might be more important to you.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX