Deck Sanding Techniques
Welcome to The Number One Resource for Deck Sanding…
Most homeowners think they can simply hire a sanding machine, use the same technique they use to mow the lawn and their deck will be perfectly sanded. If you’ve ever tried it, you know this is way off. The big sanding machines remove barely half of the old stain and surface damage. The guides in this section will show you how to sand your deck the right way…
Recommended Course
The RoundHouse & High Skii Deck Sanding Techniques
Sanding a deck is one of those things that you need to be really careful with…
Think about this…
Most deck boards are 19mm thick…
And by the time your boards need to be sanded, they have most likely been sitting out in the weather for a year or more…
Do you know what happens to timber that sits outside, being pounded day in, day out with torrential rain then dried out again by the blistering sun??
Well, let me tell you that deck boards subject to this type of torture will, twist, buckle and warp…
It may be only slight, but it’s happening…
In most cases, you will never notice until you try to sand your deck…
It’s not until you see how ineffective your sander is, that you realise that your boards are all uneven and possibly even cupping…
Now, to sand these uneven decking boards properly, you’ll have to level them off first…
But before you do this, think about how many millimetres you’ll have to sand your deck down just to get it flat again…
What do you think?
3mm?
5mm??
Well, if it is 5mm, think about how thin your 19mm deck boards will be once you’ve finished sanding your deck…
Do you think that it would be safe to walk around on 14mm thick decking boards?
Now imagine if your deck needed to be sanded again in 5 years time…
How thick and strong would your deck be then??
That’s why it’s recommended that you can only ever sand your deck twice and then you’re done!
There’s a much better way to sand your deck and keep it strong at the same time…
The techniques that I share, take off as little as possible to get your deck boards thick and strong but get it looking as new as possible…
I cover this and more in my deck sanding guides…
I suggest you start with this guide…
Other Deck Sanding Guides
How to Sand a Deck without Causing Damage…
The most effective way to sand a deck in 2026 is to start by stripping the damaged surface back to bare timber with a belt sander equipped with 36-40 grit sand paper, then smooth it off with 80 grit sandpaper on an orbital...
How to strip decking back to bare wood…
If you want to know how to strip your decking back to bare wood, then you found this step by step guide just in the nick of time… Here’s what you need to know… The easiest way to strip a decking back to bare wood is by either...
Sanding a Wet Wood Deck… Is it possible?
So you’re thinking of sanding a wet wood deck are you? Well, let me tell you something… You’re lucky you came here before you did something you’ll regret… Listen up my eager little sander… Do not, I repeat, DO NOT under any...