Restore Your Tiger Deck

Bring the Striking Color Back to Your Silvered-Out Deck

Tiger Deck will age to a natural silver with no treatment at all. But if your deck has silvered out and you prefer the hardwood's striking color, here is a detailed account of how to restore your Tiger Deck. See before, during and after restoration photos below.

Before proceeding with deck restoration, try the wet test: If you like the way your deck looks when it's wet, but not when it's dry, you only need to add a light coat of UV sealant. See our maintenance instructions.

Your deck will be as happy as you to save this project for a mild, dry day.

To restore your Tiger Deck, you will need:

3,000-PSI pressure washer
Orbital flooring sander with a 12x18 sanding surface and a 1” cushion Velcro pad
One sheet of 100-grit sandpaper and 2 sheets of 120 grit sanding screen
Hand held orbital sander (180 grit wet/dry)
Penofin Restorer, Messmers Brightener/Cleaner or Armor All Deck Cleaner/Brightener (1 Gallon for 1,240 sq. ft. deck)
Long handled paint roller (or any other tool for rolling on oil)
Several towels
A friend to help you sand and refinish

Time:

Pressure Wash = 1 (perfectionist) person 4 hours
Sanding horizontal surfaces = 2 people 1 ½ hours
Washing off sanding dust = 1 person 1 hour
Applying Penofin coat = 2 people 2 hours

Total Man Hours = 12 for 1,240 sq. ft. deck

Instructions:

1. Wash Your Deck 2-3 Days Before Sanding

Mix Penofin Restorer, Messmers Brightener/Cleaner OR Armor All Deck Cleaner/Brightener with water for the pressure washing (each product seems to produce about the same results and all were better than water pressure only). Pressure wash all surfaces with the machine set at its highest PSI setting. You may notice the pressure washer will take much of the old Penofin off areas that had been coated during hot weather or direct sunlight but not the Penofin coated during cool, dark weather. Vertical surfaces are likely to retain most of the old finish.

2. Sand Your Deck

Begin sanding your deck when all surfaces are completely dry. Use the 100 grit to quickly go over all deck surfaces. Then use the 120 grit screens to go back over all surfaces carefully (about 1 ½ hours). During this time, ask your friend to use a hand held orbital sander (180 grit wet/dry) on the handrail cap and the stair treads. If some areas still have well-penetrated Penofin while others appear more silver, try our wet test: Simply wash your deck with normal water pressure and a high pressure nozzle. Wipe off excess water with a dry towel. If the coloring is even when the deck is wet, your restoration will turn out beautifully.

3. Apply UV Protectant

Apply a coat of sealant when there is no direct sunlight and when your deck is dry and cool. Roll the oil on the deck (we use a fine knap long handled paint roller). Once you finish the first application, we recommend you go over the whole deck with a clean towel wrapped around a shop broom. It’s not necessary to wipe the deck dry, but it helps to spread the sealant evenly and sop up the excess. To coat vertical surfaces, use a small towel soaked in sealant then wrung out to apply a very light coat without excess.