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Paper Roses

(7,504 posts)
Fri Sep 25, 2020, 12:52 PM Sep 2020

Any ideas? I just had 2 boards replaced on my outside stairs. The new boards are pressure treated.

The older boards(also pressure treated) have aged and are slightly grey. It sure looks strange with 2 new boards against the older ones. Any ideas how I can color the new boards so they don't look like new against the older ones?
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
PR

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Any ideas? I just had 2 boards replaced on my outside stairs. The new boards are pressure treated. (Original Post) Paper Roses Sep 2020 OP
Clean them w/ a power hose/power washer. The old wood (do a small spot first) will look brand... SWBTATTReg Sep 2020 #1
Pressure washing is a wonderful thing DonaldsRump Sep 2020 #3
From google ... CentralMass Sep 2020 #2
Pressure wash is your best bet. Phoenix61 Sep 2020 #4
Had the same thing happen. Paper Roses Dec 2020 #5
Wait a year bucolic_frolic Dec 2021 #6

SWBTATTReg

(24,011 posts)
1. Clean them w/ a power hose/power washer. The old wood (do a small spot first) will look brand...
Fri Sep 25, 2020, 12:54 PM
Sep 2020

new afterwards. If possible, go online and pull up a YouTube clip showing a power washing for fences, steps, etc., there's just about everything out there in Internet land.

DonaldsRump

(7,715 posts)
3. Pressure washing is a wonderful thing
Fri Sep 25, 2020, 01:18 PM
Sep 2020

It is amazing what it can clean. Also, consider using "deck brightening" solution.

We did steps and major amounting of fencing last summer, staining it all. This website is very useful for tips when it comes to wooden decks, steps and fences: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/

Phoenix61

(17,550 posts)
4. Pressure wash is your best bet.
Fri Sep 25, 2020, 01:36 PM
Sep 2020

Any type of soap/bleach can be difficult to get completely off and turn into a majore slip hazard.

Paper Roses

(7,504 posts)
5. Had the same thing happen.
Mon Dec 7, 2020, 03:25 PM
Dec 2020

I have an assortment of Minwax stains. Wiped the new board with Walnut stain. It was a little darker at first but lightened after a rainstorm 2 days later. Looks just about the same as the old boards now. I did just one light coat. There are many color options available, I just used what I had. You can get Minwax in 8 oz cans at Ace hardware in my neck of the woods.

bucolic_frolic

(46,761 posts)
6. Wait a year
Fri Dec 17, 2021, 05:12 PM
Dec 2021

Or clean the old ones. Put washing soda in a watering can, slosh it on the boards, scrub with a broom, rinse. Water repellent is usually recommended. If the old ones are very old, they could be the old type of pressure treated. It was toxic so they replaced it with the new type. The color may never quite be a total match.

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