Best Paint Remover For Wood Deck [Buying Guide]

Wood deck loses its optimum shine and glow with time. The paintwork on a wood deck gets deteriorated after a long time. This happens mostly in foraging. On the other hand, some natural phenomena such as layer degradation, environmental reaction, etc also cause the damaging of a wood deck. This ultimately results in painting the wood deck again.

For this, at first, you will need the best paint remover for the wood deck. You cannot apply new paintwork or any sort of layering without removing the former paint. The paint remover is a chemical compound that helps you to remove the paintwork quite easily and conveniently. It reacts with the former paint layer and slowly loosens the bind with the deck.

Top 5 Best Paint Remover For Wood Deck

Let us learn the ins and outs of the 5 best paint removers available in the marketplace. This section will unwrap the in-depth features and benefits of a paint remover.

1. DEFY Exterior Wood Stain Stripper

DEFY Exterior Wood Stain Stripper

Paint removers are often called stain strippers as well. The DEFY Exterior wood stain stripper is an industrial-grade paint remover available in the market. You can use it for personal house renovation and for heavy industrial renovation as well.

This stain stripper is formulated based on alkalinity. As a result, the acidic paint or stain works are quite easily removed using it. It can be used to remove completely worn-off paints, transparent or semi-transparent finishes. Since it is an alkaline-based stain remover, it won’t have any negative acidic effect on the wood surface.

The DEFY Exterior Wood Stain Stripper has ingredients formulated to be wood category friendly. There are a lot of types of commercial woods available. This stain remover is designed to be friendly with these types of woods. It does not damage the natural look of the wooden surface at all.

DEFY Exterior Wood Stain Stripper is able to remove all oil and latex-based finishes. This includes clear film-forming varnishes, polyurethanes, solid color, and semi-transparent stains. It not only removes the stains but also restores the original and natural glaze of the wood.

Most of the paint removers or stain strippers in the market are not environmentally friendly. But, DEFY strippers have chemical formulations which are readily biodegradable. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about its harmful effects on the environment. IT is also ecologically certified as a green product.

These stain strippers come s in ready-to-use versions. You won’t need to add any solvent to dilute it before use. The solution is completely ready to use directly from the container. But, if you want to apply for light stripping purposes then you can add a slight amount of clean water to it. This won’t affect the stripping power of the product.

If you want no-hassle while removing the stains from your wood deck then DEFY stain remover can be a good option. You can directly pour it into a pressure washer container and shoot it on the wooden surface to be washed. No further scrubbing is needed. The 500 to 1200psi pressure steering will easily eliminate the need for manual scrubbing.

The Sodium Hydroxide in it is a strong base with a pH of 12-13. This cuts through the finishes and stains on the woods. Besides, it can be applied even at a 50 degrees atmospheric temperature to give you the best possible convenience.

It comes with a high coverage area. You can easily clean up 100-150 square feet of an area using only a gallon of DEFY Stain stripper. There are two versions of DEFY stain strippers available in the market based upon the weight. These are 1 gallon (10lbs) and 5 gallons( 47lbs). This gives you the option to buy for personal or industrial use.

The color of the DEFY Stain Stripper is Slightly cloudy to clear. It comes with a pleasantly sweet odor which won’t create any discomfort while working. The density of this liquid is 8.9 lb/gal which reduces the weight.

Besides, it is easily soluble in water. As a result, cleaning up the spilled area can be easily done with soap and water. When unopened it can retain the quality for up to 36 months.

Pros
  • Straightforward usage
  • Can be cleaned easily
  • No harmful effect on the wood
  • Easily washable
  • Strong impact on stains or finishes
Cons
  • Not suitable to remove paints
  • Harmful for human skin

2. #1 Deck Wood Stain Stripper

#1 Deck Wood Stain Stripper
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Another fine product for stripping the stains off from your wood is the #1 Deck Wood Stain Stripper. It is readily biodegradable and environmentally friendly. It doesn’t accumulate on the ground and gets dissolved without causing any negative impact on the environment.

It has multiple uses. You can firstly use it to strip off the worn finishes and damaged outer layering of the wood deck. Moreover, it also improves the adhesions on the stains. This stain stripper has the ability to remove the weathered and oil or water-based semi-transparent stains as well.

The chemical sussed in it as ingredients help to restore the natural beauty and look of the wood. It makes the wood very shiny and makes it look new. Besides, the developed mold, mildew, and specks of dust can also be removed using this product on the wood deck. After application, it makes the wood deck ready for a paint job or other improvements.

Sometimes, the wood decks are varnished to give it a glossy look. But with time the varnish becomes damaged due to different impacts. This deck stain stripper can also remove the worn-off varnishes completely off the surface.

It is mostly designed to eradicate the oil and latex-based finishes from the wood. These include clear film formed by varnishes, polyurethanes, and semi-transparent stains.

This wood stripper is made to be readily usable. You shall not add any extra compounds to it to make it further usable or dilute. Being readily soluble in the water you have the option to dilute for small cleaning projects.

The solution can be used by attaching the power washer to it. The high-pressure shooting on the wood deck will be enough to get the job done. Besides, you won’t be needing scrubbing off the deck with brushes.

But, considering you don’t have a pressure washer, a manual method can also be used. You can pour down the required amount of liquid solution into the target deck and use a brush to scrub out the stains and finishes.

This product is designed for a 3 step process. It can first and foremostly clean up the wood deck from accumulated dust or dirt. Nextly, you can use it to brighten up the wood surface using this tool. The solution is formulated to bring up the natural gloss of the wood. Finally, this stripping solution can be used to remove the developed stains on the finishes as well.

Its high reactivity rate makes it able to clean up the surface in only 25 mins. You need not wait longer to remove stains or make the surface shiny. You can use 1 gallon of Deck stripper for almost 100-150 square ft of surface area. If the amount of work is less then it is possible to dilute its use on a larger surface area.

This stripper solution can be easily cleaned off from the tools using general soap and water solution. For outdoor fixation, this product can be used in 50-degree temperatures quite effectively.

Pros
  • Can be used using pump washer or manually
  • No need to add anything
  • Very easy to use
  • Wide range of application
  • No harmful impact on the environment
Cons
  • It cannot remove paints, solid color stains, and film-forming coatings
  • Harmful for human body and skin as well

3. MAX Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper

MAX Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper
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Considering you want to scrub out thick layers of paint and other similar films from the wood deck. Then the MAX strip paint and varnish stripper can be a good option for you. Unlike the stain stripper, this is made especially for thick films of paints and varnishes.

This stripper works on the principle of loosening the adhesion of the layers on the wood deck. It is formulated especially for paint, latex, polyurethane, shellac, varnish, and acrylic. This means you do not have to buy separate strippers for different types of films.

The MAX strip paint and varnish stripper don’t possess any harmful chemicals for humans such as Methylene Chloride and NMP. Therefore, you can use it quite easily without worrying about the side effects.

It is made up of gel formation rather than the liquid solution. As a result, there won’t be any accidental spilling or dripping on the workspace. You can conveniently pour the gel without creating a mess all around. The gel formulation makes it thick and easily controllable.

Moreover, it does not contain any harsh fumes or odors. It will be a helpful feature if you’re sensitive to fumes and odors.

This paint remover comes in a 1L container. This is quite enough for covering a surface area of 30-47.5 square ft. For a larger area, you can buy multiple containers or according to the requirements.

It is compatible with all of the common types of surfaces other than the wooden material. You can use it to remove paint or thick layers of varnishes from metal, porcelain, brick, and wooden surfaces. This gives you the flexibility to work with a common stripper only. You need not buy different branded paint or varnish remover for different surfaces.

The formulation of this paint remover is non-caustic. It means the chemical used in this is pH neutral. As a result, you can apply it easily on the metal surfaces without worrying about the corrosions or damage caused by high or low pH.

This contains a non-volatile organic compound that is friendly to our environment and atmosphere. Besides, it can be cleaned quite easily by running water only. So, you don’t have to worry about spills or drips on the workspace. Simply, use the running water and clean up the surface without any hassle.

You do not need any special tools for making it work. A simple brush can be used to apply the stripper gel to the target surface. Besides, a plastic covering is required to prevent the stripper from reacting with air or moisture.

Its straightforward usage will reduce the hassle of buying many products for paint strippings. This ready-to-use stripper will give you the total authority of usage at any time.

It is available in the marketplace with 1 gallon or 1 Quart variation. Therefore, if you want to buy for personal or DIY projects then you can simply pick the 1 Quart version. On the other hand, if you want a full-scale paint removing project then it is better to pick the 1-gallon version.

Pros
  • Skin and body-safe
  • Safe for the environment and atmosphere
  • No hassle of dripping or spilling
  • Easy and quick application
  • Multipurpose uses
Cons
  • Can’t remove factory finished paintings
  • Low covering area

4. Citristrip QCSG801 Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel

Citristrip QCSG801 Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel
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Citristrip is oil-based paint and varnish remover. Its formulation contains no hazardous or unstable chemicals that may damage your surface.

It is designed to be a gel-type paint and varnish remover. It results in minimal spilling or dripping while applying. Therefore, you do not need to buy or be cautious about messing up while handling an application on the target surface.

This paint and varnish removing gel have a citrus scent and odor. As a result, if you are sensitive to the harsh fumes and smell then you will be relieved to have it for your wood deck.

The Citristrip paint and varnish stripper gel are formulated on the principle of slowly reacting with the thick layers. The more time you give the more effective result you will get. It slowly goes in between the adhesion of the surface and paints or varnish and loosens the bond. Afterward, you can easily scrub out the paint or varnish using the simple paint-removing flat-headed tool.

This stripper gel can remain active for 24 hours. Therefore, for perfect paint removal, you can easily keep it aside after application without worrying about the gel getting dried. This will help you to get rid of strong adhesions and thick layers of paint or varnish.

You can apply it to different common surface types for paint removal. These are porcelain, metal, wood, brick, glass, fiberglass, etc. The chemical ingredients used in the formulation will be safe enough for these materials.

The pump washer, pressure washer type of fancy tools are not required for its application. A simple paintbrush of 1.5” diameter can be used to apply it gently on the target surface and leave it aside for the required amount of time.

This paint and varnish stripper gel is compatible with dried latex and oil-based paint, varnish, lacquer, polyurethane, and shellac. These are the most common type of thick layers found on the wood deck. And so, you won’t need to buy different types of strippers to get the job done.

Its friendly chemical formulations help to restore the original glaze and beauty of the wood and metal. Since it has a pH measurement lying between 10.5 to 11 which makes it slightly alkaline. You must be careful while applying on the steel or other metal surfaces for corrosion.

The Citristrip does not contain any harmful chemicals for humans such as Methylene Chloride or NMP. Nevertheless, you must always wear chemical-resistant gloves and goggles while working handling this paint and varnish stripper.

Finally, we can say that this 100% biodegradable gel with no harsh fumes and advanced effectiveness can be a good choice. The water-based formulation makes it easy to clean using water only.

Pros
  • Non Messy application
  • Not harmful to the environment
  • Sweet citrus-flavored smell
  • Non-reactive to flames
  • Easily applicable
Cons
  • Very harmful for human skin
  • High pH value makes it corrosive in long-term exposure

5. Sunnyside 65732A Multi-Strip Paint & Varnish Remover

Sunnyside 65732A Multi-Strip Paint & Varnish Remover
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This is a very powerful and advanced paint and varnish remover. Because it is designed to strip up to 15 layers of paint or varnish at a time.

The chemical formulation used in this paint and varnish remover is moderately safe for the environment and atmosphere as well. You can use it on the principle of concentration. This means the more tough layer of paint you want to remove, the more application of this stripper should be done.

Therefore, for 1-3 layers of paint or varnish, you can simply pour a light amount of coating. Its biodegradability makes it safe for the environment. Besides, it is not flammable. You can work and need not replace any object with flames for applying it.

The formulation of this paint or varnish remover contains no methylene, NMP or Caustic. This feature makes it suitable for all types of available surfaces. These can be metal, brick, wood, porcelain, glass, fiberglass, cement, concrete, etc.

This paint stripper can be used in multiple ways. It gives you the authority to use it based on the tools you possess. For industrial-grade paint removal, you can use an airless paint sprayer to apply the stripper gel to the surface. If the airless sprayer is not available then the common paintbrush can also be used to apply the gel.

It is designed to remove all types of oil and water-based paints or varnishes. Besides, being a water-based paint remover, you can conveniently use clean water to clean up the workspace. No extra chemicals or ingredients are required for cleaning purposes.

The coverage of this product is 50-100 square ft per gallon. It can be used for both interior and exterior finishes. This stripper has a quick reactivity time. You can clean up the surface easily within 25 min tops.

Its slow evaporation rate will reduce fume formation. You may or may not wear a gas mask while working with this stripper gel. The gel-type formulation triumphs over the solution-based paint remover. It is because it stays stable for a long time for better effectiveness. Moreover, it doesn’t spill or drip easily to create a mess in the working space.

This paint remover is made up of EEP, Dibasic Esters, Formic Acid. These chemicals are quite friendly with both the environment and animals. Its VOC parameter is calculated to be 50% less. Two layers of epoxy and urethane can also be removed using this advanced stripper gel.

Pros
  • Spray application enabled
  • Non flammable formulation
  • Environment friendly
  • Very mild odor
  • Quick action of multiple layers
Cons
  • Very thick to spray
  • Not suitable for natural wood color restoration

Things you need to know before getting the best paint remover for wood deck

Not all strippers in the market are able to remove the paint or varnish layers effectively. There are some certain features about a paint remover that must be kept in mind before getting it.

Types of Paint strippers

There are multiple types of paint strippers available in the market. These are Solvent, Caustic, Bio-chemical, and VOC-free paint strippers. Each of these has some specific purposes. You need to have clear knowledge about the type of paint you want to remove. And, what type of paint stripper should work the best for it.

Type of surface

This is an important factor. Because you pick the wrong paint stripper which is not compatible with your surface. Then it is imperative that you damage the surface for good. Different types of paint strippers work differently on different surfaces. There are some brands that are suitable for all types of surfaces. For reference, you can use the following chart as guidance.

  • Solvent-Based Paint Stripper can be used safely on wooden, masonry, and metallic surfaces.
  • Caustic or alkaline-based paint removers are designed for concrete and brick surfaces.
  • Biochemical paint removers work better on wood and metallic surfaces.
  • Zero-VOC paint removers are suitable for almost all types of surfaces including porcelain, glass, and fiberglass.

Application type

It is also a considerable fact for choosing the best paint remover from the market. Different types of paint strippers come with different formulations making them solution or gel type appearance.

Stain removers which are simple solutions based can be used to attach the pump power washer to spray with high pressure. This does not require the hassle of scrubbing the surface afterward.

On the other hand, gel formulated paint removers cannot be used for spraying. Because the thickness is higher than the solution. For such cases, rolling or using a paintbrush can be a viable option.

Now, depending upon the time requirement and effectiveness of the work you can pick the paint remover.

Safety Features

No matter what, all paint removers are made of chemicals. These can be fatal for animals and the environment we live in. It is better to pick the biodegradable, non-flammable, and eco-friendly certified paint removers.

Paint removers with less percentage of VOC, Methylene Chloride, and NMP free are the best suitable ones. These are not only safe for the environment but also nullify the impact on the human body.

Nevertheless, it is imperative to use safety goggles and masks while working with a paint remover. The fumes, odor, etc may cause allergic reactions.

Size of the paint remover

Most of the paint remover comes in gallons. You must make a rough measurement of the surface area where you’ll use the paint remover. In general, a paint and varnish remover can cover 50-80 square feet per gallon.

As a result, depending upon the surface area you can buy the number of gallons. Besides, 5 gallons of similar products are also available for some paint remover brands. This can be helpful if you are going on a full industrial-grade paint removing procedure.

Wood deck cleaner vs paint stripper

Wood deck stain removers are completely different from paint or varnish removers. Stain removers are used as a preliminary method to clean off the dust, dirt, stains, mold or mildew developed. This cannot remove the thick layers of paints or varnishes from the finished coatings.

On the other hand, the sole purpose of the paint remover is to react and loosen the bond between the thick layers of paint with the deck. As a result, the paint slowly lifts up and can be completely and permanently removed from the surface.

Moreover, a stain remover comes as a thin solution but paint removers are mostly gel-based.

Budget requirement

If you are willing to remove paint or stains from a small surface area then you can pick up high-quality and expensive strippers. But, considering that you want to remove paintwork from a large surface area. Then you must compare and reconsider the effectiveness of the product. Because it will increase the price of the product to be bought exponentially.

Additional Requirements

It is better to avoid Methylene Chloride or NMP based paint removers. These are highly toxic for the human body and skin. There are many brands that are now producing VOC and Methylene Chloride-free paint removers.

Conclusion

Wood Decks are very sensitive when removing paint paints or stain scenarios. The paint removing work should be done very sensibly otherwise, the process will damage the natural glaze and beauty of the wood.

For this, it is important for you to get the best paint remover for the wood deck. This is the primary condition because not all paint removers comply with the wooden surface. Getting it will complete the half work itself. You must keep in mind the paint you want to remove and the surface you want to remove the paint from.

About Lewis Traylor

Lewis Traylor is a certified Paint Sprayer Specialist who has been in the business for over 10 years. He has worked on both residential and commercial projects, and has a passion for making sure every job is done right. He takes pride in his work, and it shows in the quality of his finished product. He is always willing to go the extra mile to make sure his customers are happy with the end result.

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