Painting and Staining Your Deck, the Right Way

A wood deck is a big investment. It provides a place for outdoor relaxation, creates a centralized location for parties or barbeques, and adds value to the home. So why not add life to your investment? To preserve and add life to a wood deck, you must continue to maintain and protect it. This means adding a fresh coat of paint or stain about every four to five years.

For painting the deck, here are the key steps.

First clean and prep the wood. Use a pressure sprayer to knock out stains, old paint, and built-up dirt.
If mold is present, use bleach and water to eliminate it.
Remove any pop up nails and replace old, worn-out boards. Loose nails should be pulled out and replaced with longer nails.
Before you can start, make sure to sand down areas of paint that show flaking or bubbling. When you sand, go right down to the grain of the wood; this will help in the sealing process.

Now you’re ready to apply primer. Use a roller where you can and brush in the hard-to-reach areas. For the best results, apply two coats of primer before painting. Let the first coat dry for at least 24 hours, then apply the second; you’ll want to also check the weather forecast as well.

It’s time to paint. Make sure to use 100% exterior acrylic paint; latex will not last. Using lighter colors is best, since they don’t absorb as much heat. It’s a good idea to try to use flat paints, as these types of paint are moisture resistance.

Staining is the most popular way to keep your deck looking good for a long time. But it also takes a little more work.

Before applying sealer and stain, you’ll need to sand the entire deck. This can be a painstaking task, certainly you’ll want to buy, borrow, or rent a sander.
In order to keep the moisture out, every square inch of wood must be stripped.
Once you’ve completed the sanding portion, apply water sealant. The experts recommend using about 5 gallons of sealant.
Wait a day or two for the sealant to dry, and then apply the wood stain. Be liberal with the amount; 4-5 gallons of stain is what it should take.
Afterwards you’ll have a beautiful and long lasting wood deck.

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