How to Refinish a Wood Deck

It is that time of year when it becoming nice enough outside to refinish the wood deck. Refinishing the deck should not be completed until the season is dry enough so that there is little or no moisture in the air. A deck is a piece of the home that is exposed to the elements on a daily basis, and if exposed to moisture, or wetness for prolonged periods of time while being refinished, the deck could become damaged.

Decks are easy to refinish, and can be done without any help from outside professionals. They are most often completed by the homeowner because they are durable structures, meant to withstand the elements and therefore most of the problems with a deck are cosmetic, rather than something being wrong with the base, or the structure of the deck.

The first step to refinishing your deck is cleaning the deck. It must be thoroughly cleaned, or the debris that is left on the deck will become adhered within the paint, and cause the paint to come off, chip easier and not stick to the deck. All leaves, dust, and other debris should be swept from the deck and than the deck should be cleaned with a pressure washer to ensure that no dust is left attached to the desk.

Make sure that the deck is dry before moving to the next step. This should take less than a couple of hours if it is a sunny day, the perfect day for refinishing a deck.

When the deck is dry it is time to sand the deck, to make sure that the paint or stain is going to adhere correctly. Any chips that are at the deck should be sanded down so that the surface is smooth.

Before painting, check the weather forecast and make sure that it is going to be a clear day. It is best to paint the deck on days that are dry so the paint can dry in the best weather possible.

Tape the area around the deck that reaches the house or other buildings so that none of the paint is accidentally rolled onto the house. This will make the job look unprofessional, and unattractive.

Be sure to have the supplies ready to paint on the clear day. Wasting hours running out to purchase extra rolling brushes, or paint trays can waste the day and put the job off for another week. For the best results, use a roller rather than a brush. This not only saves time, but saves the strokes that are visible when something has been painted with a brush.

After the deck has been painted allow the paint or stain to dry fully before anyone walks on it. The area should be kept clear for at least twenty four hours to avoid unsightly footprints in the paint, that are impossible to get rid of.

The next day, remove the tape attached to the home, and other edges and enjoy your newly painted deck!