An old, weathered wood deck takes away from the overall outside appearance of the home. Renovating the area gives it a fresh appearance, restoring the home's exterior.
The extent of the renovation depends on the current condition and your plans for the area. Cleaning and sealing your deck are important, not just for looks but for longevity.
To know if you need to refinish your deck sprinkle the decking with clean water. If it beads up and sits there, it's fine, but if the water is absorbed, it's time to clean and seal.
Never stain or seal without cleaning first; you'll lock in dirt and stains. The job can be done by one person, but it's easier with two.
You'll need a couple of days of drying time between cleaning and sealing, as well as a few mild, dry days for the sealer to dry. Clean the entire deck, including the posts and railings.
Special cleaners help remove tough dirt, mildew and other common wood stains. A mixture of detergent and water is another cleaning option.
A mixture of one part bleach to three parts water is effective on any mold or mildew on the decking. Evaluate the wood current condition.
Make a list of the areas that need improvement due to weathering, damage, structural faults or features that don't flow well. Look for boards with cracks, rotting, gouges and other damage.
Determine if repairs are possible or if the board needs replacing completely. Complete any repairs to the boards.
First, sand rough or splintered areas, drive in loose nails or screws, and sweep thoroughly. Protect surrounding areas with tarps or plastic drop cloths.
Sand the surface using a belt sander to prepare it for staining. Use a chemical stripper if you are using a different color of stain.
Work in small areas with the chemical stripper, following all package directions closely. If your cleaner is a concentrate, mix according to package directions and take care to follow instructions regarding whether the surface should be wet or dry when applying.
Use a garden sprayer, a long-handled paint roller or a clean, stiff push broom to apply the cleaner, keeping it from forming pools. Scrub stubborn stains with the broom, and let the cleaner saturate for the recommended time.
Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose. Allow the area to dry for two days minimum before sealing.
Choose a stain that is combined with a sealer. There are plenty of sealers to choose from; broadly, they're either water- or oil-based.
Water-based sealers usually last longer and clean up more easily, while oil-based products generally keep their color better. You can choose the color and coverage you want with a stain or sealer.
A stain is a solid color that offers supreme protection. Use this if your wood has lost its beauty, if you don't care to see the grain or if you want serious color.
Semi-transparent stains offer sheer color that lets the wood grain show. Tinted water repellant has just a hint of color that offers less protection from the sun than the more pigmented choices above.
A clear sealer has no pigmentation, so protection from UV rays is minimal at best. Showcases wood, but the sun will fade the wood within a few months.
After your deck has dried completely from cleaning, apply the first of two thin coats with a long-handled paint roller or a clean garden tank sprayer. Apply thin coats of the stain, working along the entire length of each board before moving to the next.
This prevents marks at your starting and stopping points. To get an even coat, it's essential that the sealer does not pool or puddle.
Work in small sections, taking care not to paint yourself into a corner. Check the drying time on your product packaging before applying the second coat, and allow the sealant to dry thoroughly before walking on it.
Add any decorative trim or posts to the wood deck as accents, like caps on top of the posts. Install lighting for the area, which may include lights on the deck posts or lamp post style lighting.
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