Refinishing a wood deck not only improves its appearance but extends its life.
Given the highcost of building a deck, it’s important to preserve it for as long as possible.
you’ve got the option to refinish a wood deck in a weekend or two.
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Use a natural bristle brush with an oil-based product and a synthetic bristle brush with water-based stains.
You will likely need a few different brush sizes.
Safety Considerations
Deck stains and sealers are toxic and flammable.
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Use a NIOSH-approved respirator when applying.
Keep heat and flames away from either product.
Wear long sleeves and waterproof gloves to avoid skin contact.
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Dispose of oily rags properly to prevent a fire hazard.
Clean the Deck
Power washthe deck to thoroughly clean it.
Use the lowest pressure that still provides effective cleaning.
Any moisture in the pores of the wood will prevent proper absorption of the stain.
Vacuum all surfaces thoroughly after sanding.
Apply the Stain
Start with the handrails and work your way down to the deck boards.
The surface decking boards are best stained with a flat paint-pad applicator.
Do not leave pools of stain to dry on the surface.
All traces of the old coating must be stripped or sanded away before the new coating can be applied.
Sanding is usually a better option than stripping when you are refinishing a wood deck.
Even thorough stripping will leave some of the old coating behind.
Sanding will take down the wood by up to 1/8-inch, removing all of the coating in the process.
Use an oxygen-based wood cleaner designed to remove mildew stains and graying triggered by sun exposure.
One gallon covers about 400 square feet of decking.
Two coats are recommended.
