How to Restore Deck Paint

I found out how to restore deck paint, and now I’m going to share the secret with you.

I had just bought a house, and the previous owners had allowed the deck paint to become chipped. It looked awful, and I was beside myself. We had really wanted an outdoor deck, but not one that got splinters in our feet and looked shabby. With summer coming up, we didn’t want to use a deck that looked this bad.

Not to worry. You can not only remove old deck paint, you can restore your deck to be as good as new.

Here’s how.

1. Remove the Old Deck Paint 

Your first task is to remove the existing deck paint. If a deck looks bad and has splinters, you can’t simply paint over it. Existing paint can be removed with boiling water and a scraper. Pour the boiling water on a section of the paint and then use the scraper to  get the paint off. You can use chemical peelers but as homeowners who like to live as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible we decided to go a more natural route. Afterwards, use a good pressure washer to spray down your deck.

2. Choose the Product to Restore Your Deck

You can use either paint, stain or a Restore brand product to renovate your deck.

Paint

Paint will require more work from you in filling in cracks and holes. You will also need to caulk. That said, some paints are specially formulated to repair wood. Paint also offers more color choices.

Restore Products

Restore deck products are made of heavy-duty acrylic. They have been developed specifically to restore decks. They offer convenience in restoration, because the product itself is up to 10 times thicker than paint, and will fill in cracks and holes for a smoother surface. Supposedly, restore products will last as long as 13 years. However, I’ve used restore paint on a deck and it looked awful the next year and I had to painstakingly remove the paint and then I reapplied stain.

Stain

Stains come in a variety of neutral colors. For old wood, it’s recommended to use a semi-transparent stain.

Preparation

All deck products require the same basic preparation:

1. Remove the old paint.
2. Power wash and let dry.
3. Remove any loose nails.
4. Repair splinters and holes, if necessary.
5. If some areas have been protected by the sun, sandpaper them.
6. Mask any areas of adjacent walls or non-deck areas, so they don’t get the product on them.
7. Apply the product with the appropriate equipment. Most products will need several coats. The first coat acts as a primer for most products, including Restore products.

Be Sure to Get the Correct Equipment

Not all brushes and rollers for applying your deck product are created equal. Make sure you get the correct equipment for your deck and your product.

• Only use brushes close to adjacent walls and non-deck areas.
• Use a roller to apply paint or acrylic to the body of the deck.
• If you have a rough surface, your roller should have approximately a three-quarter-inch
• If you have a medium surface, your roller needs to have a three-eighths to one-quarter-inch nap.
• If your deck is smooth, you can use a foam roller.
• Be sure to get a roller extension, too. It’ll make the job much easier.

And that’s it! You can complete this project over a few weekends, and you’ll be enjoying iced tea and sunshine on your deck before you know it.

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