How to Refinish a Weathered Deck

Your deck was built with summer in mind. Whether you're barbecuing, sunbathing or simply lounging with friends, your deck is an important part of the season. Unfortunately, a deck that has been neglected for years is uninviting. Rotten, moldy boards and a weathered appearance will discourage anyone from using his or her deck in the summer. In this article, you will learn how to restore a neglected deck with minimal effort and expense.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Replacement boards
• Power washer, deck stripper or cleaning solution
• Screws and electric drill
• Electric or hand saw
• Measuring tape
• 80-grit sandpaper
• Stain or other weatherproofing sealant
• Roller, brush or spray gun

1. 

   Replace rotten or damaged deck boards. See tips below for how to save money by reusing parts of damaged boards.

2. Clean the deck. Use a power washer, but don't splinter the boards with the high-powered spray. Instead of a power washer, you may choose to use a deck cleaner or stripper to remove previous coats of stain or paint. Inexpensive cleaners and strippers can be found at any home store. Just follow the simple directions on the product.

3. Let the deck dry completely (likely two to three days depending on exposure to sun).

4. After washing or stripping your deck and allowing it to dry completely, lightly sand boards with 80-grit sandpaper. As is true with most tools, power is better! Save your back and invest in or borrow a power sander. After sanding, sweep the deck clean.

5. Apply stain or waterproofing sealant with a roller, brush and/or sprayer. A sprayer is suggested for railings (use a brush to clean up runs), while a roller is advisable on deck boards. Dark stains are recommended to hide imperfections in older deck boards, and they typically last longer in the elements than light stains or transparent sealers.

6. Let the stain or sealant dry for at least 24 hours, and then enjoy your refinished deck before having to repeat the above steps in three or four years!

Tips & Warnings

• Try to reuse parts of the original boards so you don't have to buy too many costly new boards. For example, if the end of one of your boards is rotten, cut off the rotten portion and replace it with a piece of a new board, making sure the boards are cut so the replacement board can be attached to a joist at both ends.
• When replacing deck boards, be sure to measure precisely and use screws, not nails, to attach the replacement boards.
• When applying stain or sealant, one coat is usually all that is needed. A gallon of stain likely will cover about 300 square feet. However, a sprayer will use more stain than a brush or roller.
• Keeping your deck free of debris throughout the year will help extend the life of your refinished deck.
• Always wear safety goggles when sawing boards.
• Wear safety goggles and a mask when sanding boards and applying stain or weatherproofing sealant.

Resources

• How Home and Garden Topic Guide