How to Paint a Cedar Deck Railing
Cedar makes a top choice for deck railings and other exterior applications due to its natural resistance to bugs and water. This resistance comes from the presence of tannins in the wood. These tannins, however, tend to bleed through paints applied to the wood, leaving stains similar to water stains on the paint surface.
To provide the best protection from tannin stains, it is important to prime the deck railing with a professional quality alkyd primer. Latex top coats can be applied over the oil-based primer to make for easier clean up, but water-based latex primers pull the water-based tannins out of the wood and into the paint, so sealing them in the wood with an oil-based primer is essential.
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Things You'll Need
- Exterior wood filler
- Sandpaper, 150 and 220 grits
- Oil-based primer
- Paint
- Small roller (4- or 6-inch)
- Angled paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Fill any knots with an exterior-grade wood filler. Let the filler dry and sand it smooth with the surrounding surface.
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2
Lightly sand the entire deck railing with 150-grit sandpaper to remove any small imperfections and give the surface of the wood a uniform finish.
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3
Prime the deck railing using a quality oil-based stain-blocking primer to prevent the tannins from bleeding though the paint. Use a small roller for the tops of the railing and the sides of the pickets, and use an angled paintbrush for all of the detail areas and places the roller won't fit. Let the primer coat dry according to the instructions on the can of primer.
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4
Sand the primer coat with 220-grit sandpaper, and apply a second primer coat. Tannins can be hard to contain over time, so a second coat provides an extra shield against staining, although it is not necessary.
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5
Apply the first top coat in the same manner as the primer coats, using a small roller and an angled paintbrush. Let the paint dry sufficiently before applying the final coat, usually four hours, but check the instruction on the paint can to be sure.
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6
Sand the tops of the hand rails and any other area where hands may come in frequent contact with the deck railing, using 220-grit sandpaper.
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7
Apply the final top coat to the deck railing and let the railing dry for at least 24 hours before using it.
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Tips & Warnings
Sand with the direction of the grain and not against it, or the sanding marks left may show through the paint.
