How to Refinish Home Decks

wood deck

The wood deck on your home can be like having an additional room for relaxation, fun and entertaining. But if you don't refinish the wood regularly, you an end up with a splintered and weathered surface that can actually become a hazard when you walk on it with bare feet. Most wood decks should be refinished every year or two. You can refinish your deck easily without the cost of hiring a professional.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose and water
• Protective waterproof coverings for nearby foliage
• Pressure washer
• Trisodium phosphate (TSP) or deck cleaner
• Wood stripping solution
• Rag
• Bristle brush
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Deck finish (tinted, semi-transparent or transparent) for use in power sprayers
• Power sprayer
• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles

Instructions

1. Remove furniture and other items from your deck. Cover nearby plants with a protective waterproof covering to protect them from chemicals you'll be using.

2. Use a pressure washer with a TSP solution or other deck-cleaning product to spray all the deck surfaces. This will remove dirt, mold and old stain from the deck. Follow the instructions with the pressure washer and the directions on the deck cleaner to determine how to dilute the solution with water.

3. Remove any stubborn stains by applying a chemical wood stripping solution with a rag and scrubbing with a bristle brush. Rinse well with water from the garden hose.

4. Let the deck dry thoroughly before staining or applying a finish. In the meantime, you can hammer or screw in any loose nails or screws.

5. Pour your desired finish in a power sprayer, according to the manufacturer's directions for both the sprayer and the finish. Spray the finish on all areas of the deck, including railings and posts. Saturate the wood with the finish. Let all the deck surfaces dry completely.

6. Spray off nearby plants with the garden hose so you can remove any chemical residues that may have rained on the plants.

Tips & Warnings

• Some finishes last longer than others; tinted and clear finished typically last just one or two years, and solid or semitransparent finishes can last up to four years.

• Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when working with chemical solutions.

• When using the pressure washer, be careful not to gouge the wood by spraying on one spot for a long time.

References

• House Painting Info: Wood Deck Refinishing
• Better Homes: How to Refinish Your Deck