Polish Your Wood Deck With These TipsIf your wood deck is losing its appeal due to age and you no longer feel comfortable inviting people to hang out there, a refinish will do the trick. It is not complicated and you can handle the task by yourself if you make time for it. Here's what you need to do when you get time on a sunny day:
The first thing to do will be an inspection and repairs. Brush your deck to get rid of all debris and inspect it on the decking rails and areas in contact with the ground. Take note of breaking wood, rotten boards, and loose joints and nuts. Change rotten screws with new ones, loose nails with screws, and faulty wood with specialty lumber or pressure-treated wood. Find out more about specialty lumber or pressure-treated wood here.
If you're interested in giving it a fresh coat of paint or stain, you will require scraping off the old stain first. A scrapper will help you much and make sure you re-check the nails and screws on your deck to confirm that they are still securely in place. Use a stain remover to take off the existing finish completely.
You will then scrub your deck thoroughly with an appropriate cleaning product. Ensure that you wear protective gear to prevent harming yourself with the cleaning products, and cover surrounding plants or spray them with water to enhance their resistance to chemical damage.
Rinse the cleaning products with a deep pressure cleaner which easily removes dirt. In case you cannot access a deep pressure cleaner, make use of a rigid bristled push cleaner. When using a deep pressure cleaner, be gentle with it to avoid damaging your deck and affecting its appeal. Make sure that you use a spray motion. Make sure that the deck is spotless to proceed to the next step.
During a deep cleaning, a deck's wood fibers raise and splinter. A sandpaper will allow you to make the surface smooth. The grit you use should be below 100 to maintain the wood's absorptive properties. Use rough motions at first and get gentle as the surface becomes smoother. Make sure your deck handles are correctly done because that's where you'll be judged from.
Once happy with everything up to this point, it is time to stain your deck. Ensure that you acquire high-quality products to get excellent results. Use a solid stain product for long lasting effects and little maintenance requirements. It is best to use an oil-based product as well because it stains your deck deeply beyond the surface. It is best to use semi-transparent stains on old wood because they produce consistent results. If your wood is still new, a clear stain will do.
Check your product's instructions to know which tools to use best. Rollers are always great for large surfaces, while brushes are ideal for trickier spots. Wait 48 hours before applying the stain and first test a spot to know what color to expect. Apply the stain from the top to the bottom and use a water repellent in between coats.More information: moved here