Flooring Home Improvement - How to Refinish a Floor Deck

There are three relatively affordable and easy steps to protect your deck and keep it looking as good as new.

There is a simple test you can perform to check the finish on your deck. Put a few drops of water on the surface and see if it beads up or quickly soaks in. If the water soaks in, your deck should be refinished. If it beads up, your finish is still doing it's job.

If refinishing is necessary, try to do it during a period of low humidity and moderate temperatures, as you will need to allow several drying periods.

Washing - the critical step
The effects of wear and weather on a deck are usually uneven. This is due to different amounts of foot traffic and different parts of the deck being exposed to direct sunlight. The shaded areas will generally hold up better since they receive less rain, snow and wind that can act like sand paper, blowing debris across the surface.

The pre-finished surface should be uniform, though, so prepare the entire deck, regardless of the varying wear. All dirt, debris and mildew should be removed. Many times, you can accomplish this by using a long handled scrub brush and some mild dish detergent.

There may also be foreign objects between the slats that need removed. Use a hose or some other tool to knock out all spider webs and pebbles and so forth.

In some cases, a garden hose and dish soap won't do the trick. Pressure washers can be rented at a relatively low cost to do these jobs. 1000 psi of pressure and a 30 degree spray nozzle are recommended. Spray with the grain, about 6 inches away from the surface. Allow a few days for drying afterward.

You'll want to use a deck cleaner to pre-treat the wood if your deck is several years old. Simple oxalic acid solutions will be sufficient for this type of job. Pick out a hidden test spot to apply the cleaner. You should allow a few days for this to dry as well.

A cup of TSP (trisodium phosphate) mixed with a cup of household bleach is recommended for cleaning hard to remove mildew spots. After application, allow 15 minutes before rinsing.

Stripping and Repairing
Strip away all old paint, stain and sealer after the deck has been thoroughly washed and dried. Next, you'll want to perform any necessary repairs, such as replacing missing or broken screws and damaged boards.

Contrary to what many believe, repairs should be done after the washing to avoid having to wash freshly treated replacement boards. On the other hand, this causes you to unnecessarily wash boards you will be replacing.

Allow a couple of days for drying.

Finishing
Now you can move on to the 'easy' part. Spend the extra money and get a stain that is water repellent or water proof instead of water resistant. It should also be a good fiber penetrating stain. The deeper the stain soaks in, the better protection from wear and weather you will have. Be sure to inquire about mildewcide and UV protection as well.

Mask off anything that you do not want stained, such as metal thresholds and molding. Get those hard to reach areas with a small brush or rag. A smooth nylon or lambs wool roller should be used for application on the main deck surface. Two days of drying time should be allowed before use.

Done. Whew...

         

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