You go outside to sit on the deck and are relaxing in the deck chair.  It’s such a nice day outside and so relaxing, except for one thing.  It’s hard to relax when you keep looking at the deck and see worn spots where the stain has been rubbed off from use or the whole deck looks faded after a couple of years of sun exposure.  It’s obviously time to refinish the deck and it’s a job the do-it-yourself person can easily handle.  So it’s time to get out of the chair and get busy, because it’s important to care for your deck.

A deck is an investment in a home.  You invest in the materials and labor, and it enhances the appearance of the home while also expanding living space.  Most decks are made out of wood which means you have two choices when it comes to refinishing.  You can paint or stain the wood.  But before you do either, it’s necessary to wash the deck thoroughly and make any necessary repairs.

Refinishing a deck is not difficult, but it does require a lot of grunt work.  First you should power wash the deck to remove grime and a lot of the old stain.  The only thing you have to watch out for is that you don’t let the water hit one spot too long so the wood doesn’t get pitted.  After it’s been washed, you need to let the deck thoroughly dry.  Then you can sand the deck and remove the rest of the old stain.¹

After the deck is dry is the time to check for repairs that need to be done.  You can look for rotted wood or nails that have popped.  You can replace nails with screws which will hold much better.  If you are not comfortable making the deck repairs, you can hire a contractor.  Once the repairs are completed, it’s time to refinish the deck.

You have several choices when it comes to deck stains.  You can apply a clear stain which lets the natural wood color show through. Or you can use an opaque or semi-transparent stain.  Most stains today contain a water sealer in them so that moisture cannot reach the wood.  They also have an ultraviolet protectant so the sun cannot fade the color as quickly as it would fade otherwise. 

Painting a deck is not recommended.  Paint on decking will wear off when people use the deck.  It is still used on railings sometimes, but even that is not common anymore.  Usually the railing is stained the same color as the deck itself.  A stained deck requires a lot less work than a painted deck.

You will need to refinish your deck every two or three years.  When you are choosing your stain colors, it’s important to consider the kind of wood used in your deck.  Redwood is usually refinished with a clear stain in order to let the natural color show through.  Cedar decks are the same way.  Decks made out of other woods including pressure-treated are often stained with the semi-transparent or opaque stains.²

Once the deck is refinished, you can return to your deck chair.  Life is good…especially after the work is done.

Sources:

(1) http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/outdoor/decks/how-to-refinish-your-deck/

(2) http://www.ehow.com/how_2309452_refinish-deck.html