How to Paint a Deck
A painted deck can be a stunning feature of your outdoor space. However, knowing how to paint a deck isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.
In this article, we’ll go through some possible issues you might face, and share with you our top tips. Let’s get right into it.
How to Paint a Deck: Possible Issues
When it comes to painting wooden decks, fences, handrails, retaining walls and other multifaceted timber structures, achieving a watertight seal is quite difficult. Some surfaces may not be accessible (such as the underside of a deck, or the gap between fence slats), leaving an area exposed to water and weather damage.
Wood that is only partially painted can pose issues – even if that side of the wood can’t get wet, like the underside of a low deck. The exposed timber will absorb water vapours that rise up from the ground beneath. This can cause problems such as paint blisters, chips, peeling paint, splitting and rotting.
Another thing to keep in mind is the current state of the deck. A weathered, dry deck will absorb anything you put onto it, meaning you will need quite a lot of paint (and patience) to achieve an even result.
Here’s an example. We worked on a holiday home in Perigian Beach. As you can see from the before photo, the deck was in need of some serious TLC.
Before: This sun-damaged deck needed some serious TLC
The wood was extremely dry and completely absorbed the first coat of paint. It took three coats of paint to achieve our client’s desired look. What a transformation!
After: We used Dulux Weathershield in Sheer Granite and White
The client was thrilled with the results. (Read Toowang residential repaint case study for further inspiration) Who wouldn’t be happy to spend their holiday lounging on this freshly painting deck?
How to Paint a Deck: Top Tips
As we mentioned, painting an outdoor deck involves more than you might first think. Here are our top tips for achieving professional results:
- Make sure the wood is clean. Because the deck is outside, it is essential to give the surface a thorough clean: use a pressure-cleaner, scrub with detergent, even sand away uneven surfaces.
- Make sure the wood is dry. If the wood is even slightly damp, your paint may not properly adhere to the surface and could blister and peel.
- Remove and replace any loose nails. Now is the perfect time to get your deck back to like-new condition.
- Fill in any holes and replace any rotten slats.
- Use a weather-safe paint engineered to last outdoors, such as Dulux Weathershield.
- Lastly, don’t forget to check the weather forecast! Avoid painting your deck in rainy weather.
Get Professional Painting Help
Painting a deck is no easy task. If not done properly, you could end up with blistered paint, damaged timber and a result which may need repainting again next year. If you want professional results that will look good for several years, please contact us. Give us a call on 07 3829 5735 or fill out the form on this page. We’d be more than happy to give you a fast, accurate quote.
