Thinking about repainting your decking, but don’t know where to start? Now’s the time to put that plan in action! The autumn months are perfect for rejuvenating your deck, whether that’s a quick paint job, mark or stain removal, or a protective layer for the harsh weather conditions about to arrive.
To start with, do you have the necessary tools, like protective gear, equipment, and the paint itself? Do you know how to remove stains from your deck? Not to worry, BC Paints have got you covered.
This article will tell you all you need to know, from how to paint between deck boards to how to properly paint a deck.
How Long Will It Last?
If you clean, prime, paint, and protect your decking properly, then your paint job could last for 10 years. Don’t top up your paint as it starts to fade as this could remove the paint. Instead, remove the old paint and restart the process if you want to elevate your decking once more.
What Is the Best Paint?
We have a variety of anti-slip decking paint and colours, so you’re not restricted in when and how you use it. Whether you’re looking to update your deck’s fading colour to a natural tone or liven it up with a funky yellow colour, we’ve got something for everybody.
What You Will Need
We recommend not skipping any of these precautions and tools because they keep you safe, alongside these regulations. This PPE and equipment are recommended for your benefit:
Cleaning:
- Tarp (or thick blanket/spare sheet)
- Protective gear (mask, gloves, goggles, wellies, coverall)
Garden hose or pressure washer - Broom and/or scrubbing brush
- Decking cleaner
- Scraper
- Decking stripper (if removing old paint)
- Sanding belt
Painting:
- Tarp (the same as above)
- Protective gear (the same as above)
- Masking tape (if you’re painting a specific area)
- Paintbrushes
- Paint roller and tray
- Primer and topcoat
- Paint
Decking Painting Guide
Prep
Painting your deck isn’t as straightforward as just going in and painting it. Before you start those steps, you need to clean your decking first. We recommend checking for any repairs, such as broken boards, and removing or tightening loose screws before cleaning.
Even if your deck looks as bare as it did when you first installed it, you’re about to find how dirty it gets. Here’s what you need to do:
How to Remove Stains From Your Deck
- Remove furniture from deck and around the plaint-splatter zone
- Place your cover on the areas you want to protect
- Put on the PPE
- Using your broom, brush away any loose leaves, dirt, and debris
- Pressure wash your deck (can also be done with a garden hose with less pressure)
- Apply the cleaner across your deck
- Scrub away tough dirt, debris, and stains
How to Prepare a Painted Deck for Repainting
- Apply one coat of paint stripper using a paintbrush or roller
- Wait for 30 minutes (24 hours for best results)
- Remove the old paint using a scraper
Paint
If you’ve waited a few hours or days before painting, brush your deck once again to remove any mess. It’s worth waiting until the weather is nice to start priming and painting for optimal results.
You don’t need to cover anything if you have no grass or furniture in the way, or if you don’t mind paint splatters, but we strongly recommend you do cover things.
Remember to double-check if your paint includes primer. There’s not much harm in adding two layers of primer as it will still protect your deck, but it may be harder to remove the paint in the future.
Is your deck sparkling clean? Now you’re ready to paint! If you’re going with a similar colour as the wood, this is the easiest step. Here’s what you need to do next:
How to Properly Paint a Deck
- Put on the PPE
- For optimal results, sand your deck to help the paint stick better
- Apply one coat of primer to your deck using a roller
- Stir the paint using a long paintbrush, thin plank of wood, or paint stirrer
- Using a roller, apply one coat of paint
- Wait for 6 hours (24 hours for best results)
- Using a roller, apply a second coat of paint
- Wait another 6 hours (24 hours for best results)
How to Paint Between Deck Boards
- Using a thin paintbrush, apply one coat to fill in the cracks between the boards (try not to paint the finished boards to reduce colour patching)
- Wait for 4 to 6 hours
- Using a thin paintbrush, apply a second coat to fill in any remaining spaces
- Wait another 4 to 6 hours
You shouldn’t need a third coat, but if the colour isn’t vibrant enough or it’s faint in some areas compared to others, add a third layer and leave it to dry for up to 24 hours again.
Protect
You’re onto your last steps now. Are you excited to see the final result? It’s now time to seal the paint and protect it from scuffs. We recommend purchasing a weatherproof and non-slip protective layer, but these can be more expensive.
If your paint already contains a topcoat, then you can skip this last step. If not, here are your final steps:
- Using a roller, apply one coat of the protective layer
- Wait for 24 hours
- Remove the tarp and place your furniture back onto your patio
For best results, it’s worth leaving the tarp on for 7 days to allow the paint to cure, but if you’re impatient, just be careful with scraping your furniture across the new paint.
Now you know how to paint a deck! All that’s left to do is enjoy your rejuvenated space, whether that’s bragging to your friends about your DIY job, or cosying up with a book and mug of hot chocolate to get back to normal.
As a leading manufacturer of high-quality home and garden paints, we’ll supply all the paint and accessories you’ll need for all your future DIY projects. We have a quick turnaround time of one to three days across the entirety of the UK, even for bulk orders.
Contact us today to get started on your painting adventure. Alternatively, give us a call at 01902 954 944 with any questions about our services.
