You’ll spend a lot on supplies, but you may still save money by DIYing
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
Long handled brush or mop
Hose
Power washer
Shop vacuum
Paint brushes
Buckets
Electric sander or sandpaper
SUPPLIES
Stain or sealant
Deck cleaning agent
Deck stripping solution
Water
(Optional) Tarp for plant coverage
Learning how to refinish your deck improves appearance, prevents wood from rotting or becoming infested with critters or bacteria, and makes your outdoor living spaces safer and cleaner. Maintaining a deck can also help preserve its life and prevent any serious repairs from being needed later on, which will save you money. What's not to love about that?
In this guide, learn how to refinish a deck safely, simple, and efficiently. It'll take you at least two days, but a lot of that time will go towards drying.
Prepping to Refinish a Deck
For the simplest DIY job, wait until you know you'll have a string of at least two sunny, warm days in a row. This is a good task to tackle in the summertime, as your deck will dry quicker and you'll be able to proceed to the next step on the list faster.
Do research on the items you'll need, especially stripping agents and the sealant or stain you plan to use at the end. Find a color that fits what you're going for.
7 Steps to Refinish a Deck
For those maneuvering the deck refinishing process themselves, here's a seven-step guide.
Clear Your Deck of All Items
Move the grill, patio furniture, kid's toys, and any other items on your deck to the yard or inside.
If there are plants along the perimeter of your deck, move the ones you can. For items that can't be moved, especially anything alive like plants or flowers, you might consider covering them with a tarp to prevent the power washer from accidentally damaging them later on.
Before staining or sealing any surface, always, always clean it. Adding new paint or stain to a dirty surface will only lock dirt, grime, and other impurities into the wood below, which isn't good for the wood and may result in a refinished deck looking not the way you pictured it.
Rinse your deck gently with a hose, then use an outdoor wood cleaner mixed with water (read the label to find the right ratio) and mop or brush it along the surface of your wood.
Using a power washer to remove the cleaner is recommended, as it'll help blast off any dirt or grime that's really stuck. Just be careful to avoid plants, windows, or siding along the way. Let your deck dry for at least 60 minutes.
By the way: scrubbing and rinsing outdoor living spaces at least once a year is one of several great deck maintenance tips you should try to stick to annually.
Using an electric sander or just sandpaper, smooth out any rough places on handles, rails, or spaces in between boards of your deck.
This is also a good time to look for and remove loose nails, cracks that can be filled with wood filler, and other structural damage that might need to be tackled before you paint or stain your refinished deck.
Apply Deck Stripping Agent
Several manufacturers make deck stripping solutions, which can be bought at a home improvement store for around $40. Again, mix this with water (following the correct ratio) and apply it as a paste or liquid solution to your deck.
A mop is a fine way to apply deck stripper, but a coarse brush with a long handle might be the better choice. This will help the stripping paste penetrate the wood deeper, helping to lift old grime, stain, or sealant.
Read the label, but most deck striping agents take three to 24 hours to work. Rinse with a hose thoroughly after that time elapses.
Adding deck brightener after the stripping agent does its job can help revitalize older wood and make it look as new as possible again. It's an encouraged step if you have the time.
The steps are basically the same as above. Mix with water, apply with a coarse brush, then wait the allotted time per instructions. Rinse thoroughly and let dry.
Deck brightening solutions cost about $20. Be sure to match your deck brightener with either water-based or oil-based stain, depending on what you plan to finish the deck with after. Water-based brightener takes three to six hours to dry, whereas oil-based brightener usually takes about 24 hours before you can add stain.
Apply New Sealant or Stain
Photo: IcemanJ / Adobe Stock
Once your deck is dry, clean, and sanded, add stain, outdoor paint, or sealant depending on preference. A six-inch stain pad with a long handle costs around $15 at home improvement stores and will make your life a lot easier than having to manually paint with a brush.
Let Dry
Let your stain, paint, or sealant dry, per instructions. Touch up any sections with a paintbrush after you've finished.
If you really want to lock in the color and have the time, adding a second coat of stain can help.
Once you're satisfied with the look and everything is dry, add your deck items back and enjoy!
DIY Refinishing a Deck Vs. Hiring a Pro
Other than sanding and removing furniture, the steps to refinish a deck are very similar. The task will take homeowners two to three days to complete, but if you're comfortable working with chemical-based agents and have the time, you could save as much as $800 tackling this project on your own.
The average deck refinishing cost is about $3 to $6.80 per square foot, or roughly $975 on average. If you have the stuff around your house, such as a power washer, you can tackle it for under $200.
That said, if your deck is seriously damaged, there's mold or mildew growing on the surface, or you're worried about the structural integrity of an old deck, it might be worth it to call in a professional deck refinishing service.
Ben is a writer, media strategist, and DIY enthusiast. A former teacher, he's written two books and published articles on major publications like Business Insider and Elite Daily. He lives in Denver.
Ben is a writer, media strategist, and DIY enthusiast. A former teacher, he's written two books and published articles on major publications like Business Insider and Elite Daily. He lives in Denver.
The homeowners guide to Deck Maintenance
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