How to Paint or Stain a Wood Deck
If you want to breathe new life into a wooden deck, it is often quite easy. One of the best features of owning a wooden deck is the fact that is so easy to refinish. It can be an enjoyable project for crafty homeowners. Repainting wood or applying a clear stain can completely redefine the look of any piece of wood. However, the methods that you use to paint wood are going to be different than those that you will use to stain it. This article compares the two processes, and should help you achieve a more professional looking wood finish, regardless of whether you are going to paint or stain your wood.
Prepping the Deck
You will need to do some prep work if you are going to paint or stain your wood. Most importantly, you want to sand the surface to make it evenly smooth. A uniform texture is going to absorb the paint or stain more evenly, and you're going to end up with a better looking finish. Even if you're just going to repaint your surface the same color that it is, it might be smart to completely sand off the existing finish and start from scratch. This way that you know your paint will be strong and adhere to the natural wood grains.
Painting Wood Decks
When it comes to applying a paint finish, there are generally two ways to go about it. You can either brush it on with combination of brushes and rollers. Brushes will be necessary to reach the corners, but rollers help you cover the majority of the deck more quickly.
There also pneumatic spraygun systems that work well, and might be better if you are paining a large deck. They're also preferred on super smooth hardwood surfaces because they don't leave behind any brushstrokes.
Staining Wood Decks
When it comes to staining wood with a liquid stain, you don't want to use paint brushes or rollers. The liquid is too runny for these tools. You can use sprayguns, but the easiest technique is to just rub it on with rags. You can dip the rag directly in the stain can and easily spread it over the wood. It will soak into the wood and dry, leaving behind no brushstrokes. This method also makes it easier to control the mess.
As you can see, whether you're going to apply a clear stain or solid paint color, the method and techniques are easy and affordable.