If your deck is looking pretty ragged after not undergoing any restoration for a few years, don’t get into a panic. Even if it looks really bad, the chances are that you can restore your deck instead of having to replace it. There are some easy techniques that you can use to restore your deck and make it look brand-new again. Follow this guide to restore your deck to its past glory.
Get Your Deck Clean
The first step in the deck restoration process is to clean the deck off. The fastest, easiest way to do this is to use a pressure washer. You can rent a pressure washer and do it yourself. You will also need a putty knife to clean out any gunk you find trapped between the boards of your deck. You can also save a lot of time and effort by hiring a local deck cleaning company like Renew Crew of the Triangle. Whether you do it yourself or hire a crew, you need to get the deck spotlessly clean before you are ready to move on to the next step.
Apply Deck Brightener
Once the deck is completely clean, you will need to apply a deck brighter to prep the wood for staining. Once the wood has dried after pressure washing, then you can apply the deck brightener. The deck brightener helps to restore the wood to the bright color it had when it was freshly sawn. It will make the wood more readily absorb the stain.
Check for Loose Boards
The next step in the deck restoration process is to check for any loose boards. If you find any boards that are uneven or loose, use a screwdriver to tighten them back down. If you need to replace any missing screws, make sure that the replacement screws are at least a half-inch longer than the screws they are replacing.
Refinish the Deck
Once you have cleaned the deck, applied the deck brightener and fixed any loose boards, you are ready for the big finish. The key to making a deck look brand-new again is to stain it. Make sure that you remove all furniture from the deck before you begin staining it. Start with the railings and bannisters on your deck, and work your way down from there. If you accidentally get stain on the siding of your house, you can remove it with paint thinner or mineral spirits.
Once you have stained the deck, you need to wait at least 48 hours for it to dry before anyone walks on it. Make sure to keep children and pets away while it is drying. When you first check the deck after 48 hours, touch it lightly with your fingertips at first to make sure it is dry before anyone walks on it.
