Renewing Your Deck

Scrape off loose finish.

Remove loose paint or opaque stain with a paint scraper. Scrape down damaged areas to bare wood. Then sand each area to feather the edges of remaining finish material down to bare wood.

Scrub the surface.

Use a stiff bristle brush to remove flaking stain or dirt. Don't use a metal-bristle brush on cedar or redwood because the metal bristles may scar the soft wood.

Apply Cleaner.

Apply a deck brightener product to wood surfaces. Mix the product according to manufacturer's directions. Work the brightener into the wood with a stiff bristle brush, using an extension handle on the brush, if necessary.

Power wash deck.

Wash the deck surfaces to remove brightener solution and other residue, using a power washer with a fan spray nozzle. The extra pressure of this tool is necessary to adequately clean the deck. Let the deck dry thoroughly before applying new finish. Be careful power washing a cedar deck. Use the low power setting to avoid damaging the wood.

Apply finish material with a sprayer. Use a hand-pumped unit for small deck areas, apply finish on small decks with a roller and brush. Use a roller on decking after spraying to force finish into the wood and to spread out any pooled material. This method is called back-rolling.