Whether you take on the project yourself or hire a professional, refinishing your deck can be a complicated job. If you want to be successful and enjoy a beautifully restored deck, there are many potential challenges to consider and prepare for. Here is our professional warning of the top 5 most common deck refinishing problems we encounter every day.
Weather
Scheduling deck remodeling is primarily based around mother nature. If there is the slightest chance of rain in the forecast, the refinish will be pushed back until the coast (sky) is clear. While framing is an option, this work is best suited for dry days. The most temperamental step in the process is the application of paint or stain. A well done refinish calls for two coats of a product. If a coat is applied and rain falls before the paint has dried completely, the finish will be compromised and you may see speckles of white spots all over the surface. Rain often leads to repeating the sand and stain process, requiring additional time and hassle to achieve the best finish.
Our advice-
Watch the weather closely and plan accordingly. If there is a chance of rain, play it safe so that you save yourself from repeating the work.
Power Washing
Most home owners approach deck restoration through power washing. Power washing can be detrimental to the preservation of your wood. If you over power wash, the wood becomes stripped, allowing dirt and moisture to get trapped inside. Most pressure treating pushes dirt particles inside the wood, having the opposite effect of its intention which is to clean the boards.
Our advice-
Avoid power washing your deck. Hire a professional to sand the wood and re-stain so that you can promote longevity of your wood.
Stain Quality
There are many options on the market sold in home improvement stores and paint stores near you. With so many choices, how do you know which stain or paint brand is best? Even some of the well trusted brands offering long term warranties end up chipping and peeling one year after application. Restoring a deck is a labor-intensive and expensive project that should be done once every few years. Poor quality stains could have you restoring the appearance of your deck as an annual maintenance. In addition to the appearance of chipping paint, consider how well the stain protects the wood. While stain serves an aesthetic purpose, its main function is to penetrate the wood and protect the lifespan of the boards.
Our advice-
Speak to specialist who work with companies that paint decks regularly. They will be able to make suggestions based on experienced feedback they receive from their commercial customers. We recommend using an oil based, self-priming product that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty.
Knots
Most decks contain pressure treated pin. The sanding process can expose sap stored inside the knots of older boards. Sap makes up the nutrients that once served as the tree’s lifeblood. Sap is less likely to appear with newer wood. Newer practices of kiln dry which crystallizes the sap and reduces the moisture levels of the wood. Non-crystallized sap will continue to seep from the knot to the surface, creating coffee stain-like spots wherever the knots are on the deck.
Our Advice-
Treat knots in older wood with knotting solution before staining. This is especially true when applying white and lighter color paints and stains.
Epoxy Polymer
An epoxy polymer fills cracks in the wood, providing a long lasting repair. The filler has to be correctly. A poorly mixed or poorly applied epoxy polymer can pop out of the crack with time as it expands and contracts. Additionally, treated wood needs ample time for the sealant to dry. Rain compromises the sealant, and the work has to be repeated.Our advice-Leave this extent of repair work to the professionals. In other words, professionals successfully mix and apply.
