Preparing Your Deck for Spring

With Spring just around the corner, homeowners are getting eager to start working on projects they’ve been planning all winter. With warm weather comes barbecues, parties, and the general desire to be outside. Having a beautiful deck makes it easy to throw outdoor parties when weather permits. If you’ve been planning to repaint your deck once the chilly weather passes, here’s what you need to know before you crack open a can of paint:

Evaluate. Check the condition of your deck. If it is fairly well maintained, you can likely manage to prep the deck yourself. Mold, mildew, and rotting wood can cause major problems, and if it is in poor condition, contact a professional.

Strip. Strip away any peeled or chipped paint and make sure the surface of the deck is smooth. Keeping the surface free of debris will ensure that the next coat of paint will penetrate the deck deeply and keep it looking fresh for a long time.

Sand. To help paint adhere, sand down the surface of the deck to rough it up since paint adheres better to porous surfaces. It will also even out any imperfections, allowing your next coat of paint to go on evenly.

Wash. Rinse the deck with water to remove and dust and dirt to ensure no grime gets in the way of executing the perfect paint job. Paint adheres best to a clean surface. Use a power washer on tough spots, or a standard hose will do the job.

Dry. Allow the deck to dry completely. Planning your project ahead and looking at the weather forecast is a good idea since it will take a few hours of warm and sunny weather to dry.

Inspect. Check over your deck again to make sure there is no dirt, old paint, or debris that you may have missed. Making sure that the surface is as ready as possible makes for a much more efficient project.

Primer. Finally apply a coat of exterior primer to the surface of the deck. This will seal the deck against moisture and allow your paint job to last longer. Once the primer dries, you are ready to paint!

Now that your deck is fully prepared, you can paint or stain and put your deck to use with the approaching warm weather! Contact Nottingham Painters for more information on prepping and painting your deck.

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