How to paint the decking like a pro
If you want to learn how to paint decking yourself, you'll be happy to hear that this is a job even an amateur DIYer can tackle. Painting a deck is simple but you need to follow a few simple steps and give yourself enough time to complete the job. The more time you spend painting your deck the better and longer-lasting the result will be, so we recommend giving it a full (dry and warm) day on a weekend.
So, choosing the best decking paints is vital. A dedicated decking paint will stick to your decking wood more effectively and last longer, and protect your deck from moisture and ultra-violet rays. Once you've chosen the paint you like, it's a matter of a few simple steps outlined by professional painters.
1. GET A PATCH TEST DONE
Paint can often look quite different if you've applied it, to the way it looks on the can and in pictures. It's a good idea to do a test of the paint before you commit to the colour you've chosen. Start with painting a few test boards first to see how the paint looks and feels before you paint the entire deck.
2. ROLL ON THE PAINT
Once you're happy with the colour you have chosen it's time to get going with the paint roller!
Using your roller, start painting. You may find it easier if you pour out a little of the paint as you go along rather than constantly dipping the roller in the can.
3. ENSURE YOU GO OVER THE BOARDS WITH A BRUSH
Rollers are great and nice and efficient, but they can leave textured marks as you're using them. To get a truly even, professional-looking finish, Walter recommends going over the boards you've just painted with a paintbrush. It is extra work, but 'if you don't want the texture that a roller's nap leaves behind, it's the way to go.
If you have quite a large deck and the prospect of squatting with a paintbrush is daunting, so we recommend taping your paintbrush to an extra extension pole 'so you don't have to bend over as much since that can get tiring and cause back pain.
4. BREAK UP THE PAINTING INTO SECTIONS
Ensure that you paint in sections so that you can finish each section before the paint dries, so don't stop in the middle of a board because if you do there will be a visible line.
5. USE A BRUSH TO COVER THE CREVICES AND CRACKS
Once you've gone over the deck with a brush, it's time to zoom in on the finer detail of your deck. 'If you decide to roll the deck, you'll still need to back brush the paint into the cracks and crevices of the decking boards that the roller can't reach.' This is best done last as you won't see the bits you've missed until you've painted your whole deck.
So, for all your decking requirements look no further than the team at Wood Lane Timber Merchants Ltd. Call us on 0115 964 0888 or email sales@woodlanetimber.co.uk.