Paint for Timber Decking – To Paint or Not to Paint?

Paint for timber decking is available in a wide variety of colours, but although a painted deck can be great, getting it to look that way is not easy. It’s not obvious when you look at your deck, but each wooden component has six sides. The problem is that it’s difficult to paint all six exposed surfaces and exposed wood can absorb moisture. When this happens, the painted surface can become marred by unsightly peeling paint, splits in the surface, and bubbles. Not the stunning effect you were aiming for!

However, if you are determined to paint your deck, here are some tips:

• Thoroughly clean and dry the entire surface of your deck then sand it.
• Replace any nails that are loose with ones of the next size up, then countersink them. Fill up the countersunk nail holes with a high-quality, exterior-grade putty. Use the putty to fill any other holes.
• Caulk all joints with a high-quality polyurethane caulk. Where pieces of wood are wedged together, caulk the connecting areas.
• Prime everything with a high-quality, oil-based primer.
• Paint with a high-grade, oil-based paint.
• If you have previously oiled wood, you will find that the paint won’t stick, so it will be necessary to use a paint remover and then thoroughly sand.