After falling autumn leaves, frosty winter coatings and seasonal showers to contend with, your decking has been through a lot of weathering. With the welcome arrival of spring - and the warmer temperatures - getting out in our back garden with friends and family is the escape we all need.
Cracks, peeling, and dull-looking decking can all be a thing of the past. You deserve to unwind in an outdoor living space that both feels and looks fantastic. As you prepare to enjoy the summer sun, read our step-by-step guide on how to paint decking the easy way - restored with our decking paints (wood stains and oils).
Before painting your decking
First thing's first. What is the current state of your decking?
If the wood appears dry and faded, it's time to apply a maintenance treatment to bring it back to life. (Worth noting, this re-treatment phase may be required anytime between 1-3 years, depending on the product previously used).
If it's newly laid, or you're thinking about adding decking to your garden as part of creating your dream outdoor living space, bear in mind it's wise to leave your decking to be naturally weathered by the elements over the first six months of being laid, allowing for any existing treatment to erode.
Preparing your deck
Start by clearing the space and giving it a good sweep. Wiping the surface of the decking is critical to remove dirt, dust and other loose material. Surfaces that have been previously treated with wood oil will need to have any loose material on them removed with a scraper or a wire brush. Pro tip: if you do have to scrape away loose material, we recommend sanding thoroughly afterward to ensure a uniform finish. Continue reading for sanding advice.
If you need to tackle mould or moss growth on your decking, use Tikkurila Terrace Cleaner (Terassi-Ja Kalustepesu) - a high-strength cleaning solution that's especially tough on darkened, weathered wood prior to re-treatment. Once applied to the unwanted dirt, leave it to dry. If there's a visible film on the surface, rinse it off with a hose or bucket of water. Let the deck dry fully - overnight ideally.
Weather conditions
Before proceeding with the next steps in the process, including any scraping or sanding (should this be required), make sure the decking is completely dry. The moisture content of the timber must be less than 20% in order for our wood oils and stains to adhere effectively. If you don't have a moisture reader, you can get a reasonable estimate by guaranteeing the decking is completely dry.
If it's a particularly sunny day, your decking may dry in a matter of hours, but it's best to let it dry completely overnight.
Scraping and sanding away old stain or paint
This step is most appropriate for older decking. You can safely skip this step if you've newly laid decking within the last six months.
Remove the old paint layer, stripping back to the bare wood using a scraper, being careful not to scrape the wood underneath.
When sanding, you could use a dustless sander to smooth out the wood. Use the sander over any rough edges or spots initially with an 80-100 grit sandpaper, being sure not to press too hard on the wood. Remember you don't want to sand down the wood much - only smooth it to make applying the paint to the decking easier. Pair this with a stronger 100-120 grit sandpaper on particularly stubborn spots. And be sure to wear a proper face-fit dust mask (with filters ideally) when power sanding for long periods of time, even if you're using a dustless sander.
Alternatively, use a hand sanding block such as the Mirka Handy Kit. This ergonomically designed hand sander is easy to manoeuvre across surfaces and is ideal for beginners and smaller jobs.
After scraping and sanding your decking, run a broom over the surface again to sweep away any dust or debris. This will ensure your decking is clear and completely smooth ahead of painting. When painting (or repainting) your decking, you need to start with as blank a canvas as possible.
Good housekeeping
Repair any loose, damaged boards or nails on the deck. Before you paint, check for any boards that are loose and secure them with nails before you start painting. Remove any damaged boards and rusty nails and replace them with new boards and nails, as well as levelling out any uneven nails with a hammer so that they sit flush with the wood.
If you notice there are any holes or gaps in your decking, it'd be good to fill in any cracks in the wood with a suitable filler, in a closely matched colour. Apply a thin layer of putty along cracks in the boards and sand smooth again. Ensure that the putty is flush to the wood so it blends well with the surface ahead of painting the deck. If some of the boards have serious cracks or holes in them, replacement boards may be better than filling.
Tikkurila recommends: If there are any stubborn stains that weren’t successfully removed with Tikkurila Terrace Cleaner during the preparation stages, we would recommend painting your decking in darker colour. The same applies if the process of scraping and sanding loose debris and particles from your decking was required. A darker colour will help to conceal dark stains, patches, and offer a more sympathetic finish on an uneven texture.
Choose your paint and colour
The last thing to do before painting is to select your decking paint. Our durable, exterior product range has been specifically designed to withstand the elements and deliver long-lasting results; meaning you can spend less time on repairs... and more time enjoying your garden! The range includes wood oils and semi-transparent stains available in an eco-friendly, water-based formula as well as a traditional and solvent-based one. Browse our decking paint range below.
Need more advice on choosing your decking paint? Visit our Exterior Wood Stain Hub for more information.