How to Design and Paint Wood Decks

Designing

• 1

  Consider the placement of your deck. Perhaps you want your deck to be accessible from the living room, or viewable from your kitchen window. To lower costs, plan to have the deck accessible from an interior door, because installing doors is a major renovation. Consider what the deck will overlook, such as a water feature or garden, to determine the best possible location. Take advantage of natural elements, such as tree cover to shade the deck, or design an awning or pergola top to cover the deck.

• 2

  Measure the space for your deck. To get a better idea of how much space you have to work with, place stakes in the ground to define your deck. Try arranging your furniture in the space you have dedicated to the deck to be sure it will fit.

• 3

  Determine how high you want your deck to be. If your deck is high off the ground, you will need railings to surround the deck, as well as steps leading up to the deck for easy access. This will be a bit more difficult to design and will certainly add costs in materials.

• 4

  Research deck styles that work well with your home's motif. For example, if your home is a ranch-style home, you may choose a deck design that features scrolling iron railings. Even a simple wood deck can be designed and decorated to go with your home's look.

• 5

  Design the flooring for your deck. This includes deciding on the type of wood you want to use, the amount of space you want between the wooden planks and the direction you want to install the wood. Learn about different types of wood. Redwood, pine and cedar are popular wood materials for decks. Pine should be pressure-treated so it can best withstand the elements. Sealing the wood with paint or stain will extend the life of the wood. Redwood and cedar are usually stained in order to show off the grain of the wood; pine may be stained or painted.

• 6

  Sketch out a floorplan for your deck. Once you have settled on your design, draw it out to use as a guide. Graph paper will help you keep the deck to scale.

Painting

• 7

  Select a paint designed for indoor and outdoor spaces. If the paint is designed for exteriors, it will be indicated on the label. It should be able to withstand rain and excessive heat. If you are staining your deck, choose a stain with a built-in varnish to save you time.

• 8

  Clean the surface for priming. Preparation is the key to a successful paint job. Sand down the wood with a palm sander. Wipe up any dust with a warm, damp rag and let it dry before priming.

• 9

  Apply primer over the surface area. Priming is only necessary if you are using color paint. Priming will compromise the pattern of the wood grain if you plan on staining. Allow the primer to dry before painting.

• 10

  Start in the farthest corner from your exit point. Apply an even layer of paint or stain over the surface of the deck with a roller. Paint the trim with an angled brush, always following the direction of the wood grain.

• 11

  Seal the surface area with a polyurethane sealant. This will protect the wood from rot and damage as well as keep the color looking vibrant.