How to Refinish & Reseal Exterior Wood

Slip on a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles. Apply a generous coat of sealant stripper to the exterior wood with a paintbrush. Use a stripper specifically formatted to remove the type of sealant originally used on the wood and according to the package directions.

Allow the sealant to remain on the exterior wood according to the package directions. Some brands require you to reapply the sealant after a certain amount of time, while others instruct the user to spray the wood with a garden hose to keep the stripper moist.

Wash away the sealant with a garden hose, paying attention to remove it from any nooks, crannies and cracks.

Allow the exterior wood surface to dry for at least three days. If it rains, extend this time until the wood is completely dry to the touch.

Apply the wood sealant to the main surface with a paint roller. Use back and forth motions to avoid applying wet layers of sealant onto areas that have already dried, which will leave behind noticeable streaks.

Continue to apply the wood sealant to the finer areas with a small paintbrush. Once again, do not apply a second wet layer over a previously dried layer of sealant.

Allow the sealant to dry for at least three hours before walking on an outdoor deck. Otherwise, allow the sealant to dry for 24 to 48 hours on any type of exterior wood.