How to Redo a Deck

As decks age, the boards become discolored, warped and sometimes cracked. If your deck begins showing its age, a renovation will improve the look of the entertaining space. The renovation depends on the specific condition of the deck. If there are broken boards or other damage, the renovation requires extra steps. Before beginning work, set your budget and have an idea of the scope of the project.

Things You'll Need

Hammer
Deck boards
Power washer
Deck cleaner
Stiff brush

Deck stain
Paintbrush
Paint roller (optional)
Pressure sprayer (optional)
Clear coat

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the deck from the top, bottom and front. Look for damage to boards, including warping, cracks and loose boards, on the decking, stairs and railings. Inspect the connection of the deck to the house and to the posts underneath.
- 2
  Replace deck boards that are damaged. If there are lots of damaged boards, consider replacing all of them with new boards.
- 3
  Pound in any nails that popped up from the boards. Tighten screws that connect the deck to posts and to the house.
- 4
  Pressure wash the deck boards to clean them and give them a look newer look. Use a deck cleaning solution and a stiff brush to further clean the deck and remove stains.
- 5
  Stain the deck, choosing the specific type of stain that provides the desired look. Transparent stains allow the wood to show through, while semi-transparent stains add a consistent color and allow the wood's grain to show through. Solid stains cover the look of the wood completely. The option of acrylic or oil stains also exists. Apply the stain with a sprayer, rollers or brushes. A sprayer gives a faster, thicker layer of stain. Use a roller or brush to even out puddles left by a sprayer.
- 6
  Protect the deck with with a clear coat after the stain dries.

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